William M. "Bill" Fitch, 63, of Lexington, widower of Sheila Fitch, died Saturday, April 11, 2009, at the V. A. Hospital.

The son of the late Harry Franklin and Junie Mae Ward Fitch, he was a disabled U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War.

Survivors include a son, Jason Fitch (Abby), Versailles; and a granddaughter, Haley D. Fitch, Versailles. Three brothers and three sisters are deceased.

Services were conducted Wednesday, April 15, at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Harrodsburg Road, by the Rev. Glynn Doss. Burial was in the Sophus Cemetery in Lincoln County.

Bernic Lee Harris, 65, of Lexington, husband of Ruby Harris, died Saturday, April 11, 2009, after a brief illness.

He was the son of the late Henry L. Harris and Frances B. Barber, and stepson of Mildred Harris. He was a retired UPS driver, serving the Frankfort area for 30 years. He also was a foster parent in Scott County for 33 years.

In addition to wife of 41 years, he is survived by six daughters, Eutonya (Joey) Brooks, Lexington, Lee Michelle, Joy, Tammie, and Syntesa Harris and Ashlee Burden, all of Georgetown; two sons, Kymble Harris, Georgetown, and Joe Siler, Corbin; three grandchildren, Bernic Lamar Harris, BronSon Harris, and Shaley; a great-granddaughter, Kaylyn Harris; two brothers, Fred (Peggy) Harris, Midway, and John (Betty) Harris, Lexington; three aunts, Leanna Payne, Edna Senour, Indianapolis, Ind., and Betty Wilson, Lexington; an uncle, John Devine, Midway; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members. A brother, Henry Harris, is deceased.

Services were conducted Wednesday, April 15, at Imani Baptist Church, Lexington. Burial was in Camp Nelson National Cemetery. Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Harrodsburg Road, was in charge of arrangements.

Joan Tarter Morgan, 75, of Lexington, widow of Ronald Lee Morgan, died Friday, April 10, 2009, at the Wesley Village Nursing Home in Wilmore.

Survivors include three daughters, Rhonda (David) Franklin, Versailles, Robin (John) Murphy, Harrodsburg, and Beth (David) Hilen, Lexington; a son, Doug (Robin) Morgan, Nicholasville; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Audrey Richards, Russell Springs, and Doris Wallace, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Services were conducted Tuesday, April 14, at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Harrodsburg Road, by the Rev. Raymond Bishop. Burial was in Blue Grass Memorial Gardens.

Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1065 Dove Run Road, Suite 2, Lexington, KY 40502-3524, Hospice of the Bluegrass, 2312 Alexandria Drive, Lexington, KY 40504, or Wesley Village Senior Living Community, 1125 Lexington Road, Wilmore, KY 40390.

Jeffry Nelson, 43, of Frankfort, formerly of Midway, died Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, following a brief illness.

Born July 9, 1965, he was the son of Joann Brunton and Michael Nelson. He was a graduate of Woodford County High School and received an associate of science degree in animal science from Anchorage (Alaska) Community College. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1984-1988. He worked at Fawn Leap Farm, then at the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his children, Joshua, Jeremy, and Katie Nelson; a sister, Jean Kilbaine; a half-brother Joseph Hood.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 26, at the Midway Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Old Friends Equine 1841 Paynes Depot Road, Georgetown, KY 40324.

Ida K. Pittman, 89, of Midway, widow of George H. Pittman, died Saturday, April 11, 2009.

Born Feb. 12, 1920, in Woodford County, she was the daughter of the late John William and Hanna Elizabeth Devers Keith. She was a retired employee of National Distillers and a member of Midway Baptist Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Faye Elizabeth (Bishop) Roach, Tennessee; two sons, Bobby Gene (Ann) Pittman, Midway, and Clarence Henry "Snookie" Pittman, Lawrenceburg; six grandchildren, Lonnie B. Shumate, Kimberly Whittaker, Marty Pittman, Melissa Yocum, Timothy Pittman, and Sara Pittman; and 12 great-grandchildren. A grandson and a great-grandson are deceased.

Services were conducted Wednesday, April 15, at Clark Funeral Home, Versailles Road, Frankfort, by the Rev. Tom Allen. Burial was in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Casket bearers were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be made at www.clarkfuneralchapels.com.

Virginia R. Slaughter, 93, of Versailles, widow of Paul L. Slaughter, died Saturday, April 11, 2009, at the Hospice Care Center at the St. Joseph Hospital, Lexington.

She was the daughter of the late Leo and Ruby Franklin Roberts.

Survivors include a son, Tom Slaughter (Louise), Lexington; a daughter, Jenny Ralston (Rick), Versailles; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandson; a brother, Leo Roberts Jr., Center; and several nieces and nephews. A sister, Frances Trent, and a great-grandson, Zane Akers, are deceased.

Services were conducted Tuesday, April 14, at Blackburn & Ward Funeral Home by the Rev. Chris Howlett, Judge Tim Philpot, and the Rev. Rick Ralston. Interment was in Rose Crest Cemetery, Versailles.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Bluegrass or to the March of Dimes.

Guest book at www.BlackburnandWard.com.

Stella Mae Taylor, of Lexington, widow of Marion Thomas Taylor died Thursday, April 9, 2009.

Born in Newton, N.C., she was the daughter of Walter R. Cook Sr. and Katie C. Cook of Lexington. Educated in the Lexington public schools, she was employed by the Ben Snyder Department Store for several years, and was a member of the First Christian Church, Lexington.

Survivors include three sons, Ossie Joe (Sandra) Taylor, Versailles, and twin sons, Kenneth C. Taylor and Kevin R. (Geobana) Taylor, Lexington; two daughters, Marion H. (Ronnie) Ritchey, Versailles, and Sharon R. (Jimmy) Maloney, Ft. Worth, Texas; a brother, Robert Joe (Thelma) Cook, Lexington; a sister, Alice Gene (Leonard) Wofford, Phoenix, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Two brothers, Walter R. Cook Jr. and Albert B. Cook; two sisters, Ruth Cook Anderson and Margaret E. Cook; a grandson, David Maloney; and a great-granddaughter, Rebecca Brown, are deceased.

Services were conducted Monday, April 13, at W.R. Milward Mortuary, Southland. Burial was in the Lexington Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Cancer kids, c/o Patsy Evans, Emerson Center, 2050 Garden Springs Dr., Lexington, KY 40504.