Aug. 31 obituaries

Brenda Ruth Bruce Forbs, 75

Brenda Ruth Bruce Forbs, 75, left for eternal home prepared just for her on August 24, 2024. Her visitation will be Wednesday, August 28th from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm at Morrison Funeral Home, Central Heights. Her service will immedi­ately follow in the funer­al home chapel with Bro. Larry Burbank officiating. Burial will follow in Mur­phy’s Chapel cemetery.

Brenda was born in Lau­derdale County, AL on No­vember 19, 1948 to Byrum and Ruth Bruce. She is the oldest of 7 children and was a great big sister.

She graduated from Central High School in 1968. She married soon after and had 2 children that she was so proud of. She was such an outgoing person and loved people. She worked in the sew­ing industry for most of her working years. She met her husband Bruce and they were married on September 16, 2000, and she was given a whole new family to love.

She was forced into early retirement after faced with some health problems. This slowed her down but didn’t stop her from visiting friends and family ev­ery chance she got. She loved her family and made sure they knew it.

Brenda was preced­ed in death by her par­ents, Byrum and An­nie Bruce; and her stepson, Bruce Forbs, Jr.

She is survived by her loving husband, Bruce Forbs; children, Derek Daniels and Vicki Hand (Gary); step sons, Tim Forbs (Whitney) and Sam Forbs (Candace); broth­ers, Micah Bruce (Ran­di), Danny Bruce (Emi­ly), David Bruce (Lisa) and Terry Bruce (Sandy); sisters, Barbara Barri­er (Danny) and Becky Schmidlkofer (Donnie); grandchildren, Kelsie Daniels, Carson Daniels, Tyler Reeves, Maggie Russell (Josh), Madi­son Hand, Shawn Forbs, Destiny Forbs, Alexes Forbs, Emma Forbs, Aar­on Forbs, Olivia Forbs, and Caleb Forbs; great grandchildren, Delilah Forbs and Walker Russell.

Pallbearers will be Danny Bruce, David Bruce, Terry Bruce, Hunter Bruce, Tim Forbs and Billy Kelsoe.

Special thanks to Pre­ferred Hospice and her caregiver Nan Atkinson.

Bob Plunket, 93

Bob Plunket, 93, Flor­ence, passed away on Friday August 23, 2024. Visitation will be Mon­day August 26 from 12:00 – 2:00 PM at the Gather­ing Place at Sherrod Av­enue Church of Christ, Florence. The funeral service will immediately follow in the church au­ditorium. Interment will be in Tri-Cities Memo­rial Gardens Florence.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Jan Plunket; parents Joseph and Alma Plunket; brothers Lamar Plun­ket, Bill Plunket, George Plunket, and Jay Plun­ket; and sisters Yvonne Parker, Mary Heffernan, and Maureen Kendrick.

Bob is survived by his children, Mark Plunket (Donna), Donna Mur­phy (Randall), Laurie Mitchell (Stuart), Paul Plunket (Margaret), and Christian Plunket (Feli­cia); grandchildren Ryan Plunket (Rachel), Ra­chel Plunket, Leigh El­len Thomas (J.D.), Zach Plunket (Allie), Jennifer Tidwell (Jason), Daniel Murphy (Misti), Laura Beth Coltey (John), Katy Richardson (Chris), Anna Burdg (Andrew), Sarah Van Senus (Alex), Ju­lie Bridges (Heath), Bob Plunket, Kate Plunket, Bailey Harrison (Lee), and Jessa Humphries (Seth); 20 great-grand­children, and brother Mack Plunket (Terry).

Bob, a beloved min­ister for 66 years, was known for his soft voice and tender heart. A grad­uate of Harding Acade­my, Lipscomb University, and Harding University Graduate School of Re­ligion, Bob was a guid­ing light in the Church of Christ. His teachings, much like Christ’s par­ables, were illustrated through simple, relatable examples, whether it was about a tangled fish­ing line or a ceiling fan.

Like Christ’s disciples, Bob was a fisherman who followed his Lord and spread His word. Bob and his wife Jan were cherished wherever they went, with Bob serving locally at Sherrod Avenue Church of Christ, Colbert Heights Church of Christ, and dedicating 33 years to Tuscumbia Church of Christ. Their love and commitment were evident to all who knew them.

An avid fisherman, Bob spent summers at “the camp” in Barton, where he taught his children and grandchildren to swim, fish, and learn life’s les­sons in a flat bottom boat on the Tennessee River. He and Jan also enjoyed gardening and growing vegetables each summer that they canned and sa­vored at family dinners.

When people speak of Bob, they often say, “He baptized me,” “He mar­ried us,” “He helped save our marriage,” and “He was there when my child died.” Bob’s legacy is re­flected in these heartfelt memories. He wasn’t a wealthy man or a deco­rated hero, but a simple, principled fisherman who loved and followed Jesus.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Keestone As­sisted Living and Lind­sey Reidout, his hospice nurse with North Ala­bama Hospice, for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, Bob would have loved for you to make a gift to the children of Childhav­en Child Home, 1816 Childhaven Road NE, Cullman, AL 35055, as he had a deep compas­sion for these children.

Bob’s impact was pro­found, and his memo­ry will continue to in­spire all who knew him.

Shirley Carole Darby, 84

Shirley Carole Darby, 84, of Florence, passed away August 23rd, 2024. Her visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Monday, August 26th, at Morrison Funer­al Home – Florence. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 27th, at Morrison Funeral Home. Burial will be in Wesley Chapel Cemetery.

Shirley was a member and Sunday School Teach­er at Central Heights Bap­tist Church, a member of the Central Heights Ci­vitan Club, and an active member of the Lauder­dale County RSVP. Shir­ley graduated from the University of Alabama with her BS in Education and from the University of North Alabama with a Masters of Library Sci­ence. She worked with the youth, Senior’s Sunday School class, and played the organ for many years at Wesley Chapel, and more recently played the piano at Pleasant Hill Church. She was a teach­er and librarian at Central High School for 34 years where she acquired many lasting friends. She was inducted into the Delta Kappa Gamma chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu where she served as Treasurer from 1992-1996. She was an avid lover of Rook, roses, the Crimson Tide, singing in the choir, tend­ing to her garden, serving her community, spend­ing time with family, and teaching the gospel.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Virgil Wayland Darby; infant son, John Michael Darby; parents, Thomas and Lois Sher­er; brother, Carl Douglas Sherer; and sisters-in-law, Frankie Sue Sherer and Barbara Nell Sherer. She is survived by her sons Tim Darby (Laura) and Jack Darby (Tiffany); brothers, Tom Sherer, Jimmy Sher­er, and Hugh Sherer (Di­ane); sister-in-law, Carol Anne Sherer; grandchil­dren, Alyssa Crow (Zach), Ashlyn Darby, Anna Dar­by, Peyton Shelby, Ryan Davis, Blake Gallien (Josie), Houston Gallien, Britton Gallien, and Isa­bella Gallien; and numer­ous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Allen Long, Ralph Long, Jason Copeland, Bobby Patterson, Scott Austin, Russell Swindle, Gary Irons, and Wendell Irons.

Honorary pallbearers are Frankie Willard, Eu­gene Morris, Danny Wy­lie and Richard Wylie.

Special thank you to the staff at Helen Keller Hospital and Amedisys Hospice. Memorial con­tributions may be made to Shoals Scholar Dollars.

Micheal Loyd Hillyard, 82

Micheal Loyd Hillyard, 82, Muscle Shoals, passed away on Thursday, Au­gust 22, 2024. A grave­side service will be held on Sunday, August 25, at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Muscle Shoals, beginning at 1:00 p.m. with Bro. J.D. Harrison officiating.

Micheal was a retired veteran of the US Navy, serving twenty years of active duty. He later re­tired from Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. Michael was a longtime mem­ber of Ford City Baptist Church. He was preced­ed in death by his par­ents, Buddie and Florence Hillyard; brother, Bar­ney Hillyard; and infant sister, Wanda Hillyard.

Micheal is survived by his loving wife of six­ty-one years, Mavis Hill­yard; daughter, Anna El­liott (Tommy); brother, Buddie Hillyard; sister, Brenda Stone; grand­children, Doug Elliott and Alan Elliott (Bran­dy); great-grandchil­dren, Amber Willis and Lilly Elliott; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

The family offers spe­cial thanks to the nurses and staff of Enhabit Home Health and Hospice.

James Ollie “Bud”

Thrasher, 79

James Ollie “Bud” Thrasher, 79, of Flor­ence, passed away Thurs­day, August 22, 2024. There will be a memo­rial service at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27, at Morrison Funeral Home, Central Heights with Ed Thrasher officiating.

Bud was a retired equipment operator with the City of Florence and was preceded in death by his wife, Lurleen Thrash­er; parents, James and Velma Thrasher; and sis­ters, Ethel Forsythe, Bet­ty Simpson, and Edna Roberson; and brother-in-law, Bobby Givens.

Bud is survived by his children, Angela Winters and Amanda Thrasher; brother, Ed Thrasher (Na­tasha); sisters, Margaret Chaney (Larry) and La­vinia Givens; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers are Randy Givens, Sam­my Givens, Stanley Giv­ens, and Jimmy Cassel.

Van Troy

Keeton, 67

Van Troy Keeton, 67, Killen, passed away on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. No services will be held at this time.

Van was preceded in death by his parents, May­nard and Lula Keeton; and brothers, Charles, Leon, Ed, and Mack Keeton.

He is survived by his children, Todd Keeton and Heather Kate Larimore; brother, Calvin Keeton; sisters, Joe Ann Mathis, Helen Johnson, Mabel Reaves, and Ethel Keeton; and grandchildren, Tegan Keeton and Tatum Keeton.

The family would like to thank caregivers, Shei­la Keeton, Affinity Hos­pice, Shea and Lesa, and Don Heinkel’s office.

Edith Aline Noble Medford

Edith Aline Noble Medford went to join her Lord on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Visitation will be Sunday, August 25, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia. A memorial service will immediately follow in the funeral home chapel with Tom Sibley officiating. Interment will be in Harris Chap­el Cemetery, Cherokee.

Edith was born on July 1, 1926, near Cherokee, Alabama, and lived there in Colbert County until she and her husband moved to Threets Crossroads in Lauderdale County. She lived the last nine years of her life in Florence.

Edith was a member of Liberty Baptist Church. She often shared stories of her life growing up in the 20s, 30s, and beyond. She married her high school sweetheart, Ed, in 1942. She lived through the Great Depression, WWII, food rationing, and the Covid Pandem­ic. Those struggles made her stronger and she al­ways lived her life as a faithful child of God.

Edith had a passion for gardening – flowers and vegetables – and loved all of God’s creatures. She worked as a cosmetolo­gist after earning her li­cense at Ray’s University.

No one ever left her house hungry. She was an amazing cook. The Ed and Edith Medford home was filled with unconditional love. And many families in the area of Medford’s Grocery knew they could get the food they needed, regardless if they had the money to pay for them or not. Edith lived a life of kindness, love, and com­passion. Every time she talked to God, which was daily, she only prayed for “enough”. Not money or possessions, but only “enough” to get what she needed to survive.

Edith was preceded in death by her devoted hus­band of fifty-six years, Paul Estes “Ed” Medford; her parents, Nora and Ben­ford Noble; brothers, Roy Noble (Mattie) and Wilm­er Noble (Doris); and son-in-law, Roger Clark.

Edith is survived by her daughter, Sherry, St. John Clark; adopted grand­daughter, Vicky Zhang in China, who loved her Mimi very much; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Bor­den, Johnny Borden, Ron Medford, Tinker Boyd, and Tommy Phillips.

In lieu of flowers, me­morials may be made to Lauderdale Coun­ty Animal Shelter.

Tony Lamar

Foster, 68

Tony Lamar Foster, 68, Muscle Shoals, passed away on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Visitation will be Friday, August 23, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia. The funeral service will be Saturday, August 24, in the funer­al home chapel, begin­ning at 10:00 a.m., with Bro. Roger Watson of­ficiating. Interment will be in Tri-Cities Memo­rial Gardens, Florence.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Cora Lee Foster; wife, Jacqueline L. Foster; and siblings, Jerome Foster, Jackie Foster, and Ann Foster.

He is survived by his children, Todd Lamar Foster (Tara) and Lisha Renee Murphy (Chuck); brother, Mike Foster (Amanda); sister, Kay Kaldem (George); and grandchildren, Tyler Fos­ter (Kayla), Kaitlin Foster (Andy), and Levi Murphy.

Pallbearers will be Todd Foster, Chuck Mur­phy, Mike Foster, Jarred Swinea, Chad Knusten, and Levi Murphy.

Special thanks go to Alabama Hospice of the Shoals, especial­ly Heather; and care­givers, Tonya, Ruth, Wanda, and LaDonna.

Kathy Lynn

Wilson Brewer, 63

Kathy Lynn Wilson Brewer, 63, Sheffield, passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2024. The funeral service will be Sunday, August 25, at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Tuscumbia.

Kathy was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Howard “Bo” Brewer, Sr.; parents, Claude O. and Ruthie Lee Wilson; brothers, Sonny Brackin, Larry Wilson, and John Wilson; sister, Dorothy Darovich; niec­es, Kelly Darovich and Tracey Saunders; and nephew, Jim Darovich.

Kathy is survived by her children, Dennis Howard “B.J.” Brewer, Jr. (Brittany Ruckman), Adam Christopher Brew­er, and Julie Hayes (To­bin); brothers, Claude Wilson (Nancy), Steve Wilson (Peggy), and Kenneth Wilson (Ann); sisters, Connie Backus and Peggy Wolford; and grandchildren, Katelynn, Devin, and Baby Brewer.

Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

Dolores “Dee” Carroll Taylor, 97

Dolores “Dee” Car­roll Taylor, 97, Florence, passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2024. Visi­tation will be Thursday, August 22, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscum­bia. The funeral service will immediately follow in the funeral home chap­el with Dr. Barry Flem­ing of York Bluff Baptist Church officiating. Inter­ment will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Sheffield.

Dee grew up in West Texas during the Depres­sion. She had a very hap­py childhood and attended North Texas State before meeting the love of her life, Bill Carroll, after he returned from serving in the Navy during World War II. Dee supported Bill as he pursued a de­gree in wildlife biology at Texas A&M, and together they lived in Yellowstone Park, Oklahoma, and Ten­nessee, finally settling in Sheffield in 1964, where Bill rose to head of Fisher­ies and Wildlife for TVA.

As a Sunday School teacher for young adults during the tumultuous 60s and 70s, Dee found her calling as a family counselor. She touched many lives at First Bap­tist Church, Sheffield, the Yokefellow Ministry and the Riverbend Center for Mental Health. After Bill passed, she became the wise and loving matri­arch for her family, and found companionship lat­er in life with her second husband, Roger Taylor, moving to Phil Camp­bell to join him there.

A member of First Bap­tist Church, Phil Camp­bell, Dee was preceded in death by her husbands, Bill and Roger; parents, Frank and Exa Witcher; son, Bobby Carroll; grandson, Spencer Christian Carroll; and brother, Dale Witcher.

Dee is survived by her sons, Ron Carroll (Gail) and Ricky Carroll (Vicki); daughter-in-law, Shari Carroll; sister, Joyce Hunt; sisters-in-law, Peg­gy Davis and Zelda Car­roll; stepson, Dale Taylor (Gail); grandchildren, Lindsey Carroll, Josh Carroll, Clay Carroll, Av­ery Carroll, Ivy Carroll, and Will Carroll; and sev­en great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Clay Carroll, Will Carroll, Dal­ton Broussard, Mark Da­vis, Timothy Demorse, and Mark McCleary. Greg Hildreth, Dick Mc­Cutchen, and Horace Cleveland will serve as honorary pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, do­nations can be made to Ronald McDonald House or the Riverbend Cen­ter for Mental Health.

Michael Timothy Coan, 66

Michael Timothy Coan, 66, of Leighton, AL passed away on Wednes­day, August 21, 2024. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 26, 2024 from 5-7 p.m. at Colbert Memorial Chapel. Service will be held on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at 11 a.m. in the chapel. Burial will be in Hopewell Cemetery.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ther­on Coan and Shelby Coan; brother. Gregory Coan; niece, Misty Matlock.

He is survived by his sister, Debbie Coan Matlock (Robert Camp­bell); four nieces.