Edell Hearn

Funeral services for Dr. Edell M. Hearn, 86, of Cookeville, will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, at Cookeville First United Methodist Church with Rev. Whitney Mitchell officiating, Entombment with military honors will follow at Crest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 4 - 7 p.m. at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home and Wednesday from 3 p.m. until service time at the church. Cookeville Masonic Lodge #266 F&AM will conduct a Masonic Memorial Service Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Dr. Hearn passed away Sunday morning, July 24, 2016 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born October 3, 1929 in Watertown ,TN to the late Will Ray and Verna Tillie Midgett Hearn. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Lynn Hearn; and sister, Iris Gonsalves. Dr Hearn was a member of Cookeville First United Methodist Church and a US Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. After serving, Dr. Hearn taught graduate and undergraduate courses at South High School and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He came to Tennessee Tech in 1958 as a visiting professor and returned in 1961 after establishing the student teaching program at University of Tennessee-Martin. He served as the Dean of The College of Education at Tennessee Tech University for 31 years. He was a strong man of faith that loved to recite poetry and demonstrated compassion to everyone he met. A teacher at heart, former students will remember his professional wisdom while his family will treasure the life lessons he passed on to them. He was a past member of the Cookeville Evening Lions Club and member of Cookeville Masonic Lodge #266 F&AM. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jeanette Weaver Hearn (whom he married April 19, 1952 in Knoxville, TN); three daughters and sons-in-law, Janna and Ron Chambers of Cookeville, Valerie and Larry Pitman of Murfreesboro, TN; Kaydell and Danny Smith of Cookeville; six grandchildren, Joshua (Kelsey) Reese, Caleb (Brittany) Reese, Nick Pitman, Laurel Pitman, Addie Smith, and Drake Smith. Active pallbearers are Dr. Hearn's sons-in-law and grandsons. Honorary Pallbearers will be Hal Denton, Stanley Clinton, Randy Dalton, Sherwell Tolleson, Frank Tittle, Larry Peach, and John Wheeler. Memorial contributions may be made to Dean Edell Hearn Teacher Education Scholarship Fund at Tennessee Tech University, P.O. Box 1915, Cookeville, TN 38505. Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (931)526-6111. You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.