Thamer W Kersey

Thamer W. (“Thumper”) Kersey, 93, a long time resident of Cleveland, went to his heavenly home on Monday, January 24, 2011 at a local nursing facility, with his family by his side. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lucy Kersey Miles; stepfather, V.A. Miles and an infant great-grandson. He was a farmer all of his life, worked for many years at the Cleveland Enamel Plant and was a milk truck driver for over 30 years. He took great pride in planting and harvesting a vegetable garden each year. He was well respected in the Chilcutt community. He was a devoted father and family man and will be dearly missed. He was of the Baptist faith. He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Ortha Carson Kersey; sons and daughters-in-law: Wayne and Cordelia Kersey, George and Janice Kersey, and Jackie and Ruth Ann Kersey; two daughters and son-in-law, Betty and Louis Finnell and Nancey Kersey all of Cleveland, TN; grandchildren: Mitzi (Gary) Womac, Lori (Brian) Perrin, Holly (Ryan) Ulrich, Wendy (Mario) Santos, Greg (Angela) Kersey, Tammy (Clint) Ledford and Melanie Kersey and eight great-grandchildren: Taylor and Brittany Womac, Devin and Shelby Kersey, Zachary and Kevin Ulrich, Chloe Ledford and Maddisen Santos; one sister and brother-in-law, Juanita and W.H. McSpadden of Lafayette, GA; one nephew, David McSpadden of Wayland, MI; several cousins, and close family friend, Mickey Johnson of Cleveland, TN. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 28, 2011 in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Reverend Danny Arp and Pastor Jerry Millwood officiating. Interment will follow in Chilcutt Cemetery with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service. Greg Kersey, Devin Kersey, Taylor Womac, David Calfee, David Wright and Christopher Lowe serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Zachary Ulrich, Kevin Ulrich, Maddisen Santos, Larry Goins, Jimmy Wright and Jimmy Headrick. The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 27, 2011 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Chilcutt Cemetery Fund, 263 Wright Lane, NE, Cleveland, TN 37323 or to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416. We invite you to send a message of condolence or view the Kersey family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.