Helen Dale Baker, 77, of Lawrenceburg, died Friday, Dec. 18, 2009.

Born Sept. 1, 1932, in Scott County, she was the daughter of the late William and Melinda Ellen Moore Baker. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include a daughter, Pam Johnson; a son, Mark Whittaker, Lawrenceburg; two sisters, Ann McCray, Versailles, and Cecil Garrity, Lexington; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services were conducted Monday, Dec. 21, at Clark Funeral Home, Versailles Road, Frankfort, by the Rev. Noel Cotton. Burial was in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Casket bearers were Barry Walling, Mike Whittaker, Brian Baker, Bill Walling, Johnny Carpenter, Pee Wee Whittaker, and Larry Garrity.

Condolences may be made at www.clarkfuneralchapels.com.

Donna White Blevins, 95, of Versailles, widow of Cedric Dwight Pultz and Laurence O. Blevins, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009, at the Central Baptist Hospital, Lexington, after a brief illness.

A native of Wichita, Kan., she was the daughter of the late John P. and Effie Alexander White. After graduating from college she married Cedric Pultz and lived for many years in Lamar, Colo., where they owned a men’s clothing store. Following her husband’s death, she became a tour guide at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, Calif. In the 1980s, she moved to Versailles to assist her late sister, Eureath White. She was hired as curator of the Jack Jouett House where she met Laurence Blevins, whom she married. She was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Woodford County Woman’s Club, the Bluegrass Community Hospital Auxiliary, and was a life member of the Order of Eastern Star.

Survivors include two grandchildren, Patrick Pultz (Christy) and Robert Pultz; two great-grandchildren, Eric Pultz and Corrine Marquez, all of Colorado; a niece, Karen Raulston (Doyle), Versailles; and a cousin, Maribell White, Versailles. A son, Ronald Dwight Pultz, and a sister, B. Eureath White, are deceased.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, 2010, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Versailles.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Taylor Manor Nursing Home, 300 Berry Avenue, Versailles, KY 40383, or St. John’s Episcopal Church, 210 N. Main Street, Versailles, KY 40383.

John Conway, 87, of Wilmore, widower of Lemira Lane Conway, died Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, at the Thompson-Hood Veterans Center.

Born in Woodford County, he was the son of the late Joe and Maude Honican Conway. He served as sheriff of Jessamine County in 1973 and 1974, and was the assistant police chief in Wilmore. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during World War II and receiving the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He was an auctioneer for over 40 years, served the Jessamine County School System driving bus No. 11, was a constable for the Lee District, and former member of the Jessamine County Rescue and Recovery Squad. He was also a farmer and country store owner.

Survivors include two sons, John T. Conway, Wilmore, and Darryl M. (Catherine) Conway, Fisherville; and a granddaughter, Caitlyn Marie Conway.

Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. today, Wednesday, Dec. 23, at Betts & West Funeral Home, Nicholasville, by Dr. Dean Cook and Chief Steve Bovin. Burial will be in Bluegrass Memorial Gardens.

Guest book at www.BettsandWestfuneralhome.com.

Marion T. Diamond, 83, of Bronston, husband of Mary Louise Bealert Diamond, died Monday, Dec. 21,2009, at his home.

Born on March 8, 1926, in Lexington, he was the son of Augustus Letcher and Ethel Metz Diamond. He was a U.S. Postal Service carrier, a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, and attended the Bronston First Baptist Church in Bronston.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Larry Diamond; a stepson, William Miles (Cherie) Gaines, Lexington; three daughters, Karen Lou (Edward) Courtney, Florida, Lisa Diamond, and Tanya Markwell, Versailles; a stepdaughter, Janie (Matthew) Goetz; two sisters, Janis (Charlie B.) Buford, Lexington, and Donna Simpson, Lexington; a grandchild, Keisha; and four step-grandchildren, Christine Goetz, Matt Goetz, Haydon Gaines, and Nicholas Gaines. A brother, Carl O. Diamond, is deceased.

Service will be conducted at 11 a.m. today, Wednesday, Dec. 23, at the Chapel of Lake Cumberland Funeral Home, Somerset, by Bro. Johnie Helton and Bro. Carter Stewart. A graveside service will follow in the Lexington Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Bronston First Baptist Church and/or Hospice of Lake Cumberland.

George W. "Pro" Middleton Sr., 77, widower of Barbara W. Middleton, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.

Born April 12, 1932, in Fort Spring, he was the son of the late Will P. and Elizabeth Middleton. His mother died shortly after giving birth and he was raised by his father and by his sister Grace Middleton Spotts of Bracktown. He graduated from the old Douglas High School in Lexington and was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Lexington, for 40-plus years, where he served as a deacon for 30 years, a missionary, and was the church custodian over 16 years. He was a master tradesman in painting and wallpapering, and worked for the University of Kentucky, where he retired after 39 years as superintendent of the general maintenance department in 1994. He was an avid golfer (with an officially documented "hole-in-one") and played in many amateur tournaments locally and across the United States. He served on the first board for Hospice of the Bluegrass.

Survivors include a daughter, Stefania (Artie) Greene, Lexington; a son, George (Angela) Middleton Jr., Lexington; two grandchildren, Barbara Greene (Joshua) Ward, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Olivia Green, Decatur, Ga.; three sisters, Viginia Edwards, Sacramento, Calif., Alice M. Davis, Columbus, Ohio, and Anna Bell Stepp, Versailles; his niece, Mary (Jilson) Laine, Lexington; two step-grandchildren, AT2 Brandon Clay, Virginia Beach, Va., and Chanell Goff; and two step-great-grandchildren; and many other nieces and nephews. Seven siblings are deceased.

Services were conducted Tuesday, Dec. 22, at the First African Baptist Church, 465 Price Road, Lexington. Interment was in Evergreen Memory Gardens. Smith & Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Contributions may be made to Hospice of the Bluegrass.

Charles Herbert Smith, 93, a retired farmer and former resident of Margaret Hall Manor in Versailles, died Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, at Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Lawrenceburg.

Born in Woodford County, he was the son of the late William and Anna Belle Adams Smith.

Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews. Two brothers, Joseph and James Smith, and four sisters, Bessie Jones, Edith Cornish, Agnes Lewis, and Julie Henderson, are deceased.

Services were conducted Tuesday, Dec. 22, at Blackburn & Ward Funeral Home by Chaplain Kevin Pearce. Burial was in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Casket bearers were Aaron Jones, Bill Taylor, Tom Jones, Philip Patterson, Eric Taylor, and Chad Taylor.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Bluegrass, 208 Steele Street, Frankfort, KY 40601.

Guest book at www.BlackburnandWard.com.

Jennie C. Thomason, 104, widow of William Lloyd Thomason, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, at Taylor Manor Nursing Home.

She and her late husband had been active thoroughbred breeders in Woodford County until the early 1980s. Born Jan. 31, 1905, and reared in Maysville, she was a daughter of the late Gus and Jennie G. Lipscomb Riedinger. A descendant of an early pioneer Kentucky family, she had seen many changes in her lifetime, and had known her grandfather, who had fought in the Civil War. Affectionately known to her friends as "Miss Jennie," she was a gracious lady who is survived by numerous friends, including Nancy and Ric Redden and their children, whom she considered "family." Nancy, as her caregiver in recent years, had a relationship with "Miss Jennie" much like a mother and daughter. She had resided at Taylor Manor for over 16 years, was a former member of the Hillsboro Baptist Church, and had become a member of the Pinckard Baptist Church.

Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. today, Wednesday, Dec. 23, at Blackburn & Ward Funeral Home with Pastor Doug Simpson officiating. Burial will follow at the Lexington Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Victor Zambrano, Salvador Zambrano, Juan Carlos Zambrano, Ric Redden, Ray Clark, and Shannon Redden. Honorary bearers will be Herman Roark, Floyd Roark, Herbert Lancaster, Jerry Lancaster, Roy Wayne Lancaster, and Ralph Glass. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Pinckard Baptist Church, 3401 Pinckard Pike, Versailles, KY 40383.

Guest book at www.BlackburnandWard.com.