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Date of these obituaries: 07-19-1999
Funeral director J. Harold Connley, felt privileged to serve others
In Sanfordtown, undertaker J. Harold Connley Sr. and another man waded through chest-high water, carrying a body on their shoulders to move it from a flooded home.
In Mount Vernon, Mr. Connley led a funeral procession through a railroad tunnel to get to an isolated cemetery.
"We were hoping a train wouldn't come along," said Mr. Connley at the time.
One of the oldest funeral directors in the state, Harold Connley, 88, had a lifetime of stories tied to his chosen profession.
He died at 6:40 p.m. Friday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington.
When he entered the business during the Depression years, he was looking for a job with steady prospects and had a friend who was a funeral director.
After learning his craft, he decided to strike out on his own. He remodeled the first floor of his father's house on Southern Avenue in Latonia and opened Connley's Funeral Home in 1939.
Younger brother Jack was interested in the business, too, but first he headed off to fight in World War II a week after the funeral home's grand opening.
"He (Jack) was supposed to be there for one year, but that turned into four," said Harold Connley's wife, Lorena. "We thought Harold might have to go, so I took the exam so I could help run the business."
But Mr. Connley never went to war. When Jack Connley returned, the name of the home changed to Connley Brothers Funeral Home. Harold Connely and his wife lived above it.
In those days, funeral directors doubled as ambulance drivers, and Mr. Connley delivered injured and ill people to the hospital free of charge until the mid-'50s. Mr. Connley also often conducted funerals in the deceased's home.
His life away from the funeral home revolved around Summit Hills Country Club and St. Mark United Church of Christ. The brothers and their wives were devout churchgoers, said Helen Connley, Jack Connley's wife.
They were also golfers and known for comical skits at Summit Hills, she said.
The brothers once danced around dressed as women, balloons stuffed beneath their shirts, she said.
"They used to practice over at Harold's with the blinds pulled down over the windows," she said. "They didn't want anyone to see them and think they were crazy."
Summit Hills member Paul Humpert saw those acts. He remembers the Connleys mostly, though, for the great service and sympathetic handling of funerals.
"He'd greet you right at the door," Humpert said. "Always friendly, always cordial, always smiling."
"He thought it was a privilege to serve people in times of need," said Tony Motley, current funeral director of Connley Brothers Funeral Home.
In addition to his wife and sister-in-law, Mr. Connley leaves his son, Jim Connley of Crestview Hills; three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. A daughter, Nancy Connley Deering, died in 1996.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Connley Brothers Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell.
Memorials are suggested to St. Mark United Church of Christ, 38th and Park Ave., Covington, Ky. 41015; or St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
Realtor Beverly Abernathy, church deacon
A. Beverly Abernathy was known for his sense of humor, and it stood him well both in the business world, and his military service in France and Germany.
"He had a well-developed sense of humor. He was a very friendly, outgoing kind of person," said his daughter, Jeanne Fricke of Fort Mitchell.
Mr. Abernathy, 84, of Erlanger, died Saturday in Florence Park Care Center, Florence.
A native of Northern Kentucky, Mr. Abernathy is perhaps best known locally for the real estate business he headed. Earlier, for nearly a quarter-century, he was a factory representative for General Motors Corp., working with auto dealers. The job required him to live in Milwaukee and other cities, Mrs. Fricke said.
In the early 1960s, Mr. Abernathy returned to Northern Kentucky and established Abernathy Realty in Erlanger. Most of the business was concentrated in Kenton and Boone counties, and Mr. Abernathy stayed active until about three years ago, his daughter said.
Deafness in one ear, the result of a childhood illness, was not a handicap to Mr. Abernathy in his business life, nor did he seek to be exempt from the military because of it, she said.
Mr. Abernathy was a deacon with Immanuel Baptist Church in Covington, a position he held for more than 30 years. He also was a present or past member of the Covington Masonic Lodge, the Erlanger Lions, Simon Kenton American Legion Post No. 20 in Elsmere, and the Kenton-Boone Board of Realtors.
His wife, Rita O'Brien Abernathy, preceded him in death.
Other survivors include sons, John L. Abernathy of Detroit and Jerry Abernathy of Ellwood, Ind.; another daughter, Jan. R. Abernathy of Cincinnati; a sister, Floy Kutter of Tallahassee, Fla.; and seven grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Saturday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Burlington. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Hill Crest Cemetery, Dry Ridge. Memorials are suggested to Immanuel Baptist Church, 20th and Greenup Sts., Covington, Ky. 41014.
Robert "Dan" Brockman, 61, of Houston, formerly of Covington, died Wednesday in Texas. He was a comptroller, a member of Covington Masonic Lodge No. 109, and a retired Air Force veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon Brockman; sons, Robert Denton of Dallas and Michael Denton of San Antonio; a daughter, Kim Blau of Follett, Texas; a brother, William Brockman of Perry Park; and six grandchildren.
Services were this morning at Memorial Park Funeral Home, Amarillo, Texas. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery, Amarillo.
Charles C. Daugherty, 84, of Falmouth, died Saturday at his home. He was a retired farmer, and an employee of Ward's Manufacturing Co., Butler, and Allis Chalmers Milling Co., Cincinnati. He was a member of Turner Ridge Baptist Church, Pendleton County.
Survivors include his wife, Hattie Daugherty; daughters, Linda Borders of Randolph, Vt., and Ada Wright of Falmouth; a brother, Russell Daugherty of Cynthiana; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Turner Ridge Baptist Church. Visitation is 5 to 9 p.m. today at Peoples Funeral Home, Falmouth, and from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Falmouth. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Hope, 1 West McDonald Parkway, Maysville, Ky. 41056; or Three Rivers Health District, Falmouth, Ky. 41040.
Lowell E. Davis, 57, of Sanders, died at 4:56 p.m. Friday at St. Elizabeth Hospice, Covington. He was a heavy equipment operator with the Kentucky Department of Transportation and a preacher with Craig's Creek Holiness Church, Warsaw.
Survivors include his wife, Beverly Roberts Davis; daughters, Shelly Kay Bailey, Tammy Jean Jimino and Jennifer Carol Miller, all of Sanders; sisters, Sharon Lynn Arrasmith of Florence, Debbie Atha of Verona and Nelma Shanklin of Walton; brothers, Gray Davis of Covington and Olen Augustus Davis and Arlis Davis, both of Verona; six grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Verona First Full Gospel Church of God. Visitation is 6 p.m. today at the church. Burial will be in New Bethel Cemetery, Verona. Hamilton-Stanley Funeral Home, Verona, is handling arrangements.
Ruah C. Faulkner, 81, of Cynthiana, died Saturday at Harrison Memorial Hospital in Cynthiana. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Edward Church, Cynthiana.
Survivors include her husband, Thomas Faulkner; a son, Thomas Clayton of Cynthiana; daughters, Mary Ann Lee and June Lee, both of Cynthiana; seven grandchildren, five step- grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial was this morning at St. Edward Church. Burial will be in Battle Grove Cemetery, Cynthiana. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 7730 U. S. 42, Suite C6, Florence, Ky. 41042. Ware Funeral Home, Cynthiana, is handling arrangements.
Edgar Green, 75, of Latonia, died at 12:15 a.m. today at his residence.
Arrangements are pending at Swindler and Currin Funeral Home, Latonia.
Gladys Halderman, 96, of Latonia, died Saturday at Rosedale Manor in Latonia. She was a homemaker, and a member of Latonia Baptist Church and the Young at Heart club. Her husband, Shirley Halderman, died in 1980. A son, Virgil Halderman, also preceded her in death.
Survivors include sons, Bob Halderman of Middletown, Ohio, Ron Halderman of Erlanger and Bill Halderman of Independence; brothers, Howard Setters of Pennsylvania and Lewis Setters of Riverside, Calif.; sisters, Louise Oliver of Independence and Viola Jump of Mount Zion; seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Services are 10 a.m. Wednesday at Latonia Baptist Church. Visitation is 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Swindler and Currin Funeral Home, Latonia. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Latonia Baptist Church, 3800 Church St., Covington, Ky. 41015; or Rosedale Manor, 4250 Glenn Ave., Covington, Ky. 41015.
Ruth A. Huddle, 82, of Edgewood, died at 4:29 a.m. Saturday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South in Edgewood. She was a homemaker and a former Kenton Vale council member. Her husband, James Huddle, died in 1982.
Survivors include daughters, Bonita Huddle of Edgewood, Carol Kathman and Barbara Hoffman, both of Fort Wright; a sister, Betty Shannon of Lakeside Park; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial was this morning at Mary Queen of Heaven Church, Erlanger. Burial was in Mother of God Cemetery, Fort Wright. Catchen Funeral Home, Elsmere, is handling arrangements.
Lucille Martin, 91, of Erlanger, died Sunday at Rosedale Manor, Latonia.
Arrangements are pending at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Williamstown.
James M. Melvin, 85, of Bracken County, died Saturday at his home. He was a retired civil service worker, and an Army veteran of World War II. His wife, Helen B. Melvin, died on March 3.
Survivors include a son, James Ray Melvin of Bracken County.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Metcalfe-Hennessey Funeral Home, Augusta. Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Payne Cemetery, Augusta. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Hope, 1 W. McDonald Parkway, Maysville, Ky. 41056.
Garnet C. Mundell, 91, of Newport, died Saturday at Baptist Convalescent Center in Newport. She was a bookkeeper with Schweitzer Brothers Inc., Cincinnati, and a member of First Baptist Church on Newport, XYZ Club, the Mary Gould Mission Club and Fidelis Club. Her husband, Clyde Mundell, died in 1986.
Survivors include a sister, Mazy Gallas of Fort Thomas.
Services are noon Wednesday at Dobbling Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church of Newport Van Fund, E. 8th and York Sts., Newport, Ky. 41071; or the charity of the donor's choice.
Leona B. Poynter, 89, of Ludlow, died Sunday at St. Charles Care Center, Fort Wright.
Arrangements are pending at Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow.
Robby Roderick, 20, of Bellevue, died Saturday in an auto accident on Covert Run Pike in Fort Thomas. He was a carpenter with Mike McCall Construction Co., and a 1996 graduate of Bellevue High School.
Survivors include his parents, Larry and Sue Roderick of Bellevue; sisters, Terri Combs of Alexandria and Helen Saylor of Dry Ridge; and brothers, Gary Roderick of California, Jeff Roderick of Edgewood, Timmy Roderick of Highland Heights and Jimmy Speakes of Covington.
Services are 1 p.m. Wednesday at Dobbling Funeral Home, Bellevue. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas.
Bobby Gayle Sanders, 63, of Owenton, died Sunday at Owenton Hospital. He was a mechanic and farmer, and a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Owenton.
Survivors include a daughter, Reba Faye Garrett of Worthville; a brother, Marshal Lee Sanders of Illinois; sisters, Joan Wilmert of Illinois and Libby ; and two grandchildren.
Services are at 10 a.m. Tuesday at IOOF Cemetery, Owenton. Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. today at McDonald Funeral Home, Main Street, Owenton.
Kelly R. Taylor, 30, of Falmouth, died Saturday at her home.
Arrangements are pending at Peoples Funeral Home, Falmouth.
