OBITS (Jan. 1998) - Union Co., KY ***************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. Commercial entities must ask for and receive permission from submitter before downloading. Contributed by "MDT" ***************************************************************************** Copied with permission of The Sturgis News, Sturgis, Union County, Kentucky, Wednesday Jan. 7, 1998. Number One. 113th Year. Obits on page 3. MINNIE TROUT BRANTLEY Minnie Trout Brantley, 94, Loudon, TN, died Wednesday, December 31st at Rockwood Health Care Center. She was a former resident of DeKoven. She is preceded in death by her husband, Royce Brantley. Mrs. Brantley was a member of Loudon United Methodist Church. Survivors include one daughter, Barbara Smith of Sellersburg, IN; three grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and cousins. Services were at 1pm Friday at Loudon Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bob Copeland officiating. Graveside services were at 1pm Saturday at Rose Bud Cemetery in Dekoven with Rev. Don Collins officiating. Memorial contrbutions may be made to the Dekoven United Methodist Church in Dekoven, KY. RAGON CUNNINGHAM Ragon Cunningham, 75, died Sunday at St. Vincent Carmel Hospital in Carmel, IN. He retired as district superintendent of Island Creek Coal Company. Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Nell; two daughters, Barbara Clevidence of Uniontown and Sandy Bresnaham of Morganfield; a sister, Lurlene Gray of Uniontown; seven grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Services will be today at 1pm at Whitsell Funeral Home in Morganfield with Rev. Mark Galloway officiating. Burial will be in Rosedale Cemetery in Dawson Springs. Visitation will be until service time today. MILES BELT Miles Belt, 85, died Saturday afternoon at Western Baptist Hospital. He was a member of Hurricane Church and Woodemn of the World. Surviving are his wife, Ruby; two daughters, Doretha Hodge and Anna Rae Potter, both of Marion; two sons, Phillip and Roy Leslie, both of Marion; two stepsons, Bill Rice of Greenville, SC and Bob Rice of Marion; two sisters, Katherine Newcom of Sturgis, and Bernice Woodall of Evansville; four brothers, Percy R., Jerry, Edward T, and Claude, all of Marion; 10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Services were at 1pm Tuesday at Gilbert Funeral Home with burial in Hurricane Cemetery. GEORGE POTTINGER George Pottinger, 87, Morganfield, died at 9:50am Friday at Beaver Dam Health Care Center in Beaver Dam, KY. He was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte, who died in 1990. Survivors include one daughter, Georgia Conway of Beaver Dam, KY.; one sister, Catherine Carroll of Chicago, IL; two grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Services were at 3pm Sunday at Whitsell Funeral Home in Morganfield with Rev. Bob Dunlop officiating. Burial was in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Morganfield. KAY SHARON BERRY Kay Sharon Berry, 57, Sturgis, died at 8:55 pm Thursday at her home. A member of First Christian Church in Sturgis, she was a past president of Kentucky Rural Letter Carriers Auxiallary. She was also a member of Cella Sprague Circle. Survivors include her husband, Whayne; one daughter, Julia Enlow of Mitchell, IN; one son, Stephen Berry of Harvest, Alabama; her parents, Morton and Francis Henshaw of Sturgis; three brothers, Douglas Henshaw of Alabama, John Norris Henshaw & Steve R. Henshaw, both of Sturgis; and three grandchildren. Services wera at 1:30pm Sunday at First Christian Church in Sturgis with Rev. Jeff Bullock officiating. Burial was in Pythian Ridge Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to St. Anthony's Hospice or First Christian Church. CATHERINE LOUISE CLARK Catherine Louise Clark, 87, New Albany, IN, died at 10:45pm Thursday at Providence Retirement Home in New Albany. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Thomas Victor Howard, who died March 30, 1943, and her second husband, Hugh A. Clark, who died September 21, 1987. Survivors include three sons; Dr. James Howard of Sellersburg, IN., Jerry Howard of Louisville, and Tony Howard of Lanesville, TN; three daughters, Sister Rose A. Howard of Louisville, Dot Herr of Jeffersonville, IN and Mary A. Ramsey of Dade City, FL; one sister, Bertha Clark of Waverly; and one brother, William Raely of Waverly; 14 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren. Services were at 10am (EST) Monday at Sacred Heart Church in New Albany. Graveside Services were at 1:30pm (CST) in St. Mary Cemtery in Whitesville, KY. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Sacred Heart Tution Fund, c/o Sacred Heart School, 1840 East Eighth St. , Jeffersonville, IN 47130. JAMES "POPS" WILSON James "Pops" Wilson, 61, formerly of Marion, died Tuesday, December 30th. Survivors include one daughter, Michelle Wilson of Glenwood, IL; two sons, Gary Wilson of Portage, IN and Greg Wilson of Chicago, IL; two brothers, Cecil Wilson of Henderson and Noel Wilson of St. Louise, MI; two sisters, Sharon Shriel of Sturgis, and Corlene Stover of St. Louis, MO. Services were Sunday, January 4th, at 2pm at Gilbert Funeral Home. Burial was in Mt. Zion Cemetery. Copied with permission of The Sturgis News, Sturgis, Union County, Kentucky, Wednesday, January 14, 1998, Number 2. 113th year. Obits on page 2. (Page 1) Joint Funeral Services held for Murder/Suicide Victims Joint funeral services were held yesterday, Tuesday, afternoon for Mabel REITZ and her son Scott ROBINSON who authorities feel were the victims of a murder/suicide that took place in Uniontown. The bodies of the two were discovered by a neighbor, shortly before noon, in the trailer home the two shared on Second Street in the river city. Both were killed by shotgun blasts and the weapon believed used in the shooting has been discovered. The murder victim was identified as Mabel Reitz, 56, who lived at 604 Second Street where the shootings took place some time last Friday or early Saturday. The second victim who authorities feel shot Mrs, Reitz and then turned the gun on himself was not immediatly identified. The victim was believed to be Scott Robinson, 26, Mrs Reitz' son. And he was later positively identified as Scott Robinson through fingerprints. The Uniontown Police Department responded to the scene after a neighbor discovered the bodies around noon on Saturday. The neighbor had gone to visit the home and saw teh bodies through a window. The state police were summoned and three detectives responded. They determined that the evidence pointed toward a muder/suicide. Reitz was last seen alive around 10pm Friday. The bodies were taken to the Regional Medical Center in Madisonville, where autopsies took place Saturday night. Union County Sheriff Ron Girten said that Mrs. Reitz had lived in Uniontown for about 15 years. Her son had lived with her during the time. Union County Coroner Bob Scarberry said doors to the trailer home residence were locked when authorities arrived. Scarberry ruled that both died of a 12-gauge shotgun blasts to the head. The coroner felt that Mrs. Reitz was shot at a very close range as she entered the living room of the trailer. Robinson, according to Scarberry, shot himself in the head while he sat on the sofa. The obituary notices can be found on page 2 in this weeks' Sturgis News. MARTHA MADELINE HAZEL BLANFORD Martha Madeline Hazel Blanford, 65, West Point, KY formerly of Sturgis, died Wednesday, January 7th at 10:17am at her residence. She is preceded in death by her husband Gordon Anthony Blanford in 1981, her son, Tony Blanford in 1979, and a daughter, Connie Sue Blanford in 1961. Survivors include five daughters, Patsy Duke, Kathy Spalding, Flavia Morris, Evelyn Robinson, all of West Point, and Martha Ballard of Louisville; one son, Joseph Blanford of Holt, Michigan; one brother, Raymond Hazel of Dekoven; 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Services were at 10am Saturday at St. Francis Borgia Church in Sturgis, with Fr. Tom Clark officiating. Burial was in Hazel Bend Cemetery in Union County. HELEN WALLER Helen Waller, 82, Morganfield died Friday at Union County Methodist Hospital. Mrs. Waller was a seventy year member of the Morganfield Christian Church. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ray Waller in 1974. Survivors include one son; Ben Waller of Morganfield one sister, Jane Gilchristof Morganfield; and two grandchildren, Kami Waller of Murray and Benson Waller of Morganfield. Services were at 1:30pm Saturday at First Christian Church in Morganfield with Rev. Keith Ferguson officiating. Burial was in Odd Fellow Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Morganfield Christian Church or a favorite charity. JACK WICKS Jack Wicks, 76, Sturgis, died Thursday at 11:45 pm at Community Methodist Hosptial in Henderson. He was WWII Veteran, and US Navy. He was an avid outdoorsman. He was in the dry cleaning business for 50 years. Mr. Wicks was also a member of First Baptist Church and Quarer Horse Club. Survivors include his wife Marian, and a granddaughter, Marlena Tapp of Morganfield. Services were at 2pm Sunday at Whitsell Funeral Home with Rev. Mike DeMoss officiating. Burial was in Pythian Ridge Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to St. Anthony's Hospice. ROXIE JEAN WOODRING Roxie Jean Woodring, 61, Morganfield, died Thursday at 11:32 pm at Union County Methodist Hospital. Mrs. Woodring was a member of Grace Fellowship Church in Morganfield. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sam , September 3, 1997. Survivors include three daughters, Patsy Buckman and Wanda Winders, both of Morganfield, and Lisa Goudy of Vincent, OH; three sisters, Marie Woodring of Morganfield, Bessie Jennings of Fayetville, AR, and Louise Knight of Wheatcroft; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Services were at 11am Monday at Grace Fellowship Church in Morganfield with Rev. Dwight Jackson officiating. Burial was in Odd Fellow Cemetery. MARY "ALLYNE" MATTINGLY Mary "Allyne" Mattingly, 84, Marion, KY, died Saturday at 1:14pm at Crittenden County Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, Liston H. Mattingly. She was a member of Oak Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Survivors include two daughters, Naona Ordway of Marion, Jane Collins of Wheatcroft; one son, Wayne Mattingly of Fairfax, VA; two brothers, Wilbur Collins of Clay and Jack Collins of Eagle, Idaho; a step brother, Vernon Hatley of Clay and a half sister June Dunning of Mt. Vernon, IN, 10 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Services will be today at 11am at Gilbert Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery. MARY LUDWICK Mary A. Ludwick, 75, of Evansville, died Saturday morning at Deaconess Hospital. She was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church. Surviving are three daughters, Kristie Mulvaney, Sharon Ball and Deborah Mettle all of Evansville; three sons, Michael, Peter and Kevin, all of Evansville; two sisters, Louise Buchanan of Waverly and Emma Whitfield of Morganfield; a brother, Benny Whitfield of Morganfield; 11 grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. Services were at 9:45 am Tuesday at Ziemer Funeral Home Central Chapel, continuing at 10am Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, the Rev. John Davidson officiated. Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Anthony Church restoration. LEO SAMMY RHODES Loe Sammy Rhodes, 94, died Monday morning, December 15, 1997. He was born in Union County in 1902. He had lived in Cleveland since 1942. He was a member of Keith Street Church of God of Prophecy. He joined the church in 1926. He was ordained a bishop in 1944. He was an auxiliary designer and manager of Fields of the Wood from 1944 through 1952. He was a honor stone department director there from 1952 to 1964. He was preceded in death by two wives, Mary Jane Rhodes and Laura Ann Rogers Rhodes. Survivors include his daugther and son in law, Mary L. and E. T. Headrick; and one granddaughter, Saphronia Headrick. Services were at 2pm Wednesday, December 17th at the Keith Street Church of God of Prophecy with the Rev. Henry Biggers officiating. Internement followed in Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with the retired ministers serving as honorary pallbearers. SHARON HOLDMAN BYRNES Sharon Holdman Byrnes, 46, Sturgis, died Sunday night at 10:25 at the Union County Methodist Hospital. She was a member of First Christian Church in Sturgis, a hospice volunteer and a former secretar-treasurer of United Mine Workers of America local at Ohio 11 Mine. She was also the first woman coal miner in Kentucky. Survivors include her mother, Lois Holdman; one son, Matt Byrnes of New Albany, IN; two sisters, Kay Russell of Henderon and Shirley Hanor of Madisonville; a brother, Richard Holdman of Sturgis. Services will be today at 2 at Whitsell Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff Bullock officiating. Burial will be in Pythian Ridge Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Union County Hospice. SCOTT ROBINSON Scott Robinson, 26, Uniontown, died Saturday at his residence. Survivors include one brother, Tommy Robinson of Sullivan. Services were at 1pm Tuesday at Whitsell Funeral Home in Morganfield with Rev. Hank Ricketson officiating. Burial was in Odd Fellow Cemetery in Morganfield. MABEL REITZ Mabel Reitz, 56, Uniontown, died Saturday at her residence in Uniontown. Survivors include one son, Tommy Robinson of Sullivan; six sisters, Lorene Burden of Beaver Dam, KY., Ann Canright of Newburg, IN, Brenda Stumpf of Orlando, FL., Sue Brown of Hartford, KY, Sue Javis of Beaver Dam, KY, Teresa Mudd of Central City, KY; eight brothers, Sam and Bill Keown, both of Centertown, KY, Kenny, Jerry and Tom Kessinger of Owensboro, John Keown of Owensboro, Jeff Keown of Ohio and Jason Zeitz of Owensboro; and eight grandchildren. Services were at 1pm Tuesday at Whitsell Funeral Home in Morganfield with Rev. Hank Ricketson officiating. Burial was in Odd Fellow Cemetery in Morganfield. RUTH J. WALLACE Ruth J. Wallace, 93, Sturgis, died Monday at 2:44 pm at Union County Methodist Hospital. Survivors include a son, Stephen Wallace of Louisville. Services are pending at Whitsell Funeral Home in Sturgis. Copied with permission of The Sturgis News, Sturgis, Union County, Kentucky, Wednesday, January 21, 1998 Number 3. Obits on page 3 this week. MARY TABOR QUINN Mary Tabor Quinn, 69, Sullivan, died Thursday at 2:46pm at her residence. Mrs. Quinn was a member of Grangertown Baptist Church. Survivors include four daughters, Mary Ann Brown of Uniontown, Jane Rich of Marion, Janet Newcom of Clay, and Margie Lou Powell of Henderson; five sisters, Lahoma Alford of Morganfield, Ruby Tewell and Frances Gonzales, both of Sturgis, Anita Hair of Chuluota, FL, and Blondell Tucker of Evansville; two brothers, Bill Tabor of North Highland, CA and Euguene Tabor of Evansville; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren and three step granchildren. Services were at 1:30pm Sunday at Whitsell Funeral HOme with Bro. Don Collins and Bro. Jerry Pierson officiating. Burial was in Pythian Ridge Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to St. Anthony's Hospice of Union County. JOHN RICKETTS John Ricketts, 48, Morganfield, died Thursday at 8:am. Survivors include his wife; Becky; one daughter,Christy Willett of Morganfield; two sons, Brian of Morganfield and Danny of Smith Mills; one sister, Mary Kay Higham of Las Vegas, NV; one brother, Jerry Ricketts of Morganfield; two grandchildren, Dara Ricketts and Dylan Willett. Services were at 3pm Sunday at St. Ann Catholic Church with Fr. Patrick M. Bittel officiating. Burial was in St. Louis Cemetery in Henderson. Expressions of sympthay may take the form of contributions to St. Ann School. (In an article about his death that appears on page 1 and is continued on page 5, it states that he died on he and his wife's 27th wedding anniversary. He had retired last month after 30 years as a construction worker. He was a union construction worker out of Evansville and worked on several major projects, including the Aztar Casino complex. He was shot by his brother. ) ABRAHAM BRADFORD Abraham Bradford, 84, Evansville, formerly of Uniontown, died Saturday at Columbia Health Care Center in Evansville. Mr. Bradford was a 54 year member of Union Masonic Lodge #219 in Uniontown, member of Scottish Rite Haddi Shrine, member of No Ruz Grotto, and the Swords of Bunker Hill. Survivors include his wife, Irene Hart Bradford of Union County; and a host of nieces and nephews. Masonic services were held Tuesday at 7pm at Boone Funeral Home in Evansville. Burial will be today at 10:00 at Alexander Mermorial Park in Evansville. RUBY ROBERSON Ruby Roberson, 88, Pride, died Monday at 11:45 am at Union County Methodist Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmie J. Roberson in 1994. Survivors include two daughters, Alice Langston of Henderson and Barbara Fellows of Pride; one son, Jimmie R. Roberson of Pride; six grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. Services will be today at 2:00 at Whitsell Funeral Home with Rev. William Graham officiating. Burial will be in Pride Bordley Cemetery. MARY KNIGHT Mary Louise Knight, 82, died Monday at Madisonville Regional Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her husband, Teats, a daughter Lucy Mae and a son, Bill. Surviving are three daughters, Margaret Newton of Wingo, Ruth Elaine Poe of Cadiz, and Gloria Irene Adams of DeKoven; two sons, James of Clay and Charlie of Slaughters; two sisters, Clara Marie Woodring of Morganfield and Bessie Jennings of Little Rock, AR; 16 grandchildren and great grandchildren. Services were at 2pm Thursday at Townsend-Jones Funeral Home in Providence with burial in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Clay. MARGARET JENKINS Margaret Jenkins, 91, Sullivan, died at 12:05 am at Union County Methodist Hospital. Survivors include nieces and nephews who care for her, Harold Vaughn of Sullivan, Louise Vaughn of Sturgis and Imogene Riggs of Evansville. Services were at 10am Monday at Whitsell Funeral Home with Rev. Noble Cobb officiating. Burial was in Louisville Memorial Gardens in Louisville. BERTHA EDMONDSON Bertha Drury Edmondson, 93, died Saturday night at Wellington Park in Owensboro. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Edmondson. Surviving are three daughters, Bette Gatten of Henderson, three step daughters, Louise and Edna Collins of Sturgis, and Glenna Reynolds of Brookport, IL; two stepsons, Raymond Edmondson of Grand Island, NE and Bob Edmondson of Denver, CO; four grandchildren, Diane Fox, Patty Shockley, Paula Morris, and Penny Oakley, and eleven great grandchildren. Services were at 10am Tuesday at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, with burial in St. Agnes Cemetery in Uniontown. Copied with the permission of The Sturgis News, Sturgis, Union County, Kentucky, Wednesday, January 28, 1998, Number 4. Obits on page 2. WILLIE M. BATES Willie M. Bates, 25, Morganfield, died Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 3am at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville as a result of injuries sustainted in an automobile accident. Mr. Bates was a 1990 graduate of Union County High School and an employee of Bob Brantley Painting. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Agee in 1993. Survivors include his wife, Tracy Hite Bates; his mother, Sadie Agee of Sturgis; three sisters, Debbie Hauri of Romey, IN, Shellie Powell of Morganfield, and Marie Agee in the U.S. Navy in Italy; one brother, Gerald Bates of Morganfield; and five nieces and two nephews. Services were at 1pm Friday at Whitsell Funeral Home in Morganfield. Burial was in Morganfield Odd Fellow Cemetery. FRANCES GONZALES Frances Gonzales, 71, Sturgis, died Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 9pm at Jennie Stuart Medical Center in Hopkinsville. Survivors inlcude one daughter, Gayle Clifford of Clearwater, FL; four sisters, Lahoma Alford of Morganfield, Ruby Tewell of Sturgis, Anita Haire of Chuluota, FL, and Blondell Tucker of Evansville; two brothers, Bll Tabor of North Highland, CA, and Eugene Tabor of Evansville; and one grandchild. Graveside services were at 10am Friday at Pythian Ridge Cemetery. LOIS HOLDMAN Lois Holdman, 78, Stugis, died Tues, Jan. 20. at 11:20am at Regional Medical Center in Madisonville. Survivors include two daughters, Shirley Hanor of Madisonville, and Kay Russell of Sturgis; one son, Richard Holdman of Sturgis; one brother, Richard Holmes of Morganfield; and ten grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Services were at 2pm Thursday at Whitsell Funeral Home with Rev. Sam McMahon and Rev. Jeff Bullock officiating. Burial was in Pythian Ridge Cemetery. Expression of sympathy may take the form of contributions to St. Anthony's Hospice. ROSE HUGHLEY Rose Hughley, 71, Sturgis, died Monday at Vencor Hospital in Chicago, IL. Survivors include two sisters, Margaret Barnhill andh Ella Chipps, both of Sturgis; and nieces and nephews. Services were at 11am Saturday at Whitsell Funeral Home with Rev. David Pettie officiating. Burial was in Presbyterian Cemetery in Sturgis. IVA VIOLET COURTNEY Iva Violet Courtney, 53, Geneva, KY, died at 1pm Sunday at her home. She was a member of St. Anges Catholic Church in Uniontown. Survivors include her husband, Marion F. "Buddy" Courtney; three daughters, Rhonda Messamore and Martha Ann Hargrove, both of Morganfield, and Patricia Gipson of Corydon; two sons, Leslie Courtney and Charlie Courtney both of Corydon; three brothers, Douglas and John Lewis, both of Smith Mills, and Allen Pat Lewis of Uniontown; three sisters, Martha Turley of Smith Mills, Anna Parrish of Henderson, and Patsy Eblen of Dixon; six grandchildren; four step grandchildren adn two step great grandchildren. Services will be today at 1:30m at Holy Name Catholic Church in Henderson with Rev. Edward Bradley officiating. Burial will be in Fairmont Cemetery. ANNA PENNINGTON Anna Pennington, 67, Sturgis, died at 3:20pm Saturday at Union County Methodist Hospital. She was a member of The Church of God in Sturgis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Odell Pennington in 1993. Survivors include one son, Don Pennington of Sturgis; one sister, Fannie Hinton of Sturgis; and three grandchildren. Services were at 2pm Tuesday at Whitsell Funeral Home with Rev. Sam McMahon officiating. Burial was in Grangertown Cemetery. (my personal note- Anna was a beautician) DANNY CAMPBELL Danny Campbell, 41, Dekoven, died Sunday at 2pm at his residence. Survivors include his wife, Susan Campbell; one daughter, Charley Dawn of Evansville; his parents, John R. Campbell of Morganfield and Elsie Campbell of Morganfield; two sisters, Paula Meadows and Sandy Wilkins, both of Morganfield; one brother, Terry Campbell and 1/2 brother, Mike Campbell of Clay, cousins, nieces and nephews. Services will be today at 11am at Whitsell Funeral Home in Morganfield with Rev. Geroge Yates officiating. Burial will be in Caseyville Cemetery. MARTHA J. HARMON Martha J. Harmon, 70, Henderson, died at 6am Sunday at Community Methodist Hospital. She was a homemaker. Survivors include one son, Bobby Harmon of Henderson; one sister, Louvinnie Owens of Dixon; one brother, Loyd Stone of Sturgis; four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Services will be today at 10:30am at Tapp Funeral Home with Rev. Donald Berry officiating. Burial will be in Fairmont Cemetery.