Nelson Fant Botts, 89, widower of Madeline Miller Botts, died Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, at Treasure Coast Hospice in Fort Pierce, Fla.

He was born in Sharpsburg, Ky., and lived in Port St. Lucie, Fla., for the last six years. He had been a longtime resident of Lexington and Versailles, where he retired from Texas Instruments. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II. In 1942 he trained Army Air Corps operators in the use of top-secret airborne radar technology at Boca Raton Army Air Field. Later he set up and ran radio communications and intercept installations on Guam and Iwo Jima. He was honorably discharged with the rank of major.

Survivors include four daughters, Elizabeth Botts Penrod (Hugh), Madeline Botts Meixner (Robert), both of Port St. Lucie, Fla., Jane Botts Bradley (Balfe), Fort Collins, Colo., and Susan Botts Rose (Richard), Boca Raton, Fla.; six grandchildren, Davis Watts, Elizabeth Watts Colón, Brian Watts, Mason and Caleb Bradley, Ricky Nelson Rose; and five great-grandchildren, Madelyne and Ethan Watts, Alex and Anthony Colón, Chloe Watts. Two sisters, May Elizabeth Botts Janes and Nancy Botts Hart, and a brother, Seth Saunders Botts, are deceased.

A celebration of life was conducted Saturday, Aug. 8, at Avalon State Park Beach in Fort Pierce, Fla. Burial will be at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville, Ky., on Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 at 1:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation at www.pdf.org/en/fund_memdon.

Marion J. "June" Ethington, 86, of Versailles, husband of Joan S. Ethington, died Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, at the Hospice Care Center.

Born in Woodford County, he was the son of the late John Thomas and Anna Belle Shelton Ethington. A retired farmer and self-employed businessman, he was a U.S. Army veteran and was a member of the First Christian Church. He and his wife had lived and farmed in Owen and Harrison counties prior to retirement in Versailles.

In addition to his wife of 43 years, he is survived by a son, Lee (Brenda) Ethington, Lexington; a daughter, Ginny Belle Ethington, Pikeville; a sister, Dorothy Williams, Lexington; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services with military honors were conducted Tuesday, Aug. 25, in the Midway Cemetery by the Rev. Marcus Lynn. Casket bearers were Kenneth Damron, Joshua Damron, Travis Ethington, Dereck Ethington, Dickie Ethington, and Jonathan Woolums. Honorary bearers were Joe Conway, Mark Gormley, Bobby Payton, Jack Pennington, Jack Smith, Robert Ginter, and Sam Greenwell.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Bluegrass, the First Christian Church, or to the Thomson-Hood Veterans Center. Blackburn & Ward Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Guest book at www.BlackburnandWard.com.

Christian Robert "Robbie" Higgins, 34, formerly of Woodford County, died Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, in a boating accident in Texas.

Born June 28, 1975, in Scottsdale, Ariz., he was the son of William C. Higgins Jr., San Antonio, Texas, and Jill Brandenburg, Palm Beach Gardens. Fla., formally of Versailles. He was a resident of Ocean City and Salisbury, Md.; Versailles; Jupiter, Fla.; and southern California. He had just recently moved to Texas. He was an avid surfer, snow boarder, and wake boarder. He was a stockbroker, computer hardware broker, and licensed insurance agent.

In addition to his mother and father, he is survived by his stepfather, Robert Brandenburg, Palm Beach Gardens. Fla.; a brother, William C. "Billy" Higgins III, Leander, Texas; a sister, Lori Abruzzo, Port Saint Lucie, Fla.; his grandmothers, Dr. Betty Powell, Salisbury, Md., and Dorothy Brandenburg, Versailles; two aunts, Robin Stabley, Boynton Beach, Fla., and Cathy Noel, Versailles; two uncles, John and Charles Powell, California; three cousins, Bethany Ingram and Keri Thom, Boynton Beach Fla., and Trae and Allison Noel, Versailles; and three nephews, Brandon Keene, Norman Oklahoma, and Patrick Abruzzo, Port Saint Lucie, Fla.

Memorial services will be held in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and S. Laguna Beach, Calif., at times yet to be determined.

Vernon Townsend French, 86, of Frankfort, husband of Catherine Tracy French, died Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009.

Born Jan. 14, 1923, in Harrison County, he was the son of the late Vernon W. and Altha Townsend French. He served with the U.S. Marines in World War II, was a member of Crestwood Baptist Church, and was a retired employee of National Distillers. He was also a farmer and an antiques dealer.

Survivors include a daughter, Anita F. (C. Eugene) Moore, Frankfort; two sons, Anthony W. French, Frankfort, and Larry Ragland, Lexington; five grandchildren, Michelle French, Brooke French, Anthony French Jr., Timothy Moore, and Marc Moore; and five great-grandchildren. Three sisters, Erma Ward, Polly Withers, and Helen Faye Moore; and a brother, Wallace King, are deceased.

Services were conducted Saturday, Aug. 22, at Clark Funeral Home, Versailles Road, Frankfort, by the Rev. Wallace Kent and the Rev. Brad Hockensmith. Burial was in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Condolences may be made to www.clarkfuneralchapels.com.

Anna Lee Curtis Ingram, 84, of Lexington, wife of Eugene "Shorty" Ingram, died Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, at Sayre Christian Village.

Born in Stamping Ground, she was the daughter of the late S.A. "Fonzy" and Claudia McFarland Curtis. She was a retired salesperson for the Kmart Corporation and a member of Trinity Baptist Church.

Survivors include three children, Ronald (Beverly) Ingram, Versailles, Beverly (Carl) Vice, Lexington, and Kevin (Lucy) Ingram, Paris; six grandchildren, Lorie (David) Adams, Hyden, Kellie (Eddie) Thurman, Andy (Rhonda) Ingram, Amy Vice (Ken) Marshall, all of Versailles, and Jason Ingram and Ashley Ingram, both of Lexington; 12 great-grandchildren; a brother, Darrell (Libby) Curtis, Georgetown; and numerous nieces and nephews. A granddaughter, Shellie Ingram, is deceased.

Services were conducted Monday, Aug. 24, at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, by Pastor Jay Robison, Ph.D., and Bro. David Stokes. Burial was in the Lexington Cemetery. Casket bearers were Gene Bailey, Jerry Bootze, Bruce Brumley, Kendell Hunter, Joe Nichols, and Dennis Rice.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Trinity Baptist Church, 1675 Strader Drive, Lexington, KY 40505.

Sarah Ann McColl, eight months, daughter of Mike and Heather McColl of Midway, died Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009.

She was born Dec. 24, 2008.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her maternal grandparents Lewis and Sandra Woodruff, North Carolina; her paternal grandparents, Doug and Pat McColl, Indiana; aunts and uncles Laura and Matt Murray, North Carolina, Andi and David McColl, Michigan, and Corina and Rich McColl, California; and cousin Amanda McColl.

Services were conducted Monday, Aug. 24, at Midway Christian Church by the Rev. Bill McDonald. Burial was in the Midway Cemetery. Clark Funeral Home, Rose Hill, was in charge of arrangements.

Charles Henson "Chuck" Pulley, 92, of Lexington, widower of Martha Pulley, died Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, of complications from Parkinson’s Disease.

Born April 22, 1917, in Cambridge, Ohio, he received his undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, and attended law school at University of Iowa. His first job with Irving Air Chute brought him to Lexington with wife and family in 1952. He became president of that company in 1962, which grew to be Irvin Industries, and began the manufacture of automotive seat belts for General Motors. In his capacity as president of the American Seat Belt Council, later the Automotive Occupant Restraints Council, he served as spokesman for occupant safety from 1961 until his retirement at age 82. He was a member of the Rotary Club and Lexington Country Club and was a former member of Christ Episcopal Church and St. Raphael Episcopal Church.

Survivors include five children, Lee Ann (Chase) Knight, Prospect, Jill Christine Mulholland, Lexington, Robyn Beth (Thompson) Roach, Versailles, Kevin Bruce (Terri) Pulley, Mt. Sterling, and Laurel Leslie (John) Cravens, Chicago, Ill.; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a sister, Doris Jean Barth, Apopka, Fla.

A memorial service was conducted Saturday, Aug. 22, at St. Raphael Episcopal Church, Lexington. Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Main Street, Lexington, was in charge of arrangements.

Donations are suggested to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, 2050 Versailles Road, Lexington 40504; or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Church Street Station, P. O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780.