Dec. 28, 2010: Obituaries

Louis ‘Junior’ Basham

Louis “Junior” Basham, 80, of Vine Grove, died Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, at his home.

He was the founder of Basham’s Lumber Co., a carpenter, businessman, farmer and owner of the Blue Grass Barn Dance. His memberships include Red Hill Baptist Church and the honorable Kentucky Colonels. “Junior” was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Danny Basham and Donald L. Basham; his parents, Lewis and Lula Basham; a sister, Katherine Braun; and two brothers, Jesse Jack Basham and James T. Basham.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Shirley A. Basham; three sons and four daughters-in-law, Ronald L. and Darlene Basham of Rineyville, and Lonnie E. and Kim Basham, Dennis J. and Nancy Basham, and Wanda Basham, all of Vine Grove; a sister, Effie Carr of Orlando, Fla.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

The funeral is at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, at Nelson-Edelen-Bennett Funeral Home in Vine Grove with the Rev. James Royalty and Jonathan Carl officiating. Burial will be in Vine Grove Cemetery.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. today and begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Arthritis Foundation, 2908 Brownsboro Road, Suite 117, Louisville, KY 40206. 

 Condolences may be expressed at www.nebfh.com.

Devaul Embry

Devaul Embry, 85, formerly of Morgantown, died Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010, at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown.

He was born Dec. 28, 1924, in Butler County. He was a retired civil engineer for the Corps of Engineers and was a U.S. Army veteran. He was also a member of Chapel Union Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William Newton Embry and Ethel Dockery Embry; his first wife, Ada Embry; a daughter, Linda Sue Embry; a stepdaughter, Judy Padgett; a brother, Buren Embry; a sister, Drucilla Woosley; a sister-in-law, Almeta “Pete” Embry; a brother-in-law, Thomas W. Hall Sr.; and a niece, Charolette Hall.

Survivors include his wife, Alta Catherine Bird Embry; two daughters, Brenda Darnell and Joann Gregory (Gary); a sister, Sue Hall; a brother, Tony Embry (Laverne); five grandchildren, Chad Berry, Kyle Berry (Amanda), Paul White (Donna), Marilyn Meadows (Tony) and Angela Nelson (Keith); five stepgrandchildren, Larry Barnes (Autumn), Phillip Barnes (Therese), Mike Barnes (Natalie), Sherry Rogers (Mike) and Alton Padgett; eight great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Gabrielle, Paul, Valerie, Jessica (Mike), Eric, Alicia and Abbi; 11 stepgreat-grandchildren, Anthony, Daniel, Martina, Chelsea, Jordan, Chris, Bradley, Bradon, Jill, Azzie and Alex; four great-great-grandchildren, Samantha, Zackery, Orianna and Kaiyah; and 21 nieces and nephews, Thomas Jr. (Diann), Mike (Sheila), Michelle, Linda, Sharon, Elizabeth, Joseph, Peyton, Kara, Chelsea, Savannah, Chloe, Courtney, Tiffany, Samantha, Deanna (Chad), Ezekiel, C.J., Matt, Scott and Adam.

The funeral is at 11 a.m. today, Dec. 28, at Chapel Union Baptist Church with Brother Gary Embry officiating with burial in Chapel Union Cemetery.

Visitation continues today from 8 to 10:15 a.m. at Smith Funeral Home in Morgantown.

Joyce Farero

Joyce Farero, 77, of Radcliff, died Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, at North Hardin Health and Rehabilitation Center.

She is survived by two daughters, Rebecca Dillander of Vine Grove and Shirley and Charlie Lawton of Streator, Ill.; a son and daughter-in-law, Bernard and Judy Farero of Seminole, Fla.; two brothers; three sisters; and 10 grandchildren.

A memorial service is at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, at Nelson-Edelen-Bennett Funeral Home in Vine Grove with Brother George Blevins officiating. 

Visitation begins at noon Thursday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be expressed at www.nebfh.com.

Opal Haynes

Opal Haynes, 95, of Vine Grove, died Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, at Hosparus Inpatient Care Center at Norton’s Pavilion in Louisville.

Nelson-Edelen-Bennett Funeral Home in Vine Grove is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be expressed at www.nebfh.com.

James A. Jackson

James A. Jackson, 91, of Magnolia, passed away, Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown.

Arrangements are incomplete at Dixon-Rogers Funeral Home in Magnolia.

Pastor Ora Lee Johnson

Pastor Ora Lee Johnson, 60, of Hodgenville, passed away Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010, at Four Courts at Cherokee Park in Louisville.

She was the pastor of New Hope Apostolic Church in Hodgenville, former quality control supervisor at Nationwide Uniform Corporation in Hodgenville and a former employee of Hodgenville Elementary School.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Nathan and Alice V. Coakley Johnson; three sisters, Margaret Turner, Nellie Johnson and Adla Handley; and a brother, Nathan Johnson Jr.

She is survived by two sisters, Brenda (Henry) Bennett of Louisville and Mary Ann (Russell) McClough of Hodgenville; seven brothers, Wilton Johnson, George Johnson, Paul (Annie) Johnson and Pastor Carl (Mary Ann) Johnson, all of Cleveland, Harvey (Catherine) Johnson of Illinois, James Johnson of Louisville and Omer Spencer Johnson of Hodgenville; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

The funeral is at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 31, at First Baptist Church of Hodgenville, 730 Tonieville Road, with burial to follow in Pleasant Union Cemetery in Campbellsville.

Visitation is from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and continues after 9 a.m. Friday at the church.

Bennett-Bertram Funeral Home in Hodgenville is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be expressed at www.bennett-bertram.com.

Carl Wesley Keplinger

Carl Wesley Keplinger, 86, of Elizabethtown, died Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, at Elizabethtown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

He was a native of Hardin County, a World War II U.S. Army veteran and a carpenter and farmer. He loved trap shooting and was a deer and quail hunter and fisherman.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Stella Louise Vessels Keplinger; his parents, Robert D. and Cora White Keplinger; a daughter; one sister; five brothers; and two grandchildren.

He is survived by one daughter, Anita (Sam) Clements of Springfield; four sons, James W. (Judy) Keplinger, Dale (Tammy) Keplinger and Kevin R. Keplinger, all of Elizabethtown, and Dennis L. (Shelia) Keplinger of Pinckard, Ala.; seven grandchildren, David Keplinger, Wes Keplinger, Scott Keplinger, Jason Keplinger, Wesley Keplinger, Christy Gilpin and Kimberly Drew; and seven great-grandchildren, Kyle Keplinger, Kristin Keplinger, Corey Keplinger, Koty Goodman, Alyssa Keplinger, Jason Keplinger Jr. and Autumn Gilpin.

The funeral is at 1 p.m. Thursday at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown with the Rev. Leon Chambers officiating. Burial will follow in Hardin Memorial Park.

Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and continues after 9 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be expressed at www.brownfuneral.com.

Dr. Jerry L. Mathis

Dr. Jerry L. Mathis, 75, of Salina, Kan., died Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010, in the loving arms of his wife at their home after a heroic battle with an especially aggressive form of ALS. 

He was born Dec. 14, 1935, in Parsons, Kan. He received his medical degree from University of Kansas Medical Center. He practiced pediatric and adult allergy in Salina from 1970 to 1985. In 1988 he opened a private practice in State College and Altoona, Pa., where he retired in July 2007. He and his wife then returned to Salina.

Jerry had many interests. Music was a love in his life. He sang in his church choir until shortly before his death. He also sang with the Hollidaysburg Alumni Chorus in Pennsylvania for 19 years. He was involved with community theatre, performing in many plays, also helping to build many sets. He loved collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia. He also loved woodworking and gardening.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jack Mathis; a son, Mitchell Mathis; and a son-in-law, Mick Yates.

He is survived by his wife, Audrae; a daughter and son-in-law, Janette Mathis and Lou Rivetti of Snohomish, Wash.; a daughter-in-law, Marilu Hastings of Austin, Texas; two loving stepchildren, Brent Spellman of Gypsum, Kan., and Kristen Marsh and her husband, Tim, of Elizabethtown. He leaves behind five precious grandchildren; five nieces; two nephews; and a host of loving friends, neighbors and patients. He will be deeply missed by all.

He has been cremated and will be buried with his wife at her passing. 

Services are at Trinity United Methodist Church in Salina, today. A second celebration of life will be held in Hollidaysburg at a later date. 

He and his wife eventually will be laid to rest at Gypsum Cemetery in Gypsum.

Ryan Mortuary in Salina is in charge of arrangements.

Marguerite Z. Brown Owens

Marguerite Z. Brown Owens, 81, of Sidney, Ohio, died Friday, Dec. 17, 2010, in Wapakoneta, Ohio.

Survivors include six children, Caryl Greer, Robert L. Owens Jr., Deborah Thomas, Timothy Owens, Catherine Mattingly and Roger Owens.

The funeral was Dec. 22, 2010, at Full Gospel Community Church in Sidney.

Cromes Funeral Home & Crematory in Sidney was in charge of arrangements.

Charles Odis Shepard

Charles Odis Shepard, 67, of Elizabethtown, passed away Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010, at his home after a short illness.

He devoted more than 40 years of combined military and civilian service to his country. His overseas military service included two tours in Vietnam, the last as a U.S. Army aviator.  Following retirement in 1986, he served in combat developments, receiving multiple awards for superior civilian service. He retired again in 2006, as chief and senior combat developer at the Armor Center, and was presented the Order of Saint Maurice. He continued working as a consultant to Dynamic Research Corp. until shortly before his death. Throughout his dedicated service, what he valued most was always the respect and admiration of those with whom he had the privilege to serve. He was a member of Glendale United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his father, Virgil Shepard; and his mother, Eunice Shepard.

Survivors include his wife, C.J. Shepard; three sons, Chris (Cassandra) Shepard of Germany, Paul (Karen) Shepard of Glasgow and Jon (Laura) Shepard of Alabama; one stepson, Larry (Donna) Romans of Louisville; one brother, Jimmy (Janelle) Shepard of Arkansas; one sister, Joyce (Jimmy) Hawthorne of Arkansas; and eight grandchildren.

The funeral is at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. Burial will follow in Elizabethtown Memorial Gardens.

Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and continues after 9 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Glendale United Methodist Building Fund.

Arthur Clay Taylor

Arthur Clay Taylor, 92, of Upton, passed away Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010, at North Hardin Nursing Home in Radcliff. 

He was a farmer and a member of Meadow Grove Baptist Church in Pine Knot.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Parzida Terry Taylor; his parents, Asbel and Nannie Manning Taylor; one son, George Taylor; one daughter, Thelma Baker Hatcher; one granddaughter, April Dawn Taylor; and three brothers. 

He is survived by a son, Kendrick (Sue) Taylor of Elizabethtown; two daughters, Ann (Sylvester) Chambers of Nashville, Tenn., and Debbi (Tom) Buerman of Upton; two brothers, Alvie Taylor of Goshen, Ohio and Arnold Taylor of Pine Knot; three sisters, Verdie Brown of Columbus, Ga., Vernie Turner of Pine Knot and Belvia King of Verona; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  

The funeral is at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, at Manakee Funeral Home in Upton with the Rev. Stanley Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Elizabethtown Memorial Gardens.

Visitation is from 3 to 8 p.m. today and continues from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday the funeral home.

Condolences may be expressed at www.manakeefuneralhome.com.

Howard Foster Wardrip

Howard Foster Wardrip, 87, of Brandenburg, died Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville.

Survivors include a brother, Pete Wardrip.

The funeral is at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bruington-Jenkins-Sturgeon Funeral Home in Brandenburg with burial in Cap Anderson Cemetery.

Visitation is from 3 to 9 p.m. today and continues at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.