In his book Outliers,
the researcher and author Malcom Gladwell reports that in terms of career
opportunities, the best year to be born in the 20th century was
1935. Kenneth Harden Pope had the good
sense and foresight to come in to this world on May 9th of that year
in Shubuta, Mississippi. He was the
first child of Matt and Roma Ree Pope.
He was soon joined by his sister Roma Jean and then his brother
Bernard. Some years later, the baby
brother, Jimmy Lee rounded out these Mississippi siblings.
Due to the
depression and then WWII, the family moved numerous times between Mississippi
and Baton Rouge, Louisiana while Ken was a boy.
When he was in 9th grade the family landed in Jackson,
Mississippi where they remained. It was
in high school in Jackson that he met his first love, Fay Touchstone. They married on April 22, 1956 and were
together until her death in 2012.
Dr. Pope attended
Mississippi College along with Fay. He put himself through school by delivering
mail for the US Post Office. In 1959,
their daughter, Robin, was born. After
graduating with his BS in Mathematics, Dr. Pope then earned a MS in Mathematics
from the University of Mississippi.
During this time he also served in the Mississippi National Guard. At
some point during his early 20s he felt the call to ministry. More on that in a moment.
He graduated from
Ole Miss in the Spring of 1962. Dr. Pope
sometimes liked to point out that James Meredith, the first African American
student at the University of Mississippi began classes in the Fall of that
year. Upon graduating Dr. Pope had
several job opportunities. One would
have taken the young family to California to work for Boeing, but this seemed
way to far away from home for them. He settled instead to venture part way into
the “North” and accepted a faculty position at Hannibal La Grange College
Extension Center in St. Louis. While
the family was in St. Louis, John Pope was born.
In 1964, Dr. Pope
began a PhD program in math at the University of Missouri in Columbia. The following year he was offered a faculty
position in Mathematics at Hannibal La Grange College in Hannibal Missouri. There he remained until 1982 serving as Math
professor, Dean and eventually Vice President of Financial Development. During
those years he was continually seeking out more knowledge, eventually earning
his PhD in Higher Adult Education at the University of Missouri.
While working full time
and taking courses at the University of Missouri during some summers and in
Chicago at other times, he followed his call to the ministry and served as
interim pastor in rural churches in North East Missouri and Western Illinois. His children have fond memories of playing in
church graveyards and marveling at the outhouses in use in many of these
churches. They have less fond memories
of sitting on pews in unairconditioned buildings trying to get a breeze going with
the funeral fans.
Not to be content
with a full-time job, a rural pastorship, and traveling to attend university
classes, Dr. Pope earned his private pilot’s license in his “spare” time. He could rarely persuade Fay to get in a
plane but he certainly enjoyed being in the air. At least one time he and his friend had to
land their plane in a convenient field rather than on an airstrip.
In 1982 with a partially empty nest, Dr. Pope accepted a Vice President position at Campbellsville College (Now University). He kept that position until “retirement” when he launched a career as a Certified Financial Planner with New York Life Insurance. He also stepped in to preach when needed at churches in the Campbellsville area. Because apparently he was not busy enough, he was a member of and held office in the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs. He also was a 32nd degree Mason. Ken and Fay enjoyed their retirement by traveling and taking care of their grandchildren, Christopher Hackett, Lydia Pope-Clark, and Gabriel Pope.
After
the death of Fay in 2012, Dr. Pope surprised himself by falling head over heels
in love with Susan Tesseneer. They had a
joyous wedding on June 20, 2014. They
were truly soulmates and enjoyed every moment of their too short time
together. Dr. Pope took his last breathe
with his dear Susan at his side.
Besides his wife, Susan Lee Tesseneer-Street-Pope of Campbellsville, he is survived by one son and one daughter: John Harden Pope and his sweetheart, Erica Ullman of Lexington and Dr. Robin Pope Santa-Teresa and husband, Ben of Silver City, New Mexico; two step-sons: Robert Beni Street, II and wife, Holly and Ralph Calvin Street, Sr. and wife, Shelly; one daughter-in-law of the heart, Susan Pope; three grandchildren: Christopher Hackett and wife, Amanda Brusich-Hackett of Milwaukie, Oregon, Lydia Pope Clark and husband, Matthew of Seoul, Korea and Gabriel Pope of Milwaukie, Oregon; seven step-grandchildren; one brother, Jimmy Lee Pope and wife, Glenda of Metairie, Louisiana; several nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.
He was also preceded in
death by one brother and one sister:
Bernard Pope and Roma Jean Dykes.
VISITATION: 12:00 Noon – 1:30 P.M., Saturday, August 22, 2020 at Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home
FUNERAL SERVICE: 2:00 P.M., Saturday, August 22, 2020 at Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home in Campbellsville by Rev. Earl West
BURIAL: Brookside Cemetery
EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY REQUESTED TO BE DONATIONS TO GIDEON BIBLES AND MAY
BE MADE AT PARROTT & RAMSEY FUNERAL HOME
Amy
Harrison Jessie of Campbellsville, daughter of the late Tommie Wright and Betty
Wright, was born April 19, 1938 in Donansburg, Kentucky. She died at
5:17 A.M., Wednesday, August 19, 2020 in Louisville. Age: 82
She
professed faith in Christ and was a member of South Campbellsville Baptist
Church.
Amy
was a retired employee of Fruit of the Loom in Campbellsville.
She
united in marriage to Johnny Harrison October 13, 1956 and he preceded her in
death May 26, 2005.
She
later united in marriage to Titus Jessie March 7, 2009 and he preceded her in
death May 24, 2016.
Amy
loved Jesus, people and cooking.
She is survived by four daughters and one son: Tresea Phillips and husband, Paul of Elk Horn, Alan Harrison and wife, Mary Margaret of Lexington, Libbi Cox and husband, Keith of Elk Horn, Rhonda Hughes and husband, Danny of Frankfort, Jonetta Knight and husband, Tom of Ninevah, Indiana; one daughter-in-law, Julie Jessie of Campbellsville; twenty-two grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; one sister and brother-in-law, Tena and Ed Taylor of Port Charlotte, Florida; one brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Richard and Myra Harrison of Lakeland, Florida; several nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.
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VISITATION: 5:00 – 8:00 P.M., Friday, August 21, 2020 at Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home
FUNERAL SERVICE: 4:00 P.M. Saturday, August 22, 2020 at Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home in Campbellsville by Rev. Jim Durham
BURIAL: Elk Horn Cemetery
EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY ARE REQUESTED TO BE DONATIONS TO GIDEON BIBLES AND MAY BE MADE AT PARROTT & RAMSEY FUNERAL HOME
Bert Rhodes, Jr. of Campbellsville, son of the late Bert Rhodes, Sr. and Marie Helms Rhodes was born September 22, 1931 in Taylor County, Kentucky. He died at 4:45 P.M., Friday, February 14, 2020 in Louisville. Age: 88
He professed faith in Christ and was a member of Palestine Baptist Church.
He had also attended Meadowview Baptist Church with his second wife and had helped with church meals at both churches. He was a retired employee of Fruit of The Loom where he worked in the cutting room.
Bert enjoyed being outdoors as much as possible and was often seen sitting in his open garage waving at passers-by; he also enjoyed gardening and mowing when he was able. He loved being with family and friends and could always find someone with whom to strike up a conversation no matter where he was.
He united in marriage to Lorene Graham Rhodes March 31, 1956. She preceded him in death August 6, 2009.
He later united in marriage to Florence Mitchell Taylor Rhodes April 9, 2014. She preceded him in death October 8, 2018.
He is survived by two daughters and one son: Betty Harmon and significant other, Mark McFarland, Patricia Wheat and husband, Doug and David Rhodes and wife, Leslie of Campbellsville; six grandchildren and spouses: Jennie (Tony) Connor of Lexington, Amy (Sam) Watkins of Versailles, Benjamin (Brooke) Benningfield, Whitney (Ryan)Tungate, Rachel (Raphael) Cunha and Jennifer (Cody) Berry all of Campbellsville; nine great-grandchildren: Ty and Elly Connor, Bella and Luke Benningfield, Bradyn Rhodes, Lia Cox, Carson Tungate and Cameron and Kaysen Watkins; one brother, Bobby Rhodes and wife, Phyllis of Campbellsville; several nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.
He was also preceded in death by one granddaughter, Judy Benningfield, June 14, 2000 and two sisters and four brothers: Hilda Sublett, D.B. Rhodes, Barbara Cole, Shelly Rhodes, Edward Rhodes, and Don Rhodes.
VISITATION: 5-8 P.M., Monday, February 17, 2020 at Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home
FUNERAL SERVICE: 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home by Rev. Brent Gupton and Rev. Jason Keltner
BURIAL: Campbellsville Memorial Gardens
EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY REQUESTED TO BE DONATIONS TO GIDEON MEMORIAL BIBLES AND MAY BE MADE AT PARROTT & RAMSEY FUNERAL HOME
Susan Alice Ewell Davis, 77, of Campbellsville, Kentucky, died Saturday, February 15, 2020, at Springview Hospital in Lebanon.
Daughter of the late Raymond Ewell and Ellen Mitchell Ewell, Davis was born November 7, 1942, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She was a former bookmobile librarian for the Taylor County Public Library, a retired teacher for the Campbellsville Independent Schools, and a member of Bethel First Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by two former spouses, Dennis G. Davis of Campbellsville and Joe C. Yancey of Harrisonburg, Virginia; three children and their spouses, Rebecca and Bill Cassell of Campbellsville, Jamie Morgan of Greensburg, and Ben and Melissa Davis of Jacksonville, Florida; a sister, Beth Jullien of Hernando, Mississippi; a brother, Tom Ewell of Satsuma, Florida; eight grandchildren, Cameron Dial, Logan Dial, and Madison Dial, all of Campbellsville, Megan McKinney of Greensburg, Evelyn Stone of Columbia, Logan Perkins and Lindsey Bradford of Jacksonville, Florida, and Christian Bradford of Cincinnati, Ohio; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Raymond Ewell Jr.
Memorial service is planned for 11:00 A.M., Thursday, February 20, 2020 at Bethel First Presbyterian Church in Campbellsville by Rev. Jim Murphy
The family will receive guests from 4:00 – 6:00 P.M., Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at Bethel First Presbyterian Church.
EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY REQUESTED TO BE DONATIONS TO TAYLOR COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY AND MAY BE MADE AT PARROTT & RAMSEY FUNERAL HOME
PARROTT & RAMSEY FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS
Christine Barnett Pedigo, daughter of the late James Samuel Barnett and Eliza Jane Williams Barnett, was born May 29, 1928 in Taylor County, Kentucky. She died at 1:50 P.M., Tuesday, February 11, 2020 in Campbellsville. Age: 91
She professed faith in Jesus Christ and was a member of Campbellsville Baptist Church.
Christine and her husband were the former owners and operators of Pedigo TV in Tompkinsville.
She loved to go fishing and spending time with her nieces and nephews.
She united in marriage to Harold C. Pedigo July 14, 1956 and he preceded her in death January 27, 2005.
She is survived by one sister, Pauline Wright of Fairdale; two sisters-in-law: Inez Pedigo Hinson of St. Louis, Missouri and Helen Barnett of Campbellsville; several nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.
She was also preceded in death by six brothers and three sisters: Henry Barnett, Ernest Barnett, Earl Barnett, Baskel Barnett, Dennis Barnett, Edward “Bear”’ Barnett, Minnie Ethel Rainwater, Pina Lee Carroll and Orbazine Spear Faulkner.
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VISITATION: 10:00 – 11:00 A.M. Friday, February 14, 2020 at Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home
FUNERAL SERVICE: 11:00 A.M., Friday, February 14, 2020 at Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home Campbellsville by Rev. Earl West
BURIAL: Brookside Cemetery
EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY REQUESTED TO BE DONATIONS TO GIDEON BIBLES AND MAY BE MADE AT PARROTT & RAMSEY FUNERAL HOME
Bert Rhodes, Jr. of Campbellsville, son of the late Bert Rhodes, Sr. and Marie Helms Rhodes was born September 22, 1931 in Taylor County, Kentucky. He died at 4:45 P.M., Friday, February 14, 2020 in Louisville. Age: 88
Christine Barnett Pedigo, daughter of the late James Samuel Barnett and Eliza Jane Williams Barnett, was born May 29, 1928 in Taylor County, Kentucky. She died at 1:50 P.M., Tuesday, February 11, 2020 in Campbellsville. Age: 91