Adah Barnard.

Adah Barnard is pictured between two of her sisters, Martha on the left and Ester on the right.

These students of the class of 1940 is somewhat unknown to me. I have heard about each one or at least have heard their names mentioned. Adah, as well as some of her older sisters graduated and moved on. I knew her younger sisters, but never Adah. Adah married a Raymond and I think that they settled in the Ohio County Area and raised a family. Will up date and supply more information if and when it becomes available. You help certainly appreciated.




Eldon Bowers Jr.

I knew Eldon Bowers, but not his son. I worked for Eldon Bowers when I was a student at Rockport. Eldon was a janitor, at one time, and I helped him one year with the school. Even stoked the furnace a few times. Eldon Bowers Jr. moved on when he graduated. I respected and enjoyed being around and working for Mr. Bowers and I am sure that I would have felt the same way about his son. Again, will update if more info comes in.




George Boyd

The following write-up is from information supplied by Hilma A. Steward from information that she received from Juanita Boyd. The pictures along with several other pictures were supplied by George Boyd. Thanks to the Boyd's.

Soon after graduating from high school George William Boyd was inducted into the U. S. Army Air Force, seeing service in the European Theater of the War. As the war came to an end, George was discharged and found employment in Michigan City. The country was enjoying the peace after the war years and times were good. George and Juanita Stewart were married and settled in Michigan City. The Michigan City area had a lot to offer, but it was just not home. They were just not satisfied and began to look at other locations to raise a family.

The young couple tried many locations and in time they returned to the Ohio County area. George finding work as management with a number of local companies. The couple make their home in the Central City area and proceeded to remodel a lovely hilltop house. During this time they were the typical American family raising a son and daughter. Juanita continued to work in retail clothing at Barnes' in Central City, KY.

The children graduated and entered college, leaving George and Juanita with an empty nest. Being the, ever ready to go wherever the employment was, George was offered and accepted a job with the Arnold Legion Trucking Company in Madisonville, KY. Juanita, taking her years of employment experience in clothing retail, found work with Baker and Hickman Company and the couple found a new home in Madisonville, KY.

The retirement years are now a pleasure for the couple, finding pleasure with their children and grandchildren while enjoyment with church and friends and related activities. Their son lives in Florida. They always find time to travel to see him, and the lovely weather, when winter comes to Kentucky.

Many thanks to George and Juanita for their help with all of the pictures and of sharing their knowledge of the people in all of the pictures. We send to you and yours, our wishes for many happy days.

"Obituary"
George W. Boyd, 92, of Madisonville passed away Sunday, June 15, 2014, at West Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson. He was born July 21, 1921, in Rockport, Kentucky, to Homer and Gladys Boyd. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Madisonville. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 5480. He was a veteran of the United States Army Air Corps. He was a member of the 559th Bomber Squadron.

Mr. Boyd was a retired safety director for several transportation companies. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Juanita Stewart Boyd.

He is survived by one daughter, Jan (Richard) Melton of Providence; and one son, William (Becky) Boyd of Bradenton, Florida; two grandchildren, Georgianna Melton Haas of Evansville and Stanton Allen Melton of Providence; two great-grandchildren, Savannah Haas and Megan Jackson of Evansville.

Service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Melton Funeral Home in Providence with Dr. Joe Leonard officiating. Visitation will be after 10 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will follow in Sunnyside Cemetery in Beaver Dam. Military honors will be presented by Hopkins County Honor Guard.

---

George Devine Jr.

George Devine was a 1940 graduate of Rockport High School and in that time frame, a war was brewing in Germany. It would only be a period of time before the United States would be involved. War is sometimes a necessary evil and only by war can Freedom be achieved. Freedom is not free and for us to enjoy being free, there has to be people like George Devine. Thanks George, for your service to your and my country.

George Devine was a lifelong resident of Rockport, and answered his call for service and served honorably in World War II. He returned to the Rockport area, married Carrie Singleton and raised a large family. Charles and Howard (Howie) were their two sons. Their daughters were Phyllis, Alice, Faith, and Kim. George worked at a lot of jobs, but ended up working for and retiring from Peabody Coal Company, Ken Mine. It was always a pleasure to see George, either on the street or in a store. In later years, I would find him, almost weekly, in a Super Market. He would either be with his wife, alone or with one of his children and shopping for groceries. He would always have a few moments to talk about something. Every breath was important to him. He had a very good memory of people, places and things and loved to tell others about Rockport. I wish that I could have written down or could have remembered what he told me over all of the years that I have know him.

A few years before George died, he contacted Shingles. For those of you that are not aware of Shingles, let me tell you they are certainly no picnic. Shingles are the results of having Chicken Pox as a child or young adult. From having Chicken Pox, and probably other similar diseases, a dormant virus lives in the body and reappears in a person's life in their elderly years. Shingles causes a "Breaking Out" and will itch terribly. George was not one to complain, but he certainly fought a battle with Shingles. As far as I know, there is no known cure and the treatment is to try to contain the Shingle and the "Itch". Usually, Shingles are not life threatening, but will indirectly cause death. My mother also developed Shingles in her "Golden Years" and it was almost unbearable. She, like most women, tolerated the itch, but it had its' effects on her. Her demise did not come from the Shingles, but of the treatment of the itch. A stronger medicine to control the itch was more than her heart could take. Suspect that Shingle also was a contributing factor in the death of George. Gosh, I miss them both. May they be friends in Heaven.





Autrey Duncan

Autrey Duncan was a 1940 RHS Graduate. I am not that familiar with Autrey. I think that he was from the Ceralvo area, but may have the wrong set of Duncan's in mind.

The following information is from my sister, Judy Durham Lanier. Thanks Judy.

Autrey Duncan and Ben Durham were classmates and good friends. They corresponded with each other with letters for years and tried to see each other on a yearly basis. They sent me his address as I thought, maybe he might be related to the Duncan's on my mother's side. So I wrote him. His daughter replied to me. From his pictures, he looks like a big, tall nice looking guy. Looks like he played ball when Ben was the manager. The lady that he married was not from Rockport or around--- I do not think. He lived in Elizabethtown and would come in to the Rockport High School reunions. He knew my father well. He and his wife raised five children. Autrey died this year. I cut out his obit and sent it to Ben's wife. If I can find that address, and I don't think I have it, I will write to his daughter again for more info.

Additional Information from Michael Duncan on 9/15/09. Thanks Michael.
Autrey B. Duncan was my grandfathers brother. Edgar Irles Duncan's some called him "Curly Duncan". YES they are the Duncan's from Ceralvo, Ky. Aunt Covey was his wife. He had 4 girls June, Cherry, Brenda an Tana. an one or two sons. One was name Darin I think. They still live in E-Town but Autrey has past away a few years back. Irles Duncan was married to Pecola Duncan {Fulton } Irles an Pecola had three children Wilda Jean Duncan, Still living in OB, KY, Madlin Duncan {Spear}Past away many years ago. An Edgar Hugh Duncan my father. Still living in Louisville and in Rockport farm house of Irles Duncan's......... Hope this helps you out.




Ben Durham.

Picture and information for the write-up on Ben provided by his wife, Irene Durham. Thanks Irene.

Ben Franklin Durham graduated from Rockport High School in 1940. He was a few years older than his classmates, as schooling was not that important to him and he "laid out" a year or so before he decided to get his diploma. Soon after graduating, he enlisted in the Army. On August 10, 1940 he arrived at Fort Knox to start his basic training. In a short period of time, he made private and then he became a Corporal and may have had intentions of making the Army a career. An injury prevented him to continue in the Army and he was honorably discharged on June 21, 1942 from Fort Sam Houston, Texas. His history is a bit cloudy as he didn't put out much information, but was hurt at some point because he had to wear a back brace which he hated, and eventually gave up on that contraption. His back bothered him for the rest of his life. When Ben was asked if he went overseas in his military life, he always responded that he was sent to India. Ben was not above stretching the truth or even downright lying. From what I can ascertain, he did not leave the United States. Why some big fib is beyond me and a lot of other people. He was just that way. His wife eventually learned to tell when he was lying or telling the truth by watching his facial expression. Others could not.

Actually, Ben was well known and well liked by everybody who knew him. He was in the Radiator Repair business in Lexington, Kentucky for many years and retired from it. He retired in 1985 and sold his business. Ben was never able to take it easy and relax in his easy chair and he went to work running errands for the person that bought him out.

Ben and Irene married on September 7, 1946. Soon afterwards they bought a house in Lexington and proceeded to live in that house until Ben died. There were no children from this marriage, although Ben had a son from a previous marriage. There are two grandchildren, Tammy and Susan.




Russell Truman Everley.

Truman Everley graduated from Rockport high School in 1940. He played basketball for Rockport High and his Junior and Senior years was a member of a mixed and all male quartet. He attended Western Kentucky University before serving our country in the U. S. Marines during World War II. He was in the initial landing at Guam, Okinawa and Japan.

He and Martine lived in Rockport for several years where he was a deacon and song-leader at the Rockport Baptist Church. He is also a member of the Masonic Lodge and a Kentucky colonel. He now resides in Port Orange Florida.

November 1, 2009.

Russell Truman Everley, 87, of Port Orange, FL, formerly of Ohio County, KY, passed away, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 in New Smyrna Beach, FL. He was born December 17, 1921 to the late Arthur and Margaret Barnard Everley in Ohio County, KY. He was a US Marine Corps Veteran of World War II, a member of 1st Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Fl, a drill supervisor for Peabody Coal Company and a member of McHenry Masonic Lodge #800 FandAM.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Martine Stewart Everley, who passed away, June 22, 2004.

Survivors include three daughters, Rita Rowe of Port Orange, Fl, Treva Medbery of Birmingham, AL, and Tammy Canapp of Bowling Green, one brother, Baun Everley of Bowling Green, two sisters, Maurine E. Grant of Owensboro and Betty E. Schroerlucke of Louisville. Five grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren also survive.

Funeral service will be held 11:00AM, Monday, November 2, 2009 at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam, with Rev. Glenn Armstrong and Terry Rowe officiating. Burial will be in Sunnyside Cemetery in Beaver Dam. Visitation will be from 2:30PM until 8:00PM, Sunday and 9AM until time of service, Monday at the funeral home.




Dora Mae Fulton

This space reserved for a write-up on Dora Mae Fulton if information becomes available.




Virginia Mabrey

I do not remember Virginia Mabrey. I don't recall ever hearing of any Mabrey's in Rockport. I am sure that she was a fine woman and probably moved on to a larger city to find work. I will bet that she missed Rockport and thought about this small town.




Curtis Maddox.

I knew a Curtis Maddox from Ceralvo or the Ceralvo area. My father and uncles knew him and from that aspect, I got to know him. He probably only knew me as the son of Martin Durham. In those early years of growing up in Rockport, it seems that I went to Ceralvo often. My grandparents, at one time or the other, lived in and around Ceralvo. My father started to school in that area. Anyway, from those two generations of Durham's living in the Ceralvo area, a lot of friends and kin existed. We never missed the big Ceralvo Homecoming and went to Ceralvo as time and conditions permitted. Curtis "Gill" Maddox and family lived on the Ceralvo Road and just past the old "Iron Bridge". Then, the road went past the Maddox's place. Now, the old bridge is long gone and a new one has been built and the old house is not visible from the road. Anyway, on any trip to Ceralvo, a stop at Curtis Gill Maddox's house was made. In later years, I would always "Blow and Wave" as I passed the Maddox house.

From some of the information that I received on Curtis Maddox, I was not sure if I had the right person. His name was listed as Curtis A. Maddox. The Curtis "Gill" Maddox that I knew was from Ceralvo and about the age where he could have been a graduate of the 1940 Class at Rockport. Still, I was not sure and thought that I had better get some more information. My sister, Judy was "Best Friends" with Neva Maddox, Curtis "Gill" Maddox's daughter. I asked her for some information and if this 1940 Graduate was the Curtis Maddox that I knew. Her reply follows.

I never knew that he and Ben graduated together( along with Autry Duncan). I think "Curt" worked at Ken Mines. I know one of the mines. I think Neva's mother, Myrl, (I wrote her name on the back of that picture of Ben's--- guess he did not know her name) was from Centertown. They lived most of their lives in Ceralvo and Beaver Dam. They had three children, two girls and one boy. Again we need the obit from the paper. Guess you are going to have to start going to the library to look up all those old obits. You could just find out all kinds of info. Anyway, Neva had two boys, the daughter, Sherry had one child possibly more. Then the boy, Jimmy, --- not sure on him--- think two. So Curt and Myrl had four or more grandchildren. Not sure where any of the kids are except Neva--- They are close to St. Louis

Thanks Judy for your write-up and information.




Helen Rogers

I never knew Helen Rogers. I have heard of her from family and friends, but don't ever remember seeing her or talking to her. Like most of her classmates, she must have married and moved on.




Martine Stewart

Martine Stewart graduated from Rockport High School in 1940. She was a cheerleader for Rockport High and excelled in her studies. She married Russell Truman Everley, also from Rockport and they were married for 61 years. They had three daughters and five grandchildren. Martine enjoyed being a homemaker and activities in her church. She was active in W.M.U., the nursing home ministries, F.H.A. chapter Mother and a Kentucky colonel. She was always proud of Rockport and continued to work for the betterment of Rockport, even when she moved to Beaver Dam. She was instrumental in the initial planning and organizing the project that started the biennial "Rockport Round-Up" or as called today, "The Rockport High School Reunion."

Martine went home to be with her Lord on May 22, 2004. May she always be remember for her smile and for her ability to make others better.




Juanita Stewart

The following write-up was done by Hilma A. Steward from information supplied by Juanita Boyd. The pictures along with several other pictures were supplied by George Boyd. Thanks to the Boyd's.

After graduation, Juanita went to Michigan City, IN to seek employment and stay at the home of her sister, Mrs. Roosevelt (Clemmer) Childers. Always an interest in the clothing industry, she found work at retail shops in Michigan City where she learned the trade of retail sales which she was to follow until her retirement years. During this time, her one-day to be husband, George William Boyd was inducted into the U. S. Army Air Force, seeing service in the European Theater of War.

As the war come to an end, George joined Juanita and found employment in Michigan City. The country was enjoying the peace after the war years and times were good. This period of time was to become a very important part of Juanita's life. The two were married and the times were no different, as to finding gainful employment in the area, as they were to be in the coming decade.

The young couple tried many locations and in time they returned to the Ohio County area. George finding work as management with a number of local companies. The couple make their home in the Central City area and proceeded to remodel a lovely hilltop house. During this time they were the typical American family raising a son and daughter. Juanita continued to work in retail clothing at Barnes' in Central City, KY.

The children graduated and entered college, leaving George and Juanita with an empty nest. Being the, ever ready to go where ever the employment was, George was offered and accepted a job with the Arnold Legion Trucking Company in Madisonville, KY. Juanita, taking her years of employment experience in clothing retail, found work with Baker and Hickman Company and the couple found a new home in Madisonville, KY.

The retirement years are now a pleasure for the couple, finding pleasure with their children and grandchildren while enjoyment with church and friends and related activities. Their son lives in Florida. They always find time to travel to see him, and the lovely weather, when winter comes to Kentucky.

Many thanks to George and Juanita for their help with all of the pictures and of sharing their knowledge of the people in all of the pictures. We send to you and yours, our wishes for many happy days.




Bertie Wilson

Bertie Wilson graduated from Rockport High School in 1940. Like countless others before and after her, she moved on to a larger city. I don't know much about Bertie and what I tell you may not be factual, but will give it a try. I think that Bertie was a daughter of Edith Wilson and a brother to Joe Wilson. Bertie was married and gone from Rockport by the time that I could venture out from home. I can vaguely remember Joe, but he also moved. That left Edith Wilson, a very dear woman. She, I will never forget. Times were hard in the late forties and early fifties and I did a few jobs for Mrs. Edith Wilson. Money was not very plentiful for most of the Rockport residents and Edith was no exception, but she always tried to pay me for my service and time. I mowed her grass a time or two, cut some weeds and in general did some odd chores. She was always appreciative. Joe and Bertie are blessed to have had such a very nice person for a mother.

February 19, 2011

Albertine L. "Bertie" Ammons, 89, of Owensboro, Kentucky died Friday, February 18, 2011, at Hermitage Care and Rehabilitation in Owensboro. She was born on December 9, 1921 in Echols (Ohio County), KY to the late Alexander P. and Edith Graves Wilson. She was previously employed by General Electric Company and was a lifelong member of Crosspointe Baptist Church. In 1943, she married the late John A. Ammons, who died December 2, 1989. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Carl P. Wilson and three sisters, Golide Taylor, Margaret Robertson and Martine Gross.

She is survived by her two daughters, Rebecca "Becky" Ammons and Mary Edith Boone both of Owensboro; her son, Johnny A. Ammons and wife, Freda of Owensboro; five grandchildren; one step-grandchild; eight great grandchildren; two step-great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; a brother, Joseph Wilson and wife, Jacqueline of Myresville, MD and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends.

Services are at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 22, 2011, at the Chapel of James H. Davis Funeral Home and Crematory in Owensboro. Burial will follow in Rosehill Cemetery in Owensboro. Visitation is from 12:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday and after 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Crosspointe Baptist Church, P.O. Box 21705, Owensboro, KY 42304.




Nadine Wood

A write-up here if info becomes available.