PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn — 19 people lost their lives when a tornado swept through Putnam County early in the morning on Tuesday, March 3.
Family and friends shared memories and photos of them with us.
We are working to learn more about them from loved ones. This article will be updated as more stories and images are shared.
Todd & Sue Koehler
The couple was married in Sept. 2017. Sue was a Walmart store manager in Algood.
Terry & Dawson Curtis
Family and friends said the 54-year-old father and 6-year-old son both loved softball and baseball. Terry was described as a big teddy bear, and Dawson was described as "mean as a snake but sweet as can be." The mother, Jennifer Curtis, and their other son, Easton Curtis, are still hospitalized at Erlanger, according to family friends.
Joshua, Erin & Sawyer Kimberlin
Father, mother & son. Friends started a GoFundMe to cover their funeral expenses. Josh was a mechanical engineer. Erin was a second grade teacher at Algood Elementary.
Erin's father Rodney Pitts tells 10News he is “devastated and undone.”
“All I’ve done is cry all day,” he said.
He said they were all people of great faith.
Sawyer is their only grandchild, he turned 2 over the weekend. He used to call Pitts "mumps” instead of grumps because he couldn’t pronounce the g.
Keith & Cathy Selby
We are working to learn more about these people.
Jessica Clark
She was involved with the Cookeville FFA and Putnam County Fair. She also worked for Mary Kay.
Her friend, Kelly Braswell Sullivan shared this tribute to her:
"Full of laughter, joy, hope, drive, passion, and pure sunshine, Jessica Clark, was one of a kind. Her laugh was contagious and I always smiled when around her. She was more than an Independent Beauty Consultant to me but a best friend, A sister consultant, my cheerleader and our #1!! To others she was a beloved fair board member, the friendly face you saw when you walked into City Hall, a sorority sister, A childcare taker, a “ junker” as I would call her, an amazing cook, and she could garden and can better than anyone I know. She loved all things cheetah, she loved this town, she loved her friends and family. And she was always “ In the know” of what was happening in Cookeville. To know her or to meet her was to love her."
Amanda Cole
The 34-year-old was the nanny for the Curtis family and the child of a family friend. Friends said she was a constant encourager and had a pure heart.
Hattie Collins
She was the 4-year-old daughter of Collegeside Church of Christ Youth Minister Matt and his wife, Macy Collins. The church said no arrangements have been made at this time. Matt, Macy, and Lainey are in local hospitals and are stable. The church anticipates they will make a full recovery. Their house is a complete loss. They request no visitors at the hospital at this time.
Patricia "Pat" Lane
The 67-year-old was a member of Collegeside Church of Christ. It described her as a "beloved sister." Her funeral arrangements have not been made at this time, according to the church.
Stephanie Field & Harlan Marsh
Stephanie was a single mother to Harlan. She worked at the Suntrust Call Center in Cookeville. A co-worker said she was kind-hearted, good-natured and funny. Harlan was her world.
Bridgette (Ann Marie) McCormick
We are working to learn more about this person.
Jamie Smith, 36
A family member described Jamie Smith as fun-loving, caring and funny. He said she was the owner of a local cleaning service and "an amazing parent" to her 8-year-old son Logan Smith.
She was asleep in her bed when she died, a family member said. Her eight-year-old son Logan was staying with his father at the time, and survived. She was originally from New Jersey and made a trip back there this summer.
Leisha Rittenberry, 28
Leisha was originally from South Carolina and friends say she was a beloved daughter and sister. She loved fan fiction and reading the genre, and previously attending the Fortis Institute in Cookeville.
Friends say her husband Jon Letts is still in the hospital.
Friends started a GoFundMe to cover her funeral expenses.
