Vanderwall Funeral Home

01/16/2026

There are all types of decisions to be made when planning a burial or cremation, including which type of casket to use. In this quick guide, you?ll learn all about cremation caskets and containers so your family can make decisions with confidence.

Did you know that cremation caskets and cremation containers are a bit different? Check out this quick guide to learn all about it!

01/14/2026

Sharon Marie Wilkey, age 81 of Dayton, passed away at her home on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. She was born in Dayton on September 11, 1944, the daughter of the late John William Beene and Lillian Lucille (McBroom) Beene. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Darrell Austin Wilkey, on December 19, 2025.

Sharon was raised in Graysville before relocating to Dayton in 1963 following her marriage. A graduate of Rhea Central High School, she worked at Dri-Set in Graysville and Kayser-Roth Hosiery in Dayton, and later co-owned and operated Darrell's Texaco in Dayton alongside her husband. She attended two Dayton churches: Foursquare Church (Vine and Branches) and The Grove.

Sharon is survived by her children, Rebecca “Dee” Wilkey of Illinois, Darla (Chris) Smith of Dayton, and Stacey Wilkey of Dayton; her grandsons, Zachary (Caitlynn) Smith of Athens and Matthew Smith of Dayton; her great-granddaughters, Eleanor “Ellie” and Camilla “Millie” Smith; her brother Richard Beene of Chattanooga; and her sister, Johnnie Long of Graysville.

Funeral services for Sharon will be in the funeral home chapel on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 12:00 noon with Rev. Brian Conley officiating. She will be laid to rest with her husband at Rhea Memory Gardens after the service.

Please share your memories and photos of Sharon on her online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com.

The family is being cared for by Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, Tennessee, where they will receive friends one hour before the service.

01/12/2026

John A. Mathis, age 93 of Knoxville, passed away at Ft. Sanders Regional Medical Center on January 11, 2026. He was born in Dayton on October 5, 1932, the son of the late Pearl and Beatrice (Silvers) Mathis. He is also preceded in death by his son, Alan Mathis.

John was born and raised in Dayton before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1949. During his military career, he also served with the U.S. Secret Service and the CIA. Upon his retirement as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1975, he settled in Knoxville. John was of the Baptist faith.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Margaret (Sloggie) Mathis of Knoxville; his sons, Joseph Mathis of Knoxville and Jeffery (Lana) Mathis of Harriman; and his grandsons, Joseph Mathis and Ian Mathis, both of Lenoir City.

A graveside funeral service with full military honors provided by the U.S. Air Force will be held at Pine Crest Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest next to his mother, at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, 2026, with Rev. Mark Hickman officiating.

Please share your memories and photos of John on his online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com.

The family is being cared for by Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, Tennessee.

01/12/2026

01/12/2026

Beverly “Jane” Campbell, age 96 of Evensville, passed away on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Dominion Senior Living in Hixson. She was born on February 2, 1929, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the daughter of the late Harley and Violet (Johannessen) Gustin. She is also preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Campbell.

An accomplished artist with a Master's degree in Humanities, Jane made Evensville Mountain her home in 2009, devoting herself to painting, which was both her love and her life.

Jane is survived by her daughters, Kristine (Dr. Gary) Musgrave of Evensville Mountain, Kathleen (Don) Kinghorn and Jean (Keith) Rankin, both of Idaho; and her numerous grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

She has been laid to rest in Rhea Memory Gardens.

Please share your memories of Jane on her online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com.

The family is being cared for by the Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, TN.

01/11/2026

The start of another year brings with it a sense of newness and a blank slate of sorts.

You probably have goals for the upcoming year, and hopefully, you are creating a game plan to bring you one step closer every day.

If you have space on your list, might we suggest – funeral preplanning! It’s a simple process that doesn’t take a lot of time and is a great gift for your loved ones.

Best wishes for a great year – may it take you places that bring you joy!

01/09/2026

An estate sale company can help you take care of extra items after a loved one?s death. But how do you know whether you should work with a company or host an estate sale yourself? Click here to learn about the pros and cons of working with an estate sale company.

While an estate sale company can help you clean out clutter after a loved one's death, here are a few pros and cons of working with one.

01/09/2026

Florella Grace “Flo” Harvey, age 83 of Pikeville, passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at her home. She was born on September 10, 1942, in Chattanooga, the daughter of the late Ollie and Virgie (Smith) Mears. She is also preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Donald Ray Harvey; her daughters, Sharon Fuson and Lorinda Elser; and her brothers, James Edward Mears and Bernard Mears.

She made Dayton her home for 35 years before retiring from Suburban Manufacturing, where she dedicated her career as a Press Operator. She was an avid reader who also enjoyed spending time exploring local yard sales and was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Flo is survived by her daughter, Donna (Brian) Powell of Dayton Mountain; her grandchildren, Emma (James) Wilson of Dayton Mountain, Ray Fuson of Dayton Mountain, Nicholas Fusion of Dayton Mountain, Ducky (Trinity) Elser of Brayton Mountain, Abby Fuson of Dayton Mountain, Lorissa (Tyler) Lawson of Brayton Mountain, Travis Fuson of Dayton Mountain, and Robin Fuson of Dayton Mountain; her sisters, Imogene (Ed) Hughes of Dayton Mountain and Cassie Creasman of Dayton; her brother, Ollie Mears, Jr. of Dayton, and her dear close friends, Annie Dotson and Sylvia Powell.

The funeral service for Flo will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026, in the funeral home chapel with her family and Ed Hughes officiating.

Please share your memories of Flo on her online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com.

The family is being cared for by the Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, TN, where they will receive friends one hour before the service.

01/06/2026

Michelle Suzanne Sanderlin, age 65 of Dayton, passed away at Rhea Medical Center on Friday, January 2, 2026. She was born in Dayton on November 23, 1960, the daughter of the late John and Patricia (Wooten) Sanderlin. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Rysom Sanderlin; and her aunt, Sharon Patten.

Michelle spent most of her life in Dayton, where she served as a weigh station attendant for the Tennessee Department of Transportation and worked as a cashier at Walmart. She found joy in staying connected with family, cooking, and working on puzzles. Above all, Michelle cherished her faith community at Grace Bible Church.

She is survived by her son, Ronnie Sanderlin; her sister, Patricia (Bobby) Riley; her brother, Lawrence Sanderlin; and her cousin, Lori Creasman, all of Dayton.

A celebration of Michelle’s life will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Grace Bible Church with Rev. Jim Woychuk officiating. She was laid to rest at Our Father’s Resting Place in Dayton.

Please share your memories and photos of Michelle on her online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com.

The family is being cared for by Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, Tennessee.

01/05/2026

The loss of a loved one brings with it many hardships, but we’re here to make things a little easier on you.

While we can’t take away your pain and grief, we can ensure that you receive the support and care you need during a trying time.

Watch this brief video with Nancy to hear about her personal experience with us. You aren't alone. We'll be there for you every step of the way.

01/02/2026

After the loss of a loved one, many deep and complicated emotions come to the surface. But how do you know if what you or a loved one feels is grief or the beginnings of depression? Check out this article for information on the similarities and differences, symptoms to look out for, and more insights for the grief journey.

Not sure what the difference is between grief & depression? Click to learn more info about symptoms, similarities, differences, and more.