Obituaries

COONS

Mr. James Ronald Coons, age 76, passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Mr. Coons was born April 13, 1950, in Miami, Fla. to the late James E. and Dorothy N. Jeffries Coons. He proudly served his country as a veteran of the United States Army. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to hard work and service to others. He was employed as a truck driver with Batesville Casket Company for over 18 years, worked for the State of Tennessee for seven years, and later worked in Information Technology for Ascension St. Thomas until his retirement in 2021. He enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies and interests that reflected his adventurous spirit and love of learning. He found great enjoyment in fly fishing, boating, motorcycles, cooking, and kayaking. In recent years, he developed a special interest in Thai cooking and enjoyed exploring new recipes and flavors. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by one stepchild, Donnie Pickard. Mr. Coons is survived by his wife of over 37 years, Donna Lynn Pickard; son, Justin Greg Francis; stepchildren, Beverly (Jim) Smith and Lisa Paul; sister Maxine, who lives in Cuba; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and three loved fur babies, PJ, Bentley and Desi. Visitation with the family was held Friday, May 8, from noon until 2 p.m. at Central Funeral Home. Graveside service and burial was at 2:30 p.m. at Manchester City Cemetery.

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AMOS

Lester Raymond “Ray” Amos, Jr., age 87, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 17, 2026. A devoted husband, father, veteran, and public servant, Ray lived a life defined by honor, hard work, and a deep love for his family. Born in Blakely, Georgia, on Dec. 13, 1938, Ray was the son of the late Lester Raymond Amos, Sr. and Roberta Young Amos. On February 12, 1958, Ray enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served with distinction for twenty years, rising to the rank of Master Sergeant. He was honorably discharged on Feb. 12, 1979, carrying the Marine values of loyalty and discipline with him throughout the rest of his life. Following his military retirement, Ray transitioned into a successful twenty-eight year career with the United States Postal Service. He served faithfully as a Postmaster, beginning in Normandy, Tennessee, continuing in Morrison, and lastly in Belvidere, where he retired. Ray was a well-respected figure in each community he served, known for his reliability and dedication. Outside of his professional life, Ray was a man of many interests. He had a deep passion for genealogy, meticulously tracing and preserving his family’s history. He was a member of Coffee County Historical Society and also served on the Manchester Historic Zoning Commission. Above all, Ray loved to travel. His favorite journeys were those where he could include his grandchildren, creating beautiful memories and sharing his adventurous spirit with the next generations. In addition to his parents, Ray was preceded in death by his brother, Danny Franklin Amos. He leaves behind a large and loving family to cherish his memory. He is survived by his beloved wife, Lori Amos; his three sons, Lester Raymond Amos III (Susan), Stanley Frank Amos, and Derek Lyle Amos (Jennifer); and his daughter, Emily Joy Underwood (James). He is also survived by his sister, Mary Ruth Highsmith; his brother, Barry Lynn Amos; half-brother, Raymond A. Amos (Laura); nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren, all of whom brought immense joy and pride to his life.Visitation for family and friends was held on Wednesday, May 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Manchester Funeral Home. Funeral services were conducted at the funeral home on Thursday at 10 a.m. with Dustin Welch officiating. Burial with full military honors followed at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Tullahoma. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Ray’s honor to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

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