Published: November 27, 2008 09:54 pm            

Friday, November 28, 2008

Dorothy S. Griffith - 1918-2008

Dorothy S. Griffith left this life of sorrow and entered into eternal bliss on Nov. 25, 2008.

Dorothy was born Nov. 10, 1918, in Greenup County, Ky. She was 90 years old. She was the daughter of C.M. and Pearl Sparks. She is preceded in death by her husband, Vernon A. Griffith; four brothers, Kenneth Sparks, Ray Sparks, and Owen Sparks and Troy Abbott; one sister, Alice Manley; and one daughter-in-law, Paulette Griffith.

She is survived by two sisters, Ann Fifer and Ruth Lawhorn, both of Ashland; two sons, Jim and Dolores Griffith and Bob Griffith, both of Ashland; and one daughter, Nancy and Chuck DeRenzo of Fort Mills, S.C. There are seven grandchildren, Jennifer Barnes, Jim Griffith, Robert Griffith, Paul Griffith, Kimberly Wallace, Nicholas and Anna DeRenzo; nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Dorothy was a very loving person. She touched many lives in her walk in this life. She was loved by all that knew her.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. today, Nov. 28, 2008, at Miller Funeral Home in Ashland.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral at the funeral home. Pastor Michael Locklear will conduct the service. Burial will be in Rose Hill Burial Park.



Richard S. “Dick” Robinson Jr. - 1960-2008

Richard S. “Dick” Robinson Jr., 48, of Ashland, died Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008.

He was born April 21, 1960, in Ashland, Ky., the son of Patricia “Pat” Howard Robinson of Ashland and the late Richard Sands “Pete” Robinson. He was a former employee of the Ashland School System and a member of Pollard Baptist Church.

In addition to his mother, survivors include his wife, Olive Terry Robinson; a son, Richard S. Robinson III of Ashland; two sisters, Kimberly Neal and her husband, Granville “Granny” of Ashland and Dorothy Keesey and her husband, Greg of Lexington, Ky.; two brothers, William “Bill” Robinson and his wife, Lisa of Ashland and Gary Clark Robinson and his wife, Lisa of Ashland and many nieces and nephews who dearly loved him and a host of friends.

Dick had a huge heart and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008, at Miller Funeral Home in Ashland by the Rev. Todd Richardson and the Rev. Charles E. Stewart. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Burial Park.

The family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.



Lester Wright - 1953-2008

Lester E. Wright, 55, of Catlettsburg, passed away early Wednesday morning, Nov. 26, 2008, in Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital.

Mr. Wright was the son of Geneva Sparks Wright Adams of Wurtland, Ky., and the late Roy L. Wright, born July 31, 1953, in Greenup, Ky. He was a route contractor for 20 years with the Daily Independent, and moderator of Boyd Co Free Cycle & I Boats.com. Lester loved the outdoors, including fishing, boating and camping, but his greatest love was the time he spent with his grandchildren.

Sadly left behind is his wife of 36 years, Suzette Hall Wright; three daughters, Tammy Opell and her husband, Rodney of Catlettsburg, Nancy Godbey and her husband, Terry, and Leslie Wright and her companion, John Whitaker, all of Rush; a brother, Leroy Wright and his wife, Teresa of Grayson; seven grandchildren, Rodney Opell, Robyn Opell, Blake Preston, Matthew Preston, John Godbey, Eva Godbey, and Kayla Whitaker; and a nephew, Justin Wright.

A funeral service for Lester Wright will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008, at the Neal Funeral Home on Center Street in Catlettsburg. Pastor Ray Sexton will offer a message of comfort. Final rest will follow at Bellefonte Memorial Gardens in Flatwoods, Ky.

Those wishing to call on the Wright family may do so after 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.



Charles L. Stevens Sr. - 1926-2008

Charles L. Stevens Sr., of Flatwoods, Ky., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008, in Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Ky., after a brief illness with cancer.

Daddy was born on Dec. 27, 1926, to the late C. Howard Stevens of Flatwoods and the late Della Fultz Burns of Richmond, Va. He was reared by his grandparents, the late P.H. and Alpha Elizabeth Stevens of Flatwoods, of which he affectionately called Mom and Pop. He was a lifelong member of Advance Memorial United Methodist Church.

Daddy proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a Seaman First Class from 1944 to 1946. Daddy worked at the C&O Railway, starting out as a machinist and progressed through his work life, and retired as a supervisor after working 45 years. During his time at the railroad, he also owned Stevens Trucking Co. and drove school buses for the Russell Independent and Greenup County School Systems.

Daddy was briefly married to Gladys Parsons of Olive Hill and from this union there is a daughter who survives, Mollie Sue (Jack) Wierman of Orange, Calif. and her three children.

Daddy was married to the former Goldie Irene Hutchinson until her death on May 20, 1998. From this union there were five children born who survive him. The children and spouses are daughters, Marilyn S. and Kerry Sluss of Russell, Sandra K. and Dave Sesher of Ironton, Ohio, Mary E. and David Harlow of Grayson and Charla M. and Jeff Bryant of Flatwoods who Daddy lived with during his illness and took wonderful care of Daddy and his business, and a son, Charles L. Stevens Jr. of Flatwoods. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren, Michelle Kretzer, Melissa Osborne, Amanda Osborne, Whitney Nunley, Luke Nunley, Carley Saige Bryant and Mason Garrett Bryant and a great-grandson, Ethan Meadows.

Charlie is survived by sisters, Elizabeth Mullins of Flatwoods, Mary Opal Fannin of Bellefonte, and Christina Minear of Circiville and brother Chester Stevens of Flatwoods. He was preceded in death by siblings Esther Stevens, William Stevens, Ann Fannin, Irvine Stevens and Mollie Thompson.

Daddy petitioned Smith Lodge No. 775, F&AM, in Russell, Ky., in 1962, was raised to a Master Mason on Sept. 1, 1962, beginning a Masonic career that has lasted for 46 years. He proudly served Smith Lodge as Master twice. He belonged to the Mistletoe Chapter No. 144, Order of Eastern Star, which he served in the east with our Mother as Worthy Patron three times. He was a member of the Morehead Chapter, Council and Commandery of the York Rite Bodies, serving as the presiding officer of each. He served the Grand Council of Kentucky as Right Illustrious Grand Steward during 1996-1997 and served as Right Illustrious Grand Conductor of Council during 1998-1999. He was presently serving the Grand Council of Kentucky as Grand Representative to the Grand Council of Ohio having held this position for the past 11 years. Daddy earned the Knight York Cross of Honor for his dedication and service to the York Rite Bodies. He was presently serving Kentucky Priory No. 25 as Sentinel. He also belonged to the Royal Order of Scotland.

Daddy was accepted to the Covington Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite on Nov. 16, 1966 and became a life member of the fraternity. He and his special “buddy” Fuzzy drove the many miles together to Covington every third Friday to their meetings. He joined the 1200 Club there and was a life member. He received the Knight Commander Court of Honor on Oct. 15, 1973. His undying service to the Scottish Rite earned him the honor of being coroneted with the highest honor they can award, that of a 33rd degree Mason on Nov. 24, 1979. He was the second member of Smith Lodge to receive this prestigious honor.

Daddy also belonged to the White Shrine of Jerusalem and the Order of the Amaranth and served as presiding officer with our Mother. He served on the Advisory Board for the International Order of Rainbow for Girls and the Advisory Council for the Order of DeMolay.

The visitaiton will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 at Advance Memorial United Methodist Church in Flatwoods. Scottish Rite services will be at 6:45 p.m. Saturday and Masonic services will be held following the Scottish Rite services.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, at the church.

In lieu of flowers, our family asks that donations be sent in memory to either the Scottish Rite Language Disorder Program, 1553 Madison Ave., Covington, KY 41015 or to Advance Memorial United Methodist church Building Fund, 1007 Bellefonte Road, Flatwoods, KY 41139

Carman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.



Marie Wilson Cook Jordan - 1921-2008

Marie Wilson Cook Jordan, age 87, of Flemingsburg Road, Morehead, Ky., passed away Thursday morning, Nov. 27, 2008 in Life Care Center in Morehead.

She was born Aug. 5, 1921, in Carter County, Ky., a daughter of the late Avery Sr. and Jenny Ellison Wilson. Marie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She was a homemaker, a member of Bowen Chapel Freewill Baptist Church and retired from the Carter County Board of Education where she was employed as a cook.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband of 36 years, Doff Boyd Cook; one son, Boyd Edward Cook; three brothers, Avery Wilson Jr., Woodrow Wilson and Ralph Wilson; and twin sisters, Mearl Ferguson and Pearl Clark.

She is survived by her second husband of 23 years, Ernest Jordan of Morehead; two sons and daughters-in-law, Fred Lane and Pauletta Cook of Ashland, Ky., and Jim and June Jordan of Sand Springs, Okla.; three daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra Colleen Smith and Paul of Elliott County, Ky., Sharon Kay Helterbrand and Arlen of Indianapolis, Ind., and Jenny Hope Hawes of Simpsonville, Ky.; 14 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; one brother and sister-in-law, John D. and Eleanor Wilson of Knoxville, Tenn.; and one sister and brother-in-law, Katherine and Jim Dalton of Ashland. She also has several nieces, nephews, other family members and friends who will sadly mourn her passing.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008, at the Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Ky., with Brother Clyde Holbrook and Brother Dale Richmond officiating. Burial will follow in Bowen Chapel Cemetery in Olive Hill.

Friends may call after 5 p.m. today and until the service hour Saturday at the funeral home.



Margaret Eskew - 1923-2008

Margaret Eskew, of Westwood, widow of Ira C. Eskew, died Thursday in King’s Daughters Medical Center.

Preston Family Funeral Home in Ashland is in charge of arrangements, which are pending.



Mary McKenzie

Mary McKenzie, 64, of Worthington, died Thursday in King’s Daughters Medical Center.

Evans Funeral Home in Raceland is in charge of arrangements, which are pending.



Sandra Osborne

Sandra Lynn Osborne, 51, of Flat Gap, died Tuesday in Lexington.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Jones-Preston Funeral Home in Paintsville. Burial will be in Pennington Cemetery.

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

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the family by contacting the funeral home.



Iona Sturgill

Iona Sturgill, 100, of Ironton, died Thursday in Jo Lin Health Center in Ironton.

Tracy Brammer Funeral Home in Ironton is in charge of arrangements, which are pending.

        

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