Monday, May 26, 2008

May 26, 2008 10:42 am

— George Edison Wright - 1930-2008
George Edison Wright, 78, of Ashland, died Saturday, May 24, 2008, in Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland.
Mr. Wright was born in Glenwood, a son of Jake and Pluma Blankenship Wright. He was the widower of Carol Hale Wright, who died in 1973.
Mr. Wright was a veteran who served in the U.S. Army and was retired as maintenance foreman from Armco Steel. He was a member of Unity Baptist Church and the Ashland High School Class of 1948 Reunion Committee.
He is survived by a son, Paul David Wright and his wife, Susan, of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; a daughter, Vicki Wright James of Ashland; two grandchildren, Daniel Tobin and Renee Wright and Michael Allen and Allison James; three great-grandchildren, Linden Wright, Tanner Allen James and Logan Hale James; two sisters, Helen Hall and her husband, Everett, of Westwood and Lillian Amburgey of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; special friends Carl and Omerea Sparks, Paul and Polly Eastham, Wanda Sutphin, Lin Arnett and Roberta Umberger; and several special nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at noon Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at Unity Baptist Church by Dr. Floyd Paris and the Rev. Charles E. Stewart. Burial will be in Ashland Cemetery.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Lazear Funeral Home and an hour before services Tuesday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 1181, Ashland, KY 41105-1181.

Kathleen Smith Knight - 1918-2008
Kathleen Smith Knight, 89, of Ashland, died Friday, May 23, 2008, in King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland.
Mrs. Knight was born Nov. 18, 1918, in Carter County, a daughter of the late Charles N. and Mabel Johnston Safreed. She was the widow of Doran R. Smith, who died in 1974, and Floyd F. Knight.
Mrs. Knight was the owner and manager of Doran’s and was a sales clerk at the C.H. Parsons Co. She was a member of Normal Presbyterian Church, Eastern Star Grayson Chapter and the Altrusa Club. She also volunteered for the Red Cross and Community Kitchen.
She was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Ellen Crance.
Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Charles Smith and Linda H. . Diddams of Flatwoods; three grandchildren, Robert (Cindy) Smith, John (Cara) Smith and Amanda (Adam) Browne; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister, Minnie (Ova) Kimbleton of Ashland.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at Lazear Funeral Home by the Rev. Susan Alley. Burial will be in Rose Hill Burial Park in Ashland.
Friends may call after 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Normal Presbyterian Church, 4316 Winchester Ave., Ashland, KY 41101.

Melissa “Lisa” Cox Clark - 1975-2008
Melissa “Lisa” Cox Clark, 32, of Ashland, died Friday, May 23, 2008, in Ashland.
Miss Clark was born July 28, 1975, in Ironton.
She is survived by her mother, Susan Clark Bayless; a son, Kameron Clark of Martin County; a daughter, Emily Cox of Martin County; four brothers, Steven Cox of West Virginia, Larry Cox Jr. of Ironton, Benjamin Cox of Ashland and Christopher Bayless of West Virginia; two sisters, Misty Cox of Catlettsburg and Cheyanna Bayless of Ashland; a boyfriend, Scott Williams of Ashland; and a stepmother, Sharon Cox of Kissimmee, Fla.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at Carman Funeral Home in Flatwoods by the Rev. Scotty Grooms. Burial will be in Rose Hill Burial Park in Ashland.
Friends may call after 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Virginia “Jenny” Maggard Franz - 1923-2008
Virginia “Jenny” Maggard Franz, 85, of Flatwoods, died Friday, May 23, 2008, at her residence.
Mrs. Franz was born Jan. 11, 1923, in Chinnville, a daughter of the late Alfred and Bessie Braden Maggard. She was the widow of Howard Lee Franz.
Mrs. Franz was a homemaker and attended 13th Street Baptist Church.
She was also preceded in death by a son, David Leslie Franz; two brothers, Jim and Robert “Tootie” Maggard; and four sisters, Kay Ussery, Dean Morrison, Shirley Stith and Freda Henson.
Surviving are a son, Gene Franz of Flatwoods; two daughters, Jenny and Don Ratliff of Russell and Nina Franz of Flatwoods; two grandchildren, Mickey and Diane Ratliff of Indiana and Tony and Terri Ratliff of Russell; five great-grandchildren, Dylan and Lennon Ratliff and Kristen, Camryn and Jessica Ratliff; three brothers, Harold “Ed” Maggard of Wurtland, Alfred “Butch” Maggard of Wurtland and Norman “Bo” Maggard of Lexington; and two sisters, Janice Watson of Wurtland and Debbie Johnson of Orlando.
A graveside service was at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Bellefonte Memorial gardens by Bill Parker.
Carman Funeral Home in Flatwoods was in charge of arrangements.
Donations may be made to Community Hospice, 1538 Central Ave., Ashland, KY 41101.

Gregory Allen Baker - 1962-2008
Mr. Gregory Allen Baker, 45, of Morehead, formerly of Olive Hill, passed away Saturday, May 24, 2008, in the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington after an extended illness.
Mr. Baker was born June 22, 1962, in Carter County, the son of Janet Gail Erwin Baker of Olive Hill and the late Brady Baker.
Gregory was disabled. He served his country with the U.S. Marines and was a member of American Legion Post 138 in Olive Hill. He was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend to all who knew him.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his companion of 14 years, Jo Ann Willeroy; a brother and sister-in-law, Calvin and Karen Baker of Vanceburg; and two sisters and brothers-in-law, Charlotte and Greg Rayburn of Vanceburg and Shelia and Bill Hall of Soldier. He also leaves several nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family and friends, who will sadly mourn his passing.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill by Brother Mark Lilly and Brother David Rayburn. Burial will be in Baker Cemetery on James Chapel Road in Olive Hill.
Friends may call after 6 p.m. Tuesday and until services Wednesday at the funeral home.
Nick Rayburn, Chris Hall, Craig Rayburn, Ryan Rayburn, Arthur Lawhorn and Nathan Plank will serve as pallbearers.

Vonda Boyle Gullett
Vonda Boyle Gullett, 76, of Greenup, died Sunday at her residence.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Reed Funeral Home in Greenup.

Carl Hunt
Carl Hunt, 63, of South Shore, died Sunday at his residence.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Roberson Funeral Home in South Shore.

Charles Wells - 1963-2008
Charles Wells, 44, of Van Lear, died Sunday in Highlands Regional Medical Center in Prestonsburg.
Mr. Wells was born June 24, 1963, in Johnson County.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Jones-Preston Funeral Home in Paintsville. Burial will be in Wells Family Cemetery in Van Lear.
Friends may call after 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Walter Pennington - 1925-2008
Walter “Doke” “Jake” Pennington, 83, of Ironton, died Friday in King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland.
Mr. Pennington was born April 16, 1925, and was preceded in death by his wife, Virgie Besco Pennington.
Funeral services will be at noon Tuesday at O’Keefe-Baker Funeral Home in Ironton. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery.
Friends may call after 9 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Gary L. Neal - 1933-2008
Gary L. Neal, 74, of Ironton, died Saturday at his residence.
Mr. Neal was born Aug. 1, 1933. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Moore Neal.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Woodland Cemetery, with military rites by VFW Post 8850.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Tracy Brammer Funeral Home in Ironton.