Obituaries published in the Appalachian News-Express, Pike Co., Ky


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Transcribed by: Gloria R.  gloriag@iwaynet.net
Date: 2 Feb 1999
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                      February 5, 1999

Andrew Thacker

Andrew Thacker, 75, of Harolds Branch Road, Pikeville, died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1999, 
at his home. He was born in Pike County, July 2, 1923, a son of the late Frank and 
Eliza Hall Thacker. He was a retired coal miner, formerly employed by Kizer
Coal Company, a U.S. Army veteran, a member of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 134 
of Pikeville, and the Old Regular Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by one son, 
Paul Huston Thacker. He is survived by his wife, Ruby Mae Gibson Thacker; five
sons, Andy Thacker of Virgie, Jeff Thacker and Jerry Thacker, both of Pikeville, 
Christopher Thacker of Johns Creek, Kevin Thacker of Harolds Branch; five daughters, 
Nettie Thacker of Harolds Branch, Yvonne Lucas of Shelby Gap, Deborah Holland of 
Dorton, Beverly Chapman of Meta, Gail Slone of Kimper; one brother, Homer
Thacker of Belfry; two sisters, Opal Thacker of Hardy and Emma James of Murray; and 14 
grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, at the Frozen 
Creek Old Regular Baptist Church with Herman West, Lee Layne and others officiating. 
Burial followed in the Annie E. Young Cemetery at East Shelbiana. Arrangements were 
under direction of Lucas & Hall Funeral Home of Pikeville. 

Covelle Phipps 

Covelle A. Phipps, 72, of Williamson, W.Va., died at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999, at 
her home. She was born in Williamson, Aug. 3, 1926, a daughter of Emma Leonard of 
Williamson and the late Oscar Leonard. She was employed as a supervisor by the U.S.
Department of Labor, and was a member of the Second Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist 
Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Phipps. She is survived by one 
brother, Alvin W. Leonard of Williamson. Funeral services will be held at noon
Saturday, Feb. 6, at the First Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church with Frank Jones 
officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain View Memory Gardens at Maher, W.Va. 
Arrangements are under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry. 


Nellie Studebaker

Nellie Studebaker, 86, a resident of the Presbyterian Health Care Center at Phelps, 
died Monday, Feb. 1, 1999, at the South Williamson Appalachian Regional Hospital. She 
was born in Luck, Wis., Oct. 5, 1912, a daughter of the late Jim and Mattie Elsworth
Studebaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Studebaker. She is 
survived by one son, Jim Studebaker of Sun City, Ariz.; and one daughter, Mary Prater 
of Matewan, W.Va. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Sun City.
Arrangements are under direction of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Homes-Phelps Chapel of 
Phelps. 

Kelly King 

Kelly King, 80, of Williamson, W.Va., formerly of McAndrews, died Sunday, Jan. 31, 
1999, at Williamson Memorial Hospital in Williamson. He was born at McAndrews, Oct. 
30, 1918, a son of the late Orison and Louisa Smith King. He is survived by one son,
Douglas King of Baltimore; one daughter, Patricia Casey of Alexandria, Va.; and one 
sister, Sadie King of McAndrews. A memorial service was held at noon Thursday in the 
Rogers Funeral Home Chapel with Buddy Kendrick officiating. Arrangements were
under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry. 

Hula Looney 

Hula Coleman Looney, 70, of Powells Creek Road, Millard, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1999, 
at Mountain View Health Care Center at Elkhorn City. She was born at Millard, Feb. 11, 
1928, a daughter of the late Riley and Carrie Adkins Coleman. She was a retired school
teacher, formerly employed by the Pike County Board of Education, and was a member of 
the Faith First Baptist Church at Regina. She was preceded in death by her husband, 
Junice Looney. She is survived by one son, Randy Looney of Mullins Addition, 
Pikeville; two daughters, Patricia Slone of Lick Creek and Sandra Williamson
of Elkhorn City; four brothers, Riley Jr. Coleman of Cincinnati, Dennis Coleman of 
Louisville, Lomar Coleman of Hannibal, Mo., Gary Coleman of Camden, Tenn.; six 
sisters, Nellie Phillips, Lois Bogar and Jeleanor Stewart, all of Pikeville, Martha 
Ward, Mary Smith and Wanda Mays, all of Louisville; and five grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, in the Lucas & Hall Funeral 
Home Chapel with Rick Wright and Troy Tackett officiating. Burial will follow in the 
Annie E. Young Cemetery, East Shelbiana. Arrangements are under direction of
Lucas & Hall Funeral Home of Pikeville. Special services will be held at 7 p.m. 
Friday. 

Myrtle Fleming 

Myrtle Mae Stewart Fleming, 90, of Mt. Washington, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1999, at 
Federal Hill Manor in Bardstown. She was born in Pike County, Dec. 26, 1908, a 
daughter of the late Mary Mullins and Bob Stewart. She was a homemaker and a
member of the Church of God in Mt. Washington. She is survived by four sons, Clarence 
Fleming of Clarkson, Orville Fleming of Amherst, Ohio, Alfred Fleming of Lorain, Ohio, 
Charles Fleming of Leigh High Acres, Fla.; one brother, Daniel Stewart of Etty; one
sister, Mendy Stewart of Hobrook of Jackhorn; 33 grandchildren, 72 great-grandchildren 
and 61 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, 
eb. 6, in the Schmid Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dale Leece officiating. Burial 
will follow in Highland Manor Gardens, Mt. Washington. Pallbearers are Chester 
Fleming, Roger Fleming, Glen Fleming, Matthew Fleming, Duff Fleming and Eddie Fleming. 
Memorials may be made to the Church of God, Mt. Washington. 

Flora Kerr 

Flora Belle Ratliff Kerr, 83, of Ferrells Creek Road, Belcher, died at 2:25 p.m. 
Thursday, Feb. 4, 1999, at her home. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at presstime 
and will be announced by Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City. 

Minnie Birchfield 

Minnie Birchfield, 69, of Williamson, W.Va., died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1999, at St. 
Mary's Hospital, Huntington, W.Va. She was born at Pinsonfork, June 25, 1929, a 
daughter of the late Willis and Elizabeth Williamson Cayser. She was a homemaker and a 
member of the Bethel Temple Church. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Elain 
Darby. She is survived by her husband, McKinley Birchfield; two sons, Roger Birchfield 
of Ransom, Jason Lawson of Cocoa, Fla.; one daughter, Bonnie Chafin of Williamson; one
brother, Lawrence Edwards of Octavia Hollow; five grandchildren, four 
great-grandchildren, and one stepgrandson. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. 
Saturday, Feb. 6, in the Hatfield Funeral Home Chapel, with Ronnie Goff officiating. 
Burial will follow in Mountain View Memory Gardens, Huddy. Arrangements are under
direction of Hatfield Funeral Chapel of Toler. 


                      February 10, 1999

Ronnie Newsome

Ronnie "Cat" Newsome, 39, of Caney Highway, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, at Robinson 
Creek, the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born in Pike 
County, April 21, 1959, a son of Sam Newsome Jr. of Caney Highway and the late Edna
Newsome. Besides his father, he is survived by two sons, Todd Newsome of Caney Highway 
and John Joseph Newsome of Robinson Creek; one daughter, Ronetta Newsome of Caney 
Highway; four brothers, Eddie Dean Newsome of Hellier, Bobby Gene Newsome,
Terry Lee Newsome and Avery Newsome, all of Caney Highway; and two sisters, Denisa 
Wright and Connie White, both of Myra. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. 
Wednesday, Feb. 10, in the R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home Chapel with Church of God 
ministers officiating. Burial will follow in the Gid Little Cemetery, Caney
Highway. Arrangements are under direction of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home of Virgie.


Luther Belcher

Luther Belcher, 63, of Louisville, formerly of Pike County, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 
1999, at Audubon Hospital in Louisville. He was a retired brakeman, formerly employed 
by CSX Railroad, and a member of the United Transportation Union and the Masonic 
Lodge. He is survived by his wife, Nina Wright Belcher; three sons, Andy Belcher, Jon 
Belcher and Josh Belcher; four daughters, Candi Rumsey, Cindi Doyle, Julie Kidwell, 
Libby Louden; one brother, Blake Mullins Jr.; and eight grandchildren. Funeral 
services were held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 8, in the Arch L. Heady & Son Funeral
Home Chapel. Burial followed in Louisville Memorial Gardens West. Arrangements were 
under direction of Arch L. Heady & Son Funeral Home of Louisville.

Venice Young

Venice Young, 52, of Varney, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, at the University of 
Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington. He was born in Pike County, Jan. 3, 1947, a son 
of the late A.C. and Bertha Mae Robinette Young. He was a disabled gas company 
employee. He is survived by his wife, Ruby Smith Young; one son, Venise Glen
Young of Varney; two daughters, Linda Hunt of Stanville and Bertha Horn of Inez; seven 
brothers, James W. Young of Pikeville, Jessie Young, Roger Young, Tracy Young, and 
Denzil Young, all of Sidney, Ben Young of Varney, Nelson Young of Nolan, W.Va.; four
sisters, Toy Mae Varney and Nina Lois Blackburn, both of Sidney, Mavis Wallace of 
Varney and Verlie Gail Harrison of Hatfield; and five grandchildren. Funeral services 
were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the Pilgrim Home Old Regular Baptist Church at 
Varney with ministers of the Old Regular Baptist Church officiating. Burial
followed in the Young Family Cemetery at Varney. Arrangements were under direction of 
Nelson-Frazier Funeral Home of Martin.

Edna Evans

Edna Jane Powers Evans, 72, of Pikeville, died Friday, Feb. 5, 1999, at Pikeville 
Methodist Hospital. She was born at Clintwood, Va., April 10, 1926, a daughter of the 
late Carlos and Rushia Browning Powers. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church 
of God. She was preceded in death by her husband, Admiral S. "Ed" Evans; and her 
stepmother, Oma Carty Powers. She is survived by one son, Carlos Andrew Evans of 
Pikeville; two daughters, Beverly Wallace of Haysi, Va., and Debra Karen Evans of 
Pikeville; 10 brothers, Charles Powers, Herschel Powers and Cecil Powers, all of
New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Wendell Powers and Wayne Powers, both of California, Gene 
Powers of Augora, Calif., Larry Powers, Tommy Powers, Benny Powers and David Powers, 
all of Nevada; two sisters, Lora Lazarus of California and Faye Rachelle of Oregon; 
seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 1 
p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the Rachel Chapel Freewill Baptist Church in Coeburn, Va., 
with Danny Sluss officiating. Burial followed in the Blevins Cemetery at Coeburn. 
Arrangements were under direction of Lucas & Hall Funeral Home of Pikeville.

Billy Sword

Billy Burton Sword, 42, of Left Fork of Island Creek, Pikeville, died Friday, Feb. 5, 
1999, at Jenkins Community Hospital, the result of injuries sustained in an automobile 
accident. He was born at Millard, Oct. 22, 1956, a son of the late Bee and Ersie 
Mulkey Sword. He was a carpenter. He was preceded in death by one daughter,
Breanna Dawn Sword. He is survived by four sons, Billy Burton Omellia Sword of 
Florida, Christopher Michael Sword of Michigan, Bradley Burton Sword and Billy Sword 
Jr., both of Ohio; one daughter, Bethany Lynn Sword of Ohio; four brothers, Willie
Sword, Elster Sword and Millard Adkins, all of Pikeville, Danny Sword Wright of 
Clintwood, Va.; and one sister, Eulavene Tincy Ray of Pikeville. Funeral services were 
held at noon Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the Holiness Church in Jesus' Name with Coy Wright, 
Happy Justice and others officiating. Burial followed in the Sword Cemetery, Right 
Fork of Island Creek. Arrangements were under direction of Lucas & Hall Funeral Home 
of Pikeville.

Troy Calhoun

Troy Calhoun, 77, of Fort Wayne, Ind., formerly of Jonancy, died Friday, Feb. 5, 1999, 
at the Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Monday, 
Feb. 8, in the Slone Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in the Green Lawn Cemetery
at Fort Wayne. Arrangements were under direction of the Slone Funeral Home of Fort 
Wayne. Obituary courtesy of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home-Virgie Chapel of Virgie.

Johnny H. Abshire

Johnny H. Abshire, 61, of Stone, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, in the emergency room of 
the South Williamson Appalachian Regional Hospital. He was born in Pike County, Feb. 
15, 1937, a son of the late Sidney and Ida King Abshire. He was a butcher and a member
of the Sharondale Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Jean O'Bryan 
Abshire; two daughters, Beth Varney of Baltimore and Renae Maynard of Sidney; three 
sisters, Jettie Lee Hatfield of Hardy, Gaynell Kendrick of Belfry, Shirley Tester of 
South Carolina; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were held 
at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the Sharondale Church of Christ with Bob Werntz 
officiating. Burial followed in Mountain View Memory Gardens at Huddy. Arrangements 
were under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry.

Quentin Hackney

Quentin Hackney, 78, of Island Creek Road, Pikeville, died Sunday, Feb. 7, 1999, at 
Pikeville Methodist Hospital. He was born in Pike County, Sept. 9, 1920, a son of the 
late Whetsel and Pleana Maynard Hackney. He was a retired coal miner and a member of
United Mine Workers of America. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lona Johnson 
Hackney. He is survived by three sons, Quentin Hackney Jr. of Oahu, Hawaii, Dennis 
Hackney of Loraine, Ohio, Jerry Hackney of Elyria, Ohio; two daughters, Susie Slone of 
Elyria and Katherine Kiscaden of Pikeville; two brothers, David Hackney and Kenny 
Hackney, both of Stone; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral 
services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, in the Justice Chapel with 
Windell Hamilton and others officiating. Burial will follow in the Johnson Family
Cemetery at Island Creek. Arrangements are under direction of Justice Funeral Services 
of Pikeville. 


Sylvia Shorts

Sylvia Johnson Shorts of Sumter, S.C., died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at Tuomey Medical 
Center. She was born in Pikeville, a daughter of the late Earnest and Mary Jane 
Johnson. She was a graduate of Zebulon Grade School and Johns Creek High School,
and a member of the Paxville Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, 
Robert H. Shorts. She is survived by one son, Mickey Shorts, stationed in Germany with 
the U.S. Army; four daughters, Mary Ann Roland of Sumter, Bobbie Lee Shorts of
Charleston, S.C., Patricia Crawford of St. Matthews, S.C., Victoria Anderson of 
Kenosha, Wis.; and one sister, Ida J. Levin of Waynesboro, Va. Funeral services were 
held at 11 a.m. Jan. 25 at the Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home. Burial followed in 
the National Cemetery at Florence, S.C.

Ruth Adams

Ruth Joyce Ramey Adams, 68, of Raccoon, died Monday, Feb. 8, 1999, at her home. She 
was born in Pike County, June 15, 1930, a daughter of the late Dock L. Ramey and 
Carrie Hedgecock. She was a sales associate and a member of the Red Creek Church of 
God. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas L. Adams; and one son, Thomas S. 
Adams. She is survived by three daughters, Carolyn Gwen Runyons of Georgia, Jennifer 
L. Dillon of Raccoon, Heidi Joyce Kilgore of Virgie; one brother, Emery Ramey of 
Nevada; 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will
be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in the Pike County Chapel with Delbert Owens and 
Donnie Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the Ramey Cemetery at Raccoon. 
Arrangements are under direction of Justice Funeral Services-Pike County Chapel of 
Zebulon. Special services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Orville Pig

Orville Pigg, 70, of Hellier, died Monday, Feb. 8, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist 
Hospital. He was born in Pike County, Aug. 17, 1928, a son of the late Everett and 
Lizzie Kilgore Pigg. He was a retired coal miner. He is survived by his wife, Anna 
Marie Stapleton Pigg; three sons, Orville Todd Pigg of Louisville, Everett Owen Pigg 
of Hellier, Roger Lee Pigg of Bowling Fork; five daughters, Phyllis Jean
 Stapleton and Janie Lou Ratliff, both of Hellier, Robin Hilliard of Paris, Tenn., 
Donna Garza of Jeffersonville, Ind., Patricia Ann Childress of Detroit; four brothers, 
Raymond Pigg, Floyd Pigg, Donald Pigg, and Ervin Pigg, all of Hellier; six sisters, 
Lola Stapleton of Wolfpit, Virgie Pigg and Creeda Faye Damron, both of Hellier, Ina
Myrtle Beaver of Delaware, Md., Corda Morgan of Naugatuck, W.Va.,  Burtis Holbrooks of 
Bowling Fork; and six grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. 
Thursday, Feb. 11, in the Bailey Funeral Home Chapel, with Richard Gibson and Homer 
Lee Mullins officiating. Burial will follow in the Wooten Cemetery, Louisa.
Arrangements are under direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City.