Joseph B. Pawley

Joseph B. Pawley, 78, of Elizabethtown, died Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at Hardin Memorial Hospital.

He was a native of Rineyville and a member of St. James Catholic Church, where he was a member of the Forever Young Club. He was a member of the Elizabethtown Knights of Columbus No. 1455, where he held the office of Grand Knight, financial secretary and treasurer. He was the recipient of the James F. Thornberry Community Service Award. He was a member of the Monsignor McGee Assembly of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, where he held the office of Faithful Navigator and Color Corps. Commander. He was the community director for the Kentucky State Knights of Columbus.

He was a member of the Elizabethtown Planning Commission and commissioner of Elizabethtown Area Baseball Commission. He was honorary Ambassador of the Kentucky Department of Labor, president of Local 764, AFL-CIO-IUE, Bussman Manufacturing of E’town.

He worked for Bussman Manufacturing for 30 years, where he was a tool and die machinist, retiring in 1985. He was a former deputy of the Property Valuation Administration o,ffice. He was a local carpenter and builder.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Leonard “Jim” Pawley and Elizabeth Catherine Gunning “Babe” Pawley; four brothers-in-law, Wayne Watson, Clyde “Sonny” Miller, Gerald Haraway and Shelby “Doc” Vertrees; and a son-in-law, Stevie Pike.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Anne Clark Pawley; three sons, Danny (Lisa) Pawley of Cecilia and John (Mary Karen) Pawley and Greg (Susan) Pawley, all of Elizabethtown; two daughters, Mimi Pike of Rineyville and Mary Ellen (Danny) Hutcherson of Elizabethtown; one brother, William A. Pawley of Rineyville; three sisters, LaVerne Vertrees of New Albany, Ind., Ann Haraway of Radcliff and Shirley (Ed) Cecil of Elizabethtown; 12 grandchildren, Stephanie (Chris) Day, Adam (Heather) Pike, Lena (Matt) Rodriguez, Nancy (Eric) Pope, John Hutcherson, Thomas Hutcherson, Aaron Pawley, Elizabeth Pawley, Justin Pawley, Dillon Glenn, Brandt Pawley and Jackson Pawley; and five great-grandchildren, Jacob, Caitlin and Rachel Day, Ava Graybill and Alexa Pike.

The funeral is at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. James Catholic Church in Elizabethtown with the Rev. Chuck Walker officiating. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery.

Visitation continues at 9 a.m. Tuesday at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown.

A prayer vigil was conducted Monday at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the St. James Church Bereavement Committee.

Condolences may be expressed at www.brownfuneral.com.