Local Obituaries – Thursday, April 23, 2026

Diana Lynn Adams

Diana Lynn Adams, age 73 of Ermine, passed away Sunday, April 19, 2026 at the Hazard ARH. 

She is survived by 1 son: Cody Breeding; 1 daughter: Misty Breeding; 1 sister: Linda Perry; 4 brothers: Doc Adams, Frank Adams, Ronald Adams and Timothy Adams; 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be after 6:00pm this evening, Thursday, at the Kings Chapel Church at Whitco.

Funeral services for Diana Lynn Adams will

be held at 12:00 Noon Friday, April 24, 2026 at the Kings Chapel Church at Whitco with Cecil Howard and Shawn Kidd officiating. 

Burial will follow in the Bates Cemetery at Ermine. 

The Letcher Funeral Home of Whitesburg is in charge of the arrangements.


Howard Matthew Keel

Howard Matthew Keel, age 73, of Millstone, passed away on Tuesday, April 21,2026 at the Whitesburg ARH. 

He is survived by his wife: Fayetta Keel of Millstone; Three sons: Jeremiah M. Keel of Millstone, Davey C. Keel of Caney Ridge, Virginia and Jebidiah D. Keel of Thornton; One brother: Kenneth Keel of Cowan and five grandchildren. 

Visitation will be from 5:00-9:00pm this evening, Thursday, at the Millstone Church of Grace. 

Funeral services for Howard Matthew Keel will be held at 7:00pm Friday, April 24, 2026 at the Millstone Church of Grace with Josh Holbrook and Bill Craft officiating. 

The Everidge Funeral Home of Whitesburg is in charge of the arrangements.  


Gary Dean Bates

Gary Dean Bates of Jamestown, Ohio formerly of Thornton, passed away on Saturday April

18, 2026 at Miami Valley Hospital South in Centerville, Ohio.

He is survived by his wife: Louise; 2 daughters: Sandra and Cynthia both of Jamestown, Ohio; 2 sons: Michael of Florence, Kentucky and Christopher of Hawkinsville, Georgia; six grandchildren; 3 sisters: Sue Lowe of Muncie Indiana, Brenda Allen of Richmond

Indiana and Estelene Shepard of Whitesburg and sister-in-law: Deborah Bates of Roxana. 

Visitation will after 6:00pm Friday at the Letcher Funeral Home Chapel. 

Funeral services for Gary Dean Bates will be held at 11:00am Saturday, May 2, 2026 at the Letcher Funeral Home Chapel. 

Burial will follow in the Maggard Cemetery at Isom.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in Gary’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project or another veteran agency of your choice.

The Letcher Funeral Home of Whitesburg is in charge of the arrangements.


Trina Jenkins Caudill

Trina Jenkins Caudill, age 59 of Ermine, passed away Saturday, April 18, 2026 at the Hazard ARH. 

She is survived by her mother Wanda Jones Day Trina was the daughter of Wanda Jones Day; her husband: Neil Caudill; stepfather: James Day; 2 sons: Matthew Tyree and Joseph Tyree both of Whitesburg; 1 daughter: Kori Stewart of Whitesburg;1 stepson: Andrew Boggs of Millstone; 1 stepdaughter: Makayla Rose of Seco; 1 stepbrother: Allen Day of Whitesburg; 2 stepsisters: Gracie Kimberlin and Tracie McFall both of Tennessee and 11 grandchildren.

Funeral services for Trina Jenkins Caudill will be held at 12:00 Noon today, Thursday, April 23, 2026 at the Letcher Funeral Home Chapel with Bill Craft officiating. 

Burial will follow in the Green Acres Cemetery at Ermine.

The Letcher Funeral Home of Whitesburg is in charge of the arrangements.


Charles “Chuck” North, AKA Hillbilly

Charles “Chuck” North, AKA Hillbilly, age 73, of Cumberland passed away Monday, April 20, 2026, at the Harlan ARH. 

He is survived by his children: Tammy Huff of Harlan; Ian North of Morehead; Lee North of Cincinnati, OH and Kristina Birchfield of Paintsville; two special nieces: Jessica and Rachel North; a special aunt: Mary North; two brothers: Johnny North of Benham and Jeff North of Big Laurel; two sisters: Onilee Creech of Benham and Kim North of Mason, OH.

Visitation will be after 11:00am, Saturday, at the Tri City Funeral Home at Benham.

Funeral services for Charles “Chuck” North, AKA Hillbilly will follow at 1:00pm Saturday, April 25, 2026 with Jeff North, Johnny North, and Dillard Stanley officiating. 

Military honors will be performed at the funeral home by the Harlan Honor Guard.

The Tri City Funeral Home of Benham is in charge of the arrangements.  


Ronnie Burke

Ronnie Burke, age 72, of Viper, passed Monday, April 20, 2026, at the Hazard ARH. 

He is survived by his Wife: Pauline Burke; Three Daughters: Althea Duff Harkins of Union, Veronica Stidham of Hazard & Tonya Logan of Blackey; Three Sons: Curtis Burke & Paul Burke of Indiana and Ronnie Allen Burke of Union; One Sister: Charlene Brown of Cumberland; Two Brothers: Elmer Burke of Indiana & Delmer Burke of Harlan; Friend: Randy Sumner; Ten Grandchildren, Three Great-Grandchildren & one on the way. 

Visitation will be after 12:00 noon Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Maggard’s Mountain View Chapel in Hazard.

Funeral services for Ronnie Burke will follow at 2:00pm Saturday at Maggard’s Mountain View Chapel in Hazard with Rodney Holbrook officiating. 

Burial will be at the Creekside Memorial Cemetery in Hazard.

The Maggard Funeral Home of Hazard is in charge of the arrangements. 


Sonny Allen Taylor

Sonny Allen Taylor, age 73, of Cumberland, passed away on Sunday, April 19th, 2026, at the Harlan ARH. 

He is survived by his wife: Linda Graham Taylor; his son: Thomas Benjamin Taylor of Berea; his daughter: Alma Christina Taylor of Cumberland; his bonus daughter: Sandra LeAnn Farmer of Salisbury, NC; and his two grandchildren, Madison Isabella Wilson and Finnegan Alexander Sayre Taylor. 

A Celebration of Life for Sonny Allen Taylor will be held from 10:00am to 1:00pm today, Thursday, April 23rd, 2026, at the Cumberland Valley Funeral Home.

The Cumberland Valley Funeral Home of Cumberland is in charge of the arrangements.