Boone County, KY - Obituary, Grubbs, Mary Scott Chambers, 1980 Thursday, 23 September 1999 Submitted by: lharbing@worldnet.att.net (Buddy & Linda Harbin-Grubbs) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************ Obituary of Mary Scott Chambers Grubbs The Cincinnati Enquirer, Thursday, Feb. 7, 1980. pg. A-2 MARY C. GRUBBS, 75, FUNERAL DIRECTOR Mary C. Grubbs, 75 N. Main St., Walton, the first woman licensed as an embalmer and funeral director in Kentucky, died Wednesday at Booth Memorial Hospital. "I think it's a good women are doing more things now," Mrs. Grubbs said when honored in 1975 by the Kentucky Funeral Directors Association for 50 years' service. "But I never had any idea of being a part of the women's liberation movement." MRS. GRUBBS said she became an embalmer because her father, C. Scott Chambers, was an undertaker. "Ever since I can remember I went with my father because he had no sons," she explained. She recalled her first active role as an embalmer came at the age of 13 when she was responsible for burial of a year-old boy. "In those days (1918), there weren't too many funeral directos around," she said of her early entrance into the profession. Mrs. Grubbs went away to school afer graduation from Walton High School in 1923, but came home six weeks later because she was homesick. Instead, she went to Cincinnati College of Embalming and was graduated in 1924. "MY PROFESSION always came first," she said when honored five years ago. "But without the help of my family I could never have done this." Two of her sons, James D., Independence, and W. S. "Buddy," Florence and her two daughters, Jeanette Clore, Belleview, and Elizabeth Poore, Walton, are directos at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Homes in Burlington, Walton and Independence. Another son, John A., Walton, is superintendent of Walton-Verona Schools. She also leaves two sisters, Aleen C. Conner, Hebron, and Ella Mae Watson, Maryville, Tenn.; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. MRS. GRUBBS was a member of Boone County Chapter of Daughters of American Revolution, the Ladies Funeral Directors Auxillary, Boone County Garden Club, Walton Literary Club and Walton Christian Church. Service, 2 p.m. Friday, Chambers & Grubbs, Walton. Visitation, 4-9 p.m. today. Burial, Highland, Fort Mitchell. Memorials, Walton Christian Church. The Kentucky Post: "First woman funeral director dies at age 75 Mrs. Mary C. Grubbs, 75, part-owner of Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Homes and the first woman funeral director in Kentucky, died at 5:50 a.m. today at Booth Hospital. Mrs. Grubbs, 45 N. Main St., Walton, received her license in 1925 when she was 21. "She had gone to school much earlier but had to wait until she was 21 to get her license," said Mrs. Grubbs' son, Buddy. Mrs. Grubbs began work in the family=owned business as a child with her father, C. Scott Chambers, founder of the firm. She and her late husband, Wallace K. Grubbs, who died in 1975, took over management after her father died in 1943. Mrs. Grubbs remained active until becoming ill several months ago with complications from arteriosclerosis, her son said. Her sons, Jim and Buddy are involved in running the family's funeral homes in Burlington, Walton and Independence. A third son, John, is superintendant of Walton Schools. Mrs. Grubbs was a member of Walton Christian Church, Walton Woman's Club, Boone County Daughters of the American Revolution and Boone County Garden Club. Other survivors: daughters, Mrs. Jeanette Clore, Belleview; Mrs. Elizabeth Poore, Walton; sisters, Mrs. Aleen Conner, Hebron; Mrs. Ella Mae Watson, Maryville, Tenn; 14 grandchildren; two great grandchildren. Services 2 p.m. Friday, Chambers & Grubbs, Walton, visitation 4-9 p.m. Thursday. Burial Highland Cemetery, Ft. Mitchell. Memorials to Walton Christian Church." Buddy & Linda Harbin-Grubbs Boone County, Kentucky lharbing@worldnet.att.net http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/1280/index.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------