Sanford Oren Ware, 89, of Athens, died Friday, Sept. 3, 2004.

A native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, he was a son of the late Horace and Elizabeth Gentry Ware. A member of East Athens Baptist Church and a former Sunday school director, he enjoyed singing and leading singing at the church and the McMinn Senior Activity Center. He had been a member of various quartets and was a retired supervisor at Mayfield’s Dairy after 35 years of service.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Thelma Mae Gravitt Ware of Athens; three sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Carole Ware of Athens, Glenn and Prissey Ware of Athens, Ga., and Larry and Terry Ware of Knoxville; one brother, Paul Ware of Athens; six grandchildren; five great-granchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were 3 p.m. Sunday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Pete Mullins and the Rev. Arliss Slack officiating. Burial followed in Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Active pallbearers were Bill Cox, Johnny Cox, Don Gravitt, Tommy Sanders, Allen Swafford and Donald Vaughn. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Leon Roy Sunday School Class of East Athens Baptist Church.

The family received friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to East Athens Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 446, Athens, TN 37371-0446.

Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home of Athens was in charge of arrangements.

Source:  New Page 1 – RootsWeb – Ancestry.com, www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnmcmin3/McMinnCoObitsDPASep2004.ht