Stella Cheek Buckner

Stella Cheek Buckner, 85, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Monday, May 25, 2009 at the family residence. Mrs. Buckner was a member of the Board of Directors and co-founder of Murphy-Buckner Funeral Home, Buckner Funeral Home and Ralph Buckner Funeral Homes of Cleveland. She was a member of First Baptist Church, and the Eastern Star. Mrs. Buckner was the daughter of the late Taylor and Alice Cheek and was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Ralph Buckner, Sr., one brother, William Troy Cheek, and three sisters Laura Cheek Harbison, Cara Cheek Curtis, and Nancy Sue Cheek Bates. Survivors include Becky Buckner, Linda and David Hunt, Judy and Sonny Harvey and Ralph Buckner, Jr. and Chari all of Cleveland; grandchildren: Amy and Tim Williams of Knoxville, Eric and Kimberly Neff of Jacksonville, Florida, Jacen and Renee Hunt, Holly and Jonathan Schultz, Paul Harvey, Ralph Brandon Buckner, III, Shipley Buckner, Stella Buckner and Paris Buckner all of Cleveland; great grandchildren: Luke Hunt and Madeline Schultz; and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life service will be conducted at 1 pm Wednesday, May 27, at First Baptist Church with Reverend Allan Lockerman and Reverend Max Morris officiating. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with the Reverend Jim Gibson officiating. Mrs. Buckner will lie in state one hour prior to the service in the church. A gathering of friends will take place Tuesday, May 26, from 4pm – 7pm at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home, 3000 Ralph Buckner Blvd. Pallbearers are Ralph Brandon Buckner III, Jacen Hunt, Eric Neff, Paul Harvey, Jackie Buckner, Lauren McDonald, Chris Mayberry, and Kirk Barrett. Honorary Pallbearers are staff and family members of Ralph Buckner Funeral Homes, West Tennessee Funeral Associates, Northeast Georgia Funeral Associates, Evergreen Services, Cross Consultants, Batesville Casket Company and Forethought Financial Services. Memorials may be made to any of the following: Ralph Buckner, Sr. Foundation, 3000 Ralph Buckner Blvd. Cleveland, TN 37311; United Way of Bradley County, 85 Ocoee St. S.E., Cleveland, TN 37311; First Baptist Church Building Fund, 340 Church St., Cleveland, TN 37311; World Wide Prayer Partners, PO Box 2276, Cleveland, TN 37320. Please view and sign the family?s guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.