Annie Wiley
and her
Obituary Scrapbook

Page 12

Mrs. Charles E. Searcy

Mrs. Lena Kessler Searcy, 50, wife of Charles E. Searcy, died at 11 o'clock Tuesday morning at the Woodford Memorial hospital, where she had been a patient since Saturday. Mrs. Searcy, who had not been well for some weeks, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage at her home on Morgan street Friday night.

Born in Versailles, Mrs. Searcy was a daughter of Theodore Kessler, native of Alsace-Lorraine, and Lena Rief Kessler, who was born in Alberweller Bayern, Germany.

She is survived by her husband, two daughters, Mrs. James Olson and Mrs. James Gay, three grandchildren, all of Versailles, a brother, Charles R. Kessler, of Louisville, and one sister, Mrs. Anna Mae Weber, of Versailles.

Mrs. Searcy lived a useful life and was held in esteem by all who knew her. She was a loving wife, very devoted to her children, a tender and affectionate sister. She will be greatly missed. Mrs. Searcy was a member of the Versailles Presbyterian church.

Funeral services will be held at the residence at 2:30 o'clock this (Thursday) afternoon, conducted by the Rev. Charles E. Mount, assisted by the Rev. Charles W. Anderson. Burial will be in the Versailles cemetery. The pall-bearers will be Ernest McWilliams, W. Duncan Hamilton, Everett Olson, W. P. Haydon, Clarence Blackburn and Lester Searcy.

 Versailles Cemetery, Versailles, Ky
Lena Kessler Searcy, 06 Feb 1891-16 Jul 1940

Theodore Kessler, 11 Jul 1859-15 Mar 1913

Lena Reif Kessler, 27 Dec 1859-15 Mar 1913


Lexington Soldier Dies in North Africa

Mrs. Bessie L. Baker, 389 South Broadway, has been advised by the War Department that her son, Pfc. Earl H. Baker, 20, United States Army, had died in Tunisia following an illness. According to a letter received yesterday from Maj. Gen. J. A. Ulio, adjutant general of the United States, Baker was taken sick last month, dying Jan. 16. He had been in the Army 18 months, enlisting in Lexington June, 1942. He had been overseas a year, serving in a medical unit.

His last letter home, received two days after Christmas, told of some of his experiences and included greetings to his family.

A native of Lexington, Private Baker was employed as a dairyman and a tobacco worker in civilian life.

Besides his mother, he is survived by his father, Earl F. Baker, Cincinnati; one sister, Juanita Baker, and two brothers, Benny Baker and James Baker; and one grandmother.


Donald Van Fleet

Miss Evelyn Van Fleet, 226 Rodes avenue, today had been informed by the Navy Department that her brother, Donald Van Fleet, who earlier had been reported as missing in action in the Pacific area, "did in fact lose his life on Nov. 30, 1942."

A Navy telegram, received by Miss Van Fleet and her father, Joseph Van Fleet of Harrodsburg, stated that the body of the Kentucky sailor, a water tender, first class, has been recovered and interred on United States soil outside the continental limits of the United States pending cessation of hostilities.

Young Van Fleet was a nephew of Mrs. Bertha Howser of Lexington, with whom Miss Evelyn Van Fleet makes her home. The sailor, a 32 year old native of Mercer county, has been in the Navy 13 1/2 years. He last visited relatives in Kentucky in the summer of 1941, when he was released from fleet duty on 10-day furlough. [picture included]


Sam Nuckols Died In East After Attack

Versailles, Ky., Feb 5 (Special)--Sam C. Nuckols, Jr., 27, of Versailles, former English instructor at the University of Kentucky, died at 10 o'clock this morning of a heart attack at the St. James hotel in New York City, according to word received here. Mr. Nuckols, who was attending the Benno Schneider dramatic school in New York, had been ill of influenza for the last several days.

He had attended the New York dramatic school since September 1940, and last summer appeared in several plays with the Summers Stock company at Cambridge Springs, Penn. Before going to New York, he was active in the Guignol theater at the University of Kentucky and appeared in "The Rivals," "Tovarich," "Volpone" and "Reunion in Vienna." He also directed "High Tor" and "R.U.R."

He was to have appeared in "The Man Who Came to Dinner" scheduled for production at the Guignol theater in April.

Mr. Nuckols received an A.B. degree from the University of Kentucky in 1936, with honors in English. He received his master's degree in 1938. He served as graduate assistant in the English department at the University in 1937 and in 1938 and then served two years as instructor. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Mr. Nuckols was born Aug. 17, 1914, at Versailles. He is a son of Samuel C. and Lutie Smith Nuckols and was a member of the St. John's Episcopal church of Versailles. He graduated with honors from Versailles high school.

Besides his parents, he is survived by a sister, Miss Bettie Nuckols, of Versailles. His father left this morning by plane for New York to return the body to Versailles.

 Versailles Cemetery, Versailles
Sam C. Nuckols Jr., 17 Aug 1915-05 Feb 1942

Sam C. Nuckols, 25 Apr 1882-23 Nov 1956

Lutie S. Nuckols, 03 May 1889-05 Mar 1958


Mrs, Beulah A Franks