Wednesday, June 25, 2008

June 24, 2008 08:16 pm

— Bertha Mae Koehlke (1923-2008)
Bertha Mae Koehlke, 84, of Concord Township, Ohio, formerly of Ashland, died Monday at Heather Hill Nursing Facility in Chardon, Ohio. She was born July 11, 1923, in Louisa, the daughter of the late Ben Sr. and Bertha Mae Carter Church. She was the wife of the late Stanley Koehlke. She was a member of Mentor Headlands Baptist Church and a longtime Girl Scout leader. She enjoyed bingo, cards, baseball and arts and crafts. She also volunteered for the Lake County Board of Elections as a poll worker. Mrs. Koehlke worked as a cost accountant for Dalton Knitting Mills in Willoughby for five years and in local school cafeterias during her retirement.
She also was preceded in death by sisters, Virginia Hall, Marie Emily and Mary Lou Church; brothers, Benjamin H. Joseph, and George and Clifford Church.
Survivors include her daughter, Kathy (Alan) Tramposch of Concord Township; and grandchildren, Lisa and Chris Krivenki and Alan M. Tramposch.
Funeral will be 1 p.m. Friday at Miller Funeral Home in Ashland. Burial will be in Ogle Cemetery in Lawrence County, Ky.
Friends may call after noon Friday at the funeral home.
Contributions may be sent to the American Diabetes Association, 4500 Rockside Road, Suite 440, Independence, Ohio 44131; or to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 1422 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115-1901.

Geraldine Sturgill (1920-2008)
Geraldine V. “Jerri” Sturgill, 88, of Ashland died Monday, June 23, 2008, at the Kettering Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio, following a brief illness. She was born Jan. 6, 1920, in Floyd County and was a resident of Ashland for 65 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ishmael Sturgill; her sister, Katy Hall; and her mother, Polly Hall.
She is survived by her daughter, Deborah (Dan) Dalley of Beavercreek, Ohio; her sister, Charlotte Gabbard of Worthington; three grandchildren, Brent A. Burnette of Pikeville, Amy L. (Rodney) Bray of Monroe, Wash., and E. Ashley (Chad) Thurmond of Sorrento, Fla.; six great-grandchildren, Britne and Dillon Burnette, Lauren and Kaitlyn Bray and Olivia and Elijah Thurmond.
Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Steen Funeral Home — Marshall Steen Chapel, with the Rev. Edward J. Richardson officiating. Burial will be in Golden Oaks Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive visitors after 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, make contributions to Community Hospice, 1538 Central Avenue, Ashland, Ky. 41101.
Online condolences may be sent to www.steenfuneralhomes.com.

Wilma Jean Whitt (1927-2008)
Wilma Jean Whitt, 80, of Ashland, went home to be with the Lord Monday, June 23, 2008 in Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland.
She was born July 4, 1927, in Boyd County, Ky., the daughter of the late Phillip and Vivian McFarland Smith.
She was a retired glazer for Pennco and was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Duane Edward Whitt; two sisters, Vivian J. Collins and Doris M. Embry; and one brother, Charles G. Smith.
She is survived by her husband, Marvin E. Whitt; her son, Larry J. (Ruth) Whitt of Grayson; a sister, Norma Gay Taylor of Radcliff, Ky.; a brother, Donald Smith of Frankfort, Ky.; two grandsons, Kris (Tammy) Whitt of Rush, Ky., and Les (Lisa) Whitt of Ashland; four stepgrandchildren, Donna (Randy) Waters, Dwayne (Ann) Perry, Rita Perry and Tonya (Aric) Lewis; four great-grandchildren, Logan and Taylor Whitt, Tahler and Trista Whitt; seven stepgrandchildren, Joshua, Justin and Jessica Perry, Trevor Roe, McKenzie Lewis, Josh and Zach Segina and Jayda Coleman; and a host of nieces and nephews.
There will be no visitation.
Graveside services was 11 a.m. Tuesday at Ashland Cemetery Mausoleum with Pastor Clell Lucas officiating.
Entombment will follow in Ashland Cemetery Mausoleum.
Miller Funeral Home in Ashland is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Community Hospice Care Center, 2330 Pollard Road, Ashland, KY 41101.

James Oliver (1924-2008)
James Henry Oliver went peacefully to join the Lord on June 23 surrounded by his family at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland following an extended illness. Born in Ashland on July 25, 1924, he was the son of Ervin and Verna Riffe Oliver.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Ervin Jr., Kenneth and Harold; two sisters, Martha Hurst and Margaret O’Neal; a daughter, Jennifer; and a son-in-law, Thomas Claxon.
He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Clarice “Peggy” McLemore Oliver; two sisters, Lula Hale of Flatwoods and Mary Conley of Ashland; three sons, James Jr., Kenneth and Bobby (Johnda), all of Ashland; two daughters, Jacqueline Claxon of Raceland and Carolyn Graves (Raymond) of Ashland; four grandchildren, John and Julie Claxon of Raceland, Thomas Claxon Jr. of Huntington, W.Va., and James Russell Oliver of Ashland; and one great-grandchild, Jenna Claxon of Raceland.
James was a member of the United Steelworkers 1865 and worked in the maintenance department at Armco’s Ashland Works for 44 years prior to retiring in 1986. He served his country with pride as a Staff Sergeant in the 77th infantry in the Pacific during World War II. James will be remembered as a big man with a big heart. He never met a person he did not like and never spoke an unkind word about anyone. A Christian who consulted the Bible on a daily basis, he was a devoted family man who loved his family, his lord and his country.
Funeral will be 1 p.m. Thursday, June 26, 2008, at Lazear Funeral Home Chapel in Ashland with Chaplain Shane Cox officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Burial Park in Ashland.
Visitation will be one hour before the services on Thursday at the church.
The family asks that he be remembered with a donation to a favorite charity in lieu of flowers.

Mable Howard Penix (1925-2008)
Mable Howard Penix, 83, of Catlettsburg, Ky., died Sunday morning, June 22, 2008 in Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland.
She was born Jan. 25, 1925, in Ashland, Ky., a daughter of the late John and Marie Reynolds Howard.
Mrs. Penix was also preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years, William “Bill” Penix in 2004; a daughter, Melinda Penix Greene; a brother, John R. Howard; and two sisters, Helen Sparks and Ora Lee Dixon.
She had formerly worked for Ashland Oil before becoming a fulltime homemaker and then later worked for the UK Extension Department. She was a member of Summit Missionary Baptist Church, where she had formerly served as chairperson of the “Joy Club” Senior Department. She was past president of Boyd County Homemakers, and was very active in establishing 4H clubs throughout the area and was a volunteer for Cornerstone Counseling (Summit Branch).
Surviving are a daughter, Melissa Penix Jackson and husband Buck, of Catlettsburg; a brother, Paul Howard of Ashland; grandchildren, Shelly Jackson Davis, Brad Greene, Terri Jackson Cyrus and Nikki Jackson Puckett; and great-grandchildren, Hannah Schultz, Larra Cyrus and Jackson Davis.
The funeral will be at noon Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at the Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland by the Rev. Stan Williams and the Rev. Kevin Meenach. Burial will be in Rose Hill Burial Park in Ashland.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the funeral home.
Friends may make contributions to Community Hospice, 1538 Central Ave., Ashland, KY 41101.
Online condolences may be sent to www.steenfuneralhomes.com.

Kermit Sawyers Jr. (1943-2008)
Kermit Sawyers Jr., 64, of Catlettsburg, surrounded by his loving family passed away Sunday, June 22, 2008, in the Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland.
Mr. Sawyers was born Aug. 6, 1943, at Cabell County, W.Va., the son of the late Kermit Sr. and Ruth Mae Elkins Sawyers. He was a supervisor for Danco, an installer for J.S. Vinyl Co., a member of American Legion Post 93, and attended Cross Roads Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife of 12 years, Barbara Gillam Sawyers; sons, Kermit Sawyers III of Chesapeake, Ohio, and Adam Hardin of Wurtland, Ky.; daughters, Karen Sawyers of Huntington, W.Va., Donna Sawyers of Chesapeake, Paula Wade of Catlettsburg, and Missi Coomer of Jacksonville, Fla.; a sister, Elizabeth (Bill) Merz of Tucson, Ariz.; brothers, Richard (Judy) Sawyers, and Gary (Bonnie) Sawyers, all of Huntington, W.Va., Roger (Anita) Sawyers of Worthington, Ky., and Leroy (Connie) Sawyers of Ashland, Ky; eight grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by a sister, Sandra Kay Taylor.
A funeral service for Kermit Sawyers will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at the Neal Funeral Home on Center Street in Catlettsburg. Words of comfort will be offered by Pastor Lou Ashworth. Final rest will follow at Golden Oaks Memorial Gardens in Ashland. Military honors will be presented by American Legion Post 93 from Kenova, West Virginia.
Visitation for family and friends will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the funeral home.

Mary E. Smith (1924-2008)
Mary E. Smith, 83, of Raceland died Monday morning at Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland following an extended illness. She was born Aug. 29, 1924, in Hardy, a daughter of the late Walter and Georgia Simpson Carter. Mary was a member of the Liberty Baptist Church.
She also was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Smith in 1996.
Survivors include two sons, Jack L. Kerr of Portland, Ore., and William J. Kerr, and wife Wenda, of Virginia Beach, Va.; three daughters, Judy and husband Larry Kitchen of Ashland, Connie Sommerfeldt of Ivor, Va., and Debra and husband Ted Simmons of Lucasville, Ohio; two brothers, Walter Fields Carter Jr. of Donnville, Ill., and William E. Carter of Ashland; one sister, Laura Youngblood of Kalamazoo, Mich.; 15 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Preston Family Funeral Home in Ashland by the Rev. Dicky Tiller. Burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery in Louisa.
Visitation will be 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.prestonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Wanda Stanley (1921-2008)
Wanda Ellen Stanley, 87, of Ashland died Sunday at Hospice Care Center in Ashland.
She was born Jan. 16, 1921, in Clinchco, Va.
Her husband, Ben Stanley, preceded her in death.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. today at the Saddle Baker Memorial Chapel of Baker Funeral Home in Pound, Va. Burial will be in Hill Ridge Cemetery in Clintwood, Va.

Mike Carraway (1952-2008)
Mike Carraway, 55, of Ashland died April 11, 2008.
He was born June 26, 1952.
His wife, Ruth Carraway, survives.
A memorial service will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at Highland Heights Baptist Church at England Hill, Catlettsburg. Speakers will be Stewart Carraway and Rick Skeens.

Thelma Dyer (1917-2008)
Thelma Cremeans Dyer, 91, of Portsmouth died Monday at Heartland of Portsmouth in Portsmouth, Ohio.
She was born April 8, 1917, in Greenup County.
Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Mt. Zion Cemetery in South Shore. Burial will be in Mt. Zion Cemetery in South Shore.
Visitation will be after noon Thursday at Roberson Funeral Home in South Shore.

Elma Irvin (1933-2008)
Elma Gertrude Puckett Irvin, 75, of Morehead died Monday at St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead.
She was born May 6, 1933.
Funeral will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals in Morehead. Burial will be in Clearfield Cemetery.
Visitation will be after 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Kelly Hamilton (1909-2008)
Kelly Hamilton, 98, of Wrigley died Tuesday at Elliott Nursing and Rehab Center in Sandy Hook.
He was born Dec. 30, 1909, in Morgan County.
His wife, Irene Elam Hamilton, preceded him in death.
Funeral will be 2 p.m. today at Potter Funeral Home in West Liberty. Burial will be in Adkins Cemetery in Wrigley.
Visitation will be after 1 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Letha Hackworth
Letha Mae Hackworth, 61, of Oil Springs died Tuesday.
Her husband, Herbert Hackworth, survives.
Funeral will be noon Friday in the chapel of Paintsville Funeral Home in Paintsville. Burial will be in Lakeview Memorial Cemetery in Staffordsville.
Visitation will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday and after 9 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

Ambers Jarrell (1919-2008)
Ambers Jarrell, 88, of Banner died Monday at the VA Medical Center in Lexington.
He was born Nov. 3, 1919, in Dana.
His wife, Virginia B. “Jenny” Jarrell, survives.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the Little Salem Regular Baptist Church in Dana. Burial will be in Jarrell Cemetery in Dana.
Visitation will be anytime until the funeral services at the church.

Audra Hicks (1925-2008)
Audra Mae Wallen Hicks, 83, of Garrett died Monday at the McDowell Appalachian Regional Hospital in McDowell.
She was born Jan. 11, 1925, in Garrett.
Her husband, John Hicks, preceded her in death.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Stone Coal Regular Baptist Church in Garrett. Burial will be in Wallen Cemetery in Garrett.
Visitation will be after 10 a.m. today at the church.
Hall Funeral Home in Martin is in charge of the arrangements.

Gertrude Lowe
Gertrude Adkins Lowe, 72, of Pikeville died Monday.
Funeral will be 1 p.m. Friday at Pikeville Funeral Home Chapel in Pikeville.
Visitation will be after 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.

James Addis (1926-2008)
James R. “Buster” Addis, 81, of McDowell died Tuesday at the McDowell Appalachian Regional Hospital in McDowell.
He was born July 24, 1926, in Bevinsville.
His wife, Versa Jones Addis, preceded him in death.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at Hall Funeral Home Chapel in Martin. Burial will be in Lucy Hall Cemetery in McDowell.
Visitation will be after 5 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Hazel Damron
Hazel Riddle Damron, 86, of Pikeville died Tuesday.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Pikeville Funeral Home Chapel in Pikeville.
Visitation will be after 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Virginia Saylor
Virginia Fay Prater Saylor, 87, of Salyersville died Tuesday.
Funeral will be 1 p.m. Friday at the Burning Fork Community Church.
Visitation will be after 6 p.m. today at the church.
Magoffin County Funeral Home in Salyersville is in charge of the arrangements.

Danny King (1934-2008)
Danny George King, 74, of South Point died Tuesday at Rivers Bend Health Center in South Point.
He was born June 21, 1934, in South Point.
His wife, Nedra Stamper King, preceded him in death.
Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Tracy Brammer Funeral Home in Ironton. Burial will be in Highland Memorial gardens in South Point.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.