Jake Crance (1939-2009)

Jake Crance, 69, of Ashland, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.

Jake was born Nov. 2, 1939, in Ashland, Ky., to the late George “Ted” and Edna Mae Moore Crance.

He was a retired longshoreman with Local 1402 in Tampa, Fla. He was a Christian, baptized in the Methodist faith and attended Centenary United Methodist Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, James, Jerry, Roger and Ron Crance; and a sister, Vonderine Evans.

Survivors include his wife of 13 years, Mary Ann Thornsbury Crance of Ashland; a stepson, Jack Wright of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; a brother, George Crance of Flatwoods; two sisters, Sarah Jane Gullett and her husband, Lowell, of Flatwoods and Diana Bond and her husband, David, of Grayson; and a brother-in-law, Brice Thornsbury and his wife, Peggy, of Birmingham, Ala.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, at Centenary United Methodist Church in Ashland by the Rev. Troy Poff.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jake’s memory may be made to the Centenary United Methodist Church Building Fund, 2901 Winchester Ave., Ashland, KY 41101 or to a charity of choice.

Caniff Funeral Home in Westwood is in charge of arrangements.



Dwain Stepp

Dwain Stepp, 67, of Ashland, Ky., died at his home on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.

He is survived by his wife, Irene Clark Stepp of Ashland.

He is also survived by his son, Anthony Stepp, and daughter, Stephanie Stepp of Ashland. Dwain is also survived by his grandchildren, Meredith Stepp and Irene Nicole Stepp. In addition, he is survived by his brother, Steve Stepp of Florida.

Dwain was preceded in death by Malcolm and Eloise Stepp of South Point, Ohio.

Dwain was a member of Local 181, International Operating Engineers. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 through 1964 as a helicopter mechanic stationed in Germany. Dwain enjoyed fishing, UK basketball and NASCAR, but his favorite pastime of all was spending time with his family, and especially his granddaughters.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, at Lazear Funeral Home in Ashland by the Rev. Phillip Knipp. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Gardens.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today, Oct. 28, 2009, at the funeral home.



Thelma Naomi Johnson (1910-2009)

Thelma Naomi Johnson, a lifelong resident of Ashland, Ky., passed from life into eternity on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009 in Community Hospice Care Center.

She was born Sept. 22, 1910, to the late Robert and Lelia Gaunt Johnson.

Ms. Johnson was a graduate of BTW School in Ashland. After earning her bachelor of arts degree in music education from Kentucky State University, she began her teaching career in Columbia, Ky., for a period of one year. She earned her master of arts degree in music education from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

When she returned to her hometown, she began teaching English and music at her alma mater. She also taught at Putnam Junior High School until she retired and opened The Thelma N. Johnson Piano Studio.

Ms. Johnson was minister of music at New Hope Baptist Church and sponsored many recitals in the Tri-State community.

In recognition for her outstanding and meritorious work, Kentucky State University conferred on Ms. Johnson the doctor of humane letters.

Some of her affiliations include: the Kentucky Music Teachers Association, Artists in Concert, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and Boyd- Greenup County Branch of the NAACP.

She is survived by a devoted niece, Edwina Naomi Johnson Taylor of Lexington, Ky.; a nephew, John J. Johnson Sr. of Ashland; great-nieces Melinda Johnson and Tammi Johnson of South Point, Ohio; great-nephews John J. (Meshelle) Johnson Jr. of South Point and John H. (Tonya) Taylor of Lexington; and a host of other relatives and friends.

The visitation will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. today at New Hope Baptist Church.

The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 with Pastor Henry Mosley officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the New Hope Baptist Church Handicap Accessible Fund or Community Hospice.

Lazear Funeral Home in Ashland is in charge of arrangements.



George “Cotton” Dixon (1923-2009)

George “Cotton” Dixon, 86, of Westwood, Ky., went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in King’s Daughters Medical Center.

He was born June 3, 1923, in Ashland, the son of the late Everett E. and Sarah Elizabeth Crance Dixon.

He was retired from Laborers Local 1445 in Catlettsburg, Ky., and was a World War II Marine Corps veteran who served in the Pacific Theater from 1942 through 1946 with the 1st Division 3rd Platoon. He was a member of Westwood Christian Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a grandchild, Emily Snyder; two brothers, Everett Dixon and Orville Dixon; and two sisters, Drusilla Wheatley and Jenny Murry.

Survivors include his wife, Bernice Whitt Dixon; four sons, Leroy (Barbara) Dixon of Flatwoods, Ky., Ed (Sharon) Dixon of Westwood, Mike (Fran) Dixon of Ashland and Tim (Cecilia) Dixon of Westwood; four daughters, Karen (David) Howard of Flatwoods, Sharon Dixon Jarvis of Westwood, Sue (Mike) Zornes of Escondido, Calif., and Libby (Rusty) Adkins of Westwood; a brother, Amos (Betty ) Dixon Sr. of Westwood; two sisters, Verna Parsons of Catlettsburg, Ky., and Ruby (Burl) Robinson of Frankfort, Ky.; 19 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, at Miller Funeral Home in Ashland by Pastor Gary Arrington. Burial will be in Dixon Cemetery in Westwood.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Military graveside services will be by Kenova American Legion Post 93.



Billie N. Barnett (1935-2009)

Billie N. Barnett, 74, of Ashland, died Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in Wurtland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

He was born July 6, 1935, in Louisa, Ky., the son of the late Ova and Thelma Damron Barnett.

He was a retired farmer and oil and gas field worker and was of the Freewill Baptist faith.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Oscar Barnett.

He is survived by a sister, Lexie Priode of Louisa, and a brother, Robert “Bob” Barnett and wife Helen of McArthur, Ohio.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, at Miller Funeral Home in Ashland by Phil Richardson. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Louisa.

The family will receive friends after 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.



Anna Rose Woods (1913-2009)

Anna Rose Woods, 96, of Catlettsburg, Ky., went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at her home.

She was born Feb. 24, 1913, in Westmoreland, Pa., a daughter of the late Milan Mike and Katy Matievic Matovich. She was a housewife and a member of Buchanan Methodist Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, George Woods, and a grandson, Kevin Williamson.

Survivors include four daughters, Delores (Carl) Burke, Irene (Jack) McCloud, Sharma (Joe) Akin and Rosemary Williamson, all of Catlettsburg; two sons, Arvil (Phyllis) Woods and Keith (Cindy) Woods, all of Catlettsburg; three sisters, Mildred Lefler of Oak Ridge, Tenn., Caroline Jones of Bishop, Ga., and Ruth Matovich of Prichard, W.Va.; five grandchildren, Pam Doty, Angela Adams, Christy Slone, Adam Woods and Courtney Woods; and four great-grandchildren, Emily Adams, Aubrey Doty, Kenliegh Woods and Whitleigh Woods.

There will be no visitation.

A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Buchanan Chapel Cemetery by the Rev. Keith Workman.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Buchanan Chapel Methodist Church or the Lawrence County Humane Society.

Young Funeral Home in Louisa, Ky., is in charge of arrangements.



Jerry Lee Coburn

Jerry Lee Coburn, 67, of Versailles, Ky., formerly of Greenup County, died Saturday, Oct. 24 in St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington.

Born in Euclid, in Greenup County, he was a son of the late Jay and Polina Potter Coburn.

He is survived by a brother, Ernie (Phyllis) Coburn of Versailles; a nephew, Clay (Tonya) Coburn of Versailles; and two great-nephews, Mason and Cay Coburn.

He was also preceded in death by a sister, Hazel Wolfe, and an infant brother, Delbert William Coburn.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today, Oct. 28 at the graveside in Warnock Cemetery in Greenup County.

Blackburn and Ward Funeral Home in Versailles is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to www.BlackburnandWard.com.



Georgia Fields (1918-2009)

Georgia J. Fields, 91, of Bloomington, Ind., formerly of the South Shore and Ashland, Ky., area, died Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in Bloomington.

She was born July 2, 1918, in Minford, Ohio, a daughter of the late Joseph Johnson and Susan Potter Johnson.

She was also preceded in death by husbands Silas Conley and Charles Fields; three sons, C.R. “Bud” Conley, Joseph Conley and Jerry Conley; five brothers; and four sisters.

She was retired from General Motors and a member of First United Methodist Church in Ashland, Ky.

She is survived by two daughters, Betty L. Doss of Lansing, Mich., and Kim (Dave) Wagner of Bloomington; six grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, at Morton Funeral Home in South Shore with Trent Wolfenbarger officiating. Burial will be in Howard Cemetery in Garrison, Ky.

Visitation will be after 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.



Ralph William Huffman (1942-2009)

Ralph William Huffman, 67, of Grayson, Ky., passed at his residence on Oct. 26, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born in Iron Hill, Ky., in 1942. He was the son of the late Ralph and Barbara Akers Huffman.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He worked for Norfolk and Southern Railroad and Landstar Trucking and retired as an intracoastal, independently owned trucker.

He is survived by a son, Scott Alan and wife Cindy Huffman of Walbridge, Ohio; a daughter, Sheila and husband Tom Mackowski of Grosse Ile, Mich.; four loving grandchildren, Dominik, Madalyn, Kaitlyn and Nathan; two sisters, Alice Faye Huffman of Grayson and Beatrice Kay and husband David Miracle of Flatwoods, Ky.; several loving aunts; and two special nieces.

The family will greet friends at Malone Funeral Home in Grayson from 6 to 9 p.m. today. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday with Russell “Bud,” Bill and Everett Burnett, ministers. Burial will be in Huffman Family Cemetery at Iron Hill.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Carter Christian Holiness Church, Tygart Creek Road, Grayson, KY 41143 or Community Hospice, 1538 Central Ave., Ashland, KY 41101.



Frances Conley (1920-2009)

Frances Cyrus Conley, 89, died Monday in King’s Daughters Medical Center.

She was born Oct. 3, 1920, in Wayne County, W.Va.

Her husband, Fred Foster Conley, preceded her in death.

The funeral will be at noon Friday at Neal Funeral Home in Catlettsburg. Burial will be in Docks Creek Cemetery in Kenova, W.Va.

Friends may call after 10:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Oakland Avenue Baptist Church Building Fund, 3265 Oakland Ave., Catlettsburg, KY 41129.



William Pack (1934-2009)

William Lawrence Pack, 75, of Firebrick, died Monday.

He was born Sept. 14, 1934, in Lewis County.

His wife, Irene Wadkins Pack, survives.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Roberson Funeral Home in South Shore. Burial will be in Collier Memorial Gardens in South Portsmouth.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today and after 9 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.



Benny Blair (1947-2009)

Benny L. Blair, 61, of Staffordsville, died Monday.

He was born Nov. 22, 1947.

His wife, Olena Ferguson Blair, survives.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Preston Funeral Home in Paintsville. Burial will be in Johnson County Memorial Cemetery in Staffordsville.



Paul Davis

Paul Ray Davis, 52, of West Van Lear, died Monday.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Paintsville Funeral Home. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Park Cemetery in Staffordsville.

Friends may call after 9 a.m. today at the funeral home.



Edith Blankenship

Edith Blankenship, 79, of Powells Creek, died Tuesday in Pikeville Medical Center.

Thacker Funeral Home in Pikeville is in charge of arrangements, which are pending.



Virnel Newsome (1922-2009)

Virnel Newsome, 87, died Monday in Pikeville Medical Center.

He was born June 6, 1922, in Virgie.

His wife, Pearlie Newsome, survives.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Thacker Funeral Home in Pikeville. Burial will be in Newman Cemetery at Hi Hat.

Friends may call after 3 p.m. today at the funeral home.



Minnie McClurg (1927-2009)

Minnie Lou Jimison McClurg, 82, of Soldier, died Monday at her residence.

She was born July 15, 1927, in Fleming County.

Her husband, Arthur Jackson McClurg, preceded her in death.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Lane-Stucky-Gray Funeral Home in Morehead. Burial will be in Caudill Cemetery at Sharkey.

Friends may call after 5 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Condolences may be sent to www.lanestuckygray.com.



Pamela Stone (1960-2009)

Pamela Gwen Stone, 48, of Morehead, died Saturday in Henderson County Hospital in Tennessee.

She was born Nov. 4, 1960, in Rowan County.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. today at Lane-Stucky-Gray Funeral Home in Morehead. Burial will be in Stone Family Cemetery in Elliott County.

Friends may call after 11 a.m. today at the funeral home.

Condolences may be sent to www.lanestuckygray.com.



Muriel Nix (1930-2009)

Muriel June Nix, 79, of Fort Gay, died Monday in Hospice House of Huntington.

She was born Feb. 20, 1930, in Chatteroy.

Her husband, John Earl Nix, survives.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Community Chapel. Burial will be in Nix Family Cemetery.

Friends may call after noon Thursday at the church.

Young Funeral Home in Louisa, Ky., is in charge of arrangements.