Class Notes

Passed on Nov 4, 2015.

Hilda Virginia Roberts Walker, age 90, passed away Wednesday, March 6, at Blount Memorial Transitional Care Center. She was a member of New Providence Presbyterian Church, the Chilhowee Club and Chairwoman for the Maryville Housing Authority. She was preceded in death by husband of 65 years, Donald Greer Walker; son, Donald Gary Walker; and parents, Jackson and Essie Taylor Roberts. Survivors include her son, T. Rob Walker and wife, Michel; granddaughters, Sarah W. Delpy and husband, J.J., Shelby W. McCulla and husband, Johnathan and Robi Walker. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home with the service to follow at 7 p.m. Family and friends will meet at 10 a.m. Monday, at Big Springs Cemetery for the interment service. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, 865-982-6812, www.mccammonammonsclick.com.

Helen Hair Weston passed away on December 12, 2015.

Mary Annis (Ann) Beals Williams passed away October 31, 2018. She was born and raised on a rural dairy farm in the lowlands of eastern Tennessee, on land that is now underwater and owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority, Mary Annis was the eldest of three children. She left Tennessee and lived in Pakistan and Ethiopia (each for a couple of years) before settling in the Washington, DC, area. She was married twice – and divorced twice. She enjoyed being single and remained so for the last 36 years or her life. Ann was a brilliant artist, writer, and poet. It was believed that she was blessed with synesthesia because she would talk about the taste of words and how colors sounded. She never took an art class yet always needed to be working on one of her projects. She was a fabulous painter but never sold her art. It was believed to be a kind of therapy for her or perhaps a type of active meditation. When asked about any of her work, she often quoted the novelist Ann Patchett: “I’m a bit like a turtle. Once I drop that egg, I crawl away. It doesn’t cross my mind again. Ann’s art resides with her daughter, Jennifer. An art collection that spans decades and represents segments of her Mom’s life when she was her happiest. Her technique was the result of several of her favorite endeavors: spending time alone, using what is found in one’s own paintbox, and rejoicing in how light plays with us – and returns to us each day. On Leaves and Leaving All fall I watched the fading, preening leaves In costumed clumps and spunky single acts Perform above waiving throngs of shadow. Then one day, as if on cue – holding hands, They staged the ancient revels unrehearsed – Joining its grounded twin in nothingness. And I thought: Not a bad plan for leaving. Maybe the end is not black after all But dappled light and flowing color, so Beautiful, so intense that we are glad To close our eyes, fix tight on memories And ddrop silently into the long, long Continuum of chroma. – Ann Williams (1926-2018)

Paul Abt Yambert, 95, passed away recently in Nixa. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, to Dale William (“Dale”) Yambert Sr. and Pauline (Abt) Yambert. His older brother was Dale William (“Bill”) Yambert Jr.

Paul attended Central High School in Fountain City, near Knoxville, Tennessee, and then went to nearby Maryville College. Growing up in east Tennessee, Pop developed a strong attachment to the Great Smoky Mountains, where he became an avid hiker and camper. His deep interest in the natural world led him in 1948 to enroll at the University of Michigan, which offered the nation’s first courses in forestry. He graduated with a degree in forestry, followed by a master’s degree in conservation.

Paul met Carla Wikstrom in a botany class at Michigan. They married at her parents’ house in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and had five children: Carl (aka Karl), Nels, Laura, Jon, and Jens(Jay).

Paul served as a professional Boy Scout leader and then taught biology at Ann Arbor High School. In 1957, the Yambert family moved to Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where Paul taught forestry at what was then called Central State College (it is now the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point). Even in his new job, Paul was able to finish a second master’s degree and a doctorate from Michigan. In 1961 he became the first dean of the new School of Applied Arts and Sciences at the Stevens Point campus. He would also serve as acting dean for fine arts and acting vice-president of academic affairs, and he was recognized with the outstanding faculty member award. He was instrumental in gaining accreditation for a new Department of Natural Resources at Stevens Point. In 1969 Paul took a new position at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, where he taught until his retirement in 1987.

Surrounded by four generations of his family, Paul happily celebrated turning 95 shortly before he died. He was preceded in death by his brother Bill and sons Nels and Jay. He is survived by Carla, his wife of more than 72 years, son Karl (Helen), daughter Laura (Vern), and son Jon (Connie), as well as eighteen grandchildren and nineteen (and counting) great-grandchildren.

Jack Conley Young, 94, of Oak Ridge, passed away on September 17, 2018, at Canterfield of Oak Ridge. Jack was born June 12, 1924, in Murphy, North Carolina, to parents James Molton Young and Blanche Conley Young. Jack graduated from Maryville College in 1950 and, in 1959, he graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a master’s degree. As a member of First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge, he was active with the choir, as well as being a Sunday school teacher. Jack served in the U.S. Navy during WWII in the Pacific and later in the Korean Conflict. He was an avid car enthusiast, was past President of East Tennessee Antique Auto Club, enjoying collecting and restorations. Jack enjoyed living at Canterfield, participating in many of their activities, and enjoyed fellowship with his friends at McDonald’s breakfast. Preceding him in death were his parents; daughter, Diane Young Roberts and her husband Dean; son-in-law, Raymond Whitley; and his siblings, Wilma Carroll, James M. Young, Jr., and Iris Louise Young. He is survived by son, John Young of Oak Ridge; daughters, Carolyn Sue Young Whitley of Signal Mountain, TN, Jane Young Phillips and husband Howard of Eighty-four, PA, Dottie Young Kelly and husband Mike of Knoxville and Catherine Young Whitt and husband Wilby of Fernandina Beach, FL; 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Canterfield, as well as to Amedisys Hospice for their caring concern for their father. The graveside service was at Clark’s Grove Cemetery, 3217 William Mills Road, Maryville. An online guest book may be signed at weatherfordmortuary.com.