Bearden High School Class of 1978

Dearly Departed Class Members

Memorial

"OUR CREATOR
Would Never Have Made Such Lovely Days,
And Have Given Us The Deep Hearts To
Enjoy Them, Above And Beyond All Thought,
Unless We Were Meant To Be Immortal."
---Hawthorne


Robert C. Beasley (July 27, 1960 - November 2000)


Michael Steven Bignall (June 6, 1960 - November 1979)


Barton Kendall Bingham (May 29, 1959 - November 1979)


Lindsay Franklin Black (February 19, 1960 - May 15, 1996)


Valencia (Vickie) Blair (October 16, 1959 - March 2000)

A judge in Marion County, Indiana sentenced James Simmons to a 65-year sentence for the murder of his ex-fianci, Valencia Blair. The pair, both truck drivers by trade, met on the road, fell in love, and become engaged. Blair, a single mother of four children, broke off the engagement shortly before police found her shot to death in the cab of her truck. Police linked Simmons to the scene using not only DNA evidence matching blood on Simmons shirt and inside his truck to Blair, but also the global positioning system that assists truckers with navigation. Simmons had previously served 13 years in a Virginia prison for murdering his wife, Betty Simmons. Vic Ryckaert, Trucker Gets 65 Years for Slaying, Indianapolis Star, Feb. 8, 2001, at B3.


Elizabeth "Libby" Cagle (Lowe) (1960 - November 15, 2008)

Lowe, Elizabeth "Libby" Cagle - age 48, passed away at her home Saturday, November 15th, 2008. She was an employee of Cagle Welding and Equipment for 21 years and was recently working for Scotts Plumbing Company. Libby was a 1978 graduate of Bearden High School and attended Wallace Memorial Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Clyde R. Sr. and Dorothy Cagle and Hubert and Beulah Miller. Libby is survived by her loving husband of 15 years and best friend, Mike Lowe; step-sons, Anthony and Christopher Lowe; father and step-mother, Clyde Jr. and Shirley Cagle, all of Knoxville; mother and step-father, Anne Cagle and Roy Hutchens; sister and brother-in-law, Stacey and Steve Fraker, and niece and nephew Ben and Sarah, all of Signal Mountain, TN; step-brothers, Dale and Greg Huskey; brother-in-law, Gerald Lowe, Jr. and wife Bambi; brother-in-law, Richard Lowe and wife Robin; sister-in-law, Kim Williams and husband Dennis, all of Knoxville; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Betty and Gerald Lowe, Sr.; step-father-in-law and Mother-in-law, Donnie and Betty Glandon; former in-laws, John and Carolyn Houston of San Antonio, TX; several cousins and numerous nieces and nephews. The pallbearers were Steve Fraker, Gerald Lowe, Anthony Lowe, Chris Lowe, Richard Lowe and Gordon Webb. A committal service was held November 21, 2008 at Highland Memorial Cemetery.

Robert H. Chapman, Jr. (March 26, 1960 - June 25, 2006)

Bob Chapman, Jr. died on June 25, 2006 of advanced lung cancer. He is buried in Edgewood Cemetery (behind Gallahar Baptist Church across from Bearden High School) next to his sister, Anne Elizabeth Chapman (class of 1976). [Information provided by Mrs. Bob Chapman, Sr. (Mother)]

Information from Bob's obituary:

Robert H. Chapman, Jr., age 46 of Knoxville, died Sunday afternoon June 25, 2006. He was a member of Church Street United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by: his grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. J.H. Chapman and Mr. & Mrs. C.N. Brown; and his sister, Anne E. Chapman. His survivors include: his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Robert H. Chapman, Sr. of Knoxville; his companion, Diane Armstrong; aunts & uncles, James D. Chapman, Mr. & Mrs. B.A. Bean, Sr. all of Macon, GA, and Mr. & Mrs. T.G. Chapman, Sr. of Tellico Village; as well as several cousins.


Myra Monika Eldridge (November 27, 1960 - July 12, 2001)

Monika passed away on July 12, 2001 in a rock climbing accident in Yosemite National Park. To read a story about Monika and the man who also died in the fall, please visit the following link: Pair defined 'upwardly mobile'


Toby Dean Franklin


Curtis Edgar Huntley (April 28, 1960 - May 1980)

Mississippi State University
Pi Kappa Alpha
Pledging-related accident

Curtis Huntley, 20, went into a coma and died after leaping from a car filled with pledges who wanted to dunk him in a mudhole, possibly to celebrate his birthday.


Anthony "Tony" Johns (August 24, 1960 - January 7, 2005)

Anthony (Tony) Johns, age 44, went to be with our Lord and Savior on January 7, 2005. He was born in Waco, Texas, on August 24, 1960.

He was employed by M&L Sound of Knoxville and considered one of the top concert sound engineers in the southeast. Tony graduated from Bearden High School and was a member of Central Baptist Church of Bearden, Knoxville.

His life father, Harold Johns of Portland, Ore., preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Donna Johns, and daughter, Amy Garland of Maryville; his mother and dad, Frank and Mary Alexander of Sturgis, S.D.; stepmother, Irmi Johns of Portand, Ore.; brother, Wayne Alexander, wife Lee and nephew Zachary of Wichita Falls, Texas; Sister, Sheila Johns Heimbach, husband Dean and their children Paige and Mitchell of Laguna Niguel, Calif.


Steven Harmon Kreis (May 13, 1960 - 1976)


Steven David Llewellyn (May 15, 1960 - August 19, 1995)


William Todd Murray


Patrick R. Redmond (July 8, 1959 - November 12, 1994)


Terry Van Richardson (November 29, 1960 - October 30, 2005)

Terry passed peacefully in his sleep Sunday October 30, 2005 on a company business trip in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born in Monroe, MI on November 29, 1960. He was a Christian and a member of Central Baptist Church of Bearden. He graduated from Bearden High School in 1978. He had a tender heart and he was a salesman of exceptional abilities. He was preceded in death by: maternal grandparents, Byrl and Anna Ryder; paternal grandparents, Liman and Matilda Richardson. Survived by: parents, L.B. and Betty C. (Ryder) Richardson of Knoxville, TN; wife, Deborah L. Richardson of Clinton, TN; step-daughter, Jennifer Lane and Rodney of Andersonville, TN; brother, Randy Richardson, wife Janis Brickey, and nephew Joey of Knoxville, TN; sister, Tammie Wetherholt, husband Steve, and niece Jenna Paige of Franklin, TN; beloved aunt, Bobbie Young of Inverness, FL; and many special cousins and great friends.


Charles Edward Russell, Jr. (March 1, 1959 - March 10, 2006)

Charles, age 47, departed this life March 9th at Harriman Care Center. Preceded in death by mother, Mrs. Ruth Crump Russell. A former employee of the Cherokee Country Club. Survivors: father, Charles E. Russell, Sr.; sisters, Yvonne Essie, Mary K. Morries; brothers, Eugene, William, Dan, Kenneth (Shena) Russell, Tim Turner; aunts & uncles, Hattie Turk, Lavern Bell, Alberta Crump, Ida Mae Dixon, Mary Moses, Willie Mae Cartwright, Tim, J.R. & Bud Crump; host of cousins and family friends to include, Elizabeth Melbane & family.


Eric C. Sater (April 29, 1960 - September 19, 2003)

Eric passed away in 2003 at the age of 43, leaving behind a son Patrick who he loved very much.


Earnest Carlton Scruggs III (1959-1976)


Pamela Helen Thomas (Branham) (July 24, 1960 - January 29, 2000)

Here is a link to a story about Pam and her sudden death in 2000: "Startled school mourns teacher after sudden death". The story is also available in Word format: Pam Thomas Branham Article.


William Hunter Wallace (Bill) (April 8, 1960 - May 7, 1999)

May 9, 1999 - The Colorado Springs Gazette

William Hunter Wallace, 39, died May 7, 1999, at his home in Colorado Springs. He was a computer consultant.

Mr. Wallace was born April 8, 1960, in New Orleans. He was married May 26, 1992, to Stephanie A. Reading.

He is survived by his wife; two sons, Richard and William Andrew; three daughters, Rebekah, Melanie and Laura; and two sisters, Judy Thompson and Mary Sumner.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Red Cross, 1600 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs 80907.