The son of longtime Chattanooga organist Jon Robere has filed suit against the late Mr. Robere’s second wife, Judith Ann Robere, in a dispute over his will.
The Chancery Court complaint alleges that Judith Robere “may have suppressed” an earlier will that Mr. Robere had made out.
The suit also says Mr. Robere “died under unusual circumstances, and facts and circumstances surrounding the last several months of his life, and his deteriorating health and physical condition indicate that he was incapacitated or disabled for the last years of his life.”
He left his estate, including his home at Cravens Terrace, to his son and daughter, Diane Kemper, in the first will. Mr. Robere later deeded his property to Judith Robere after remarrying following the death of his first wife, Marian.
No estate filing has been made in Probate Court. Officials said it is not necessary if the spouse gets the entire holdings.
Mr. Robere, who for many years played the organ at the Green Room at the Read House and at the Tivoli Theatre, died Jan. 7, 2000, at the age of 86. His body was cremated.
There was no initial public notice of the death. Paul Robere came from his home at Bangkok, Thailand, some weeks later after finding out about the death and held a memorial service at the St. Elmo United Methodist Church, where Mr. Robere was the church organist.
The first will was prepared Sept. 24, 1996, before Mr. Robere had remarried, the suit says.
The suit, filed by attorney Richard Buhrman, says since no will has been filed with the court that the court has the authority to declare the first will as a “lost will” and to put it into effect.
Paul Robere said the original of the first will is lost, but he attached a copy of it to the complaint.