11-24 Obituaries
Opal Witt, 94
Opal Witt, 94, of White Oak Road in Irvine, died Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at the Irvine Health & Rehabilitation Center. She was born Aug. 15, 1917, in Estill County, the daughter of the late Arthur and Stella Witt. She was a graduate of Irvine High School. She was a clerk in a north Irvine grocery for a few years and retired as a caregiver for the disabled. Also as musician, she began playing the piano in her teens and played many years for different gospel singers which she enjoyed so much. She was an active member of the First Church of God in Irvine where she served as Superintendent of the Junior Department for several years. She was a Sunday School teacher for 36 years and the pianist at the Irvine First Church of God for 65 years. She was preceded in death by a sister, Alma Witt; and three brothers, Chester, Estill, and Kenneth Witt.
Survivors include three brothers, Ray Witt and wife, Eunice of Estill County, and Frank Witt and wife, Julia, and Gene Witt and wife, Cathy, both of Richmond; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, at the Irvine First Church of God by Rev. Glennis Sizemore and Rev. Todd St. John. Burial was at the West Irvine Cemetery. Pallbearers were Donnie Watson, Willard Stamper, Jeff Hix, Charlie Park, Kenny Abshear and Todd Reese.
Ruth Abney, 47
Ruth Abney, 47, mother of Scott Abney, died Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011. She was a native of Estill County, born Jan. 20, 1964, a daughter of Guston Willis and the late Rachel Johnson Willis. She was a member of the American Legion. She was preceded in death by her husband Ricky Lee Abney, and a brother, Bobby Willis.
Survivors include her son, Scott Abney; two grandsons, Lennon Isaiah Abney, and Dylan Scott Abney; seven sisters, Betty Hisel, Eva Walling, Mary Carol, Joy Abney, Wanda Fowler, Marsha Goosey, and Sue Riddel; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Services were held Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, at Lewis Funeral Home, with Bro. Scott Rogers officiating. Burial was at the Abney Cemetery.
Arnold Sorrentino, 79
Arnold Sorrentino, 79, of Pine Street, Ravenna, husband of Elizabeth Crane Sorrentino, died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, in Lexington, after a long illness. He was a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., a son of the late Grazia and Philomena Vitale Sorrentino. He was a retired truck driver, and a business owner. He was a member of St. Monica’s Church in Brooklyn. He was also a member of the Moose Lodge, and the Disabled American Veterans. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was preceded in death by two brothers, and two sisters.
Survivors, other than his wife, Elizabeth, include three daughters, Francis Sorrentino, Phylis Murphy, and Grace Tomaselli; two sisters, Mary Zagorski, and Ann Romang; two step-sons, Bill and Bud Jones; eight grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.
Services were held Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, at Lewis Funeral Home, with Bro. Jeff Ryder and Fr. Al Frisch officiating. Burial was at the Camp Nelson National Cemetery, with military honors. Pallbearers were Paul Murphy, Michael Murphy, Ryan Jones, Bud Jones, Bill Jones, and Gilbert Miller. Honorary pallbearers were Wayne Schmidth, Charles Blevins, Doots Muncie, Sonny Muncie, George Crowe, and Conley Murray.
Mary Ashcraft Hackworth, 48
Mary Ashcraft Hackworth, 48, of Wallace Circle, died Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, at Marcum & Wallace Hospital in Irvine. She was a native of Estill County, born Dec. 17, 1962, a daughter of the late James and Alberta Kirby Ashcraft. She was preceded in death by her brother James Jr. Ashcraft.
Survivors include three daughters, Mary Shanks, Liinda Hackworth, Lilly Hall; a son, David Hackworth; three sisters, Linda and husband, Charlie Bill Muncy, Ruth Hack, Emma and husband, Phillip Hackw orth; two brothers, Danny and wife, Cheryl Ashcraft, and Ivan Ashcraft; eight grandchildren, Heaven Doty, Tristan Hackworth, Brian Warner, Elizabeth Warner, Jayden Hackworth, Isiah Hackworth, Lauren Shanks, and Austin Shanks; several nieces and nephews, and many friends.
Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, at Lewis Funeral Home, with Bro. David Watson officiating. Burial was at the Kirby Cemetery. Pallbearers were Billy Muncy, Brison Muncy, Danny Ashcraft, Jerry Abner, and Ivan Ashcraft. Honorary pallbearers were Charlie Bill Muncy and Phillip Hackworth.
Walter F. Smithers, 83
Walter F. Smithers, 83, of Louisville, died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, at Norton Healthcare Pavilion surrounded by his family. He was born on Dec. 16, 1927 in Irvine, to the late James Frank Smithers and Onie Ellen Silvers Smithers. He was a 1946 graduate of Irvine High School, Berea College Class of 1950, and received his MBA from the University of Kentucky in 1954. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953 stationed in Europe and attained the rank of Sergeant First Class. In 1953 he was married to Margaret Louisa Johns, in Harveyton, to whom he was married for more than 45 years. He retired from the General Electric Company as a Financial Manager after 34 years of distinguished service. He was a member of the Berea College and University of Kentucky Alumni Associations, the GE Elfun Society, American Legion Post 201, Moose Lodge 5, and the Seneca Golf Club Seniors. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, and a brother-in-law, Norbert Moore, of Irvine.
Survivors include two sons, John F. Smithers (Greta Garbo), of Louisville, and Terry L. Smithers (Mary Mangold), of Cincinnati, Ohio; a sister, Sallie Moore of Irvine; two grandsons, Alex and Evan Smithers, also of Cincinnati, Ohio; two nephews, Farrell Moore (Sandy), of Irvine, and Boyd Moore (Leeann), of Charleston, S.C.; and special friend, June Wallace, of Louisville.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at Highlands Family-Owned Funeral Home, with burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens in West Irvine.
Beulah Mae
Johnson Mayse, 84
Beulah Mae Johnson Mayse, 84, of 2927 Hwy. 399, Beattyville, died Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, at Marcum & Wallace Memorial Hospital, Irvine. She was born Oct. 5, 1927, in Estill County, daughter of Hubert Green Johnson and Mary Edna Estes Johnson. She was the wife of Junice Mayse, Sr., she was a homemaker and a member of the Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Leo Mayse; four grandchildren, Amy, Jackie and Margie Mayse and Ronnie Paul Thacker; a sister, Phyllis Shouse; and a brother, Floyd “Beeb” Johnson.
Survivors include her husband, Junice Mayse, Sr. of Beattyville; eight children, Junice Jackson Mayse, Jo Thacker, and Hope Laverne Thacker, all of Irvine, Randall Mayse, Larry Mayse, Carl Wayne Mayse, and Shannon Mayse, all of Lee County, and Ellis Marie Morris of Powell County; 21 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and a great-great grandchild; three brothers, Virgil Johnson of Bellevue, James Johnson of Ravenna, and Dalls Johnson of Lee County; five sisters, Zelma Rogers, and Leora Smith, both of Highland Heights, Sue Abney, and Faye Stewart, both of Cobb Hill, and Nancy Teegarden of Butler; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, at Newnam Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ellis Kendall, and Bro. Bill Wesley officiating.
Brookshire Prentices Stanley, 93
Brookshire Prentices Stanley, 93, of Sandhill Road in Irvine, died Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, at St. Joseph Hospital East in Lexington. He was born April 23, 1918, in Estill County, a son of the late Prentices Homer and Lina Matthews Stanley. He was a farmer and had lived in Estill County all of his life. He attended the Sandhill Christian Church and was a member of the Irvine Masonic Lodge 137 F&AM. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margie White Stanley; and a niece, Janet Stanley.
Survivors include a daughter, Pamela Brooke Stanley Begley and husband, Elijah of Irvine; a sister, Frances Rasmusson of Lexington; two grandchildren, Lisa Marie Begley, and Danielle Nicole Begley; two nephews, Kenneth Rasmusson, and Wayne Stanley; and four nieces, Shirley Wehmer, Joyce Embs, Virginia Fulton, and Maxine Livingston.
Funeral services were conducted Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011, at the Warren F. Toler Funeral Home Chapel by Bro. Harold Edmonds. Burial was at the Newton Cemetery. Pallbearers were Steven McDowell, Jeff White, Justin Jordan, and Kevin Jordan.