Gena Faye Couch, 75, Glasgow
Tanya Rene Houchens, 47, Glasgow
James Franklin ‘Junior’ Lowe, 88, Smiths Grove
Aleta Faye Morgan, 76, Lexington, formerly of Glasgow
Eugene “Smitty” Smith, 90, Glasgow
Ronald R. Taylor, 69, Chalybeate
Phillip “Phil” Gerald Williams, 77, Glasgow
Gena Faye Couch, 75, Glasgow
Gena Faye Couch, 75, was born in Lexington. The beloved mother of five died at T.J. Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow on New Year’s Day after a series of health issues. In the hours leading up to her death, Gena was surrounded by her children, their spouses, many of her grandchildren and loving family friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Orville and Virginia Lewis of Lexington; life partner, Floyd Wood of Glasgow; her son-in-law, Dean Rowe of Edmonton; and her mother- and father-in-law Elwood and Edith Couch of Lexington.
Gena attended Bryan Station High School in Lexington. She was an Air Force wife, giving birth to two of her five children while her former husband, James Couch, was stationed in Lincoln, Nebraska. Gena’s other three children were born in Lexington, where she made her home before moving to Glasgow in 1979. She was a longtime member of St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Glasgow and a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, a member of the T.J. Samson Community Hospital auxiliary, a ham radio operator, a Cub Scout leader and a volunteer at the crisis pregnancy center in Glasgow.
Gena is survived by her children, Kellie Hopper (Bill) of Union Grove, North Carolina, Scott Couch (Dana) of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Gena Marie Rowe (Dean) of Edmonton/Glasgow, Chris Couch (La’Casta) of Glasgow, Andy Couch (Amy) of Madisonville; 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, plus one on the way. The grandchildren are, Josh and Ashley Hopper; Caitlin and Carter Couch; Chase Garmon, Terri Davis (Jarod Fitts), Tabitha Couch and C.J. Couch (Amy); Jon, Jaxon, Jeremiah and Hannah Couch; and Sam, Ben, Luke and John Robert Couch. The great-grandchildren are Avery Davis; Elizabeth Fitts; Waylon Meredith and Grayson Couch. Gena also leaves behind two sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, several nieces and nephews, and several close friends whom she considered family.
Funeral service is at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, at A.F. Crow & Son Funeral Home. Visitation is from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Cremation will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial contribution be made to St. Helen’s Catholic Church Food Closet.
Tanya Rene Houchens, 47, Glasgow
Tanya Rene Houchens, 47, Glasgow died peacefully, surrounded by her family Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. She is the daughter of Melvin and Connie Groce.
Survivors include her parents, two children, Tyler and Megan Houchens; three sisters, Angela Farley (Jimmy), Christina Minor (Eric) and Melanie Ballard (Emmitt); and several nieces and nephews.
Family honored her wish to be cremated with no services. Hatcher & Saddler is entrusted with the arrangements.
James Franklin ‘Junior’ Lowe, 88, Smiths Grove
James Franklin “Junior” Lowe, 88 of Smiths Grove died Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, at the Medical Center in Scottsville. He was born in Railton on April 2, 1934, to the late James Marshall Lowe and Aline Payne Lowe. Mr. Lowe was a longtime truckdriver for LL Morris Co. and a member of Shiloh General Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Francis Lowe of Smiths Grove; two daughters, Mary Gladys Jones and Pamela Leetta Smith; grandchildren, James Douglas Smith (Becky), Marie Dawn Smith Harbison (Joey), Teresa Danelle Jone, and Kevin Wayne Jones (Kim); great-grandchildren, Alyssa Smith (Andrew Hoffman), Nicholas Smith, Abigail Harbison, Maddie Harbison, Noah Harbison, Ashley Jones, Anna Jones, and Adaline Jones; one brother, Jerry Marshall Lowe; and one sister, Frances Whitley.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by two brothers, Steven Lowe and Wesley Lowe; one sister, Dorothy Madison; and one son-in-law, Charles Smith.
Funeral service is at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, at Shiloh General Baptist Church, with burial in Shiloh Cemetery. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the church. A.F. Crow & Son Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial contribution be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Kaden Tower, 6100 Dutchman’s LN STE 401, Louisville, KY 40205-3284.
Aleta Faye Morgan, 76, Lexington, formerly of Glasgow
Aleta Faye Morgan, 76, formerly of Glasgow, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, at her residence in Lexington. Born in West Plains, Missouri, she was the daughter of the late Ardel and Velma Wilbanks VanBerkom. She was the wife of the late Robert Earl Morgan, who preceded her in death. She was a housewife and worked in domestic jobs thought out her life. Most of all she was a wife and mother to her family.
Survivors include three children, Barbara Johnson (Raymond) and Ronnie Morgan (Manila), all of Lexington, and Michael Morgan (Keana) of Glasgow; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside service is at 11 a.m. Saturday Jan. 7, 2023, at Glasgow Municipal Cemetery with no prior visitation. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made at the funeral home. Arrangements are entrusted to Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home.
Eugene “Smitty” Smith, 90, Glasgow
Eugene“Smitty” Smith, 90, of Glasgow died Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, at his residence. A native of Barren County, he was a son of the late Eugene Thomas Smith and Celeste Ellis Smith Staples.
Smitty was a U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Korean Conflict and later with the Army National Guard. He was a retired advertising manager for Houchens Industries and was involved in many civic and church-related activities. He was a member of Glasgow Baptist Church, where he served as president of the Job Sunday School Class and also as a treasurer’s assistant. He was a coach for Glasgow Little League baseball and football; a member and former president of the Glasgow Quarterback Club; and a driver/coordinator for Goodman Automotive.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Marcella Crawhorn Smith; two children, Tommy Smith (Dominique) of Knoxville and Lisa Smith Asbury (Mike) of Bowling Green; seven grandchildren, Campbell (Kaity), Celeste (London), Shawn, Kyle (Savannah), Alli, Chandlor (Bailey) and Maci (Landon); two great-grandchildren, Zella Gene (his namesake and other little lady), and baby Asbury due in July; one sister-in-law, Donnie Staples; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, James Earl Staples and Jackie Staples.
Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Thursday at Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home, with burial in Glasgow Municipal Cemetery. Visitation begins at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Ronald R. Taylor, 69, Chalybeate
Ronald R. Taylor, 69, of Chalybeate died Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, at Hospice House in Bowling Green. The Tulsa, Oklahoma, native was born July 15, 1953, to the late Robert L. and Tessie Gray Taylor. He was united in marriage to Edna Lucas Taylor, until they were parted by her death on April 17, 2021.
Ronald owned and operated Taylor’s Concrete Cutting Service. He was a historian and enjoyed attending Renaissance fairs in Ohio, Texas, North Carolina and surrounding areas.
He leaves to honor his memory one daughter, Storie Chastain (Cody) of Alvaton; grandchildren, Ariel Taylor of Bowling Green, Melody Quast of Alvaton and Bryson Chastain of Alvaton; brother, Jimmy Taylor (Patty) of Cave City; and sister, Tessa Taylor-Maldonado (J.R.) of Salem, Oregon. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by two siblings, Donnie Preader and Linda Craycroft.
Graveside service is at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, at Sweeden Church Cemetery. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday at Patton Funeral Home Brownsville Chapel
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southern Kentucky, 5872 Scottsville Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42104.
Phillip “Phil” Gerald Williams, 77, Glasgow
Phillip “Phil” Gerald Williams, 77, of Glasgow died Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, at T.J. Samson Community Hospital. He was born Sept. 1, 1945, in Glasgow to the late J.D. Williams and Velma Alice Spann Patterson. Phil retired as a plant superintendent at Chrysler after working there 42 years. In his earlier years, Phil started a football Little League and coached Little League football, baseball and T-ball. He was a master gunsmith and loved hunting.
Survivors include his loving wife, Vessa Williams; one son, Shannon “Shane” Lee Williams (Stacy); four grandchildren, Shannah O’Connor, Conner Bryce (Rebecca), Sierra Nicole and Sydney Gabrielle; two stepgrandchildren, Taylor Wayne Ivie and Megan Marie Ivie; one brother, Douglas “Doug” Jewell Williams (Jung); one brother-in-law/best friend, Carroll “Skip” Atwood; one sister, Jeri Lynn Marsh (Tom); one sister-in-law, Mary Lynn Williams; one cousin, Loren Dale Spann; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Steven “Steve” Williams and James Daryl Williams.
Funeral service is at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 at A. F. Crow & Son Funeral Home, with burial in Glasgow Municipal Cemetery. Visitation begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
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