Kentucky Marriage Records by CountyPAM WILCHER GEORGE BREESE
Mercer County Man And Woman Die In Accidental Mobile Home Fire At Lake
An accidental fire in a mobile home at 610 Hughley Lane early Saturday morning claimed the lives of a Mercer County man and woman.
Pam Deresa Wilcher, 40, and George W. Breese, 44, were pronounced dead at the scene after their bodies were found by firemen in a bedroom of the mobile home. According to State Fire Marshall Jack Flower, autopsies revealed the two died from smoke inhalation. Their bodies were not burned.
Wilcher's son, Joshua Wilcher, 16, was not at home when the fire broke out according to Bob Linkous with the Central Kentucky Chapter of the American Red Cross. He said Joshua is staying with his father, Danny Bugg of 166 Lakeview Point.
"The most logical cause of the fire was a live ash from a cigarette or a possible lighted candle on the wall that could have fallen off onto the couch, " Flower said. He said an overstuffed sofa in the living room is believed to be where the fire started and that there was no indication that the fire was anything other an accidental one.
Burgin Fire Chief Donald Bruce Brown said a neighbor, Julie Simpson, spotted the fire just before 6 a.m. and at first thought the smoke was fog. Her husband was leaving for work and drove past the mobile home and realized it was on fire. Firemen were summoned and told there might be people inside the trailer.
Wilcher had held a birthday party at the mobile home the night before for Simpson and another friend and Brown said it was learned that the last guest left about 5 a.m. It is believed the fire broke out between 5 and 6 a.m. Brown speculated that a door may have been opened and may have "given just enough fresh air for the fire to take off."
When firemen arrived, they were met with flames and smoke in the living room area of the mobile home. They contained the fire before it reached the bedroom where the victims were found, but the bedroom did have heat and smoke damage.
"We believe they were asleep, " Brown said of the victims.
He urges all homeowners to utilize smoke alarms in their homes and said: "A $5 smoke alarm might have saved their lives."
Linkous said the mobile home is owned by Wilcher's mother, Anna Wilcher of Danville, who has some fire insurance on in. However, he wasn't certain if it is enough to replace the trailer.
Twenty-five firefighters from the Burgin, Mercer Central and the Salvisa fire departments responded to the call to the mobile home.
Funeral arrangements for Wilcher were handled by Preston-Pruitt Funeral Home in Danville and Lane Funeral Home in Canfield, OH, handled arrangements for Breese.
[Obit dated Thu Jan 18, 2001]
GEORGE WILLIAM BREESE
George William Breese, 44, of Mercer County died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001 from smoke inhalation in a mobile home fire on Hughley Lane.
Born July 21, 1953 in Cleveland, OH, he was the son of Ettie Breese and Robert Breeze of Canfield, OH. He was the husband of Linda Breese of Harrodsburg.
He was employed in construction by David Releford Construction Company.
Additional survivors include: three children, Jason, Jack and Billy Breese, all of Canfield, OH; three stepchildren, Tabitha, Jacob and Sheldon Turner, all of Harrodsburg; four brothers, Robbie Breese and Sam Breese, both of Canfield, and Terry Breese of Cleveland, TN, and Jack Breese of Cleveland, and two sisters, Becky Breese of Cleveland and Jody Zimmerman of Canfield.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Lane Funeral Home in Canfield, OH.
[Obit dated Thu Jan 18, 2001]
IRVIN E. LUNGER
Irvin E. Lunger, 88, of Harrodsburg died in his home Monday, Jan. 15, 2001.
Lunger was Transylvania University’s longest-serving president. He became president of the university in January 1958 and retired in July 1976. He returned in 1981 as interim president for a year and a half and was a member of the university’s board of trustees from 1982 until his death.
He oversaw the largest increase in students and campus buildings in the school’s 221 year history.
Lunger, a minister who was recognized as one of the fore-most scholars on religion in the country, joined the Lexington college in 1955 as a professor of religion and the first dean of Morrison Chapel. He came to Transylvania after serving as a minister at the University Church of the Disciples of Christ in Chicago.
He became Transylvania’s academic dean in mid-1956 and held that job for a year and a half. He was chosen to succeed Frank A. Rose as president in October 1957.
He is survived by his wife, Kay Walsh Ritchey Lunger, a stepson, a brother, a sister and a granddaughter.
Services are scheduled for Jan. 18 at 11:00 a.m. at the Central Christian Church in Lexington. W.R. Milward Mortuary on Broadway is in charge of the arrangements.
[Obit dated Thu Jan 18, 2001]
REV. ARLIE CARTER
Funeral services for the Rev. Arlie Carter of Mason, OH, were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15 at the Mason First Baptist Church.
A Mercer County native, he pastored several local churches.
A long-time Mason resident, he was pastor and founder of the Mason First Baptist Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Mabelle Sanders Carter; four children, James (Ann) Carter, Bobby G. (Betty) Carter, Brenda Sue (Rueben)Babb and Peggy Lou (Gary) Oglesby; eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
The family suggest memorial contributions to the Alzheimers Care Unit, c/o Mason Christian Village, 411 Western Row Rd., Mason, OH 45040.
Shorten and Ryan Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
[Obit dated Thu Jan 18, 2001]
CHARLES CANNON
Charles Franklin Cannon, 86, of 621 Mooreland Avenue, died Friday, January 19, 2001 at the James B. Haggin Memorial Hospital.
Born September 26, 1914 in Mercer County, he was the son of the late Ernest Forrest and Birdie Leonard Cannon.
He was a security guard at the Kentucky State Hospital, was a former Harrodsburg policeman and a farmer.
He was a member of the Southside Christian Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Ruth Edna Rogers Cannon, Harrodsburg, ; one son, Charles Franklin Cannon Jr. and his wife Veneida Cannon; one daughter, Mrs. Connie Cannon and her husband, Jewell Bartlett, Nicholasville; three brothers, Forrest Cannon and Andrew Cannon, both of Harrodsburg, and Leo Cannon of Danville; three sisters, Geneva Staklin and Lorraine Kurtz, both of Lexington and Hazel Arnold, Danville; five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sunday, January 21, at the Alexander and Royalty Funeral Home with Sam Stow and Brackie Willoughby officiating. Burial was in Spring Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Randall Rogers, Johnnie Rogers, Marion Rogers, Jr., William Rogers, Ralph Rogers, Leonard Rogers and Jim O'Nan.
[Obit dated Thu Jan 25, 2001]
ELEANOR JAMES
Eleanor V. James, 86, of Springhill, FL died Friday, January 19, 2001.
A native of Kentucky, she had resided in Florida for the last 42 years.
She was a homemaker and a long time member of the Brooksville Christian Church.
Survivors include: three sons, Albert L. James, New Port Richey, FL, Ken and Sandy James, Rochester, WA, and John and Frances James, Valrico, FL; three sisters, Louise Wilson, Somerset, Edith Barnes, Shelbyville, IN, and Betty and Arnold McClendon of Faubush; 13 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 22, at the Brooksville Christian Church.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Life Path Hospice, or the church of your choice.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at Ransdell Funeral Chapel.
[Obit dated Thu Jan 25, 2001]
DURWOOD BUTLER
Durwood Butler, 66, of 811 Shannon Avenue, died Saturday, January 20, 2001 at the Hospice Care Center in Lexington.
A native of Boyle County, he was the son of the late Clellan and Annie Louallen Butler.
He was a painter for 45 years and retired from the maintenance department of Shakertown. He was a member and usher of Ellers Memorial Baptist Church and a veteran of the USAF during the Korean Conflict.
Survivors include: his wife, Elizabeth Blacketer Butler, two daughters, Rhonda (John) Cheak, Lawrenceburg, Nina (Thomas) Peavler, Harrodsburg; two sons, Michael (Diane) Butler, Lawrenceburg, and Randy Butler, Harrodsburg; two sisters, Shirley (Ted) Gregory, Wanda (Carl) Isham, both of Harrodsburg; three brothers, Gene (Brenda) Butler, Warren Lee (Arnetta) Butler, both of Harrodsburg, and William Jackson (Ruth) Butler, Perryville; four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Thelma Weldon and Virginia Robinson, and a brother, Allen Butler.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, January 23, at Gash Memorial Chapel with Bro. Kenneth Whitehouse officiating. Burial was in the Lawrenceburg Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Tony Pinkston, Eddie Long, Garnett Tucker, Terry Owens, Brad Briscoe, Roger Durr, Henry Peavler, and Ronnie Butler. Honorary bearers were Roscoe Royalty, Junior Warner, Marion Inman, Greg Isham, Troy Isham, Terry Gregory, Jerry Huffman and Danny White.
[Obit dated Thu Jan 25, 2001]
LUCY DeFEET
Lucy Marie Stargel DeFeet, 76, died Monday, January 8, 2001 at her residence in Sardinia, OH.
Born October 10, 1924 in Russell County, she was the daughter of the late Willie and Sarah Robertson Stargel. She was the widow of Robert Lee DeFeet Jr.
She was a member of New Friendship Baptist Church in Russell County.
Survivors include: four daughters, Carole Lee (George) Ely and Jane (Forrest) Jackson, Cincinnati, OH, Joyce Mae (Delbert) Ballou, Goshen, OH, June Faye (Roger) McPherson, Cinnaminson, NJ; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, Elvis Stargel, a daughter, Judy Marie DeFeet, and a granddaughter, Rebecca Renee Jackson.
Funeral services were held Friday, January 12, at Beam-Fender Funeral Home in Sardinia, OH. Burial was in Sardinia Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Hope, Georgetown, OH or the American Cancer Society.
[Obit dated Thu Jan 25, 2001]
MILITARY RITES
Douglas Laws Post #52, American Legion, Post #6935 VFW and DAV Post #54 conducted Military Rites for Norman Pinkston at Spring Hill Cemetery, January 2, 2001.
Attending were Roy Freeman, James Carey, Howard Howells, Curtiss Sherrow, Joe Harlow and Tom Denny.
Zenah Teater served as bugler.
Presenting the flag were SFC Dan Dudley and SFC Norvella Jones of Fort Knox.
[Obit dated Thu Jan 25, 2001]
