Bruce E. Craft (1924-2009)
Bruce E. Craft, 84, of Ashland, passed away on June 9, 2009.
He was born in Ashland on Sept. 19, 1924. He was the son of Henry and Eliza Mae Craft (both deceased). Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers, William, Kenneth and Henry Jr., and his sisters, Anna, Betty Lou and Juanita Woods.
Bruce played basketball and baseball for Ashland High School and basketball at Ashland Junior College and Transylvania University. He enlisted in the Army during World War II and served primarily in France and England. Upon his discharge from the Army, he played semi-pro basketball with the Cleveland Clowns and later returned to Ashland.
He was very active in various Ashland sports programs as a coach and player. He coached the Hager Elementary Wildcat basketball teams to eight championships during the 1950s and early ’60s and was the catcher for the McClure’s Restaurant fast-pitch softball state champions in the early ’60s.
He retired as a timekeeper from Ashland Oil in 1987 after 28 years and until the time of his death, he still greeted fellow refinery retirees by their “clock numbers” instead of their names. He also retired earlier this year from the City of Ashland’s Parks and Recreation Department, where he was its recreation director for 16 years.
He was an avid and tireless supporter of Ashland civic and community development projects, especially those related to Central Park, where he spent a great deal of his childhood. He was a member of the Ashland Park Board for 24 years and was instrumental in the development of Central Park’s Winter Wonderland, the construction of its ice skating rink and the tree replacement program.
He was also instrumental in coordinating Ashland’s New Year’s Eve celebration, Poage Landing Days, Summer Motion, the Professor Ross Tennis Tournament and the Kentucky Senior Games in Ashland. He was awarded two keys to the city of Ashland for his efforts as a volunteer, and the tennis courts in Central Park are named after him. He was a well-respected horse racing handicapper who won Keeneland’s Handicapping Challenge by one of the widest margins in the contest’s history.
He is survived by a son, Marc (Lynne) Craft of Georgetown, Ky.; a daughter, Sharon Craft Crissey of Lexington, Ky.; a sister-in-law, Betty Craft of Ashland, Ky.; two nephews, Mike (Kay) Craft of Bowling Green, Ky., and Tommy (Shanel) Craft of Huntersville, N.C.; two nieces, Carolyn (Art) McCullough of Birmingham, Ala., and Cathy (Tim) Fraley of Ashland; two grandsons, Alden Crissey of Plano, Texas, and Chris (Sara) Clark of Lexington; two granddaughters, Hannah (Foster) Barton of London, England, and Lauren (Carlos) Ayveta of Washington, D.C.; a great-granddaughter, Mallory Barton; and a very special person, Nina Carey.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Central Park Bandstand, weather permitting, with the Rev. Charles Stewart officiating. Burial will be in Dixon Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Mike Craft, Tommy Craft, Steve Gilmore, Greg Roe, Duke Sheridan and Randy Miller. Honorary pallbearer will be the late Wendell Banks.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland.
Funeral services will be at the funeral home in case of inclement or excessively warm weather.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the City of Ashland Park Board, 1700 Greenup Ave., Ashland, KY 41101 for tennis court maintenance or the purchase of replacement beechnut trees in the park or Community Hospice, 1538 Central Ave., Ashland, KY 41101.
Condolences may be sent to www.steenfuneralhomes.com.
James Chester Tackett
With friends and family gathered around him, on Tuesday, June 9, 2009, James Chester Tackett entered into his Heavenly home. He was a loving husband and a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Gertrude McCarty Tackett.
Chester served our country in the Kentucky National Guard for 24 years. For 18 years, he loved and represented the children and youth of Boyd County as a member of the Boyd County Board of Education.
He was a member of Mavity Free Will Baptist Church, where he was a deacon for many years. For the past 30 years, he was a general contractor, and his greatest labor of love was his part in the building of the new Mavity church. This was perhaps the building that brought him the most satisfaction in his life.
Chester touched lives everywhere he went and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He is also survived by his daughters, Ellen Keaton (Larry) and Cheri Westholder (Robert), both of Catlettsburg; six grandchildren, Stephan (Sarah) Johnson, Michael (Debbie) Arnett, April (Thomas) Sellars, Stephanie (Rob) Lucas and Nikki (Todd) Conn, all of Catlettsburg, and Tiffany Westholder of Huntington, W.Va.; and five great-grandchildren, Hunter Johnson, Jordan Lucas, Alexis Arnett (and her mother, Tiffany Arnett), Samuel Johnson and Maggy Grace Johnson.
A celebration of Chester’s life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 13, 2009, at Mavity Free Will Baptist Church at the junction of Ky. 180 and Ky. 3.
Friends and family may call at the church from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. Pastor Mike Gullett and the Rev. Mike Cox will offer words of hope and encouragement. Burial will be in Golden Oaks Memorial Gardens, where a military service will be performed by American Legion Kenova Post 93.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Mavity Free Will Baptist Church, P.O. Box 5068, Ashland, KY 41102.
Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to www.steenfuneralhomes.com.
John H. Trimble (1934-2009)
John H. Trimble, 74, of Ashland, Ky., died Monday, June 8, 2009, at his residence.
He was born June 21, 1934, in Volga, Ky., a son of the late Rexford Trimble and Bertha Mae Blanton Trimble.
He was a retired operator with Ashland Oil Inc. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and a founding member of New Beginnings Worship Center in Proctorville, Ohio, where he served as a board member, deacon, overseer and usher. He was a Kentucky colonel and a member of the Oil and Atomic Workers union.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Victoria Avenelle Allen and Betty Jo Burchett, and a brother, Rexford Raymond Trimble Jr.
Surviving are his wife, Ruth Ferguson Trimble of Ashland; a son and daughter-in-law, Rex and Mary Trimble of Ashland; a daughter, Jacqueline “Jackie” Horne of Ashland; three grandchildren, Rebekah (Benjamin) Price of Ashland, Haley Brooke Trimble and Peyton John Trimble; and a sister, Anna Martha Williams of Columbus, Ohio.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday, June 12, 2009, at Lazear Funeral Home in Ashland.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Beginnings Worship Center, P.O. Box 201, Chesapeake, OH 45619.
Christopher Wayne Conn (1978-2009)
Christopher Wayne Conn, 30, of Mount Sterling, Ky., passed away Tuesday morning, June 9, 2009, in St. Joseph Hospital in Mount Sterling.
Mr. Conn was born Oct. 20, 1978, in Rowan County, Ky., a son of Gary and Peggy Easterling Conn.
Christopher was a boilermaker with Local 5555. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Maesceen Easterling.
He is survived by his wife, Jordan Taylor Conn; a daughter, Chloe Conn of Mount Sterling; three brothers, Gary Dale Conn of Mount Sterling and Dayveon Conn and Josiah Conn, both of Olive Hill; a sister and brother-in-law, Ammie and Corey Frasier of Olive Hill, Ky.; his maternal grandfather, James Easterling of Olive Hill; his paternal grandparents, Ed and Marcella Conn of Olive Hill; a nephew, Landon Gage Conn; and two nieces, Kylie Anne Conn and Mia Waine Frasier.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 14, 2009, at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill with Brother Paul Zornes and Brother Bobby Day officiating. Burial will be in Olive Hill Memorial Gardens in Olive Hill.
Friends may call after 6 p.m. Friday, all day Saturday and until time of services Sunday at the funeral home.
Jason Stephens, David Michael Conn, Corey Frasier, Mike Robinson, Scott Menix, Steve Stamper, Nick Rayburn and Gary Conn will serve as pallbearers.
Condolences may be sent to www.globefc.com.
Steven Himes (1965-2009)
Steven Lee Himes, 43, of Ashland, died Tuesday at his residence.
He was born Oct. 21, 1965, in Peru, Ind.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lazear Funeral Home in Ashland. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.
Friends may call after 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the funeral home to help with burial expenses.
Jeffrey Smith (1963-2009)
Jeffrey L. Smith, 45, of South Shore, died Monday in The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.
He was born Nov. 4, 1963, in Portsmouth, Ohio.
His wife, Carlena Collins Smith, survives.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Roberson Funeral Home in South Shore. Burial will be in Mount Zion Cemetery in South Shore.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today and after 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
James Hatfield (1952-2009)
James E. Hatfield, 56, of Obetz, Ohio, died Saturday in Obetz.
He was born Aug. 11, 1952, in Norfolk, Va.
His wife, Ruth Ann Wilks Hatfield, survives.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Young Funeral Home in Louisa. Burial will be in Ratcliff Cemetery at Willard.
Friends may call from noon to 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bear Creek United Methodist Church, 3676 Ky. 828, Louisa, KY 41120.
Ruby Mullins
Ruby Douglas Samons Mullins, 88, of Lexington, wife of Burnis Mullins, died Tuesday at her residence.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Hall Funeral Home in Martin. Burial will be in Davidson Memorial Gardens at Ivel.
Friends may call after noon Friday at the funeral home.
Virginia Rizzo (1931-2009)
Virginia Ratliff Rizzo, 78, of Louisville, died Monday in Baptist East Hospital in Louisville.
She was born June 6, 1931, in Johnson County.
Her husband, Gay Rizzo, preceded her in death.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Jones-Preston Funeral Home in Paintsville. Burial will be in Ratliff Family Cemetery in Paintsville.
Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and until time of services Friday at the funeral home.
Morris Wells (1938-2009)
Morris Belknap Wells, 70, of Lake City, Fla., died Saturday in Lake City Medical Center.
He was born July 21, 1938, in Johnson County.
His former wife, Mary Edith May, survives.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. today at Jones-Preston Funeral Home in Paintsville. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Park in Staffordsville.
Friends may call at the funeral home.
