James Clifford Owens

Jerry Neal Ferguson, of Clinton, TN, passed peacefully on Monday, September 23, 2024. Jerry was born in Waynesville, North Carolina to Taylor and Ruby Ferguson. He grew up in Maggie Valley, NC and graduated from Waynesville Township High School where he volunteered as the Mountaineer mascot. As a teen, Jerry worked at Ghost Town in the Sky in Maggie Valley as a buck dancer, clogger and gun fighter during the summer.

After high school graduation Jerry joined the US Navy and served four and a half years during the Vietnam War and at the Bay of Pigs on the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise and USS America. Touring around the world on his last tour of duty.

Jerry moved to Oak Ridge TN in 1968 with his wife, Gwen, and daughter Kimberly to take a position as an electrician at Y12 in Oak Ridge. Shortly after he moved his family to Clinton where he still resided at his death.

Jerry graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in training and supervision and moved into that field of work at Y12. He was employed there for 30 years.

Jerry was a faithful member of Memorial United Methodist Church and was active in the church. He enjoyed working in the church’s food pantry and was a guest vocalist for the church’s 323 North Main bluegrass and acoustic band. He was also a past member of the Clinton Jaycees, serving as president one year and worked as a poll worker in Anderson County for a number of years.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Taylor and Ruby Brendle Ferguson; brother, Johnny Mack Ferguson; and son-in-law, Bill Eby.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Gwen Thomas Ferguson; daughters Kim Eby, Grey Ferguson Collier (Daniel), Laura Ferguson Hubbs (Michael); grandchildren Mollie and Parker Collier; half-sister-in-law June Hashbarger, brother-in-law Ed Thomas and multiple nieces and nephews.

Friends and family will meet 11:30 am, Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at Holley Gamble Funeral Home and go in procession to Grandview Memorial Garden for a 12:00 pm graveside service with Rev. Scott Wilks officiating.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Food Pantry or Sound System Fund at Memorial United Methodist Church of Clinton.  Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.  holleygamble.com

Gwendolyn Hunley Oaks

William Robert Fox, Sr., “Bill,” passed away March 7, 2024 after a hard fought battle with cancer. Bill was born January 14, 1943 to Donald and Mary Pauline (Lynch) Fox, the youngest of their 8 children.

Bill is survived by his loving family: son, William R. Fox Jr. “Rob” and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Ann (Kernica) Fox; son, Michael W. Fox; three adored grandchildren, Wesley Hatch, Arabella Rose, and Mavrick Tanner who were the light of his life; sisters, Freda (Fox) Mulloy and Shirley (Fox) Parker-Sheffield; brother-in-law, Donald Roth; and dozens of nieces, nephews, and beloved family and friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his devoted wife, Levern (Samples) Fox; beloved daughter-in-law, Melanie Dawn (Tackett) Fox; his parents, Donald and Mary Pauline (Lynch) Fox; in-laws, Wesley and Mary Elizabeth (Tippens) Samples; sister, Mary Jean and husband, Thomas Morgan; brother, Donald Fox; sister, Pauline (Fox) Roth; sister, Donna (Fox) and husband, John Wade; brother, James and wife, Connie (Roach) Fox; brothers-in-law, John Mulloy, Bud Parker, and Clyde Sheffield; sister-in-law, Sally Roth; brother-in-law, Wayne Samples and his wife, Pat; nephews, Danny Wade, Paul Fox, Mike Mulloy, and Brian Roth; and special great nephew, Jeff Dean.

Bill attended Catholic Schools in Knoxville, TN and enjoyed his many lasting friendships with his classmates throughout his life. Bill was a dedicated electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 760 for over 60 years. Following the family tradition, he became an apprentice in 1964 to top out as a journeyman wireman in 1969. During this time, he met and married his beautiful bride, Levern, and started his family. Over his career, he worked many jobs in the Eastern U.S. Bill would retire in January 2005. He would enjoy attending retiree lunches and meetings throughout his remaining years.

Bill was an avid gardener, as were many of his siblings. He could grow anything from a cutting and knew just about anything you ever needed to know about plants, flowers, and trees. He enjoyed his garden and sharing his knowledge with everyone.

Bill got along well with anyone he met and spent time with. He enjoyed cutting up with all on his patio over a drink. His cantankerous ways made him endearing and fun to sit and chat with. In his later years, his happiest times were spending time with family, especially his grandchildren. You never left time with him without a smile and a ton of laughs.

The family would like to give special thanks to Mobile Meals, PCM Staffing, and Amedysis Hospice. These loving people who came into his life to care for him became family to us all. They are invaluable to us. We would like to give a personal thank you to PCM nurses: Christy, Angel, Courtney, Gayle, Della, Debbie, Brandi, BJ, Ben, Jimmy, and Nicole, and hospice nurses: Kristin, Allison, and Brad. We could not have done any of this without all of you. Bill will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Family will receive friends at Click Funeral Home Middlebrook Chapel on Friday, March 15, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at All Saint’s Catholic Church, 620 N Cedar Bluff Rd, Knoxville, TN 37923 on Saturday, March 16, 2024 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Graveside service to follow at 12:00 p.m. at Calvary Cemetery, 1916 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., Knoxville, TN 37915.