Annis Payton

June 13, 1935 – Jan. 19, 2020

On Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, Annis Lorene Payton, loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed away at age 84.

Annis was born June 13, 1935 in Coal Grove, to the late Dan and Marie (Hart) Harman. She grew up in Coal Grove, helping in her parent’s grocery store and barber shop, graduating from Coal Grove High School in 1953. That same year, she married her loving husband, Emery J. Payton, to whom she remained married until his passing in 1997.

Annis and Emery raised one child, Jon Daniel Payton.

Annis worked her entire professional career as a secretary, most notably for over 40 years at the Haverhill Aristech chemical plant, where she was secretary to the plant manager.

Annis enjoyed involvement with several organizations over the years, in and around Coal Grove and Ironton.

She was a tireless organizer for the CGHS Class of 1953 functions, as well as various committees at her lifelong church home, Coal Grove Memorial United Methodist.

In later years, friends will remember her passion (some may say obsession) for collecting and selling Longaberger baskets.

Annis is survived and terribly missed by her son Jon, his wife, Melanie and their two children, Seth and Isabelle. She is also survived by numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins; in particular, her cousin Karen (Hart) Dickess, to whom she was like a sister.

A memorial service will be held in her honor at noon on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, at Coal Grove Memorial United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, friends and family may make donations to their local Alzheimer’s Association.

Robert Higgins

May 14, 1944– Jan. 21, 2020

Robert Keith Higgins, 75, of Willow Wood, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, at his home.

He was born May 14, 1944, in Ironton, the son of the late Walter and Audrey Robinson Higgins.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Linda Gail McCarty Higgins.

While attending Windsor High School, Robert worked as a mechanic for Higgins Chevrolet where he continued working until the age of 42.

He was everyone’s go-to-guy for small engine repair. His favorite places to go were flea markets, Dickess Hardware, and R & R grocery where he spent many hours with friends.

He enjoyed spending time with his loving family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Noleen Hixon and Betty Parsons; and brother, Ralph, Paul and Leon Higgins.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by one sister, Joyce Eastham; daughters, Missy (Chad) Johnson, Vanessa (Daniel) Honaker, and Lora (Jason) Bocook; grandchildren, Josh (Lee Ann) Johnson, Abbi Wray, Adam Honaker, Megan (Brandon) Heffner, Ezekiel Honaker, and Gavin Honaker; great-grandchildren, Raylann and Hunter Johnson; brother-in-law, William Parsons; sisters-in-law, Nancy Higgins and Debbie (Clarence) Short.

Funeral service will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville. Burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Willow Wood. Visitation will be held 1–2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ehallfuneralhome.com.

Danny Russell

May 26, 1947–Aug. 13, 2019

Danny Gordon Russell, 72, formerly of Ironton, died Aug. 13, 2019, at the Stuart Meyer Hospice Center in Palm Coast, Florida.

He was born May 26, 1947, in Huntington, West Virginia. He graduated from Ironton High School in 1968, where he joined the Ohio National Guard and worked at Armco Steel, until his retirement in 1989. He then moved to Florida.

He was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Lorane, a brother, John, and a sister, Terri, all of Ironton; and a son, Danny Ray, of North Carolina.

He is survived by son, Anthony; daughter, Tracey, five grandchildren, Jon, Meagan, McKenzie, Kendall and Josia; and sister, Bobbi; and several nieces and nephews.

Robert Nance, Sr.

Robert “Bobby” Allen Nance, Sr., 45, of Pedro, died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Ironton City Mission Church, 710 N. Fifth St., Ironton, with Rev. Jeff Cremeans officiating. Visitation will be 10 a.m. until time of the service at the church.

Phillips Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

To offer the Nance family condolences, please visit, www.phillipsfuneralhome.net

David Rigsby

Dec. 13, 1943– Jan. 18, 2020

David Harrison Rigsby, 76, of Coal Grove, passed away on Jan. 18, 2020, at Kings Daughter Medical Center, Ashland, Kentucky.

He was born Dec. 13, 1943, the son of the late Clyde E. and Effie Louise (Gossett) Rigsby. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Dixie Lee (Murphy) Rigsby, who passed away in 2012.

David was a graduate of the Ironton High School. After graduating high school, he joined the United States Air Force, serving in Vietnam.

David was a pipefitter for the Allied Signal Company, South Point, worked for the village of Coal Grove and volunteered at the Ironton City Mission Church.

David enjoyed going to the Coal Grove Freezette every morning for coffee. He was a member of the Coal Grove Church of the Nazarene, Coal Grove.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, Elwyn Rigsby; and a sister, Diane Rigsby.

David is survived by two sons, William David Rigsby, of Coal Grove, and Jere (Rachael) Rigsby, of Coal Grove; grandson, Robert Jordan Rigsby, of Chillicothe; granddaughters, Katherine Corinne Rigsby, of Virginia, and Jeri Leigh Rigsby, of Coal Grove; grandson, Jesse Rigsby, of Ironton; brother-in-law, Marty (Jamie) Murphy, of Coal Grove; nephews, Zachary Murphy, of Columbus, Jacob Murphy, of Columbus, and John Rigsby, of Waverly; niece, Tammy Rigsby, of Waverly; a brother, Michael (Carol) Rigsby, of Waverly; and a great-grandson, Carter Preston Rigsby, of Virginia.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Coal Grove Church of the Nazarene, 135 Center St., Coal Grove, with Pastor Jeff Canfield officiating. Military honors will be conducted by VFW Post #8850 immediately following the service. Visitation will be 6–8 p.m. Saturday at the Tracy Brammer-Monroe Funeral Home, 518 S. Sixth St., Ironton.

Online condolences may be made to the Rigsby family by visiting www.tracybrammerfh.com

Russell Bennett

Russell Louis Bennett, 70, of Bemidji, Minnesota,  died Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020 at his home.

He is survived by his wife, Tanja Bennett.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, at Russell’s home in Bemidji, Minnesota. Arrangements are with the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji, Minnesota.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to Bemidji Sanford Hospice.

Condolences may be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.