Kathryn Owen, 87

Kathryn Owen, 87, a life-long resident of Clark County, while surrounded by family at her home, died, on Oct. 10, 2009.  Kathryn was the daughter of the late Ben R. Owen and Lucia C. Jones of Winchester.  

Kathryn was born on a farm at L&E Junction on Oct. 24, 1921.  When she was two years old her family moved to Winchester.  She graduated from Winchester High School in 1939.  After high school, Kathryn became interested in researching her personal family history.  This then led to the love of her life:  historical research, in particular the history of the City of Winchester and Clark County.  She became a renowned historian, genealogist, and author.  While never looking for recognition, Kathryn received numerous awards, including the 2003 Citizen of the Year Award.  She had many affiliations that include D.A.R., Kentucky Colonel, Blue Grass Heritage Museum, Winchester Cemetery Board, World Wildlife Fund, and Clark County Animal Shelter.  

Survivors include one nephew, John Clifton and wife Debbie of Texas and five nieces:  Nancy Kathryn Owen, Debra Leigh Owen, Bonnie Owen Steele, Rebecca Owen Vinson and husband Russell of Texas and Pamela Wycherly Readdy of Washington State.  Kathryn also enjoyed her large extended family of numerous cousins, great nieces and nephews, fellow historians, and longtime friends.  Special friends include David and Sissy Clark, Oakie Curtis, Sally Devery, Mary Evans, Dorothy Shrout, and Hazel Siler.  Kathryn was preceded in death by her mother and father, brothers Lewis Cole and Ben Clay Owen and sister Helen Palmer Wycherly.  Services were held Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 at 1 p.m.  Burial followed at the Owen Family Cemetery in Clark County.

 

Eugene S. Townsend, 76

Eugene Stanley Townsend, 76, 283 James Crowe Hollow Road, Stanton, husband of Rosetta Helton Townsend, died Thursday at his home. He was born March 13, 1933 in Powell County to the late Lee and Maggie Dempster Townsend. 

Survivors include his wife, Rosetta Townsend, Stanton; sons, Ronald Townsend and David Townsend, both of Stanton; daughters, Faye Sparks, Clay City and Angelene Wasson, Stanton; brothers, Elmer Townsend, Stanton, Robert Townsend, Stanton, Roy Townsend, Stanton, and Raymond Townsend, Jeffersonville; sisters, Glenda Hensley, Michigan and Orene Hooten, Oklahoma; 16 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, son, William Townsend, and daughter, Glenda Dunn. 

Services were held on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2 p.m. at the West Bend Church of God by Rev. George Sparks and Rev. Mike Spicer. Burial followed in Townsend Cemetery, Stanton. 

Pallbearers who served were Steven Dunn, Brandon Dunn, Phillip Sparks, Kevin Wasson, Billy Townsend, Billy Martin, and Gerald Bishop. Honorary pallbearers were Elmer Townsend, Robert Townsend, Roy Townsend, Raymond Townsend, Rodney Dunn, and Doug Wasson.

 

Mae Marie Vance, 82

Mae Marie Vance, 82, of Pilot Knob Road, Mt. Sterling, died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009 at her daughter’s home in Mt. Sterling. She was born in Hyden on Jan. 22, 1927 the daughter of Steve and Drue Sillar Bentley Stubblefield.  She was a homemaker, a member of the Church of God, and the widow of Randolph Vance.  

She is survived by eight sons, Jimmy Stubblefield of Boston, Mass. McKinley Vance of Mt. Sterling, Darrell Vance of Mt. Sterling, David Vance of Nicholasville, Michael Vance of Mt. Sterling, Freddie Joe Vance of Mt. Sterling,  Jeffrey Lee Vance of Clay City, Jerry Vance of Stanton; four daughters, Littie Mae Goodwin of Clay City, Garnetta Craycraft of Bath County, Rose Lee Richards of Lexington and Angela Fair of Mt. Sterling; two sisters, Nannie Lawson of Ohio and Betty Ruth Elkin of Florida;  several grandchildren and great grandchildren also survive. 

She was preceded in death by two sons, Ralph Vance and Arthur Douglas Vance and two brothers, Demeree Stubblefield and Mack Stubblefield. 

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 at the Taul Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Millard Anderson and Scott Barnes officiating and burial followed in the Wheeler Walnut Grove Cemetery in Morgan County.  

Pallbearers were Gary Martin, Jason Fair, Jerald Vance, Dustin Vance, Charlie Goodwin, Randolph Goodwin, Brandon Richards, and Matt Tuttle.  Her  sons served as honorary pallbearers.