2-5-2010 Obituaries JOHN ERNEST
CHANDLER
John Ernest Chandler was one of the most aggressive and one of the most progressive mayors the City of Paintsville has ever had. He was elected mayor in 1970. He was re-elected in 1974 and served until his resignation in 1975. Prior to his service as mayor, John had served two terms on Paintsville’s City Council.
Among his many accomplishments as mayor was the creation of the City’s Urban Renewal Commission which laid the foundation for the eventual acquisition and future development and construction of Paul B. Hall Regional Medical Center, the Johnson County Health Department building and what is now the Paintsville Ramada Inn. He was also actively involved in a movement toward Downtown Revitalization. John was born in Paintsville on July 10, 1931, the son of John and Hazel Fannin Chandler. He died Monday, February 1, 2010. He was preceded in death by his parents and by an elder sister, Sue Chandler Harbison of Columbia, South Carolina.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and by one son, John Patrick Chandler of Seattle, Washington, and two step children, Brad Teeters of Paintsville and Shannon Teeters of New Albany, Indiana. He is also survived by one other sister, Martha Jo Cox of Paintsville.
John entered Gulfport Military Academy from which he graduated in 1948. He then entered the United States Marine Corps where he served until his retirement as a Master Sergeant in 1966 . While at Gulfport John was active on the school’s boxing team where he became the state welter weight boxing champion. He had served in the marines during the Korean War where he was wounded in the course of the Chinese attack at the infamous Chosen Reservoir. John served in communications in the Marine Corps working back and forth between the front lines and the command post, communicating orders and relaying information.
In 1963 John became affiliated with State Farm Insurance Company and was for some time the only State Farm agent in five Eastern Kentucky counties. He retired from State Farm in 1990.
He served his community in several other capacities, as well. He was a commissioner with the Soil Conservation District.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Appalachian SPCA. At John’s request, interment will be held at Mayo Cemetery on Memorial Day at which time John’s ashes will be laid to rest with those of his two dogs.
paid obituary
Ernest Ray Franklin
1937-2010
Funeral services will be held today, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. at the Preston Funeral Home Chapel for Ernest Ray Franklin, 72, of River, who passed away Feb. 3 at his home.
He was born June 10, 1937 in Johnson County, son of Floyd and the late Anna Marie Caudill Franklin.
He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and an equipment operator for Martin County Coal.
He was also preceded in death by his wife Bettie Sue Williams Franklin.
He is survived by five sons, Christopher Franklin and Scott Franklin, both of River, Bryan Franklin, Flint, Tex., Richard Franklin, Staffordsville, and Eric Franklin, Thelma; one daughter, Tammy Conley, Thelma; one brother, Roy Franklin, Prestonsburg; one sister, Wanda Preston, River; 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Services will be conducted by Arnold Fletcher and John Fields, with burial in Highland Memorial Cemetery, Staffordsville.
Arrangements under the direction of Preston Funeral Home, Paintsville.
Paula Nicole
Escalante Branham
1989-2010
Paula Nicole Escalante Branham, 20, of Wittensville, passed away February 1, at Drift.
She was born Aug. 4, 1989, in Chula Vista, Calif., daughter of Paul E. Branham and Martha Beatriz Escalante.
She was a student and Johnson Central High School graduate.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Sam and Lora Branham.
In addition to her parents, she is also survived by her step-mother, Karen Stambaugh Branham, Nippa; one son, Paul Damian Blair, Wittensville; one sister, Kelly Victoria Branham, San Diego, Calif.; her maternal grandmother, Beatriz Escalante, San Diego, Calif.; her Nanny, Garnet Lee Young and Tio (Uncle) Craig Young, both of Wittensville; and several uncles, an aunt and many cousins and friends.
Burial was in the Holy Cross Cemetery, San Diego, Calif., with local arrangements under the direction of Jones-Preston Funeral Home, Paintsville.
Juanita Lewis Caudill
1926-2010
Funeral services were held Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. at the Jones-Preston Funeral Home Chapel for Juanita Lewis Caudill, 83, of Nippa, who passed away Feb. 2 at her residence.
She was born April 9, 1926, in Floyd County, daughter of the late Milton and Billie Lewis.
She was a homemaker.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur J. Caudill; and one son, Jimmy Ray Caudill.
She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Myrtle “Tee” Caudill, Nippa, and Ruth Caudill, Wittensville.
Services were conducted by James Kelly Caudill and Brent Patrick, with burial in Davidson Memorial Gardens, Ivel.
Arrangements under the direction of Jones-Preston Funeral Home, Paintsville. Feb 5, 2009, 16:55
1-27-2010 Obituaries Gerald Teeter
1923-2010
Funeral services will be held Jan. 28 at 11 a.m. at the Preston Funeral Home Chapel, for Gerald Teeter, 86, who passed away Jan. 24 at Highlands Regional Medical Center, Prestonsburg.
He was born Sept. 17, 1923, in Warsaw, Ind., son of the late Cleathes and Blanche Reece Teeter.
He was a tool and die worker.
He is survived by his wife, Irene Ruth Teeter; one son, Jim Teeter, Ind.; one step-son, Richard Shepler, Knoxville, Tenn.; one daughter, Patricia Hannah, Paintsville; eight grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.
Services will be conducted by Roger Hill and Willard VanHoose, with burial in the Highland Memorial Cemetery, Staffordsville.
Arrangements under the direction of Preston Funeral Home, Paintsville.
Michael Raymond Arms
1950-2010
Funeral services will be held today, Jan. 27, at 1 p.m. at the Jones-Preston Funeral Home Chapel for Michael Raymond Arms, 59, of Leander, who passed away Jan. 25.
He was born March 12, 1950, in Johnson County, son of the late Raymond and Hester Belle Blair Arms.
He was an assembly worker at American Standard.
He is survived by one son, Adam Craig Arms, Marysville, Ohio; two brothers, Sam (Lora) Arms and Keith Arms, both of Leander; two sisters, Sharon Lee (Kenny) Bellar and Sandy Lynn May, both of Staffordsville; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be conducted by Richard Williams and Herb Arms, with burial in Highland Memorial Park, Staffordsville.
Arrangements under the direction of Jones-Preston Funeral Home, Paintsville. Jan 27, 2009, 17:28
