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Family, friends share memories of lives lost in Putnam County tornado

19 people lost their lives when a tornado swept through the Cookeville area early in the morning on Tuesday, March 3.

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.

RELATED: 13 adults, 5 kids killed in Putnam County tornado, officials say

Todd & Sue Koehler

The couple was married in Sept. 2017. Sue was a Walmart store manager in Algood.

Credit: Lyndon Key
Todd and Sue Koehler

RELATED: 'We lost two and God gained two' | Family remembers couple lost in Putnam County tornado

Please say prayers for our family as we lay our loved ones to rest.

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.

Credit: Ashley York
Dawson (6) and Terry Curtis (54)

RELATED: Three members of one sleeping family killed when tornado hit their home

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.

RELATED: Family remembers father, mother and 2-year-old son lost to Cookeville tornado for their faith and love

Credit: Kimberlin family

RELATED: Strong Together | Voices from the Putnam County Twister

Keith & Cathy Selby

Credit: Mark Wyatt

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."

Credit: Kelly Braswell Sullivan
Jessica Smith died in the Putnam County tornado.

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.

Credit: Parrish Burgess
Amanda Cole, 34, (in red) was a nanny and described as 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. 

Credit: Collegeside Church of Christ
Four-year-old Hattie Collins, far right, was the daughter of Collegeside Church of Christ youth minister Matt and Macy Collins.

RELATED: 'They lost their little girl' || Cookeville church mourns 4-year-old and beloved sister lost to tornado

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.

Credit: Collegeside Church of Christ
Patricia "Pat" Lane, 67, was a member of Collegeside Church of Christ.

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. 

Credit: James Burrow
Stephanie Field and Harlan Marsh

Bridgette (Ann Marie) McCormick

We are working to learn more about this person.

Jamie Smith, 36

Credit: Courtesy: Debi Smith

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.

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