Edwin Merrell, 69
Edwin Merrell, 69, Church Street, Irvine, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009 at his home following a short illness. He was born Nov. 15, 1939 in Boone County, the son of the late John Breck and Fannnie Hill Merrell. He was a retired truck driver and owner of Merrell Trucking. He was a member of Ivory Hill Baptist Church, and a member of the American Legion Post 79.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Neal Merrell; five daughters, Nicole Whiton and husband Bill of Greensburg, Ind., Vickie Powell and husband Bubby, Robyn Morefield and husband Vic and Teresa Johnson and husband Randall, all of Irvine; two sons, Stanley Merrell and wife Deanna of Irvine, and Tommy Merrell and wife Patty of Hebron; three sisters, Evelyn Taylor and Betty Taylor, both of Florence, and Jane Lainhart of Virginia; three brothers, Charlie Merrell and William Merrell, both of Hebron, and John Breck Merrell Jr. of Ludlow.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Annie Taylor and Margaret Michaels; and four brothers, Luther, Robert, Larkin and Clarence Merrell.
Funeral services were conducted Friday, Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Ivory Hill Baptist Church by Bro. Marvin Neal with burial at the Shepherd Cemetery. Warren F. Toler Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers were Tommy Merrell Jr., Bill Whiton, Dennis Burns Jr., Carl Whitt, Steve Mays and Randy Patrick.
George Rogers, 88
George Rogers, 88, Highway 52 West, Irvine, died Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 at his home. He was born Aug. 25, 1921 in Lee County, the son of the late George B. and Claudia Cole Rogers. He was a retired employee of the Kentucky State Transportation Department, and was a member of the Faith Baptist Church. He was a United States Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Masonic Lodge #562. He had lived in Estill County all of his life.
Survivors include his wife, Lena Mae LeMaster Rogers; four daughters, Barbara Montgomery, Dorothy Rogers, both of Irvine, Debbie Johnson of Richmond, and Jessie Fay Jenkins of Massachusetts; four sons, George Kenneth Rogers Jr. and James William Rogers, both of Irvine, Omer Clyde Rogers of Beattyville and Joey Rogers of Means; 46 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and step-children, Eddie Barnes and Pauline McSparn, both of Illinois, Ronnie Barnes and Rick Barnes, both of Western Kentucky, and Gary Barnes of Indiana.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Edna Rogers; one son, Charles Douglas Rogers; and two sisters, Dorothy and Jessie Rogers.
Funeral services were conducted Monday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. at the Warren F. Toler Funeral Home Chapel by Bro. Paul Hubbs with burial at the Rogers Cemetery. Masonic Rites were conducted Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
Pallbearers were Douglas Collier, Arthur Smith, Kenneth Caldwell, Delbert Mays, Paul Samples, Kendal Arthur, Keith Dooley and Damon Moore.
Billy Sparks, 55
Billy Jay Jaybird Sparks, 55, of Charlie Norris Road, Richmond, husband of Norma Witt Sparks, died at his home Thursday, Oct. 15 after a long illness. He was born May 16, 1954 in Estill County, a son of Etta Johnson Sparks and the late Robert Sparks Jr. He was a retired employee of the Trane Co., and loved to work with his hands and repair things, if only to see how they worked.
Survivors in addition to his wife Norma, are a son, Christopher Jay Sparks and his fiancée Beth Smith; a granddaughter, Haley Sparks; mother, Etta Johnson Sparks, of Irvine; two brothers, Robert Wayne (Darlene) Sparks and Michael (Tabbie) Sparks, both of Irvine; a nephew, Michael (Sheila) Sparks Jr.; and a niece, Lisa Sparks.
Funeral services were conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Lewis Funeral Home, by Bro. Jimmy Bonny with burial at the South Irvine Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Buddy Bell, Tony Begley, Danny Slone, Dwight and Hoby Hall and Eric Holt.
Donations may be made to Hospice.
Lou Eva McKinney, 85
Lou Eva Neal McKinney, 85, of Barnes Mountain Road, Irvine, died Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 at the Compassionate Care Center after a long illness. She was born Sept. 30, 1924 in Estill County, the daughter of the late Tom and Sarah Chaney Neal. She was a housewife and a mother. She was a member of the Barrens Mountain Baptist Church, and a lifetime member of the DAV. She had lived in Estill County most of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil McKinney; two brothers, Troy and Scott Neal; one sister, Lillie Sparks; two nephews; and a son-in-law, Rickey Horn.
Survivors include two daughters, Ruth Ann Pasley and husband Lennie, and Lavotus Horn Johnson and husband Wayne, both of Estill County; one son, Adrian McKinney and wife Cathy of Estill County; two adopted sons, Eugene Hardy and Randy McKinney, both of Ohio; seven grandchildren, Byran Pasley, Rebecca Harrison, Sara Watkins, Eppie Dean Curtis, Richard Horn, Cecil Horn and John Micah McKinney; 12 great-grandchildren, Christopher Pasley, Ryan Pasley, Jouette Harrison, Rachel Harrison, Andrew Watkins, Eve Watkins, Riley Watkins, Teresa Curtis, Michael Curtis, Jonathan Horn, Heather Horn and Darrell Wayne Horn; one sister, Dessie Alcorn of Corydon, Ind.; one brother, Eugene Neal of Dayton, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 at the Emmanuel Baptist Church by Bro. Sherl Thomas with burial at the Campbell Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Byran Pasley, Richard Horn, John McKinney, Darrell Harrison, Burl Watkins, James (Pudgie) Fox and Cecil Allen Horn.
Warren F. Toler Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Laura Williams, 93
Laura Rhodes Williams, 93, Richmond Road, Irvine, died Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 at the Compassionate Care Center after a short illness. She was born March 27, 1916 in Estill County, the daughter of the late Charles Alfred and Retha Thomas Rhodes. She was a former Carhartt Inc. employee and a retired nurse’s aid at Irvine Health Care Center. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and had lived in Estill County all of her life.
Survivors include her husband, Gordon R. Williams; one daughter, Doris Ann Moore and husband Larry L., Lancaster; three step-grandchildren; two step-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by seven sisters and three brothers.
Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Warren F. Toler Funeral Home Chapel by Rev. Keith Sands with burial at West Irvine Cemetery.
Pallbearers were John Stallons, Larry Moore, Mike Moore, Bob Rhodes, Bill Moore, Danny Benton, Jerry Elliott. Honorary pallbearers were Jim Elliott and Bob Webb.
Edith Watkins, 75
Edith “Granny” Horn Watkins, 75, Campbell’s Branch, Ravenna, died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 at the Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center after a short illness. She was born Feb. 2, 1943 in Estill County, the daughter of the late Fred and Rosie Henry Horn. She was an employee of the Estill County Board of Education where she worked as a cook at the Estill County Middle School. She had lived in Estill County all of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tollie Watkins.
Survivors include one daughter, Wanda Rose “Sissy” Friend of Peebles, Ohio; one sister, Elwanda Hatton and husband Clay of Ravenna; one brother, Jewell T. Horn and wife Frances of Irvine; three grandchildren, Michael Clay Friend, Amy Jo Johnson and Audrey Lee Watkins; four great-grandchildren, Sicilia Sky Friend, Andrew Clay Friend, Jonathan R. Johnson and Thomas Johnson; and special friends, Wilma Horn and Debbie Smyth.
She was preceded in death by her son, Ronnie Lee Watkins; and three sisters, Lillie Mae Campbell, Ida Faye Bailey and Janice Pearl Estes.
Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 at the Warren F. Toler Funeral Home Chapel by Bro. David Watson with burial at the Horn Cemetery.
Casket usher was Michael Clay Friend. Pallbearers were Larry Dale Smyth, Eddie “Jack” Walling, Kevin Turpin, Tim Burkhart, Shawn “Sparky” Sparks, Eddie Baily, Jeffery Watkins and Dwight Horn. Honorary pallbearers were the Estill County Board of Education.
Ella Jones, 89
Ella Jones, 89, 2961 Furnace Road, Stanton, widow of Otha Robert Jones, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009 at Clark Regional Medical Center, Winchester. Born in Estill County, she was a daughter of the late Henry and Virginia Elizabeth Creech Booth. She was a member of the Church of God. Ella and her late husband, Otha Jones operated Jones Grocery Store for many years. She was preceded in death by one son, Clifford Jones.
Survivors include three sons, Henry Lee and his wife Linda Jones, Claudie Ray and his wife Glenda Jones, and Donald and his wife Carolen Jones, all of Stanton; one daughter, Anna Gay and her husband Dorstle Wise of Stanton; 17 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchldren.
Funeral services were conducted at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 at Hearne Funeral Home Chapel by Bro. Curtis Shepherd and Bro. Herbert Barnett with burial at Rose Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Glyndon Ray Jones, Eric Jones, Clayton A. Wise, Reuben Derickson, Brandon Derickson, Lacy Tipton, Berry Jones and Raymond Rogers.
Edward Arvin, 85
Edward Turner Arvin, 85, Jake’s Heavenly Highway, Irvine, died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 at Marcum & Wallace Memorial Hospital after a short illness. He was born May 8, 1924 in Estill County, the son of the late Albert Turner and Myrtie Edwards Arvin. He was the owner of Arvin’s Farm Store in South Irvine, and had lived in Estill County all of his life. He was preceded in death by his wife, Reta Jane Winkle Arvin; one sister, Bessie Richardson; and two brothers, James and Clyde Arvin.
Survivors include one daughter, Donna May Dixon and husband Millard Jr. of Irvine; three sisters, Ruth Winkle and Anna Cox, both of Irvine, and Wilberta Richardson of Indiana; two brothers, William Hunter Arvin of London, and John Dale Arvin of Irvine; two grandchildren, Millard Edward Dixon and Anthony Kyle Dixon; two great-grandchildren, Alicia Marie Dixon and Jonathan Edward Dixon; and two great-great-grandchildren, Calijah and Chase Dixon.
Funeral services were conducted Thursday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Warren F. Toler Funeral Home Chapel by Bro. Beverly Arvin with burial at South Irvine Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Larry Cox, Brent C. Arvin, Stuart Arvin, Ed Dixon, John Dixon and Greg Arvin.
Boyd Stepp, 69
Boyd Stepp, 69, Cedar Grove Road, Irvine, died Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 at his home following a long illness. He was born June 9, 1940 in Estill County, the son of the late Robert and Jessie McIntosh Stepp. He was a member of the Ravenna Church of God where he also served as councilman. He was a retired employee of the Hargett Construction Company, and had lived in Estill County all of his life.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Slone Stepp; one daughter, Sherrie Freeman and husband Tim of Irvine; two sisters, Floretta Robertson of Hamilton, Ohio, and Geraldine Scrivner and husband Jimmy of Irvine; three brothers, Ernest Stepp and wife Jeanette of Hamilton, Ohio, Billy Ray Stepp and wife Carolyn of Irvine, and Lawrence Stepp and wife, Sharron of Waco; and two grandchildren, Drew and Trevor Freeman.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lelia Sparks Stepp; and one brother, Steve Stepp.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday, Oct. 17 at 11 a.m. at the Warren F. Toler Funeral Home Chapel by Bro. Jimmy Bonny and Bro. Jerry Horn with burial at West Irvine Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Ed Hood, E.B. Stacy, Harvey Neal, Marty Stepp, Kenneth Stepp, Herbert Robertson, Michael Collins and Tommy Collins.
Blake Smith, infant
Blake Ely Smith, infant son of Russell and Kari Shackleford Smith, died shortly after birth Saturday, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Ely Smith.
Survivors in addition to his parents include his brother, Russell Ely Smith Jr. and sister, Desiree LeAnn Smith, both of Irvine; paternal grandmother, Joann Smith of Irvine; maternal grandparents, Robert Earl Geiger and Kathleen Jarrell, both of Clay City.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Timothy Episcopal Mission, Barnes Mountain, by Bro. Douglas Baker with burial at the Spencer Ridge Cemetery in Lee County.