Published: June 19, 2009 11:14 pm      

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Opal Gertrude Martin Blair (1917-2009)

Opal Gertrude Martin Blair, 91, of Rush, Ky., died June 18, 2009, in Community Hospice Care Center surrounded by her loving family.

She was born July 22, 1917, in Catlettsburg, Ky., a daughter of the late George Washington Jr. and Anna Richardson Martin.

She was also preceded in death by her husband, William George Blair; two sons, Billy and Roger Blair; a daughter, Betty James; two brothers; and two sisters.

She was a former nurse at KDMC, Louisa General Hospital and Louisa Medical Center and of the Baptist faith.

Surviving are a son, Gary Blair and his wife, Linda, of Huntington, W.Va., and Bobby Blair and his wife, Jan, of Rush; a daughter, Ruth Marple and her husband, John, of Springtown, Texas; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday, June 22, 2009, at Steen Funeral Home-13th Street Chapel in Ashland by Pastor Jimm Smedley. Burial will be in Klaiber Family Cemetery at Rush.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 21, 2009, at the funeral home.

Condolences may be sent to www.steenfuneralhomes.com.



Mary Bryson Hunsaker (1918-2009)

Mary Bryson Hunsaker of Lexington died peacefully in Sayre Christian Village on June 17, 2009. She was the widow of John C. Hunsaker Jr.

Mrs. Hunsaker was born in Ashland, Ky., on April 21, 1918, the daughter of the late Arthur T. Sr. of Greenup and Juliette Gaines Bryson of Frankfort.

Mary graduated in 1936 from Ashland High School, then the University of Kentucky in 1940. Living briefly in Frankfort after World War II, she resided more than 45 years in Lake Zurich, Ill., and taught grade school nearly 30 years there and also in Wauconda and Island Lake. On retirement, she and her spouse returned home to Kentucky 20 years ago.

Mrs. Hunsaker was preceded in death by her youngest son, Frank Gaines Hunsaker; and her brothers, Arthur T. Bryson Jr., William Gaines Bryson, Frank Andrew Bryson and Joseph Samuel Bryson.

She is survived by two sons, Arthur William Hunsaker (Karen) of Woodridge, Ill., and John C. Hunsaker III (Brenda) of Lexington, and by her only sister, Juliette Bryson of Ashland. Mary is also survived by four grandchildren, John C. Hunsaker IV, Amy Hunsaker Stachacz (Brian), Brian Hunsaker and Tanya Hunsaker Leister, and two great-grandchildren, Madeline and Justin Stachacz.

A loving, caring mother, she lived a long, rich life and will be deeply missed by all who knew her, both family and friends. The family is comforted that Mary is at peace.

There will be no visitation. A memorial service will be later this year in South Shore in Greenup County, Ky., at the Bryson family cemetery. The family requests memorial donations be made to a charity of one’s choice.

www.milwardfuneral.com.



Joe Thacker (1920–2009)

Joseph Edmund “Joe” Thacker, 89, of Durbin, passed away early Friday morning, June 19, 2009, in Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland.

Mr. Thacker was born Jan. 11, 1920, in Durbin, a son of the late Frank and Mamie Hatten Thacker.

He served our great nation honorably during the World War II Asiatic Pacific Theater with the United States Army. Joe’s love of the land was shown by the years he spent on his dairy farm with his wife and children. He was an avid fisherman and loved to hunt. He attended Cyrus Chapel, recently accepting Christ and was baptized on Easter Sunday.

Sadly left behind is a devoted family including his wife of 62 years, Jody McKnight Thacker; a son, Joe Ed Thacker and his wife, Betty, of Ashland; two daughters, Donna Marie Blair and her husband, Gerald, and Kime Sue Blair and her husband, Wordie, all of Ashland; a sister, Mary Kathleen Thacker of Catlettsburg; four grandchildren, Tammy (Randy) Hunt, Hope Moore, Britton (Farah) Blair and Angie (Sam) Byron; and five great-grandchildren, Faith Hunt, Seth Hunt, Jakob Moore, Blair Moore and Abigail Grace Blair.

Also preceding him in death were a grandson, Billy Thacker; two brothers, Paul Thacker and Frank Hatton; and a sister, Leona Casey.

A graveside service will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 21, 2009, at Thacker Family Cemetery in Durbin. Words of comfort will be offered by Pastor Mac Farrell and a special friend, Pastor Joe Webb. Military graveside rites will be by American Legion Post 93.

In lieu of floral tributes, the family has graciously requested contributions be made to the Cyrus Chapel Building Fund, Jody Thacker, treasurer, 8417 Durbin Road, Catlettsburg, KY 41129.

Kilgore & Collier Funeral Home in Catlettsburg is in charge of arrangements.



Patty Selogic (1957-2009)

Patty Selogic, 51, of Catlettsburg, Ky., went to dwell in her mansion with her mother near God’s throne on June 18, 2009, in King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Ky.

She was born July 16, 1957, in Boyd County, Ky., a daughter of Elwood Brown of Wheelersburg, Ohio, and the late Virginia Johnson Brown.

Mrs. Selogic was a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Selogic of Catlettsburg; two sons, Larry Ratliff and Robert Selogic Jr., both of Catlettsburg; and three daughters, Samanthy Ratliff of Catlettsburg, Rebecca Ratliff of Catlettsburg and Jennifer Laney of Ashland. Other survivors include five brothers, Dale and Judy Brown of Columbus, Ohio, Vale and Theresa Brown of Birdstown, Tenn., Elwood Jr. and Sandy Brown of Worthington, Ky., Larry Ray Brown of Greenup, Ky., and Kevin Wayne and Elaine Brown of Flatwoods, Ky.; two sisters, Estella Sue and John Dell Johnson of Wheelersburg and Anita and Marvin Chaffins of Ashland; and a grandchild, Kayelee Jean Laney.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Wright’s Funeral Home in Greenup with Brother Junior Moore officiating.

Burial will be in Quillen Cemetery at Load, Ky.

Friends may call after 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.



Merrill Chinn (1935-2009)

Merrill Chinn, 73, of Worthington, Ky., died June 17, 2009, in Kingsbrook Life Care Center in Ashland, Ky.

He was born Nov. 24, 1935, in Greenup County, Ky., a son of the late Merrill C. and Elizabeth Young Chinn. He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Joshua Kyle Chinn.

He was a retired electrician technician with AK Steel Corp. and a member of Steelworkers Local 1875. He was a Kentucky colonel.

Surviving are sons Chuck (Tara) Chinn of Greenup, Ky., and Mike (Kim) Chinn of Hanging Rock, Ohio; daughters Carrie Keaton of Worthington, Tammy (John) Bennett of Moyock, N.C., Denise Simmons of Raceland, Ky., and Paula (Jeff) Lindenmuth of Charleston, W.Va.; sisters Ethel Hoffman of San Antonio, Texas, June Cornett of Worthington and Elizabeth (Frank) Linderman of Easley, S.C.; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be at 12:30 p.m. today, June 20 at Bellefonte Memorial Gardens in Flatwoods by Bob Copley.

Friends may call from 11 a.m. to noon today at Carman Funeral Home in Flatwoods.



Roberta Senters

Roberta Stacy Senters, 86, of Ashland, died Friday in Boyd County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie R. Senters.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Miller Funeral Home in Ashland. Burial will be in Ashland Cemetery.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hoods Creek United Baptist Church.



Van Miller III

Van B. Miller III, 86, of Russell, husband of Agnes H. Miller, died June 18 in Veterans Administration Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va.

The funeral will be at noon Monday at Grace United Methodist Church in Raceland. Burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery in Ripley, W.Va.

Friends may call after 11 a.m. Monday at the church.



Mabel Butler

Mabel Butler, 80, of Russell, died Friday in St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington.

Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland is in charge of arrangements, which are pending.



Ruth Hardy (1915-2009)

Ruth Kathleen Hammonds Hardy, 93, of Grayson, died Thursday in Carter Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

She was born Dec. 1, 1915, in Willard.

Her husband, Estill Hardy, preceded her in death.

The funeral will be at 4 p.m. today at Malone Funeral Home in Grayson. Burial will be in East Carter County Memory Gardens.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Condolences may be sent to www.malonefuneralhome.com.



John Laney (1946-2009)

John L. Laney, 63, of Sandy Hook, died Thursday in King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland.

He was born Feb. 4, 1946, in Elliott County.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Wallowhole Independent Baptist Church. Burial will be in Turkey Roost Lodge Cemetery in Wallowhole.

Friends may call after 5 p.m. today and after 8 a.m. Sunday at the church.

Waddell & Whitt Funeral Home in Sandy Hook is in charge of arrangements.



Hazel Gullett (1916-2009)

Hazel Easterling Gullett, 93, died Friday.

She was born Jan. 18, 1916, in Lee City.

Two husbands, Millard Easterling and Sam Gullett, preceded her in death.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Potter Funeral Home in West Liberty. Burial will be in Hazel Green Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Condolences may be sent to www.potterfuneralhomeinc.com.