Obituaries
McMinnville, TN. Obituaries
Local obituaries for McMinnville, TN and the surrounding areas
Gayle M. VanHooser
Dec 5, 2025
McMinnville, TN resident and Huntsville, AL native Gayle M. VanHooser, age 91, was born July 4, 1934 and died December 5, 2025 at her residence following an extended illness.
A homemaker, she was the daughter of the late Charles A. and Flossie M. Dowell Gilley. She was married to William Kenneth VanHooser on September 21, 1951 who preceded her in death....
Robert "Rusty" Hayes
Dec 4, 2025
Robert “Rusty” Hayes passed on December 4th, 2025 following a sudden illness. He was surrounded by his family upon his passing. Rusty was born April 19, 1962 and was the son of the late Robert Earl Hayes and Betty Jo Pennington Hayes of McMinnville, TN.
He was a former employee of Stone Man Rock Quarry, Hullett’s Tire Center of Morrison and...
Mary Etta Cantrell
Dec 4, 2025
McMinnville, TN resident and Sparta, TN native Mary Etta Cantrell, age 91, was born March 22, 1934 and died December 4, 2025 at NHC Healthcare of McMinnville following an extended illness.
A homemaker and of the Baptist faith, she was the daughter of the late James and Lula Fuqua Rollins. She was married to William “Dude” Norman Cantrell, II on January...
Kendall Dewayne Pendergraph
Dec 2, 2025
McMinnville resident and Warren County native, Kendall Dewayne Pendergraph, age 68, was born March 19, 1957 and died December 2, 2025 at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown in Nashville following a sudden illness.
A Carpenter with Steve Harvey Construction, he was the son of the late Haskell and Lorene Argo Pendergraph. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by...
Jerry Ray Bratcher
Dec 1, 2025
McMinnville, TN resident and Warren County, TN native Jerry Ray Bratcher age 71, was born November 25, 1954 and died December 1, 2025 at Alive Hospice in Nashville, TN following a sudden illness.
A farmer and nurseryman, he attended Dibrell Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was the son of the late Paul Leston and Dorothy Marie Cantrell Bratcher. In addition to his...
James William Rowland
Nov 28, 2025
Campaign, TN resident and Warren County native James William Rowland, age 83, was born January 7, 1942 and died November 28, 2025 at his residence.
A veteran of the Tennessee Army National Guard and a retired welder and pipe fitter with Tennessee Metal Fabricating, Mr. Rowland proudly served as a former Deacon and Elder at Campaign church of Christ. He was...
Robert "Bob" Charles Sauer, Jr.
Nov 27, 2025
McMinnville resident and Syracuse, NY native Robert “Bob” Charles Sauer, Jr., age 81, was born October 8, 1944 and died November 27, 2025 at NHC McMinnville following an extended illness.
The owner of Pro-Pack, Inc. and an active member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, he was the son of the late Robert Charles and Mary A. Miller Sauer, Sr. In addition...
James Larry Hash
Nov 25, 2025
McMinnville, TN resident and Warren County, TN native James Larry Hash, age 77, was born March 30, 1948 and died November 25, 2025 at his residence following a sudden illness.
A United States Army veteran and a retired employee of Burroughs-Ross-Colville, he was the son of the late Charles Leighton and Gladys Bain Hash. In addition to his parents, he was...
James Lonnie Milstead
Nov 25, 2025
McMinnville, TN resident and Warren County, TN native James Lonnie Milstead, age 91, was born November 18, 1934 and died November 25, 2025 at his residence following an extended illness.
A nurseryman and member of the Church of Christ, he was the son of the late Claude and Lena Cunningham Milstead. He was married to Sarah Milstead on June 23, 1952...
Tracey Anne Dorris Denton
Nov 24, 2025
McMinnville, TN resident and Memphis, TN native Tracey Anne Dorris Denton, age 60, was born October 6, 1965 and died November 24, 2025 at her residence following a brief illness.
Mrs. Denton was the former general manager of Shoney’s in McMinnville and the daughter of the late Kenneth Gordon and Melinda Ann Hampton Dorris. In addition to her parents, she was...
Debra Denise Strode
Nov 23, 2025
McMinnville, TN resident and Warren County, TN native Debra Denise Strode, age 72, was born October 8, 1953 and died November 23, 2025 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, TN following an extended illness.
A retired dietician with NHC Healthcare, she was the daughter of the late Thomas H. and Dorothy Womack Grayson. In addition to her parents, she was...
Brenda Kay Thaxton
Nov 23, 2025
Viola, TN resident and Warren County native Brenda Kay Thaxton, age 66, was born January 3, 1959 and died November 23, 2025 at her residence following a sudden illness.
The daughter of the late George H. and Daisy Lee Bunch Thaxton, Sr., she was also preceded in death by sisters and brothers-in-law, Ann and Larry Stotts and Jewel and David Winningham;...
Penny Michele Randall
Nov 22, 2025
Morrison, TN resident and Marysville, OH native Penny Michele Randall, age 62, was born January 27, 1963 and died November 22, 2025 at Ascension St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital following an extended illness.
The daughter of the late Blaine Kenneth Fulton, Sr. and Barbara Lee Pettrey Feasel, she was also preceded in death by daughter, Angel Brown; sister, Patty Borst and brother,...
Windell Morris Little
Nov 20, 2025
Mr. Windell Morris Little, age 89, of McMinnville, Tennessee was born on November 1, 1936, in Lexington, Georgia and passed away on Thursday morning, November 20, 2025, after an extended illness. He was a three-time cancer survivor and had a peaceful passing after his fourth cancer diagnosis.
Windell was born into a sharecropping family and worked with his family every day...
Doris Jean Goff
Nov 20, 2025
Rock Island, TN resident and Louisville, KY native Doris Jean Goff, age 66, was born November 29, 1958 and died November 20, 2025 at her residence.
An office manager, she was the daughter of the late Jack and Betty Pearson Hillis. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sister, Rose Mary “Rosie” Hillis.
Ms. Goff is survived by...
Cathy Jane Fults
Nov 20, 2025
Smithville, TN resident and Dearborn, MI native Cathy Jane Fults, age 77, was born September 8, 1948 and died November 20, 2025 at her residence following an extended illness.
A retired employee of AO Smith, she was the daughter of the late Merle Cunningham and Pauline Rackley. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sisters, Paula Armstrong...
Maria Reina Luna
Nov 17, 2025
McMinnville, TN resident and Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato Mexico native Maria Reina Luna, age 76, was born January 22, 1949 and died November 17, 2025.
Born Maria Reyna Balderas Villagas, she was the daughter of the late Felipe Balderas Hernandez and Maria Guadalupe Villegas Duran. She was married to Dwight Edward Luna who preceded her in death. In addition to her parents...
Bonnie Gail Hopkins Rigsby
Nov 17, 2025
Smithville, TN resident and Van Buren County, TN native Bonnie Gail Hopkins Rigsby, age 73, was born June 19, 1952 and died November 17, 2025 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, TN following an extended illness.
A retired special education assistant with Dekalb County School System and member of Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church in Smithville, TN, she was the daughter...
Robert Wade Melton
Nov 15, 2025
McMinnville, TN resident and Warren County, TN native Robert Wade Melton, age 81, was born August 25, 1944 and died November 15, 2025 at Alive Hospice in Murfreesboro, TN following a brief illness.
Wade was a nurseryman, transportation broker and longtime member of Shellsford Baptist Church where he was born again in the fall of 1980. His recent home church was...
Jason Todd
Nov 14, 2025
McMinnville, TN resident and Warren County, TN native Jason Todd, age 51, was born October 22, 1974 and died November 14, 2025 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN following a brief illness.
An employee with the City of Murfreesboro Fleet Services, he was the son of Julius Todd and Joy Dodd Key, both of McMinnville, TN. He was preceded...
