William 'Earl' Jaquess

Funeral services for Mr. William "Earl' Jaquess, age 79, will be held Sunday, February 4th at 2:00 p.m. at the Cookeville chapel of Hooper and Huddleston Funeral Home. Interment with military honors will follow at Smith Chapel Cemetery. Tennessee Army National Guard Funeral Detail with Matt McClanahan officiating, Sarah Tooley will share her gift of song and David Stockton and Tracy Swack will be speaking.

His family will receive friends Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home.

Mr. Jaquess passed quickly February 1st, 2024, after three long years fighting with dementia. He was born November 13, 1944 in Cookeville, TN to the late Cecil and Wilene Jaquess. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Claude and Lucy Jaquess, his maternal grandparents Terry and Betty Martin, his parents William Cecil Jaquess and Wilene Martin Jaquess, two of his sisters; Janice Swack Bohannon, Wilma Ward, his great nephew Avery Swack Welch, his close cousin Tommy Jaquess. His beloved Dachshund, Brownie.

He is survived by his sisters Elaine Clark and Wanda (Kenny) Stover of Algood; several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and three great-great nephews. Not to mention neighbors and the many who shared a meal with him at O’Charley’s. Also his church family at Mt. Union United Methodist Church where he was a member.

He graduated Algood High School with honors in 1962. He served 4 years in the United States Air Force and retired from his lifetime career with the National Guard as a Supply Sergeant. His military achievements included Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (5th award), Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (2nd award), Noncommissioned Officers Professional, Development Ribbon with numeric 3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas ribbon(2nd award).

Mr. Jaquess was known by most as Earl or Uncle Bill, he continued his life of service after retirement as caretaker of Smith’s Chapel Cemetery, Cookeville History Museum volunteer, Putnam County Election Commission, providing many with vegetables from his meticulously kept garden that he raised at his beloved home on Dry Valley Road where he lived for over 50 years.

Earl never married or had children of his own but he in fact helped raise and care for numerous families and children through the years, his home provided shelter to many when they had nowhere else to turn.

Earl lived his life with an extremely admirable trait, he never saw the color of a person but always addressed everyone equally. He also had a mind that unfortunately took so much information with it. His years of genealogical research was remarkable.

His actions while having dementia were out of character, it is with great comfort that he can return now to the man he was.

Active pallbearers will be Reed Cass, Zoey Welch, Roger Phillips, Matthew Phillips, Shawn Clark and Rick Adkins. Honorary pallbearers will be Board of Trustee’s of the Smith Chapel Cemetery.

The family request donations in lieu of flowers to be made to Smith Chapel Cemetery ℅ Kristi Langford, 7690 Smith Chapel Rd. Cookeville, TN 38501 and/or Mt. Union United Methodist Church 17615 Dodson Branch Rd., Cookeville, TN 38501.

Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111. Share memories and condolences at www.hhhfunerals.com.