Pike Co Ky Obituaries from the Applachian News-Express Newspaper ********************************************************************** 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: June 1999 *********************************************************************** May 12, 1999 Marvin Kiser, 79, of Belcher, died Sunday, May 9, 1999, at his home.He was born in Pike County, Sept. 9, 1919, a son of the late Jeff and Virgie Stanley Kiser. He was a retired coal miner. He was preceded in death by his wife, Roma Branham Kiser. He is survived by one son, Kermit Dean Kiser of Belcher; one daughter, Brenda Smith of Shelbiana; three brothers, Ival Kiser of Powells Creek, Warren Kiser of Poor Bottom, Webster Kiser of Dry Fork; two sisters, Josie Kiser and Fannie Kiser, both of Rockhouse; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 11, at the Rockhouse Old Regular Baptist Church with Jimmy Dale Sanders, Steve Coleman, Kermit Coleman and A.B. Thacker officiating. Burial followed in Johnson Memorial Park at Pikeville. Arrangements were under direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City. Christine Potter Stewart, 64, of Elkhorn City, died Saturday, May 8, 1999, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington. She was born in Pike County, July 26, 1934, a daughter of the late Landon and Thelma Cantrell Potter. She was a cook. She is survived by her husband, Jesse Stewart; one son, Phillip Stewart of Elkhorn City; three sisters, Lorene Salyer of Elkhorn City, Annette Blankenship of Vansant, Va., Joyce McQuillian of Pittsburgh, Pa.; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were held at 7 p.m. Monday, May 11, in the Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with Billy Ford officiating. Arrangements were under direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City. Joan White Parker Girz, 64, of Toler, died Sunday, May 9, 1999, in Huntington, W.Va. She was born at Freeburn, May 21, 1935, a daughter of the late Harold and Ressie White Parker. She was a retired school teacher and a member of the Moose Lodge of Williamson, W.Va. She was preceded in death by her husband, William L. Girz. She is survived by one daughter, Elizabeth Ann Sayraf of Ann Arbor, Mich.; one foster daughter, Roberta Lotter of Rosamond, Calif.; and two grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at noon Thursday, May 13, in the R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home Chapel at Phelps with Dewitt Furrow officiating and burial following in the Blair Family Cemetery at Pikeville. Arrangements are under direction of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home, Phelps Chapel. Gary Blane Akers, 39, of Dorton, died Friday, May 7, 1999, at Dorton, the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born in Pikeville, March 2, 1960, a son of Lee and Delilah Tackett Akers. He was a disabled coal miner. He is survived by one son, Gary Lee Nathan Akers of Dorton; one daughter, Courtney Blane Akers of Dorton; two brothers, Mike Akers of Dorton and Gerald Akers of Virgie; and three sisters, Freda Cook of Lexington, Debbie Adkins of Ypsilanti, Mich., and Pam Hall of Jonancy. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 9, at the Dorton Regular Baptist Church with Carson Wright, James Tackett, Monroe Jones and others officiating. Burial followed in the Osborne Cemetery at Dorton. Arrangements were under direction of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home of Virgie. Alice Mae Maynard, 95, of Hampton, Va., formerly of Williamson, W.Va., died Saturday, May 8, 1999, at Hampton General Hospital in Hampton. She was born in Williamson, June 3, 1903, a daughter of the late Byron and Lilly Fletcher Slater. She was a retired cook, formerly employed by the Mingo County school systen, and was a member of First Baptist Church of Williamson. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Maynard; one son, Don "Butch" Maynard; one daughter, Irene Bowman; and several brothers and sisters. She is survived by one son, James C. Maynard of Williamson; two sisters, Geneva Poore of Huntington, W.Va., and Dorothy Prichard of Florida; nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Private graveside services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, at the Fairview Cemetery in Williamson, with the Rev. Greg Creasy officiating. Arrangements were under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry. Donnie Gale Wolford, 46, of Phelps, died Saturday, May 8, 1999, at his home. He was born June 9, 1952, a son of Cleve and Clare Wolford of Phelps. He was a coal miner. He was preceded in death by one brother. He is survived by one daughter, Carmelina Dawn Fields of McCarr; one brother, Luther Wolford of Phelps; one sister, DeAnna Hatfield of Phelps; and one grandson. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, in the Phelps Funeral Services Chapel with William Cornn and Dewitt Furrow officiating. Burial followed in the Wolford Family Cemetery at Phelps. Mary Farley Hill, 100, of Forest Hills, died Monday, May 10, 1999, at her home. She was born at Buffalo Creek, W.Va., Jan. 19, 1899, a daughter of the late Andrew J. and Mary Jane Stepp Farley. She was a teacher, employed by the Pike County Board of Education, a member of the Pike County Retired Teachers Association, Kentucky Retired Teachers Association, life member of Stone Chapter #533 Order of Eastern Star, and member of Stone Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. W.J. Hill; one brother and one sister. She is survived by two sons, William J. "Bill" Hill of Forest Hills and Thomas E. Hill of Lilburn, Ga.; one daughter, Ruth (Mrs. George) Harmon of Jacksonville, Fla.; two brothers, Thomas H. Farley of Goodman, W.Va., and Edward B. Farley of Parkers Lake; seven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 13, in the Rogers Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Sid Copley officiating. Burial will follow in Davidson Memorial Gardens at Ivel. Arrangements are under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry. Alfred Smith, 75, of Phelps, died Sunday, May 9, 1999, at the Phelps Presbyterian Health Center in Phelps. He was born Sept. 12, 1923, a son of the late Hibbard and Dolly Stump Smith. He was a retired coal miner, member of United Mine Workers of America, Local #8288, and was of the Primitive Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Geraldine Smith, who died Oct. 11, 1998; two brothers and three sisters. He is survived by his wife, Hazel Mae Smith; one son, Paul Smith of Lexington; one brother, Carl Smith of Feds Creek; two sisters, Effie Miller of Feds Creek and Jean Smith of Dayton, Ohio; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, at the Peter Creek Primitive Baptist Church with Steve Kinder, Ernest Blair, Jimmy Lee Smith, Franklin Vares and others officiating. Burial will follow in the Hackney Cemetery, Smith Fork, Phelps. Arrangements are under direction of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home, Phelps Chapel. Paul M. Rosebrook, 62, of Pikeville, died at 6:20 a.m. Saturday, May 8, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. He was born in Michigan, May 29, 1936, a son of the late Harold and Glenna Belle VanSycle Rosebrook. He was a conductor, employed by CSX Transportation, a member of Thomas C. Cecil Lodge #375 F&AM, and a member of Grace Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Jana Coleman Rosebrook; two daughters, Cindy R. Edmonds and Pamela R. Cline, both of Pikeville; one brother, Richard Rosebrook of Stryker, Ohio; and two grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 11, in the J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Norman officiating. Burial followed in the Annie E. Young Cemetery at East Shelbiana. Arrangements were under direction of J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home of Pikeville. Pallbearers were Jeffrey Coleman, Michael Coleman, Robert C. Coleman, Fred Allen Coleman, Colby Johnson and Tyler Johnson. Honorary pallbearers were Dirk Johnson, Robert Rosebrook, David Rosebrook, Tim Rosebrook, Sam Carter, Mike Thompson and Frank Dawahare. Rebekah Dawn Robinson, 17, of Greasy Creek, died at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 7, 1999, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Rt. 80 as she was returning from the Breaks. She was born in Pike County, Feb. 2, 1982, a daughter of Walter Dean and Reta Sue Coleman Robinson. She was a junior at Shelby Valley High School. and member of the Primitive Baptist Church at Coon Creek. She is survived by her maternal grandparents, Jenis and Mavis Jean Coleman of Raccoon; her paternal grandmother, Katherine Riley Lamb of Pikeville; and her great-grandfather, Rufus Goff of Raccoon. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, at Shelby Valley High School with Paul Dean Justice and David Coleman Jr. officiating. Burial followed in the Annie E. Young Cemetery at East Shelbiana. Arrangements were under direction of Thacker Memorial Funeral Home of Pikeville. Martha Rasnick, 79, of Elkhorn City, died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. She was born in Pikeville, Oct. 21, 1919, a daughter of the late Louis and Cora Geneva Holland. She was a homemaker and member of Rebecca Old Regular Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ell Rasnick; four brothers and eight sisters. She is survived by one son, James Rasnick of Wolfpit; four daughters, Letha G. Rasnick and Anna Justice, both of Wolfpit, Shirley Blankenship of Louisville, Wanda Robinson of Greasy Creek; Edith Sargent of Hopkinsville; 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 22, at the Samaria Old Regular Baptist Church with Orbin May, Jim May, Eles Case, Paul Coleman, Jimmy Dale Sanders, and others officiating. Burial followed in the Ell Rasnick Cemetery at Wolfpit. Arrangements were under direction of Justice Funeral Services of Pikeville. James T. "Coach" Bartley, 61, of Collinsville, Ala., formerly of Marrowbone, died Wednesday, April 28, 1999, at BMC-DeKalb Hospital in Fort Payne, Ala. He was born in Pike County, April 13, 1938, a son of the late Chris and Rosie Price Bartley. He was preceded in death by two brothers and four sisters. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Bachelor Bartley; one son, Anthony Bartley; four brothers, Elmer Bartley of Florida, Chris Bartley Jr. of Pikeville, Bobby Bartley of Carpentersville, Ill., Bill Bartley of Algonquin, Ill.; one sister, Etta Williams of Pikeville; and one grandchild. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at the Shady Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Dan Clanton and the Rev. Perry Whorton officiating. Burial followed in the Plunkett Cemetery at Collinsville. Arrangements were under direction of the Collinsville Funeral Home. Obituary courtesy of J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home of Pikeville. Pallbearers were Jerry Sarratt, Scott Tarrent, Gary Roden, Jack Jackson, Gene Farmer and William Godshall. Honorary pallbearers were members of the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department. May 26, 1999 Thomas Donavan Little, infant son of Kerbit Jeffery "Jeff" and Redia Spencer Little of Pikeville, was stillborn Monday, May 24, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. Besides his parents, he is survived by two brothers, Jeffery Tyler Little and James Cody Little, both of the home; and one sister, Shyanna Micole Kelly of the home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 26, at the Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church with Levi Coleman officiating and burial following in the R.H. Ratliff Cemetery, Shelbiana. Arrangements are under direction of Lucas & Hall Funeral Home of Pikeville. Robert P. "Robby" Dehner, 19, of Mishawka, Ind., formerly of Lexington, died Wednesday, May 19, 1999, the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in South Bend, Ind. He was the son of William Timothy and Connie Dehner of Lexington. Besides his parents, he is survived by one brother, Billy Dehner of the home; his grandparents, William J. and Audrey Dehner of Lexington; and two aunts, Lavana Adkins and Verona Caldwell, both of Pikeville. Funeral services were under direction of Forest G. Hay Funeral Home of South Bend. Burial was in South Bend. Obituary courtesy of J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home of Pikeville. Fern Adkins, 72, of Raccoon, died Monday, May 24, 1999, at Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Robinson Creek. She was born in Pike County, May 4, 1927, a daughter of the late Elliott and Sophia Bostic Varney. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Charlie Saylor; and her second husband, Truman Adkins. She is survived by four sons, Bill Saylor of Harold, Bobby Saylor of Kimper, Charlie Saylor of Draffin, James Saylor of Elkhorn City; five daughters, Dorothy Sargent of Honaker, Va., Betty Porter and Leatha Worrix, both of Coon Creek, Patty Jones of Johns Creek, Ruth Ann Booth of McVeigh; one sister, Lizzie Goff of Kimper; 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, in the Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with Paul Dean Justice officiating. Burial will follow in the Dotson Cemetery, Kimper. Arrangements are under direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City. Mary Ruth Skinner, 62, of Louisville, formerly of Greasy Creek, died Monday, May 10, 1999, at her home. She was born in Pike County, Feb. 7, 1937, a daughter of the late Willie Ray and Roma Rowe Prater. She is survived by one son, Craig Skinner of Louisville; two daughters, Ruth Ann Durbin and Michelle Skinner, both of Louisville; two brothers, Milford Prater of Louisville and Miles Prater of Shelbiana; two sisters, Melster Newsome of Louisville and Maxie Adkins of Shelbiana; and three grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 12, in the Schoppenhorst, Neurath & Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Hillard Newsome officiating. Burial followed in the Brookland Cemetery, Brooks. Arrangements were under direction of Schoppenhorst, Neurath & Brooks Funeral Home of Brooks. Obituary courtesy of Lucas & Hall Funeral Home of Pikeville. Lundy Hopkins, 67, of Greasy Creek Road, Shelbiana, died at 6:20 p.m. Saturday, May 22, 1999, at his home. He was born in Pike County, March 9, 1932, a son of the late Calvin and Mellie Hall Hopkins. He was a coal miner. He is survived by five brothers, Walter Hopkins, Luther Hopkins, Leo Ray Hopkins, Adam Hopkins and Joe Edward Hopkins, all of Shelbiana; and four sisters, Virginia Newcomb of Shelbiana, Cynthia Sue Hopkins of Palm Beach, Fla., Florine Rawlins of South Webster, Ohio, and Judy Ann Daniels of Tomahawk. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 25, at the Greasy Creek Freewill Baptist Church with Fred Neeley, Dallas Ratliff, Jimmy Jack Adkins and Jimmy Reed Adkins officiating. Burial followed in the Calvin Hopkins Cemetery, Greasy Creek. Arrangements were under direction of Thacker Memorial Funeral Home of Pikeville. Fern West Sword, 89, of Left Fork of Island Creek, Pikeville, formerly of Robinson Creek, died Monday, May 24, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. She was born at Island Creek, July 20, 1909, a daughter of the late Arthur and Fannie Irick West. She was a homemaker and a member of the Island Creek Old Regular Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Pearl Sword; two brothers, Paul West and Ira West; and one sister, Larvel Boyd. She is survived by three brothers, Carl West and Wayne West, both of Pikeville, Fon West of Dayton, Ohio; and one sister, Iva W. Compton of Pikeville. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 27, in the Lucas & Hall Funeral Home Chapel with Windell Hamilton, Jimmy Hall, Roger Hicks, Glen Hall, John Paul Hamilton, Hiram Adkins and others officiating. Burial will follow in Johnson Memorial Park, Pikeville. Arrangements are under direction of Lucas & Hall Funeral Home of Pikeville. Special services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Donald Reed Mitchell, 61, of Caney Creek, died Sunday, March 21, 1999, at his home. He was born June 15, 1937, a son of the late Seymore and Elsie Elswick Mitchell. He was retired from the U.S. Air Force, a sergeant major, and served in Thailand, Korea and Vietnam. He is survived by one brother, Steve Seymore Mitchell of Akron, Ohio; two sisters, Florence Mitchell of Pikeville and Norma Jean Newsome of Hudson, Ohio; and a host of nieces and nephews. A memorial service and military honors will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 30, at the Elswick Family Cemetery, Booker Fork of Caney. Arrangements are under direction of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home of Virgie. Roy C. "Rocky" Chafin, 45, of Borderland, W.Va., died Monday, May 24, 1999, in the Williamson Memorial Hospital Emergency Room, Williamson, W.Va. He was born in Amarillo, Texas, May 11, 1954, a son of Carol Jarvis Chafin of Hatfield and the late Clifford Chafin. He was an electrician, employed by Tramco, and coached Little League baseball and basketball in Williamson. He is survived by his wife, Cora Lynn Savage Chafin; one son, Joshua Chafin of Borderland; one daughter, Pascha Chafin of Borderland; one brother, James "Dusty" Chafin of Canada; and three sisters, Ruth "Candy" Crum and Theresa "Cotton" Cochran, both of Hatfield, Joyce "Sugar" Hatfield of Sidney. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, May 28, in the Rogers Funeral Home Chapel with Ray Taylor and Earl White officiating and burial following in the family cemetery at Borderland. Arrangements are under direction of Rogers Funeral Home of Belfry. Special services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday. May 28, 1999 Lillie Etta Layne Stumbo, 91, of Harold, died Tuesday, May 26, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. She was born at Harold, Jan. 24, 1908, a daughter of the late Roscoe and Fannie Akers Layne. She was a homemaker and a member of the Betsy Layne Freewill Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Irvin Stumbo. She is survived by one son, Philip Irvin Stumbo of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; one brother, Roscoe Layne Jr. of Pikeville; one sister, Montana Brooks of Harold; and two grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 29, in the Hall Funeral Home Chapel with burial following in the George Akers Cemetery, Harold. Arrangements are under direction of Hall Funeral Home of Martin. June Tolliver, 53, of Galveston, died Wednesday, May 26, 1999. She was born Feb. 2, 1946, a daughter of the late Charlie and Maudie Sullivan Tolliver. She was a homemaker and of the Pentecostal faith. She was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters. She is survived by two daughters, Melissa Combs and Treva Hamilton, both of Phelps; four brothers, James Tolliver and Charlie Tolliver, both of Phelps, Kermit Tolliver of Princeton, W.Va., Johnny Tolliver of Martin, Ohio; four sisters, Ermal Hackney of Mouthcard, Anna P. Wess of Columbus, Ohio, Geraldine Tolliver of Delbarton, W.Va., Irene Moore of Majestic; and two grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 29, in the Phelps Funeral Services Chapel with Kenny Chapman and DeWitt Furrow officiating. Burial will follow in the family cemetery. Arrangements are under direction of Phelps Funeral Services of Phelps. Pallbearers are Roy Hamilton, Buford Combs Jr., Stirl Smith Jr., Billy Combs, James Tolliver, and Allen Hamilton. Special services will be held at 7 p.m. Friday. Lois A. Holland Roberts, 63, of Lexington, S.C., formerly of Caney, died. She was born in Pike County, July 30, 1936, a daughter of the late Elzie and Gertrude Holland Newsome. She is survived by one daughter, Mary Roberts Dube of Lexington. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 29, in the Thacker Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Pete Junior Newsome officiating and burial following in the Gid Little Cemetery, Caney Highway. Arrangements are under direction of Thacker Memorial Funeral Home of Pikeville. Visitation is at noon Saturday. Hessie Bartley Elswick Hamilton, 72, of Penny Road, died at 1:24 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, 1999, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. She was born in Pike County, Feb. 17, 1927, a daughter of the late Willard and Hama Kiser Bartley. She was a homemaker and a member of the Old Regular Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her first husband, William Elswick Jr., who died in 1987; her second husband, Orville Hamilton, in 1994; one son, Russell Bartley; and one brother. She is survived by three daughters, Bonnie Elliott and Debra Stevens, both of Penny Road, Jackie Newsome of Albion, Mich.; seven brothers, Delmer Bartley of Belleville, Mich., Odies Bartley of Newark, Del., Tremble Bartley and Offie Bartley, both of Columbus, Ohio, Elbert Bartley of Zanesville, Ohio, Otis Bartley of Grove City, Ohio, David Bartley of Penny Road; four sisters, Essie Elswick Bartley of Pikeville, Gladys Thomas of Penny Road, Minnie Belle Hamilton of Morehead, Edith Hershey of Hershey, Pa.; and 13 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 29, in the J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home Chapel with Old Regular Baptist ministers officiating and burial following in the Willard Bartley Cemetery, Penny. Arrangements are under direction of J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home of Pikeville. Special services will be held at 7 p.m. Friday. Rocky Richard Hylton, 21, of Elkhorn City, died Wednesday, May 26, 1999, the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Marrowbone Creek Road. He was born in Pike County, May 27, 1977, a son of Gary Richard and Brenda Gail Anderson Hylton. He was a carpenter. Besides his parents, he is survived by three sisters, Trinia Marie Taylor of Tazewell, Va., Crystal Gail Hylton of Neon and Tonya Lynette Hylton of Robinson Creek. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, May 28, in the Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with Phillip Hines officiating and burial following in the Elkhorn City Cemetery. Arrangements are under direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Elkhorn City.