It’s time for my Cheapskate Editor’s Christmas Card List. The format is simple: If I had both the time to write individual Christmas cards and the money to afford the postage, these are the people I would send greetings because of their role in my life and the lives of my family. This is the 19th edition of Cheapskate Editor. The first one appeared in print on Dec. 14, 1996.
The Question: What made 2014 special for the Turners? The Answers: We gained a daughter-in-law and we made significant business/employment changes.
In August, I said good-bye to the Communication Department at Western Kentucky University and went to work full-time for Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College with most of my duties and my office located at the Franklin-Simpson Center.
In October, our son Clay and his long-time best friend, Amanda Brawner, were wed in a Warren County barn on the farm that has been in her dad’s family for decades. Instead of lighting a unity candle, Clay and Amanda poured soil from their two farms into one container, a symbol of their love for agriculture.
Clay’s marriage meant more than his moving out of our home as a new family was formed. It also involved his moving about 90 miles away to the lovely tourism-oriented town of Glendale. Amanda already had a wonderful job in agriculture there and her own house, which is now their home. Clay begins a new job with a farm supply operation there next Monday.
So changes began immediately at home. Elaine and our daughter Lindsay, who have worked unbelievably hard in the family produce business for a decade or more, are now managing it. They are excited about the future, and Clay and I have no doubt that they can not only continue what we’ve all built on but make it even better.
Trey, meanwhile, moved to Bowling Green and is using his seemingly unlimited computer skills in a variety of meaningful ways, including The Logan Journal.
It was also a year which I four skin cancers surgically removed, two of them pretty deep, but Dr. John Cowan tells us I’m cancer free now, and I’m grateful for that.
With those events in the forefront, these are some of the people to whom I would send cards in a perfect world:
To Amanda Brawner Turner, for keeping Clay smiling
To John Brawner for opening his home, barn and farm for his daughter’s wedding
To Tony and Brandi Brawner Gann for all the happy times they spent with Clay and Amanda during the courtship and for adopting their foster children, Lucas, Sophia and Avery Gann, who now have an Uncle Clay
To other members of Amanda’s family for making Clay part of their family, including Rita, Katie Jo & Bill Wallace
To Clay’s grandmother, Bonnie Hooper, for hosting the bridal luncheon in Brentwood.
To our niece, Claire Hooper Rivas, and her husband Joey for letting us be a part of their wedding in Nashville this summer, and to her parents, Andy and Debbie Hooper, for being by our sides during the weddings, as were Elaine and Andy’s dad, Bob Hooper, and Bonnie.
To my cousins, Bobby and Christine Allen, Sylvia Thacker & Chelsea and River Jepson, for being with us at the wedding.
To the best man our own wedding, Harris Dockins, for officiating the wedding ceremony, and his wife Sharon and daughter Lee for supporting him and us.
To Harris’ parents, Frank and Davey Lee Dockins, who introduced Elaine and me, for driving to the wedding, even with her having to navigate the entrance to the barn in a wheelchair, and to Dave and Paige Dockins for chaperoning them.
Church
To Andy Walker, our new preacher at Crittenden Drive Church of Christ. We think he is tremendous. He’s intelligent, humble, insightful, and an outstanding communicator, putting Bible truths into timelines that I’ve never heard explained before. And, he loves farm life and Kentucky.
To Billy McCarley, our newest deacon and his wife Leslie. Billy does so a great different things for our congregation. He always brings zest and good humor to whatever he undertakes.
To Evelyn Wilson, the oldest member of Crittenden Drive who will turn 101 on New Year’s Eve. Her wonderful descendants would appreciate her getting at least 101 birthday cards at Auburn Healthcare Center.
To sisters and retired bank employees Punkin Klein and Nona Penick, who are spending many enjoyable hours together after the death of Nona’s husband Doug. Punkin is in her 95th year and seems to be going strong.
To some of our widows who are no longer to live at home alone, Pearl O’Dell, Johnnie Walling, Mary Baker & Virginia Hildabrand
To our new friends, John and Jessica Odum, and their three young sons, Aiden, Isaac & John Paul , who was born this fall. Isaac and our Lindsay are especially close.
To Ima Jean Hite, whom I’ve known most of my life through being in 4-H with her children. She’s back home now after suffering a broken shoulder in the early fall at the Arkansas home of her son Johnny and his wife Jan. We’re sure they gave her wonderful care.
To two of my favorite women, Kathryn Edwards and her daughter, Shirley Grace, along with their Triple C—caddie, chauffeur and chaperone, Joe Grace
To our dear friend Nita Williams, who has stopped driving (she alleges) but has regained her strength enough to return home after spending much of 2014 under the oversight of her daughter, Joyce Chestnut, and son Danny Williams
To Charles & Patricia Baker, who make church attendance the focus of their lives, and Kige Ramsey, who tries to be involved in every phase of church activities
Sickness
Unfortunately, sickness has been a constant factor in our church family this year.
To my cousin, Carol Thacker, who was plagued with what had been diagnosed as pneumonia for many weeks before a new set of doctors found her cancer. Chemotherapy has been tough on her, but she has been able to get out more lately and we’re greatly encouraged.
Our church, as well as much of the community, was shocked and dismayed to learn that RHS freshman Dillon Porter has lymphoma. He has been a bright light among us, always active and fun. Highly popular, he is involved in just about every sport and activity the school has to offer and was named Homecoming Prince. Dillon is still on chemo and very weak, but he has been able to come to church for most services lately and has attended some school activities. His parents, Donnie and Polly Porter, have been an important part of the lives of many local families through their Logan County Gymnastics, and his grandparents, Roger and Merry Lee Brewer, are very special to us, as are his aunts and uncles, Joella and Jim Morrow, Bonnie and Grayson Wells, and Lance and Jessica Porter.
To others battling cancer in our congregation, Johnny Holloway, Helen White and former members who have moved away, Beverly Garner Braschler & Bethany Sanford.
To others currently or formerly on long-term illness lists, Billy Anderson, Wynn Anne Barbee, Charlie Bowles, Delores Brooks, Malcolm & Mabel Farmer, Tim Harris, Geraldine Hodges, Larry & Verna Hurt, , Roy Sattazahn, McKenna Smith, Josh Thomas, Johnny Townsend, Jerry Van Zee, John Weber and Kelli Whittaker
Local Schools
To Donna Brown Wilkerson, the new public relations director for the Russellville schools. She often sends me information for three or four stories a day, complete with pictures. This lady is doing the job the way it ought to be done.
To Marshall Kemp, who retired this year as superintendent of Logan County Schools after almost four decades of service to the education of the people of the Land of Logan
To Dr. Kevin Hub, Marshall’s successor as superintendent. He’s a dynamic leader, and the most media conscious CEO of any institution I’ve known in a long time. I greatly appreciate the effort he makes to keep the public informed through The LoJo.
To Leon Smith, superintendent of Russellville Independent Schools, who gets the job done effectively without ever drawing attention to himself
To Greg Owens, who is the innovator and ramrod of so many recognitions that go to Russellville Alumni, highlighted by this fall’s super three-month observance of the 75th anniversary of Rhea Stadium. And to others who often feel like we work for him while carrying out his ideas, including Jean Sosh Reynolds, Ann Page Province McReynolds, Kim McDaniel, Mary Juricka Celsor, Ronna Stevenson Knuckles and Patsy Hendrick. The dumbest thing I did this year was letting Greg learn my office phone number. At least I have Caller ID.
To dedicated loyalists to Logan County High School who have revived interest in LCHS sports through the Logan County Cougars Athletic Foundation, including Billy and Melody Bingham, Jimmy Kent Wilson, Richard and Louise Holloman, LeAnn Meguiar Powell, Kyle Hines, Chad Hardison, Mike Riley, Lori Bouldin, John Ferris, Jon Barrow, Joe Hendricks, Larry Powell, Bill Gaines, Lee Proctor, Bob Nylin & Stacey Mason.
To Coach John Myers, who has rebuilt Russellville football into a perennial contender again, much like it was in the 60s and 80s.
To Coach Steve Duncan, who chose to come to Logan County High School to build a competitive football program which has been down for several years. He has done so with class and Christian kindness.
To the parents, grandparents, aunts, and friends of the Logan County football team which gave them unmatched support during difficult times, despite the team experiencing their second straight winless season. They fed them after practice and before each game, adding in unconditional love in the process. I don’t know lots of names, but among them were Shannon Silvey Williamson, Judi Sanders Silvey, Missy Maxwell Perry, Samantha Hamilton, Tony Chaudoin, Becky Olliges Spencer & Angela McColpin.
To coaches Ethan Meguiar and Steven Lyne, former Cougar athletes who have built baseball and volleyball programs, respectively, which are competitive every single season
To coaches Finley Baird Woodard and Lonnie Mason, also Logan alumni, for their work to make LCHS basketball competitive in the district and region again. In her first season back home, she led the Lady Cougars to an upset of another LCHS graduate, Josh Matthews, and his heavily favored Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats for the district championship. Mason coached his Cougars to the top seed in the boys district last year and they are on track to do at least that much again this year.
To Jonathan White, who has seen two of his biggest dreams come true this year. He is serving as head coach of a team on which he was successful as a player, RHS soccer, and has been named youth minister of the church in which he grew up, First Baptist on South Main in Russellville.
To Coach Greg Howard, who makes LCHS cross country and track teams competitive and continually improving. From our home and fields, we see how hard he works personally to make the cross country track one of the best in the state. There would be no way to pay him for the countless hours he spends on that course.
To Holli Brown, whose dedication and service to LCHS basketball for years is remarkable
To Coach Lance Gregory, an LCHS alumnus who has built a tremendous football program at Graves County, highlighted by a shutout victory over powerful Bowling Green High for a berth in the Class 5A state finals, and to his coach at LCHS, Les May, who has been a key assistant in that building program
To Brian Brown & David Dayton, who directed the RHS & LCHS bands, respectively, to state. Neither one is interested in spreading the story through the media, but thanks to parents Debbie Robbins & Renee Stratton, we were able to spread the good news somewhat.
To William Darden, one of the best running backs in the early years of LCHS (and still one of the best ever). He has lived a father’s dream this year with his dynamic son, Panther Tacorian ‘CoCo’ Darden, being named state Player of the Year for Class 1A.
To the officers of the Lewisburg Alumni Association—Neal Webb, Vickie Laster Costello, Sheila Harrison Groves and Nancy Webb Eggleston—for inviting me to speak at their annual banquet, which turned into a roast for the legend—Bob Birdwhistell. Bob’s wife Donna and his children—Jane Wells, Susan Ezell and Joe Birdwhistell—let me be an honorary member of the family on that special night.
To LCHS graduate and my former WKU student Wesley Bromm for being named a Fullbright Scholar. He’s a polite, unassuming young man with a wry smile who has earned one of the highest honors college students can attain.
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To my long-time sportscasting buddy, James Mooneyhan of Franklin, in the unexpected death of his son, Ricky Mooneyhan, who was not only dearly loved by his family but also by the entire Franklin-Simpson community.
To Judge Sue Carol Browning and Jailer Bill Jenkins, who retired from public office after long years of dedicated public service.
To Jerry Van Zee, Kenny Chapman and Algie Ray Smith, all of whom go out of their way to help our family in a myriad of ways.
To Dickie Carter and Phil Gregory, who instead of being bitter about narrow losses four years ago came back to offer themselves for public service again and winning their races. Also to Ken Williams, who not only gave it another shot but was elected district judge, one of the most important positions in any area.
To Barry Bilyeu, Trey’s good friend who worked out a good deal for us on a new (to us) vehicle through B&J Auto Sales (the B is for Bilyeu) and who began his political career this year by being elected to Auburn City Council
To James Hall, another good friend of Trey’s who has opened the door to many opportunities for him
To Fred and Barbara Wright, my classmates and lifelong friends, who moved to Florida this year. We miss them.
To those who played key roles in planning our class’ 50th reunion this year, including Tom Lennon, Susan Stewart Hicks, Jim Purvis, Margaret Hollingsworth Humble, Becky Johnson, Pat Murphy, Bobby Sue Clark Silvey, Pat Scott Carnesi, Bob Owen and Lindagarde Johnson Dalton.
To our classmate, Betty Lou Williamson Wright, who along with Bobbie Martin was honored recently for their 50 years of customer service at First Southern National Bank
To Ricky Dean Bibb, one of my former students who was a standout football player at RHS in the 1970s, who went back to school after having spent a few decades as an adult. Not long after earning as Associates degree from Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College, he graduated a few days ago from WKU with a Bachelors of Independent Studies with an emphasis on social studies and behavior science. Since he’s got a two-year-old son, he’s going to need to put all that education to productive use.
To Eddie Brooks, who is always ready to help in any community project going on. You could make a case for him being Citizen of the Year, every year.
To Agape’s Mike & Janice Humble, who serve and inspire people not only locally but also around the world
To Clay and Debbie Bilyeu for all the good works they do around the county involving countless worthwhile causes
To Tina Callahan-Dye for her service as mayor of Lewisburg. I don’t know details about the financial state of the city or about how government is functioning there, but I do know she has worked hard to build community pride and fellowship. She and her husband Jeff have dreamed up and carried out myriad of activities to reignite North Logan togetherness.
To Jim and Sharon Ray for being good citizens and good friends
To South Logan pastor William Washington and retired educator/now banker David Atkins, whose names are supposed to be in each of these Christmas Cards annually
Turner Valley Produce and Crafts
To Mike & Barbara Dorris, Virgil & Jo Parrish, Phillip & Becky Johnson, Mark & Allie Robertson, Connally Martin, Roger ‘Goober’ Duncan, Dwight Grise, Ted & Darla Baldwin, Kathy W. Hathcock, John Amzi Zimmerman, Willis Leid, J.C. Stacey, Carolyn Elamon, Patti Drummond and Bill Jackson, some of our friends in the vegetable and fruit business.
To Elaine Dixon, who always does a good job managing the Logan County Arts & Crafts Club’s Christmas in November two-day show and sale. This one was unique in that we honored her late mother, Joan Dixon, who was always supportive of the sale.
To Kelly Diamond, leader of the SKY Farmers Holiday Market, who invited us to be a part of six special Saturdays in Bowling Green the past couple of months
To the many customers who go out of their way to make their farm-related purchases from us
First Christmas as Married Couple
To Trevor & Chelsea Clark, Jeffrey and Ashley Stoker Cole, John and Dafnel Devasier, Clint & Laci Shannon Haynes, Micah & Stacy Johnson, Trent & Paige Winders Price, Tyler & April Cain Robertson, Ben and Amanda Rogers, Daniel and Autumn Creasy Stacy, Phil & Jennie Brown Todd
First Christmas as Parents
To Brandon and Jennie Burchett, Josh & Chelsey Jepson, Justin & Erica Watwood Sloan, and Torin Graham & Amber Sydnor
The Logan Journal
To Bryson Price of Price Funeral Home, Greg Hale of Logan Telephone Cooperative, Roy Morgan of Roy’s Bar-B-Q, Jerry White & Donnie Riley of Riley-White, and JoAnn DeArmond of the Carpenter Fitness &Aquatics Center for their long-time support of The LoJo as advertisers
To Chris McGinnis and Don Neagle of WRUS for being so willing to work with The LoJo and for remaining one of our advertisers
To Brent Summers of Summers, Kirby & Sanders Funeral Home and Bryson Price of Price Funeral Home for their submitting obituary information and for advertising in our new Obituaries section. They head the only two funeral homes who have decided to share death notices with our readers, and I’m sure the families who pay for their services appreciate it. We do.
To Brad and Vanessa Priddy of Brookhaven Performance Auto & Tire, one of our earliest advertisers, who returned to our pages this year.
To advertisers Ernie Wilkins of Ernie’s Lawn Mower Repair, Tara Jenkins of Country Wide Realty, Amanda Gossett of State Farm Insurance, Brent Crabtree of Crabtree Furniture, Debbie Tolladay of Daymar College, Billy Bingham & Edna Hughes of Lewisburg Banking Company, Rusty Clark of First Southern National Bank, Kathy Thweatt of Barren River Health Department, Nick Rice of Freeland Chevrolet, Jeep, Dodge, Ram
To political candidates who advertised during election seasons, including Jailer Phil Gregory, Magistrate Dickie Carter, Rep. Martha Jane King, Sheriff Wallace Whittaker, Coroner Mary Givens, Magistrate Jo Orange, Gary Sears, Jason Petrie, Nan Calloway, Wendell Jackson, Jason Petrie, Steve Hadden, Cheryl Allen, Tina Hudson McKinney, Bill Decker
To Mark Abbott, who has allowed us to use hundreds of his sports pictures without expecting anything in return. His daughter Maddie is now playing college volleyball, so we don’t get as many pictures from him as we did, but he’s left us with a great stockpile of very good pictures.
To Steve Everett for his encouragement and his photographic skills
To people who have written interesting Guest Articles for The LoJo, Al Cross, Al Smith, Suzi Burgher Payne, Evelyn Richardson, Rhonda Barton, Bob White, Jenni Osborne Craig, Pam Morgan, Charles & Marvinia Neblett, Sen. Whitney Westerfield, John Miller, Melissa Landon, Leslie Moore, Brian Hamby, Nelson Weaver, Laura Wagoner, Rep. John Tilley, Charles Roney, Maggie Millette, Elaine Ezell, Maggie Morgan, Kirby Larson, Sue Wood, Commissioner James Comer, Mayor Tina Callahan-Dye, Stephanie Marie Markham, Michael Gough, Joe Gran Clark, Steve Howard, John Ferris, Linda Harlan, John Alcott, Greg Hale, John DeVasier, Susan Hindman Watson, Cathy Holmes, Jerry Averitt, Tom Ruley, Kim McDaniel, Lisa Browning, Darlynn Moore, Michael Crawford, Ryan Davenport, Larry Vaught, Bobbie Jean Burnett, Jimmy Haynes Jr., Dr. Kevin Hub, Tom Harned, Roger Cook, and Algie Ray Smith.
To Richard Holloman, Dan Duncan, Tracey Naylor, Adam Decker, Mark Reynolds, James Imlay, Jennifer Ferguson, Greg Hale, Greg Howard, Julie Belcher, Zach Simpson, Renee Stratton, Nathan Thompson, Calvin Head, Angela McColpin and Hugh McReynolds, people who get sports news to us faithfully
To those who spread the word about what is happening in their place of employment, especially Mark Brooks of SKYCTC, Bob Skipper and Tommy Newton of WKU News, Paula Timberlake of LEAD, April Pauley of Auburn Senior Center, Ted Sloan of the state Ag Department, Chris Pack & Marty Irby of Congressman Ed Whitfield’s office, Logan County High School Principal Casey Jaynes, Kim Reeves & Anna Wilkins of Russellville Electric Plant Board, Sheila Wilson & Laura Jaynes of Logan County Superintendents’ office, Kaitlynn Brown & Jessica Brown of Logan County FFA, Lisa White of CharacterWorks, Carla Carr of First Southern National Bank, Molly Burchett & Melissa Patrick of Kentucky Health News, Chrissy Rowland of the district health department, Donnie Meador of Allen County Schools, Andrew Kappes of the Bowling Green Hot Rods, and Michael Schroeder, Kyle Neaves & Robert Sampson of WKU Athletics
Business
To Tom Harned, executive director of the Logan Economic Alliance for Development, for his leadership in bringing the massive Champion Petfoods company to the Auburn area. It’s biggest economic development in Logan County since the arrival of what was to become Logan Aluminum about 35 years ago
To Dr. Jennie Brown-Todd, who returned home to Russellville and opened her veterinary practice in the former office of Dr. Jim Chambers, much to the delight of her parents, Larry and Brenda Brown
To Ben Freeland of the automobile dealership that bears his name and to management of FiveStar Foods and Auto Zone, who made the decision to bring their sparkling new businesses into the Land of Logan
To Bert Knight, who observed his 50th anniversary owning and operating Bert’s Auto Parts this year. No other businessman is kinder or more service-oriented than Bert.
To C.K. & Jana Hanks for their decades of hard work in managing the East Logan Water District
To Bill Stokes for the steady leadership he has given East Logan Water District for many years, including the transition underway now
To Nancy Powell, for rebuilding Russellville’s iconic Bethel Dipper, starting another half century in business after an out-of-control car almost wiped it out
To Sonny Green, Russellville’s resident artist, who has done a great job of keeping local history alive through his talented paintings and prints
Colleges
To Vice President Jay McCaslin, Provost Maggie Shelton, Dean Alice Benham, HR Director Sherri Forester and Communication professor Jessica Adams for recommending me for a new communications position at SKYCTC
To Dr. Phillip Neal, president of SKYCTC, who lets every faculty and staff member at the college’s six campuses know that each is individually appreciated. He usually finds a way to do this at least monthly. I really believe he knows the name of every employee of the rapidly growing school.
To Donna Hayden, the administrative rock on which the SKYCTC Franklin Simpson Center has been built since its inception, and her dual-credit road-trip buddy, Heather Bratcher Keith
To Mary Helen Hendrix, the distance learning coordinator for SKYCTC who has painstakingly converted me into an online instructor on Blackboard. Marty Dowell, who was the digital guru at the News-Democrat & Leader when we went online, along with Gary Hughes—the technology pro in the WKU Communication Department, and—most of all—Trey Turner have ample experience in knowing what an achievement she has accomplished, although I am still a work in progress,
To Rhonda Barton, my former student who is now a full-time office worker as well as my friend at Franklin.
To the only other full-time teachers at Franklin, Jessica Bayer & Leah Wendt, who are my mentors, advisors and friends.
To my long-time lunch associates at WKU, Dr. Carl Kell, Dr. Larry Winn, Dr. Gary Hughes, Dr. Dale Wicklander, Dr. Angela Jerome, Dr. Larry Caillouet, Cyndia Tarrance & Laura Wagoner. I miss being around them.
To the department chairs under whom I taught in my years at WKU, Dr. Randy Capps, Dr. Judith Hoover, Dr. Larry Winn, Dr. Sally Ray, Dr. Dan Modaff, Dr. Carl Kell, Dr. Larry Snider, and Dr. Helen Sterk, for allowing me to be a part of that special unit of higher learning
To the aforementioned Gary Hughes, who I first knew as a high school speaker at Trigg County High School, then as pastor of Auburn Baptist Church, followed by his being a colleague at WKU. I’m very proud of him for completing his doctorate from UK this spring.
Deaths
Unfortunately, deaths and those that are left behind are always part of this list. This year was no exception. Our family lost an uncle when Charles Hackney died in the Nashville area. His wifeFrances is the sister of Elaine’s mother, the late Virginia Hooper. Our sympathy also goes out to their sons, Mark & Steve Hackney.
A more distant relative who passed away this year was Evelyn Jernigan. Her late husband Bud was a cousin my dad deeply loved and respected. Surviving are daughter Jackie Barnett and her husband Charlie, and their children, Seth & Sloane Barnett and Charla & Jarrod Arnold. I’m sure Charlie wants me to make it clear that he and I aren’t related, however.
Almost like a death in the family to us was the loss of Barclay Riley, who was the minister at Crittenden Drive in my teenage years when he left to become superintendent of Potter Home and School in Bowling Green. His wife Marilyn is one of the loveliest, most genteel ladies we’ve ever known. Also surviving are descendants Steve, Dr. Tom and Anne, Joe and Andrea, and Matt and Martha Riley, Mary Linda and Ken Moore, and Sara Louise and Chad Boyd.
Very important in our lives was Dr. Jitendra ‘Jay’ Pathak, who died a couple of weeks ago of pulmonary fibrosis.I wrote the story about the arrival of the Doctors Pathak to Russellville in the late 70s, never imagining what vital roles they would play in my life. Jay, a surgeon, operated on me twice, once in his office and once at Logan Memorial Hospital. But Kunja, an OB/GYN, was Elaine’s doctor. When Clay gave notice that he had no intention of making a move to be born the old-fashioned way, Cesarean surgery was necessary. Kunja and Jay did that together. After that, it was just a formality to schedule the good doctors for surgery when Lindsay and Trey were delivered. Because of an injury to Logan County Hospital’s chief anesthesiologist just before Lindsay was born, Elaine’s epidural was botched. I watched Kunja cry when she saw how much pain Elaine was in a few days later. The Pathaks remained our friends as long as they made their home here. Sympathy to Kunja and their children, Anar and Dr. Aman Pathak.
Sometimes life seems to pile up on select people. Carolyn Moore and her children are among them. Most folks living south of the Lewisburg area first saw her strength and devotion after her beloved son, Cpl. Josh Moore, died while serving overseas. Then this year, her husband and Josh’s dad, Jeff ‘Seymore’ Moore, died unexpectedly. Survivors include Carolyn & David Moore, Ashley & Braiden Bobbett, Carrie Cantarelli, Richard Pierce, Tammy Ziegler & Terry Knight.
John Williams wasthe first all-state football player in Russellville history who was the father of my long-time friend, Linda Smart. This summer Linda told me how well he was doing physically and mentally despite being 93 years old. He was to be honored this fall during the biggest celebration of Russellville’s first game at Rhea Stadium 75 years ago. A few days before the big day, Linda told me that he had suddenly gone down and was in a Springfield nursing home. He died four days after the celebration.
Levi Hodge Jr. was in my class at school and at church throughout out childhoods. Levi was one of the cutest, sweetest little boys you’d even know, but he developed a serious leg illness that sentenced him to crutches many of our school years. I don’t think we realized it then, but it obviously affected him negatively. Levi was legendary in Russellville for his battles with addictions. In his latter years, however, he overcame them with the help of the good folks at New Friendship Baptist Church in Auburn while he was a resident of Auburn Health Care. Some of New Friendship’s mission work is carried out in Levi’s name.. One of the congregation’s ministers, Tony Chaudoin, helped him greatly. Among family members surviving are sisters Lizzie Collins and Margaret Hooper, brother-in-law Ron Hooper, and nephews Mark and Michael Hooper and Paul Shoemake.
Piling on of sorrow also struckBrenda, Tiger and Jamie Rigney. Their son/brother Brad Rigney was found murdered in his Russellville home a few days after last Christmas. Not too long after that, their husband/father James Rigney died unexpectedly. Brenda was a teacher at Logan County High School in its earliest days. These deaths have obviously taken a toll on her physically and emotionally, and all of her friends pray for renewed health and spirit for her.
Other deaths who affected people in our lives included the following, along with some of their survivors:
Nannette Starks King, Jeremy, Jennifer, Phillip, Krista Posey; Julia, Charlie, Martha, and Pat Starks
Barbara Porter, Phillip & Tyler Porter, Irene and James Smith, Ruth & Stewart Bland, Jenny & J.T. Morris
Edwina Duncan, Cecil, Patty Duncan
James Stevenson, Debbie, Don, Jeramy & Shannon Rust, Pam & Mike Robertson, Brenda Whittaker, Sarah Kay Johnson, Beverly Arnold & Barbara Barnett
Pat Kerr, David, Todd, Stephen, Paul & Cindy, Susan & Johnny Halbert
Louise Stokes, Tony, Jeff & Cathy Stokes; Sheryl & Leslie Downey; Tom, Sandra, Nathan, Laura & Molly Thompson; Sara & Mario Ibarra, Beverly & Ray Mullen
Cody Yell, Penny, A.C. & Will Robey, Troy, Lisa, Ashton, Evelyn & Carly Yell; Jane Holloway, Noble & Sara Clark, Erin Graham
Dr. David Hatchett, Edna, Phillip, Joe & Barbara Hatchet; Lisa, Shawn & Terri Ann Cohen, Teri & Greg Hogan; Ora & Frank Riherd
Corrine Humphries, Marion, David & Janet, Bob & Patti, Andy & Rhonda Humphries; Nancy Bolster,
Mary Lee Chapman, Al Chapman, Nell Lawrence, Brenda & Bud Strickler, Tommie Gail and Mark Bennett, Darlene & Bobby Watkins, Donna & Rick Allen, Mary Sue & David Tarter, Sue Harris
Faye Page, Karen, Nathan & Kelsey Hinton, Nick Posey, Kathy Paige, Tony Ashby, Ron Simpson, Brenda Blick, Barbara Penrod
Betty Shoemaker, Tommy & Danny Shoemaker, Debbie and Joe Grise, Barbara & Chris Mottley, Dorris, Lu & Jackie Burchett
G.C. McMillen, Doris McMillen, Vickie & Ryan Coleman, Julie Morgan, Jenna Griffith & Kelly Chapman
L.J. Northern, Roberta, Keith, Karen, Jenny, Libby & Sam Northern, Nelda Marren
Jack Hancock, Peggy, Kenny, Gary, Sherry and Meg Hancock, Linda and Clyde Nealy, Sara Katheryn Fuqua, the Morgan family
Tom Kirkpatrick, Gene, Dr. Pat and Sharon Kirkpatrick; Gina and Andy Britt; Susan and Douglas Rohleader
Barbara Lowe, Vickie, Sam, Ryan & Will DeShazer, Lee Ann & Bill Thurston, Myrtle Matthews, Richard Glenn, Elizabeth & Travis Appling, & Finley Rachel Mucha
Steve Brock, Mike, Beth & Elsie Brock, Emily Ross, the employees of Roy’s Bar-B-Q
Jimmy Chestnut, Joyce, Phillip, Amy, Carson & Miles Chestnut, Nita, Danny & Barbara Williams
Mary Ann Davis, Charles, Gay, & Matthew Davis; Tracey & Joe Armistead; Dr. Kevin Davis
Lan Walker, Shelva, Monte & Diane, Wesley & Susan, Landon, Jordan Alan & Brittany Walker; Rusty & Debbie Burchett, Lauren & Kyle Wetton
Dan Clark, Faye, Dr. Dale & Beth, Abby, Adam, Bridget and Brad; Dianne and Maruib Carraway; Mollie and Tyler Meacham
Rachel Hinton, Harold ‘Tub’ Hinton, Sherry Violette, Kelley, Russell, Ethan & Katie Paul, Kerri Violette; Laurine and Johnnie Mantlo; Dorothy Sawyer; Russell, Frank, Edward & Marsha, Kent & Anne, Joe & Lorraine McIntosh
Jerry Head, Carol Head, Tammy and Wendell Crafton, Misty and Alan Mason, Deborah Chyle, Judy Sessum, Jamie and Mary Helle
Frances Dockins, Sharon Dockins, Nina, Frank & Davy Lee Dockins
Don Kenady, Martine, Kevin, Rachel, Andrew, Kerry Kenady
Waunetta Mae Cardwell Higgins, Barry, Kim, Cody, Cameron and Jr. Higgins
Marshall Sidebottom, Brian Sidebottom,and Travis Bryan and Ole Gib Sun.
Among other deaths this year:
Precious Abshire, Bill Baker, Arlin Barton, Hilda Bingham, Linda Faye Soyars Blanchard, Billy Britt, Steve Brock, Curtis Brown, Earnie Bryan, Audie Burns, Bill Burns, Nelda Jeane Cage, Ken Campbell, Jewell Arine Christie, Katherine Tanner Christmas, Jim Cook, Bob Coursey, Louise Coursey, Ann Powell Cravens, Regina Dodson, Joe Dudney, Earl Eddings, Connor Edwards, Jeremy Elrod, Mary Frances Fugate, Billy Glover, Andrea Marie Hall, Bertie Mae Angel Hall, Linda Hampton,, G.W. Harbison, Charles ‘Pinky’ Hardesty, Juanita Harper, Richard Harper, Grover Herndon, Edgar Larry Holloway Sr., Ed Holloway, Martha Jane Hopper, Frances Ann Lassiter Jepson, Dorris Johnson, Amethyst Johnson, Ronald Jones, Mary Ann Justice, Celine Kane, Janet Kientz, Lois Pauline Kough, Rickey Link, Madonna Anderson Mann, Ruth Markham, Mervin McCormick, Kevin Mimms, Oliver Monroe, James Ellis ‘Mutt’ Montgomery, Larry Moore, Jerry Munday, Charles ‘Mutt’ Naylor, Mary Nelle Noe, Shem Noe, Frank Orndorff Sr., Jimmy Parrish, Ralph Parrish, James Rigney, Frances Porter Robbins, Joseph Rose Sr., Mitchell Sandlin, Betty Shoemaker, Richard Shoulders, Paul Southerland, Velma Williams Smith, James Snorton, Jack Starks, Jean Steenbergen, Judy Stovall, J.T. Taylor, Johnny Taylor, Virgil Timberlake, Curt Tweedy, Lula VanCleave, Leonard Vick, Norwood ‘Woody’ Watkins, Robert Clyde White, Kenneth Whitlock, Jimmy Wright, Mitchell Yates