Pike County Obituary from the Appalachian News-Express Newspaper

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Transcribed by: Gloria R.  gloriag@iwaynet.net
Date: Apr 1999
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         April 14, 1999
Kermit Harold Clinton, 73, of Sidney, died Friday, April 9, 1999, at Williamson 
Memorial Hospital.  He was born in Charleston, W.Va., Aug. 3, 1925, a son of the late
Shirley Alva Clinton and Maysel Boggess Clinton. He was a policeman, having served in 
Williamson in the 1940s and at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., for about 20 years, 
was a World War II veteran, a 32 Degree Mason and member of Westgate Lodge in 
Hyattsville, and a member of the Sidney Missionary Baptist Church.  He was preceded in 
death by his wife, Edna Irene Clinton, who died in 1992.  He is survived by two 
daughters, Shirley Marcelija of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Anita (Mrs. Rick) Heflin of 
Sidney; one brother, Shirley Alva Clinton Jr. of Pottstown, Pa.; six grandchildren and 
six great-grandchildren.  Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 13, at 
the Sidney Missionary Baptist Church with J.T. Rafferty and Gary May officiating.
Burial followed in Mountain View Memory Gardens at Huddy. Arrangements were under 
direction of Hatfield Funeral Chapel of Toler. 

Gracie Elizabeth Smith, 80, of Ivy Fork of Chloe Creek, died at 2:07 p.m. Saturday, 
April 10, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital.  She was born in Pike County, March  
15, 1919, a daughter of the late John and Pricy Slone Keene. She was a homemaker and 
member of the Freewill Baptist Church at Stone. She was preceded in death by her 
husband, Fred Smith, who died in 1983.  She is survived by three sons, Vernon Smith of 
Ivy Fork, Preston Smith of Chloe Creek, Bert Smith of Island Creek; five daughters,
Orlena Gross of Jackson, Ohio, Estell Maynard and Katherine McPeek, both of Ivy Fork, 
Augestine McPeek of Greasy Creek, Helena Bentley of Pikeville; two brothers, Harrison 
Keene of Ivy Fork and Allen Keene of Shelbiana; 25 grandchildren and 34 
great-grandchildren.  Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 13, at the 
Chloe Creek Old Regular Baptist Church with Regular Baptist ministers officiating. 
Burial followed in the Justice Cemetery, Ivy Fork. Arrangements were under direction 
of J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home of Pikeville. 

Audra Gene Ratliff, 77, of Interlachen, Fla., died Friday, April 9, 1999, at Shands at 
Alachua General Hospital in Gainesville, Fla.  He was born at Winwright. He was 
retired from the real estate/rental business, was a World War II veteran, and a member 
of the Naomi Old Regular Baptist Church where he was assistant moderator.  He is 
survived by his wife, Phyllis Jean Ratliff; two sons, Randy Ratliff of Orange Springs, 
Fla., and Larry Ratliff of Gainesville; two daughters, Yvonne "Bonnie" Ratliff of 
Orange Springs and Nancy Scott of Alachua, Fla.; four grandchildren and three 
great-grandchildren.  Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 12, at Naomi 
Old Regular Baptist Church with Elder Stanford "Zeke" Branham and Elder Ted O'Quinn 
officiating. Burial followed in the Naomi Cemetery. Arrangements were under direction 
of Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home of Palatka, Fla. 

Lucille "Ludie" Rose, 83, of Sharondale, died Saturday, April 10, 1999, at the 
Appalachian Regional Hospital in South Williamson.  She was born at Stone, May 7, 
1915, a daughter of the late Larry and Hester Colegrove Evans.  She was a homemaker 
and of the Church of God faith.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Neil Wilson 
Rose Sr.; and several brothers and sisters.  She is survived by two sons, Neil Wilson 
Rose Jr. and Gary Michael Rose, both of Sharondale; one daughter, Irene Hilton of 
Stone; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  Funeral services were held 
at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, at the McVeigh United Pentecostal Church with Joe Crum 
and Kenneth Lowe officiating. Burial followed in the family cemetery at Hardy.
Arrangements were under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry.

Viola Varney Slone, 81, of Pikeville, died Sunday, April 11, 1999, at Pikeville 
Methodist Hospital.  She was born at Kimper, March 20, 1918, a daughter of the late 
John and Emma Hess Varney.  She was a homemaker and member of the Calvary Primitive 
Baptist Church.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Lora Slone; two sons,
Corbet Slone and Freddy Slone; six brothers and seven sisters.  She is survived by two 
sons, Garland Slone of New Mark, Tenn., and Clayton Slone of Raccoon; three daughters, 
Nancy Marie Ratliff of Kimper, Vesta Justice of Pikeville, Barbara Sue Blackburn of 
Belfry; one brother, John Varney Jr. of McAndrews; 15 grandchildren and 18 
great-grandchildren.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 14, at 
the Calvary Primitive Baptist Church at Kimper with Michael Elswick, Mike Smith, 
Harrison Smith and Paul Varney officiating. Burial will follow in the Varney Family 
Cemetery at Kimper. Arrangements are under direction of Lucas & Hall Funeral Home of 
Pikeville.  

Dorothy Lea "Dottie" Alloway, 32, of Chloe Road, Pikeville, died Sunday, April 11, 
1999.  She was born in Warren, Mich., Sept. 10, 1966, a daughter of Ronald "Ron" and 
Jere Alloway of Virgie.  She is survived by one daughter, Taylor Michelle Robertson of
Pikeville; and two sisters, Connie Alloway Tutwiler of Pewee Valley and Ronda Alloway 
Bentley of Louisville.  Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, 
in the R. S. Jones & Son Funeral Home Chapel with Monroe Jones and Dewey Roberts 
officiating and burial following in the Frank Tackett Cemetery, Long Fork of Virgie. 
Arrangements are under direction of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home of Virgie. 

Lizzie Leedy, 87, of Pikeville, formerly of Upper Pompey, died Saturday, April 10, 
1999, at her home.  She was born in Jamboree, June 27, 1911, a daughter of the late
John and Sara Whitt Layne.  She was a homemaker and member of the Raccoon Primitive 
Baptist Church.  She was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.  She is 
survived by three sons, Roy Ling of Canada, Roscoe Ling of Virginia and John Hurley of 
Pikeville; two daughters, Marie Bilen of Pikeville and Lillian Dotson of Itman, W.Va.; 
three brothers, Walter Layne and Jack Layne, both of Mountain Park Way, Earl Layne of
Freeburn; two sisters, Ethal Lawson of Mann, W.Va., and Pricie Brown of Detroit, 
Mich.; 10 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren and  
great-great-grandchildren.  Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 13, 
at the Raccoon Primitive Baptist Church, with Paul Dean Justice, Robert Worrix 
Clifford Thacker and others officiating. Burial followed in the Justice Cemetery, 
Upper Pompey. Arrangements were under direction of Justice Funeral Services of 
Pikeville.  Memorials may be made to the family. 

Ray Ratliff, 77, of Elkhorn City, died Saturday, April 10, 1999, at Pikeville 
Methodist Hospital, following a long illness.  He was born in Pike County, July 16, 
1921, a son of the late John and Lona Ratliff Layne.  He was a coal mine inspector, a 
member of United Mine Workers of America, a World War II Army veteran, a member of the 
Masonic Lodge, and the Old Regular Baptist Church.  He was preceded in death by one 
brother, Ralph Ratliff; and one sister, Shirble Coleman.  He is survived by his wife, 
Rebel Coleman Ratliff of Elkhorn City; two daughters, Judy Harmon and Debbi Ratliff, 
both of Wolfpit; three brothers, Freddie Ratliff of Regina, Billy Ratliff and Ted 
Layne, both of Shelbiana; two sisters, Christine Robinson of Pikeville and Ruby
Hamlin of Wolfpit; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  Funeral services were 
held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 13, in the Morris Chapel with Glen Hall and Hiram 
Adkins officiating. Burial followed in Johnson Memorial Park at Pikeville. 
Arrangements were under direction of Justice Funeral Services, Morris Chapel of 
Justiceville.  DAV and Masonic services were conducted at the graveside. 

Nellie Wallace Williams, 77, of Hellier, died Friday, April 9, at her home.  She was 
born in Pike County, July 31, 1921, a daughter of the late Landon and Lula Fleming 
Wallace.  She was a beautician.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Ples 
Williams.  She is survived by one son, Tommy Williams of Morristown, Tenn.; one 
daughter, Deanna Robinson of Hellier; four brothers, Earl Wallace of Louisville, 
Joffrey Wallace of South Carolina, Bobby Wallace of Elkhorn City, Teddy Wallace of 
Hellier; one sister, Thelma Bartley of Rockhouse; three grandchildren and six 
great-grandchildren.  Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 12, in the 
Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with Clyde Damron, James Tackett and Tommy Tackett 
officiating. Burial followed in the family cemetery at Hellier. Arrangements were 
under direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City. 

Alice Vivian "Bib" Childers, 65, of Hellier, died Sunday, April 11, 1999, at Central 
Baptist Hospital in Lexington.  She was born in Floyd County, Dec. 10, 1933, a 
daughter of the late Boyd and Lillian Perry Pauley.  She was a homemaker. 
She is survived by her husband, Ernest "Ducky" Childers; one daughter, Vivian Beatrice 
Baldridge of Hellier; three brothers, James Arthur Pauley of Dallas, Wade Pauley and 
Donald Ray Pauley, both of Hellier; five sisters, Irene Maltese of Clinton Township, 
Mich., Julia Robinson of Fayetteville, Tenn., Emma Lou Freeman of Marshall, N.C., 
Phyllis Dockery of Dallas, Ga., Anna Ruth Gibson of Hellier; two grandchildren and one 
great-grandchild.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 14, in 
the Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with Greg Whitetree and Julian Gibson officiating and 
burial following in the Jim Robinson Cemetery at Hellier. Arrangements are under 
direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City. 

Gracie Wallace, 85, of Elkhorn City, died Sunday, April 11, 1999, at Mountain View 
Health Care Center in Elkhorn City.  She was born in Pike County, June 30, 1913, a 
daughter of the late Carlee and Louise Swiney.  She was a homemaker. She was preceded 
in death by her husband, Herbie Wallace.  She is survived by one daughter, Christine 
Bingham of Elkhorn City; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  Funeral 
services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, in the Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with 
Green Adkins officiating. Burial followed in the Elkhorn City Cemetery. Arrangements 
were under direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City. 

Tilda Cole, 71, of Pikeville, died at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 13, 1999, at Pikeville 
Methodist Hospital.  She was born in Honaker, Nov. 2, 1927, a son of the late Alex and
Sally Lawson Hughes.  She was a homemaker and member of the Cowpen Freewill Baptist
Church.  She was preceded in death by her husband, John Cole, who died in 1983; and 
two brothers.  She is survived by three sons, James "Bubby" Phillips of Harold, Mike
Phillips of Louisville, John Cole Jr. of Pikeville; three daughters, Lorraine Billiter 
of Stone Coal, Joyce Hall of Grethel, Phoebe Luster of Joes Creek; three brothers, 
Robert B. Hughes of Honaker, Jack Hughes of Sevierville, Tenn., Willie Hughes of 
Pikeville; one sister, Billie Spears of Zebulon; 13 grandchildren and 20 
great-grandchildren.  Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 15, at 
the Cowpen Freewill Baptist Church with Robert Smith officiating. Burial will follow 
in Johnson Memorial Park at Pikeville. Arrangements are under direction of J.W. Call & 
Son Funeral Home of Pikeville.   Special services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday. 

Freeman Hamilton, 69, of Virgie died Monday, April 12, at the Pikeville Methodist 
Hopsital.  He was born July 17, 1929, at Virgie to the late Harrison and Lizzie
Newsome Hamilton. He is a retired custodian with the Pike County school system. He was 
proceeded in death by one brother and one sister.  He is survived by three brothers, 
Milburne Hamilton of Seminole, Fla., John B. Hamilton of Interlachon, Fla., and 
Harrison Hamilton Jr. of Virgie; two sisters, Victoria Blair of Virgie and Rennie 
Newsome of Danville.  Funeral services will be Thursday, April 15, at 11 a.m. at the 
Caney Creek Regular Baptist Church with Eles Case, Don Little and Kermit Wright 
officiating. Visitation will be in R.S. Jones and Son Funeral Home chapel. Burial will 
b in the Newsome Branch Cemetery at Virgie. Arrangements are under the direction of 
the R.S. Jones and Sone Funeral Home of Virgie.

April 16, 1999
Eugene Morgan, 74, of Elkhorn City, died Monday, April 12, 1999, at Pikeville 
Methodist Hospital. He was born in Pike County, March 8, 1925, a son of the late 
Shuler and Mary Morgan. He was a retired coal miner, a member of United Mine Workers 
of America, a U.S. Army veteran, member of the American Legion, and the Ashcamp 
Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by one son, Gregory Gene Morgan; one 
daughter, Mary Lou Belcher Hobson; three brothers and three sisters. He is survived by 
his wife, Anna Morgan; one son, Donald G. Morgan of Dandridge; two daughters, Adena
Carol Justice of Pikeville and Linda Kay Hurley of Florida; nine grandchildren and 
three great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 16, 
in the Morris Chapel with Doug Ramey and Charlie Ward officiating. Burial will follow 
in the Wilson Cemetery, Draffin. Arrangements are under direction of Justice Funeral 
Services-Morris Chapel of Justiceville.  

Chester Linton Collins, 72, of Raccoon, died Tuesday, April 13, 1999, at his home, 
following a long illness. He was born in Pikeville, Jan. 10, 1927, in Pikeville, a son 
of the late William Jefferson and Sophia Violet Charles Collins. He was in the fabric 
and upholstering business, a U.S. Army veteran, and attended the Church of Christ.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Tunis Collins. He is survived by seven 
brothers, Ulis Collins and Donald Collins, both of Raccoon, Victor Ivan Collins of 
Chloe Creek, Garrett Collins and Janis Collins, both of Grassy Creek, Oscar Paul 
Collins of Prestonsburg, Tony J. Collins of Johns Creek; and four sisters, Avonelle 
Branham of Frozen Creek, Geniv Ratliff of Sunshine Lane, Helen Balou of Abingdon, Va., 
and Bonnie Barney of Frozen Creek. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, 
April 16, in the Pike County Chapel with Hillary Underwood officiating. Burial will 
follow in the Charles Cemetery, Frozen Creek. Arrangements are under direction of 
Justice Funeral Services-Pike County Chapel of Zebulon.  

Lester Lee Matney, 79, of Lick Creek, died Wednesday, April 14, 1999, at the Holston 
Valley Hospital in Kingsport, Tenn. He was born in Pike County March 20, 1920, a son 
of the late Dewey Matney and Fallie Cantrell Sawyers. He was a heavy equipment 
operator and a World War II veteran. He was preceded in death by one brother and
two sisters. He is survived by two sons, Arthur "Dick" Matney of Phyllis and Bryan 
Matney of Indianapolis; four brothers, Ernest Sawyers of Pounding Mill, Va., Paul 
Sawyers of Phyllis, Bobby Sawyers of Lick Creek, James Randall Sawyers of Chicago; two
grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. 
Saturday, April 17, in the Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with Nando Mullins Jr. 
officiating. Burial will follow in the Dow-Brooks Cemetery, Draffin. Arrangements are 
under direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City. Military graveside services 
will be conducted by DAV Chapter 140 of Elkhorn City. 

Loraine Tackett, 65, of Madison Heights, Mich., died Tuesday, April 13, 1999, at the 
William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. She was born in Pikeville, Dec. 26, 
1933, a daughter of the late Vince Adkins and Lula Adams. She was a homemaker. She is 
survived by her husband, Albert Tackett; two sons, Alan Tackett and Danny Tackett; six 
daughters, Gwen Steede, Sandra Knox, Sheila Iverson, Judy Tackett, Janice Tackett and 
Jennifer Tackett; and 12 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at noon Sunday, 
April 18, in the Justice Chapel with Old Regular Baptist ministers officiating.
Burial will follow in the Dan Adkins Cemetery, Fords Branch. Arrangements are under 
direction of Justice Funeral Services of Pikeville. 

Eddust Slone, 82, of Mouthcard, died at 12:56 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, 1999, at 
Pikeville Methodist Hospital. She was born at Fishtrap, June 11, 1916, a daughter of 
the late Clarence Sr. and Illey Blackburn Harris. She was preceded in death by her 
husband, Joe Slone; and one daughter, Delsie Slone. She is survived by two sons, 
Joe G. Slone of Mouthcard and Ned Slone of Nicholasville; two sisters, Delphia Chaney 
of London and Ercie May of Dearborn, Mich.; five grandchildren and two 
great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 pm. Saturday, April 17, in the 
Justice Chapel with Noah Slone, Robert Worrix, Paul Dean Justice and David Coleman 
officiating. Burial will follow in the Annie E. Young Cemetery, East Shelbiana. 
Arrangements are under direction of Justice Funeral Services of Pikeville.