It is with great sadness that we share with you the death of our mother, Ardelia Evans. Mom died on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at the age of 92, after a well lived life. The changes not just technical, but social and historical, in her lifetime are staggering. She was aware of them and provided a continuing commentary to her children and friends that we must embrace change and accept it as a gift from God.

She was born in a farmhouse without water or electricity on June 7, 1920 in Roxanna, Kentucky. Mom was an Appalachian mountain girl all of her life. She treasured her upbringing on a unique plantation at the head of Kings Creek along the “muddy branch.” The love of nature and anything bearing life was her greatest asset.

She was preceded in death by her loving parents, Jonah Mitchell and Cornelia Hogg Mitchell; ten siblings, Hiram, Ransom, Polly Ann, Lucinda, Minnie, Larcenia, Matilda, Garrish, Chester and Issac; her husband, Carey; first grandchild, Patrick; and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.

She married the love her life, Carey Allen Evans I, in 1941. They were married 65 years at the time of his passing. She kept him very much alive in all our memories all the remaining days of her life. Dod, as he was affectionately named by his first grandson, was waiting patiently for her at the first bridge in heaven. Mom was an accomplished business woman. This was witnessed in managing her personal life as well as her civic interest. She was active in the Homemaker’s Club, Woman’s Club, Chamber of Commerce as well as the Kentucky Library Association, and its affiliates both on state and local levels, and was a Kentucky Colonel. She was instrumental in establishing the Rebecca Caudill library in Cumberland, Kentucky. She opened the library doors on April 15, 1965. She helped raise public funds to supplement government funding for a new location that was completed in 1973. She was honored as Woman of the Year, and received recognition, during National History Month as a “Woman Sustaining the American Spirit.” As public librarian for 38 years she developed a close relationship with Rebecca Caudill, writer and storyteller. With the help of Sister Honor Murphy, they established the Rebecca Caudill Players. These children from the Tri-City area performed at Caudill’s beloved University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois. Her Story Hour was a highly attended weekly treat serving the area children. The library was a place where all could grow and learn. She beautified it with her decorating skills and gave the library a seasonal atmosphere that gave the community a sense of pride in their public facility.

A dedicated supportive and kind mother she adored her surviving children: Allen, Jeff and the twins, Patrick and Philip. She loved her daughter-in-laws: Susan, Barbara, Kayla and Annette. She loved and took great pride in her grandchildren: Patrick, Jonathan, Joshua, Kent, Nicholas, Daniel, Travis, and Candace. She was so loved by her great-grandchildren: Anabelle, Brady, Sadie, Samuel, Kaitlyn, Andrew, Brooke, Luke, Olivia, Emily, Skyler, Cameron, and Isabella.

She was a member of the Cumberland Missionary Baptist Church and attended the Central Baptist Church. She loved her pastor, Rev. Roger Colinger and her church family. She will be remembered for her beauty and sense of style, her keen mind and engaging interest in others, her appreciation of nature and especially as a caring, devoted and nurturing mother who shored up her children and their families in their time of need.

The family will receive friends in the Chapel of the Tri City Funeral Home in Benham, KY on Thursday, May 23, 2013, between 5 – 7 pm.

The celebration of her life will be Friday, May 24, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at the Central Baptist Church with Reverend Roger Colinger officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. In lieu flowers, her request was to contribute to the Patrick Evans Memorial Building Fund, c/o First Presbyterian Church, 721 Church Street, Jefferson City, TN 37760.

Donald Roscoe “Duck” Smith, age 45, of Cawood, KY passed away May 18, 2013 at the Harlan ARH, Harlan, KY. He was born May 31, 1967 in Harlan, KY to the Sally Morrison and the late Roscoe Smith. He believed in the Church of God faith.

Besides his father, he is preceded in death by his step-mother, Mary Smith.

Left to mourn his passing is his wife, Beverly C. Smith, of Columbia, KY, his mother and stepfather, Sally and Doug Morrison of Alcoa, TN, his children, Emily Smith and Lloyd Wethington of Columbia, KY, Whitney Smith and Chris Sexton of Pineville, KY, brothers: Jeff and wife, Jenny, Smith of Cawood, KY, Chris and ,wife, Andrea Smith of Jacksboro, TN, and Brayden Smith of Cawood, KY, sister Dardy and husband, Chad, Miles of Putney, KY, grandchildren, Evan Kyle and Elizabeth, and a host of nieces and nephews, SPECIAL FRIENDS, JOHN CARROLL AND LIL’ BILL CLEM, WHO WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR HIM NO MATTER WHAT.

Visitation will be Tuesday, May 21, 2013 from 5 to 8PM at Mount Pleasant Funeral Home.

Funeral will immediately follow at 8PM in the chapel of Mount Pleasant with the Rev. Franklin Stewart officiating. Burial will be Wednesday May 22, 2013 at 1PM at the Day-Jackson Cemetery, Cranks, KY with family and friends serving as pallbearers.

.Forester Bowling, Jr., age 41, of Harlan KY, passed away May 16, 2013. He was born February 17, 1972 in Hyden, KY to mother, Bobby Bowling and father, the late Forester Bowling Sr. He was a coal miner and believed in the Pentecostal Holiness Faith.

Besides his father, he is preceded in death by his brother, Randy Sizemore.

Left to mourn his passing is his mother Bobby Bowling of Harlan, KY, his wife, Amy Michelle Bowling of Harlan, KY, his children Jonathan Bowling of Whitesburg, KY, Alyxandria Szemak and Savannah Szemark of Harlan, KY, brothers Charles Sizemore of Harlan, KY, Dean Bowling and wife, Leslie, of Fort Payne, Alabama and Jeffery Bowling of Leslie County, KY, sisters Emalene and Willa Witt, and a special nephew, Christopher Bowling, of Fort Payne, Alabama.

Visitation and Funeral is for family and close friends ONLY. Visitation will be Sunday May 19, 2013 10:00-11:00 AM at Mount Pleasant Funeral Home.

Funeral will follow at 11:00 AM in the chapel of Mount Pleasant with Dean Bowling and Jarrod Fields officiating. Burial will be at the Ledford Cemetery at Red Bird, Beverly, KY. Family and friend will serve as pallbearers.