Obituaries

Tracy Sue Sharp, 30, passed away on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at her residence in Lexington. She is survived by her parents, Paul and Kimberly Sharp. The family will receive friends from 3-5 p.m. Thursday at the Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, at Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home with Rev. Bryan West officiating.

James Robert Murphy, 70 of Williamsburg, passed away Sunday April 9, 2017 at his home. He was born August 3, 1947 in Whitley County, to the late Henry Murphy and Minnie Reynolds Murphy. Along with his parents he was preceded in death by two sisters, Anna Brummett and Alice Irene Murphy; two brothers, Charles Samuel Murphy and Harry Anthony Murphy. He is survived by four sisters, Mary Daniels (Loren) of Crab Orchard, Lorena Wilder, Jo Florence Tye, and Rosie Rainwater (Paul) all of Williamsburg; one brother David Murphy (Kathy) of Lily; several nieces and nephews; and a host of relatives and friends to mourn his passing. The funeral service will be held at...

Flossie Silcox Beers, 86, of Newcomb, TN passed away Saturday, April 8, 2017 at the Jellico Community Hospital. She was born October 21, 1930 in Jellico Creek, KY. She is preceded in death by a son, Homer Pennington; daughter, Barbara Lynn Pennington; grandson, Timothy Pennington; parents, Greenberry and Minnie Meadows Silcox; brothers, Coy Silcox, Earl Silcox, Walter Silcox, Clyde Silcox, Fred Silcox; sisters, Alice Hicks Thomas, ​Mossie Silcox. Flo is survived by a son, Steve Pennington of Dayton, OH; daughter, Wanda Dople of Newcomb; grandchildren, Crystal Cooper and husband Gary; Shawn Cummins and husband Jerome, Steven Dople, Janell Pennington, Michell Mason and husband Clyde, Jara Gulasa; twenty-one great grandchildren and three great...

Walter K. Reynolds, 92, of Moore Road, Williamsburg, departed this life on Thursday, April 6, 2017 at Baptist Health in Corbin. He was born on December 24, 1924 in Whitley County, to the late Richard Clarence Reynolds and Mary Stella Monhollen Reynolds. He was preceded in death by his wife, Chloe Peace Reynolds; a brother, Vester Reynolds and his daughter-in-law, Pamela Marie Reynolds. Walter K. was a veteran of the United States Army Air Force having served from June 14, 1943 to December 9, 1945 during World War II in England. He graduated from Poplar Creek High School in 1948 after his discharge.  He graduated from Cumberland College in 1950 and Eastern Kentucky...

William M. “Bill” Smith, 81 of Cripple Creek Road, Williamsburg, passed away Wednesday April 5, 2017 at his home with his loving wife by his side. Bill was born June 26, 1935 at Savoy, to the late Fred and Edna Baird Smith. Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 16 and retired in May 1972 after 21 years of distinguished military service. A decorated veteran, with two tours in the Vietnam War, Bill received numerous commendations for his exceptional military bearing, conduct, loyalty and devotion to duty. Bill would go on to apply these values to his post service life. Bill and his one and only Eva created...

David Edmund Elliott, 81, of Norwood, OH passed away on Monday, March 27, 2017 at University of Cincinnati Hospital. Funeral services were held Saturday, April 1, at Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home. Burial was in the Gray Cemetery.

Donald LeRoy “Pete” Carson, 86, departed this life on Thursday, March 23rd 2017 at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington. Funeral services were conducted on Saturday, April 1st in the Laurel Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Terry Jackson and Pastor Forrester Baker, Jr. and Master of Ceremonies Bro. Jack Riley officiating. Burial followed in the Carson Cemetery at East Bernstadt, with the local D.A.V. in charge of Military Honors.

Arizona Carter Fox, 70, of Hubbs Hollow Road, Rockholds, departed this life on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at the Pikeville Medical Center in Pikeville. She was born on January 29, 1947 in Knox County, to the late Ralph Carter and Litha Hill Carter. She loved to play music and sing, she is singing in Heaven’s choir now. She was also preceded in death by two sons, Gregory Jack Lawson and David Lawson; three great-grandchildren, Gregory Shawn Lawson, Lashanna Michelle Hale and Baby Wagnor; two great-great grandchildren, Ava Nicole and Baby Wagers; daughter-in-law, Sheila Powell and her special friends, Hazel Hale, Faye Cheek, Louetta Hamblin and Sylvia Chambers. She is survived by her five...

George M. Hackler, Sr., 73, passed away Friday, March 31, 2017 at his home in Jellico, TN after a brief illness. He was born August 9, 1943 to the late Martin W. and Hazel (Barton) Hackler in Jellico. He was a 1961 graduate of Jellico High School, and a graduate of City Barber School of Knoxville.  He was a barber in Jellico for more than 30 years and also worked for the railroad in St. Louis, MO for a number of years.  He was a member of Tannery Hollow Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Faye (Cox) Hackler; father and mother-in-law, Elbert...

Johnny Reeves, 86, of Corbin passed away on Saturday April 1, 2017 at Baptist Health in Corbin. Born at Black Star, he was a son of the late John and Susie Pridemore Reeves. His brothers, James Ray Reeves, Rev. Roy Reeves, and Herbert Reeves and a sister Naomia Clarkson also preceded him in death. Following his time in the U.S. Air Force 1951-1955 partly spent in Japan, Johnny attended Cumberland College. He graduated from the University of Kentucky where he studied radio broadcasting. Johnny was hired at WCTT radio in 1960 as an advertising salesman and DJ. In 2010, he was honored with a reception and open house in celebration of...