Hershel Gillespie

Nov. 6, 1931 — Aug. 8, 2013

Hershel Gillespie, 81, of Ironton, passed away Aug. 8, 2013, at the Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Ky. The Wayne County, W.Va., native was born Nov. 6, 1931, the son of the late George Lucian and Mary Virgie Smith Gillispie. He is survived by his devoted wife, Myrtie Collins Gillespie, whom he married Aug. 30, 1961, and his loving daughter, Lana Elaine Gillespie Ramirez, who was born in February 1966.

Mr. Gillespie attended Decatur-Washington School and was a U.S. Army veteran serving during the Korean Conflict. He retired as a mechanic for the City of Ironton and attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russell, Ky.

Mr. Gillespie had an avid interest in antiques and in homesteading skills, including gardening and various means of food production and preservation, blacksmithing and woodcarving. He enjoyed farming and nature and made a hobby of making walking sticks and other items from unusual tree branches he found in the woods. He was an avid reader with great knowledge and interest in history, politics, current events and religion. He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, and uncle who took great interest in tending to the well being of his family, friends and loved ones.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers and sisters, Alice Gillespie Ball, Dewey Gillespie, George Gillespie, Clara Gillespie Wilson, Ray Gillespie, Ira Gillespie, Effie Gillespie McFann, Harvey Gillespie, Dona Gillispie and Narvie Gillispie.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Lana Elaine Gillespie Ramirez and son-in-law, Ricardo Ramirez Gallo, of Ironton; and sisters, Ruth Gillespie Adkins of Oak Hill, Jewell Gillespie Murnahan of Ironton, Gladys Gillespie Cox of Oak Hill, and Haley Howell of Florida.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russell, with Bishop Ben Hurt officiating. Burial will follow in Buckhorn Cemetery in Decatur. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Tracey Brammer Monroe Funeral Home and from 1 p.m. until the time of the service at the church on Monday.

Pallbearers will be Ricardo Ramirez, Roy Gillespie, Bob Gillespie, Scott Gillespie, Troy Gillespie and Elder Green. Donations may be made to the Community Hospice, 1480 Carter Ave. Ashland, KY 41101. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

 

David Perry

David Clementa Perry, 80, of Flatwoods, Ky., died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at the Ashland Plaza Church of the Nazarene, 400 Diederich Blvd., in Russell, Ky., with the Rev. Philip Perry, Sr., the Rev. Robert Hale and the Rev. Kevin Campbell officiating. Burial will follow at Anglin Cemetery on Route 1 in Greenup. Visitation for family and friends will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the church. Carman Funeral Home in Flatwoods has been entrusted by the family to handle final arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at carmanfuneral.com.

 

Thomas McComas

Thomas Jewel McComas, 64, of Huntington, W.Va., died Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Huntington. Arrangements are pending at Hall Funeral Home, Proctorville.

 

James Skaggs

Sept. 16, 1946 — Aug. 7, 2013

James Vinson Skaggs, 66, of Ironton, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at his residence. The Ashland, Ky., native was born Sept. 16, 1946, the son of the late Elmer E. and Gertrude B. Sparks Skaggs. He is survived by his longtime loving companion, Jean Todd.

Jim was a graduate of Ashland Paul G. Blazer High School and a U.S. Marine veteran, serving during the Vietnam Era. He was a retired supervisor with ExPro Specialized Services, where he was a mechanic. He enjoyed building racing engines, going to car shows, watching NHRA and NASCAR racing and was of the Baptist faith.

Friends may call from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Phillips Funeral Home. The memorial service will begin at 6 p.m. with the Rev. Aaron Fields officiating and military honors will be provided by VFW Post 8850. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

 

Nancy Bruce

March 25, 1942 — Aug. 7, 2013

Nancy S. Bruce, 71, of South Point, widow of Donald E. Bruce, died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Huntington, W.Va. She was born March 25, 1942, in Ironton, a daughter of the late Henry P. Davis and Gertrude Scherer Davis.

She was a retired employee of Ashland, Inc. where she worked as a clerk. Nancy was a member of the First Baptist Church of South Point where she was active in the Backpack Ministry and a member of the JOY Club. She was a 1960 graduate of South Point High School.

She is survived by three children, Donna (Mark) Hopper of Ironton, Scott (Crystal) Bruce of South Point, and Kevin Bruce of Ironton; two brothers, Henry M. (Kimberly) Davis of South Point and Ben (Cheryl) Davis of South Point; two sisters, Deborah (Rodney) Sparks of South Point and Linda (Donald) Main of South Point; and seven grandchildren, Kayla (Nick) Walker of Worthington, Ky., Amber McClure of Ironton, Jacob McClure of Ironton, Joshua Hopper of Russell, Ky., Katelynn Hopper of Huron, Deanna Jo Bruce of South Point and Alexandria Mounts of South Point.

Graveside services will be 1:30 p.m. Monday at Highland Memorial Gardens, South Point. Friends may call from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at Slack and Wallace Funeral Home, South Point. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the First Baptist Church of South Point Backpack Ministry. Condolences may be expressed at www.slackandwallace.com.

 

Thomas Thacker

Thomas R. Thacker, 93, of Chesapeake, died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013. He is survived by his wife, Juanita McQuaid Thacker. Funeral service will be conducted 2 p.m. today at Hall Funeral Home, Proctorville, by Pastor Darrell Buttram, Pastor Terry Wagner and Owen Jenkins. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens, South Point. Visitation will be 12to 2 p.m. today at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall