Kenneth Baker, 77, of Lexington, widower of Emma Baker, died Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at the St. Joseph Hospital.

Born in Livingston, he was the son of the late Robert and Eula Baker. He was the owner of TMCO Electric and an electrical contractor for Kroger for 40 years. He was a member of First Pentecostal Church of God in Versailles, a member of Fordland First Church of God in Georgetown, and a Gideon member for 30 years.

Survivors include two sons, Gary (Sandy) Seaton, Flatwoods, and Ken (Karen) Baker, Cool Ridge, W.Va.; two daughters, Esther (Gary) Eden, Sadieville, and Zelma (Phil) Lambert, Stanton; 11 grandchildren, Chad (Rebecca) Eden, Brad (Miriah) Eden, Heather (David) Curd, Christopher (Melissa) Lambert, Christina (Duane) Craft, David Seaton, Jonathon Seaton, Scott Baker, Michael Baker, Adam Baker and Rachel Baker; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Two brothers and a sister are deceased.

Services will be conducted at noon Saturday, May 23, at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Main Street. Burial will be in Elizabethtown Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 22.

Contributions are suggested to the Gideon’s International Memorial Bible Fund, Woodford Camp, 445 Dry Ridge Road, Versailles, KY 40383-9484.

Serene Dennis Cecil, 86, of Versailles, died Monday, May 18, 2009, at her home.

Born in Washington County, she was the daughter of the late Willard and Molly Brothers Dennis. She was a retired cafeteria employee for the Woodford County Schools and was a member of the Meadowthorpe Baptist Church in Lexington.

Survivors include three daughters, Dorothy (Eugene) Clark, Donna (David) Ritchey, Emogene Dean, all of Versailles; a son, Donald (Sarah) Dean, Versailles; a sister, Elsie Cummins, Lawrenceburg; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Six siblings; her first husband, Robert Truman Dean; her second husband, Richard Julian Cecil; and a great-granddaughter, Kayla Bostic, are deceased.

Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, May 22, at Blackburn & Ward Funeral Home by the Rev. Frank McClanahan. Interment will follow in the Versailles Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Don Cummins, Tommy Dennis, Joshua Redmon, Steven Anderson, Ricky Beasley, Todd Edmondson, and Clarence Hyatt. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today, Thursday, May 21, at the funeral home.

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

Guest book at www.BlackburnandWard.com.

The Rev. James d. Smith, 56, pastor of the Versailles Pentecostal Church of God, husband of Sarah Taylor Smith, died Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at the St. Joseph Hospital.

Born in Ft. Smith, Ark., he was the son of James C. Smith of Ft. Smith and the late Betty Barnes Smith. He had previously pastored in Kansas City, Mo., and served as Kentucky District secretary and treasurer from 2006, until his death. He was a member of the general board of the Pentecostal Church of God and served as director of inner city ministries with the church and was a member of the home missions board. He had worked with Soul’s Harbor, a homeless shelter in Joplin, Mo., and Calvary Rescue Mission in Memphis, Tenn. He was an organizer of block parties and Christmas parties for thousands of underprivileged children.

In addition to his wife and father, he is survived by two sisters, Carol (Blue) Hothouse, Stilwell, Okla., and Renae (Steve) McGuire, Winslow, Ark.; and a brother, Randy (Gloria) Smith, Searcy, Ark. He and his wife had been foster parents to several children.

Services were conducted Thursday, May 14, at the church, followed by a service in Joplin, Mo., on Monday, May 18. Burial was in Missouri. Blackburn & Ward Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Donations in his memory may be made to the PCG Appalachian Children’s Project, P. O. Box 842, Versailles, KY 40383.

Guest book at www.BlackburnandWard.com.

Vernon H. Tate Jr., 78, of Versailles, widower of Anita Coyle Tate, died Thursday, May 14, 2009.

Born Aug. 25, 1930, in Franklin County, he was the son of the late Vernon and Lucy Eaves Tate. He served with the U.S. Army in the Korean War, was a retired employee of Midway College, and a member of Forks of Elkhorn Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Elizabeth Tate of Keene and Debbra Tate, both of Lexington; three grandchildren, Jennifer Tate and Maggie Schwenker, both of Louisville, and Colin Tate-Majcher, Murray; a sister, Anna Hatton, Versailles; and three nephews. A brother, James Tate, is deceased.

Services were conducted Saturday, May 16, at Clark Funeral Home, Rose Hill, by the Rev. Todd Lester. Casket bearers were Jimmy Tate, Gary Hatton, Colin Tate-Majcher, Jason Schwenker, Larry Hatton, Jeremy Corkran, and Greg Powell. Burial was in Rose Crest Cemetery.

Condolences may be made at www.clarkfuneralchapels.com.

David Pryse Whitlock, 70, of Lexington, husband of Marjorie Williamson Crank Whitlock, died Sunday, May 17, 2009 in Lexington.

Born May 19, 1938, in Scott County, he was the son of the late William and Ophelia Azbill Whitlock. He was a member of Sadieville Baptist Church and was a truck driver for the Sylvania Company.

In addition to his wife he is survived by four sons, Mark (Margie) Whitlock, Versailles, Doug (Kaye) Whitlock, Lexington, Robert (Chris) Whitlock, Mt. Sterling, and Marshall (Amanda) Whitlock, Lebanon, Ind.; four stepchildren, Jeff (Tracey) Crank and Greg (Becky) Crank, Nicholasville, Maj. Terry (Melissa) Crank, Dover, N.J., and Cathy (Bill) Saunooke, Lexington; three brothers, Millard and Billy Whitlock, Georgetown, and Harold Whitlock Cynthiana; a sister, Marjorie Kuhl, Cynthiana; 19 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A daughter, Pamela Whitlock; three brothers, Albert, Charles, and Joe Thomas Whitlock; and two sisters, Ruth McKnight and Christine Gillispie, are deceased.

Services were conducted Wednesday, May 20, at Tucker, Yocum & Wilson Funeral Home by the Rev. Jerry Huffman and the Rev. Jay Robison. Burial was in the Sadieville Cemetery. Casket bearers were James Caudill, Tommy Hillard, Brett Butcher, Dougie Whitlock, Charles Whitlock, Kevin Whitlock, Greg Crank, and Maj. Terry Crank.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.

Guest book at www.tuckeryocumwilson.com.