Class Notes

age 96, passed away peacefully on Oct. 26, 2012, in San Angelo, Texas. Margaret was born on June 23, 1916, in Rotan, Texas to John Verrell and Fannie Mae Hellums. Margaret grew up in Rotan and attended and graduated from public schools there. She moved to Waxahachie to attend Trinity University and in her sophomore year, transferred to Maryville, Tenn. to attend Maryville College. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Domestic Science in 1937, and returned back to Rotan to teach school. After living and teaching in Rotan for two years, Margaret relocated with one of her older sisters to Martinez, Calif. to work for the War department in a factory manufacturing punch cards prior to and during World War II. After the war’s end she returned to Rotan to help her mother in the family grocery business. In 1947, she met and married Oliver Earl Cooper and from that union had one child, David Cooper, also of San Angelo. In 1954, she moved to Big Spring, Texas to be closer to her niece, June Anne Day Gustafson, and accepted a job as an elementary education teacher there. Over the next three years, Margaret taught school during the school year and during the summer she attended the University of Texas in Austin to complete her Masters Degree in Elementary Education. In August of 1957, she completed her MEd in Elementary Education. After teaching elementary school for four additional years, Margaret again returned to college at Texas Tech University in Lubbock to receive her certification as a teacher for the developmentally disabled children. She taught in special education from 1964 until her retirement in June 1976. Upon retirement from the Big Spring Independent School District, Margaret sought an addendum to her teaching career in New Mexico, teaching in both middle and elementary school in Albuquerque, N.M. from July 1976, through August 1979. Missing Texas and her friendships in Big Spring, Margaret returned to Big Spring and resumed her lifelong involvement in the Presbyterian Church there. It was there that she met, again, the man that she had called a friend since the first day she relocated from Rotan to Big Spring, R. Gage Lloyd. They spent 15 marvelous years together until his death in 1994. It was ten years later in 2004, when Margaret started on her last adventure and moved to San Angelo, Texas to be closer to her son, David. Margaret was a faithful Presbyterian all her life, attending church in Stamford, Texas after the Presbyterian church in Rotan closed and then in California while working there, attending First Presbyterian Church in Big Spring from 1954 until 1976; 1979 through 2004 and in Albuquerque, N.M. from 1976 through 1979 and finally at St. Paul Presbyterian Church in San Angelo from 2004 until her passing. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, John Verrell and Fannie Mae Hellums; a younger sister, Frances John Hellums; brother J. Verrell Hellums; and two older sisters, Mabel Hellums Prater and Ruby Hellums Hansard. She is survived by her son, Dr. David Cooper and partner Calvin Champion of San Angelo; younger sister Sara Lee Hellums Kramer of Knoxville, Tenn.; her younger brother, Dr. J. David Hellums and wife Marilyn of Houston; grandson William Clayton of Bruge, Belgium; granddaughter Tabitha Jurene and husband Shawn Dunn of Santa Barbara, Calif.; great-granddaughter Samantha Dunn of Santa Barbara, Calif. Margaret is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and her dear friend, Ethel Champion of Cross Plains and, more recently, San Angelo.

CROSS Donald L. Cross Sr., 97 went to be with his Lord on July 6, 2013 in Jacksonville, FL. He was born November 14, 1915 in Gold Hill, NC. Donald spent his childhood in Baden, NC and Maryville, TN and moved to Jacksonville in 1940. He married Sally McLendon on July 31, 1942 and was a member of the Southside Baptist Church for 60 years. He earned a Bachelor of Arts, Maryville College in 1937 and a Masters at the University of Florida in 1952. Donald served in the U.S. Navy for six years and was in WWII from 1940-1945 where he was honorably discharged with the rank of Lt. Commander. He did play professional baseball before and after WWII and managed teams in the New York Giants and Cleveland Indians minor league system. Donald was also a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal in the Duval county school system for 30 years at Jackson High School, Paxon High School and John Gorrie Jr. High School. He was an avid golfer and also a member of the Woodstock Masonic Lodge. He is survived by his wife of 70 years Sally, two sons Donald Jr., Lake Mary, FL, Christopher, Ft. Myers, FL, 7 grandchildren Dana Wolfe, Advance, NC, Candace Vandegrift, San Diego, CA, Robin DeMasi, Gainesville, FL, Jeff Cross, Boston, MA, Isabelle, Jackson and Porter Cross, Lake Mary, FL, 7 great-grandchildren Colton Story, Coronado, CA, Madelyn and Nicholas DeMasi, Gainesville, FL, Lillian and Jared Wolfe, Advance, NC, Morgan and Kyle Cross, Cape Coral, FL.

99, of Chattanooga, died Tuesday, April 28, 2015, in a local health care center. A graduate of Central High School, she attended Maryville College. Betty was a member of the Hickory Valley Garden Club for more than 50 years serving in many offices including four terms as President and was President of the Chattanooga Council of Garden Clubs and an officer of the Tennessee State Garden Clubs. She was also a member of the Chattanooga Kiwanis Womens Auxiliary and had served as President as well as other offices. She was a member of Brainerd United Methodist Church for more than seventy years, the Circle Nine and the Wesley Caudle Sunday school class and had served as one of the class teachers for more than fifty years. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Holston Harrison Jr.; son, John Holston Harrison III; and parents, Nicholas and Estella Proper. Survivors are her daughter, Sharon (William) Ludwig, Ooltewah; son, Joseph Stanley Harrison, Chattanooga; granddaughters, Michelle (Chad) Herring and Alison (Steve) Brown; three great-grandchildren, Emma Elizabeth Wiginton, Aubrey Anne Herring and Jacob Alexander Wiginton; nephews, James F. (Marian) Steffner and Thomas E. (Sue) Steffner. Graveside services was held Friday, May 1 at 3 p.m. in Forest Hills Cemetery with the Rev. Genevieve DeHoog and the Rev. Dennis H. Flaugher officiating. Honorary pallbearers were Hickory Valley Garden Club and Brainerd United Wesley Caudle Sunday school Class. Memorial contributions may be made to Brainerd United Church or Hospice of Chattanooga. The family would like to thank her caregivers, Ken Stevens, Nikki Miller, Linda Culpepper, Hospice of Chattanooga and the staff at Standifer Place (Dalton Towers) 3rd Floor for their love and care.

Samuel Miller Houck (Aug 14, 1915 to Feb 29, 2016), son of George and Fanny Goodman Houck of Rowan County, NC. was a gifted Presbyterian minister who served several congregations in Jacksonville and other churches throughout the southeast as pastor or interim pastor. His faith in a loving God and trust in Him for strength and salvation provided the basis of his love of life, and the source of his boundless energy and eternal optimism. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Eddis Byers Houck, and is survived by two daughters, Patricia Sprinkle of Mableton, GA, and Priscilla Apodaca (Paul) of Ellijay, GA; 5 grandchildren and their spouses, Barnabas Sprinkle (Emi), David Sprinkle, Mary Duncan (Jimmy), Samuel Apodaca (Brooke), and James Apodaca (Sarah); and 9 great grandchildren. A memorial service was held on Tuesday, March 15th at Riverside Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Caring Hands Fund at Presbyterian Village, 2000 E W Connector, Austell, GA 30106.

Passed away December 29, 2015.

Sarah Lois Brown Murphy Maryville, TN – Sarah Lois Brown Murphy passed away peacefully on the morning of December 24, 2020 at the age of 105. Lois was born on May 23, 1915 to Ernest and Jessie Brown. She lived her entire life in Maryville having graduated from Maryville College in 1937. She taught school for two years and served one year as Director of Education for New Providence Presbyterian Church. She and Judson B Murphy married on June 15, 1940 and three years later had their son, Robert J Murphy. Lois was an active member of New Providence Presbyterian Church for 95 years. She served at New Providence as an Elder, head of the primary department of church school, teacher, choir member for many years, a TLC visitor, circle chairman, PWC moderator and served on various committees. She was president of Chilhowee Club, former member of the Maryville College Board of Directors and served on the Blount County Children’s Home Board. Lois lived an active and full life. She enjoyed going on family beach trips into her nineties. She loved spending time with her family, friends, neighbors and church family. Lois’s family is grateful for all the friends and neighbors who visited and loved Lois. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Judson B Murphy, son Robert J Murphy, brother Robert L Brown and nephew David E Brown. She is survived by her granddaughter Lisa Murphy Rotton and her husband Jeffrey Rotton, great grandchildren Kaitlyn and Preston Rotton, nephew Steven C Brown, grandnieces Cheryl and Sandra as well as their children, and many cousins. The memorial service and interment with Rev. Dr. Emily J Anderson officiating, will be held at Grandview Cemetery on Wednesday, February 3rd at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Providence Presbyterian Church or to Maryville College’s Judson B Murphy Endowed Business Award. www.mccammonammonsclick.com 865-982-6812

passed away Tuesday, June 16, 2015. She was born July 5, 1915, in Lushton, Nebraska. Her early years were spent on a cattle ranch at the Black Hills in Wyoming. Most of her growing years were spent in Southern California. She married Harold E. Penhalurick in 1939. They have one child, Alice P. Lindsey. She held degrees in education, religion and the library media field, having attended Pasadena College, Maryville College in Tennessee, Whitworth College, University of Hawaii and University of Washington. She began her career teaching in Idaho and Eastern Washington. From teaching English and business education on the high school level, Ms. Penhalurick took time off to pursue a degree in the library media field. Until she retired in 1976, she served as library media specialist in the Mercer Island School District. During this period in her career, she received several awards and honors, including the Grolier Scholarship of Librarianship, HEW Award, Institute on Asian Studies and a scholarship for the Institute for Library Analyses and Design. Following retirement, she was given the Pacesetters League Award by the Washington Association of Educational Communications and Technology. As a reward for her association with the World Affairs Council of Seattle and her innovative ideas and practices in the library media field, Ms. Penhalurick was given a 10-month sabbatical to make a goodwill tour around the world, visiting and lecturing in 10 countries. While living in Washington, she would vacation in Pacific Beach, Washington. Upon retirement in 1978, she was asked to write articles for a publication entitled “The Beach Guide.” Having a deep rapport and love for the ocean, she then wrote “The Sea and Me.” In the 1980s, she and her husband, Dr. Harold Penhalurick, retired synod executive for the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., would “snowbird” to Golden Village in Hemet. They later moved to The Village. While there, she continued her love of painting. She had several art shows in Hemet. In 1989, she and Harold bought a home in Idyllwild. She loved watching the seasonal changes the mountain presented. Gathering her thoughts about her observations, she wrote “The Mountain and Me” in 2006.

Elizabeth Brimfield Watt, age 102 died February 21, 2018 at The Fountains in Atco, NJ. She was the daughter of the late William and Ella (Russell) Brimfield. She was a graduate of Hammonton High School and Maryville College, a Presbyterian College at Maryville, Tennessee and was a teacher for over 25 years. In 1942, she married J. Robert Watt, a student at Princeton Theological Seminary whom she had met at College. They were married 60 years, Rev. J Robert Watt died in 2002. During their years in the ministry she served as a Sunday School teacher, a Deacon and was involved in Women’s Work. For a number of years she was a volunteer patient advocate at Kessler Hospital in Hammonton. She was a member of the Hammonton Presbyterian Church. She grew up in Hammonton and returned to live here in 1975 and lived in her childhood home until 2000. She moved to the Fountains at Cedar Parke in 2000 where she enjoyed living until her death. She is survived by a son, Stephen R. Watt (Connie) of Todd, N.C. and a daughter Nancy W. Cucciniello (Sam) of Hammonton, NJ. Three grandchildren, S. Robert Watt (Angela) of Winston-Salem, NC, Christopher W. Cucciniello (Lauren) of Vineland, NJ and Stephanie C. Madaris (Tracy) of Albertville, Al., a nephew William W. Brimfield of Manchester, Pa. and 11 great grandchildren.