Smyrna attorney Ingrid Klose died April 21 at age 73. Klose earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law and began practicing in 1995. She focused her practice on general civil matters, including estate planning, veterans benefits and limited immigration cases. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Smyrna First Presbyterian Church, 540 Sam Ridley Pkwy. W., Smyrna, TN 37167 or the Smyrna Rotary Club Foundation, P.O. Box 353 Smyrna, TN 37167. Information about a celebration of life at Smyrna Presbyterian Church will be announced when available.

Retired Chancellor Richard E. Ladd Sr. died March 15 in Bristol at the age of 90. After graduating from the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law, Ladd moved to Bristol and began practicing law in 1963. He spent the first 15 years of his career working as a trial lawyer. He then was appointed chancellor of the 2nd Judicial District in 1978. He served more than 30 years on the bench before retiring in 2010. Throughout his career, Ladd taught at the Tennessee Judicial Academy and served in various positions with the Tennessee Judicial Conference. He served as president of the conference from 1989-90. Watch an interview Ladd gave in 2010 for the Tennessee Bar Foundation Fellows' Legal History Project. The family intends to hold a private service but memorial donations may be made to the Dean Harold Warner Scholarship Fund at the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Memphis lawyer John T. “Tim” Edwards died Feb. 24 at the age of 77. A 1976 graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Edwards built a legal practice handling complex litigation involving professional negligence, product liability, serious personal injury, civil rights and class action cases. He was a partner at Ballin, Ballin & Fishman and a member of the Board of Trial Advocates, the American Association for Justice, and multiple state bar associations. He was board-certified in civil trial advocacy and civil pre-trial practice advocacy. A family celebration will be held in the mountains of Montana. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

The Knoxville law firm Valliant, Harrison, Schwartz & Bodie will host a gathering at the Bistro at the Bijou on April 22 at 5 p.m. EDT to celebrate the life of John Peden Valliant Jr. According to the law firm, the event will focus on sharing stories, laughter and memories of a man who meant so much to so many. Valliant died March 29 at the age of 78. A graduate of the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law, Valliant practiced law in Knoxville for five decades. The Bistro is located at 807 S. Gay St., Knoxville 37902.

Memphis attorney Lawrence E. Baer died at age 80 on April 12. Baer graduated from Memphis State University and went on to earn his law degree from Memphis State University School of Law. In 1971, he began practicing law at the Baer Law Firm, the family practice founded by his father, the late Isadore Baer. He focused his practice on landlord-tenant law and frequently spoke on related issues for community and professional organizations. Baer was a member of the Memphis and Shelby County Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the American Association for Justice and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Funeral services were held at Temple Israel Cemetery on April 14. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the charity of the donor's choice.

Services have been set for former Tennessee state legislator and retired lawyer William Roland "Bill" Bruce, who died March 21 at the age of 90. A memorial service and reception will be held at 4 p.m. EDT on April 18 at King of Peace Episcopal Church, 6230 Laurel Island Parkway, Kingsland, GA 31548. Donations may be given to the church or a charity of the donor’s choice. Bruce earned his law degree from the University of Virginia, and practiced law in Tennessee for 50 years. He began practicing in Memphis in 1959 with the law firm of Martin, Tate. He later hung out his own shingle and practiced solo until 1965. That year he and Donn Southern formed a partnership, which lasted until Southern became a judge in 1989. That firm ultimately became Bruce, Southern, Brandon & Regan. Bruce then joined the Nashville office of the law firm that ultimately would become Adams & Reese. He maintained "Special Counsel" status with the firm after retiring to Georgia. Bruce served in the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1966 and in the Tennessee Senate in 1968, where he was Senate majority leader and chair of the Senate Calendar and Rules Committee.

John Peden Valliant Jr., age 78, died March 29. He graduated from the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law and served in the U.S. Army National Guard during the Vietnam War era, returning to Knoxville where his law practice spanned five decades. Valliant was deeply involved in civic life and served as chair of the Knox County Democratic Party in 1982. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley, 6717 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919, or Helping Mamas, 10908 McBride Lane, Knoxville, TN 37932. A memorial gathering will be held on April 1 from 11 to 11:30 a.m. EDT at French Broad Veteran's Memorial Park, 2302 E. Gov. John Sevier Highway, Knoxville 37914, overlooking the river at the court of flags.

Haywood County lawyer Carmon Thomas "Tommy" Hooper III died March 28 at age 95. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1953 and, after three years of military service, entered Vanderbilt University Law School on the G.I. Bill, receiving his law degree in 1959. Hooper joined a Brownsville firm founded by Larry Morgan and Alex Gray, and following their deaths in the 1960s, he maintained a solo legal practice until February of this year. He was also a "citizen lawyer," serving six years in the Tennessee House of Representatives, 15 years on the Haywood County Commission and 18 years as county attorney. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church (FUMC), 117 E. Franklin St., Brownsville 38012 at 11 a.m. CDT on April 3. The family will gather for a graveside burial before the service. Memorials may be made to FUMC Brownsville or a charity of the donor's choice.

Memphis attorney and corporate counsel Ralph David Davison, died March 17 at age 93. Davison began his legal career in private practice in Mississippi after earning his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1959. He later moved to Memphis in 1967, where he served as a staff attorney and later vice president of administration for Holiday Inns Inc. He went on to become vice president and general counsel at Parts Inc. Davison was a member of the American, Mississippi and Tennessee bar associations. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. EDT on April 6 at Westminster Canterbury in Richmond. Memorials may be made to the Westminster Canterbury Fellowship Fund, 1600 Westbrook Ave., Richmond, VA 23227; First Presbyterian Church, 4602 Cary Street Rd., Richmond, VA 23226; or Idlewild Presbyterian Church, 1750 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38104.

William "Bill" Franklin Alley Jr. died March 15 in Knoxville. Alley graduated from the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law and joined the U.S. Air Force. He later joined the Air National Guard, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2004. He served as a partner at the Knoxville firm of Hodges, Doughty and Carson until his retirement in 2006. A celebration of life will be held March 28 at 3:30 p.m. EDT at Fountain City United Methodist Church, 212 Hotel Rd., Knoxville 37918. A private family burial will take place on March 30. Read more about his life from this obituary in Knox News.