Obituaries from the Appalachian News Express, Pike County Ky


**********************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,
must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb
archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission
to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.
http://www.usgwarchives.net

Transcribed by: Gloria R.  gloriag@iwaynet.net
Date: Mar 1999
***********************************************************************
                   March 7, 1999

Dwight Maynard, 73, of Goody, died Wednesday, March 3, 1999, at King's Daughters' 
Medical Center in Ashland. He was born at Zebulon, Aug. 8, 1925, a son of the late 
R.D. and Fannie Smith Maynard. He was a disabled truck driver and a member of the 
Turkey Creek Regular Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Ernestine Maynard; 
two sons, Dwight Maynard Jr. of Goody and Charles Maynard of Moorpark, Calif.; one 
daughter, Patsy Maynard of Goody; one brother, R.D. Maynard Jr. of Romulus, Mich.; 
three sisters, Iwan Charles and Emogene Taylor, both of Raccoon, Billie Sue Smith of 
Pikeville; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were held at 
11 a.m. Saturday, March 6, in the Rogers Funeral Home Chapel with Bobby Scott, Greg 
Scott, Hobart Hamilton and Willie Blackburn officiating. Burial followed in Mountain 
View Memory Gardens, Huddy. Arrangements were under direction of Rogers Funeral Home 
of Belfry. Pallbearers were Kenneth Lowe, Brian Lowe, Jimmy Stanley, Danny Ray 
Maynard, Kevin Maynard, and Justin Maynard.  
 
Hazel Cochran Morris Pope, 78, of Huddy, died Thursday, March 4, 1999, at the South 
Williamson Appalachian Regional Hospital. She was born at Dix Fork, July 11, 1920,
a daughter of the late Harrison and Maggie Stanley Cochran. She was preceded in death 
by her husband, Otis Pope. She is survived by one son, Brady Lee Morris of Huddy; 
three brothers, Billy Cochran of Huddy, Herman Cochran of Belfry, Bob Cochran of 
Pineville, W.Va.; one sister, Ruby (Mrs. Franklin) Trout of Ypsilanti, Mich.; and
two grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 7, in the 
Rogers Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mike Stanley officiating. Burial will follow 
in Mountain View Memory Gardens, Huddy. Arrangements are under direction of Rogers 
Funeral Home of Belfry. Pallbearers are Gregory Morris, Mike Cochran, Terry Wayne
Cochran, Randy Cochran, Timmy Trout and Tommy Trout.  

Ray Bevins, 73, of Regina, died Thursday, Mar 4, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist 
Hospital. He was born Dec. 17, 1925, a son of the late Bud and Nevada Bevins. He was a 
retired coal miner, a member of United Mine Workers of America, a World War II Navy 
veteran, a member of Disabled American Veterans, and a member of Little Pond Rebecca 
Church. He is survived by his wife, Juanita "Jackie" Bevins; one son, William Ray 
Bevins of Yellow Hill; two daughters, Joyce Ann Childers of Draffin and Virginia Lois 
Justice of Pikeville; four brothers, Huffard Bevins and and Arlie Bevins, both of 
Millard, Bud Bevins of Illinois, John Bill Bevins of Michigan; three sisters, Eula Mae 
Davis of Winter Haven, Fla., Betty Lou Mullins of Yellow Hill, Roberta Bartley of 
Elkhorn; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 
held at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 7, in the Morris Chapel with Old Regular Baptist 
ministers officiating. Burial will follow in the Wilson Cemetery, Draffin.  
Arrangements are under direction of Justice Funeral Services-Morris Chapel of 
Justiceville.  

Clell J. Blankenship, 65, of Paw Paw, died Thursday, March 4, 1999, in Buchanan 
General Hospital, Grundy, Va. He was born in Pike County, a son of the late Frank and 
Octavia Luster Blankenship. He was a retired coal miner and a member of the Kelsa 
Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Blankenship, who died 
Oct. 8, 1991. He is survived by one son, Earl Blankenship of Sharps Chapel, Tenn.; two 
brothers, Willard Blankenship of Oakwood, Va., Elijah Blankenship of Paw Paw; and two
grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, March 8, at the Kelsa 
Church of Christ, Kelsa, Va., with Vernor Blankenship officiating. Burial will follow 
in the St. Clair Cemetery, Rock House Road, Paw Paw. Arrangements are under direction 
of Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy. Pallbearers are Cline Dale Estep, Jeff Ramey,
Donald Blankenship, Larry Justus, Rick Blankenship, Rocky Blankenship, Benny Estep, 
and Daniel Lester. Special services will be held Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Kelsa Church
of Christ. 

Orlena Ruth Smith Deskins, 77, died Wednesday, March 3, 1999. She was a member of the 
Elkhorn City Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fon Deskins. 
She is survived by two sisters, Justine Stone and Katheryn "Kitty" Tomlinson, both of 
Texas; one half-brother, Paul Biliter; three nephews, Zeb Blankenship, Bill and 
Stuart; and one niece, Betty Ruth. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, 
March 7, with Darrell Griffith and Joe Sublett officiating. Burial will follow in the
Annie E. Young Cemetery, East Shelbiana. Arrangements are under direction of Bailey 
Funeral Home of Elkhorn City. 

 Nancy Jo Hyler, 59, of Elkhorn City, died Thursday, March 4, 1999, at Pikeville 
Methodist Hospital. She was born in Pike County, Sept. 14, 1939, a daughter of the 
late George and Bessie Cantrell. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by one 
son, Gary Sawyers, who died March 4, 1999. She is survived by her husband, Thomas
Hyler of Elkhorn City; one son, Ricky Sawyers of Ashcamp; one daughter, Nina Deems of 
Villia Rica, Ga.; three stepsons, Danny Hyler, Terry Hyler, and Tommy Hyler, all
of Berrington, N.C.; three brothers, Mack Cantrell and John Cantrell, both of Elkhorn 
City, Charles Cantrell of Alexandria; one sister, Phyllis Cure of Elkhorn City; seven
grandchildren, and four stepgrandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. 
Monday, March 8, in the Bailey Funeral Home Chapel, with Michael York officiating. 
Burial will follow in the Elkhorn City Cemetery. Arrangements are under direction of 
Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City.  

Dixie Little, 71, of Long Fork of Virgie, died Thursday, March 4, 1999, at Pikeville 
Methodist Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Sylvester and Mary Alice Tackett
Mullins. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Eugene 
Little Sr. She is survived by three sons, Hobert E. Little Jr., Jeffery Little, and 
Terry Douglas Little, all of Virgie; two daughters, Sandra G. Elswick of Somerset, 
Donna S. Newsome of Virgie; one brother, Orville Mullins of Virgie; two sisters, Madge
Tidwell of Trinity, Ala., Verda Tackett of Wood Haven, Mich.; 10 grandchildren, and 
two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 7, in
the Long Fork Regular Baptist Church, with Dewey Roberts, Monroe Jones, Gary Hampton, 
and others officiating. Burial will follow in the Frank Tackett Cemetery, Long Fork of
Virgie. Arrangements are under direction of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home-Virgie 
Chapel of Virgie. 

Christopher Newsome, 89, of Bookerfork, died Friday, March 5, 1999, at Pikeville 
Methodist Hospital. He was born in Pikeville, Dec. 15, 1909, a son of the late William
and Matilda Hamilton Newsome. He was a project worker. He was preceded in death by his 
wife, Vesta Tackett Newsome; and five children, Clifford Newsome, Vadna Bolden, Joe 
Newsome, Linda Kay Newsome, and Helen Newsome. He is survived by two sons, Worley 
Newsome of Revelo, Stafford Newsome of Albion, Mich.; five daughters, Evelyn Bolden of 
Sookeys Creek, Janet Thacker of Canada, Gail Newsome of Bookerfield, Brenda Lee Hall 
of Little Creek, Brooksie Tackett of Bookerfork; 27 grandchildren, and a host of 
great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at
11 a.m. Monday, March 8, in the Justice Chapel, with Kermit Wright, Carson Wright, 
Jerry Estepp, and others officiating. Burial will follow in the Newsome Family
Cemetery, Bookerfork. Arrangements are under direction of Justice Funeral Services of 
Pikeville. Special services will be held Sunday at 7 p.m. 

 Gary Sawyers, 41, of Ashcamp, died Thursday, March 4, 1999, at Highlands Regional 
Medical Center, Prestonsburg, the result of injuries sustained in a mining accident. 
He was born in Pike County, May 25, 1957, a son of Eldeen Sawyers of Ashcamp and the 
late Nancy Jo Hyler. He was a coal miner. He was joined in death by his mother, Nancy 
Jo Hyler, who also died Thursday, March 4, 1999. Besides his father, he is survived by 
his wife, Nancy Jo Swiney Sawyers; two daughters, Jessica Slone and Ashley Slone, both 
of Elkhorn Creek; one stepdaughter, Rebecca Ramey of Elkhorn Creek; one brother, Ricky 
Sawyers of Ashcamp; and one sister, Nina Deems of Villia Rica, Ga. Funeral services
will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, March 8, in the Bailey Funeral Home Chapel, with Homer 
Lee Mullins officiating. Burial will follow in the Cook Cemetery, Marions Branch of
Ashcamp. Arrangements are under direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City.