June 5, 2008

Ruth Hobbs, 95
Ruth Bellew Hobbs, 95, widow of Samuel Ernie Hobbs, 56 Strode Street, Stanton, died Thursday, May 29, 2008 at her residence. She was born in Carter County on Nov. 6, 1912 to the late Walter A. and Effie Walker Bellew. She was a former employee of Lycoming Shoe Factory, a homemaker and a member of Grace Fellowship Church of God of Prophecy. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Donna Marcukaitis.
Survivors include two sons, Bill and wife Alpha Hobbs of Jeffersonville, and Larry Hobbs of Leonard, Texas; two daughters, Shirley and husband John Estep of Stanton, and Janie and husband Gary Stacy of Irvine; one brother, Walter A. Bellew Jr. of Huntington, West Ia.; nine grandchildren, Renee Hawkins, Byron Hobbs, Trina Tucker, Bryan White, Andrea Charles, Christie Caudill, John Estep Jr., Dustin Stacy and Kyle Stacy; and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held by Pastor Willard Estep with eulogy by Dustin Stacy at 11 a.m. Monday, June 2, 2008 at Hearne Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Stanton Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Brian Charles, Bryan White, Gary Stacy, Dustin Stacy, Kyle Stacy and John Estep Jr. Honorary pallbearers were Mark and Ann Keith, Dr. Charles Noss, Lena Dotson, Jane Pelfrey, Viola Netherly, Irene Hollon, Joann Wilson and Dixie Everman.

Mary Puckett, 95
Mary Evelyn Dugan Puckett, 95, of Irvine Health and Rehab Center, died Thursday, May 29, 2008 at Marcum & Wallace Memorial Hospital after a short illness. She was born May 12, 1913 in Madison County, the daughter of the late Richard Calvin and Rosa Belle Hollingsworth Dugan. She retired from Carhartt Inc. and had lived in Estill County most of her life. She was a member of the Ravenna Nazarene Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas B. Puckett; a grandson, David Puckett; three sisters, Ann Wilcox, Rose Moberly, Ruth Bailey; and two brothers, Charles and Donald M. Dugan.
Survivors include two sons, James Calvin Puckett and wife Patricia of Louisville, and Thomas Charles Puckett and wife Phyllis of Lexington; five grandchildren, Melanie Short, Stephanie Frederick, Jimmy Micah Puckett, Angela Puckett and Wanda Puckett; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 1 p.m. at the Warren F. Toler Funeral Home Chapel with burial at the Puckett Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Jimmy Puckett, Arthur Gene Ballard, Tom Williams, John Nutter, Beetle Lisle and Paul Denniston.

Betty Jo White, 47
Betty Jo White, 47 of Bond St., Irvine, died Sunday, May 25, 2008 at the UK Medical Center after a short illness. She was born Jan. 4, 1961 in Estill County, the daughter of the late Walter and Ola Mae Sparks White. She worked at Cedar Village and had lived in Estill County all of her life. She attended the Pentecostal church. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Margie Stanley and Marzella White.
Survivors include a daughter, Amber Nicole Richardson at home; a son, James Scott Hardy and wife Melinda of Irvine; eight sisters, Joyce Edmonson, Sharon Logsdon, Jean Sparks, Elizabeth Sparks, all of Estill County, Gladys Davis and Rosalie White, both of Richmond, Roberta Sparks of Berea and Teresa Smith of London; two granddaughters, Sahara Jo Hardy and Kendra Leeann Hardy.
Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 1 p.m. at the Warren F. Toler Funeral Home by Bro. Charlie Wilson and Bro. Buford Powell with burial at the Wilson Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Kurt Davis, Thurston Alcorn, Walter Edmonson, Mark Edmonson, Shannon Edmonson and Joshua Lynch.

Owen Hockensmith, 79
Owen M. Hockensmith, 79, died Sunday, May 25, 2008 at RTA Hospice in Lakeside, Ariz. He was born July 30, 1928 in Irvine to Charles and Nell Hockensmith. He served in the United States Navy from 1946 to 1949 while Japan was occupied and again from 1951 to 1953 in the Korean War aboard the USS Wisconsin. He was a civil engineer, building many different nuclear power companies throughout the country and the world. He retired from SRP in St. Johns.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Hockensmith of St. Johns; a son, William “Bill” Hockensmith of Old Town, Maine; daughters, Susan Lardnois of Bismarck, N.D., Phyllis Hockensmith of Colorado Springs, Col.; five grandchildren; and two brothers, Hoge Hockensmith and Bill Hockensmith.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Burnham Mortuary, St. Johns, handled arrangements.