Faye Cain Sears

PULASKI COUNTY'S OLDEST RESIDENT HAS PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 107 YEARS AND 8 MONTH'S.

Faye Cain Sears, the matriarch of the Sears Family entered eternal rest and her heavenly home on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 in Somerset. Faye was born and raised at Cain Store, Kentucky (the community named for her ancestors) on April 22, 1910 the youngest child of George Ephriam Cain and Margaret Elizabeth Tarter Cain.

She married Goebel D. Sears on July 24, 1937 and they were blessed with four children to cherish the memory of a mother who was the greatest and loved by all. Goebel died on June 1, 1968.

She is survived by her children: twin sons, Larry Sears and his wife Paula, Garry Sears and his wife Kathy; two daughters, Imadene Brinson and her husband Dellis of Somerset and Edna Thomas and her fiancé Joe Tarter of Hamilton, OH; her beloved grandchildren, Shelley Gover and her husband Al, and Holly Weddle of Somerset; Dr.Tony Sears and his wife Ashley, of Prospect, KY., Brian Thomas and his wife Stephanie, Tonya Ware and her husband Steve of Liberty Township, OH; great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly, Alyssa, Aaron, and Austin Thomas, Jacob, Haley and Meghan Ware, Peyton and Hollyn Gover, Ellie Kathryn Weddle, Austin, Chase, and Aubrey Sears. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Doris Sears, and a brother-in-law, Charles Bullock, and like family Kenneth Seibert of Hemet, CA.

Her special blessings through marriage are; Scott Pierce, Jeff and Jennifer Pierce, Cammy and Lucas DeBord, Casey and Charlie Dalton, Jake and Jensen Pierce, Sidney and Cora DeBord. Braden Weddle and Ian Dalton.

In addition to her parents and husband, Faye was predeceased by siblings, Clair and Ernest Cain, Grace Stephens, Gertie Carter, and Alberta Cain.

She is survived by nieces; Rheagenia Hansford and her husband J.W. , Jean Apking and her husband Danny, Janet Koehne and her husband Jerry, and nephew Arivs Ray Stephens and his wife Joann; nieces, Helen Jasper, Wandalee Higgins, Ernestine Shelby and nephew Curtis Stephens predeceased her.

Faye is survived by the following great nieces and nephews; Wanda Ann Rainwater, Brenda Galioto, Deborah Holman, James Higgins, Varita Powers, C.V. Hansford, Judy Kay New, Maria Housden, Vickie McVay, Gwen Gabbard, Mac Shelby, Kenneth Shelby, Rick Shelby, Jeff Koehne, Steve Koehne, Ronald Stephens and Kathy Riley; great-nephew, Bill Apking predeceased her.

Faye became a Christian at the age of 11 at Hopeful Baptist Church. She later moved her letter to Bradley’s Pleasure Baptist Church where she remained a member.

After moving from Nancy to Southfork in Somerset twenty years ago, she attended Beacon Hill Baptist Church. She attended and loved Denham Street Baptist Church special services at Somerset Nursing and Rehabilitation Center as long as her health permitted.

Growing up Faye’s Saturday’s were spent getting dressed up to go to town with her parents for supplies. They would travel in a horse drawn wagon making sure they would return home before dark as there was no paved roads and often so muddy they were almost impassable. Deemed “One of the most beautiful women in Pulaski County”, as quoted by the late Richard Cooper and his brother Senator John Sherman Cooper and others, she remained humble and a virtuous woman with love for only one man. While building and paving West Highway 80 from Somerset to the Russell County line, Goebel met Faye on Fishing Creek Hill… it was love at first sight and they married two years later.

Faye came from humble beginnings with no electricity or inside plumbing until 1947 when the RECC extended service to rural areas. Living on a farm, milk and butter were kept in the spring house in metal containers to keep them cold and sanitary. She has lived through the Great Depression, World War II, and seen many changes in her lifetime including the rationing of gas, shoes, sugar, leather and many other products during wartime. While Goebel was in the U.S. Navy, Faye traveled to New York when he was in port and worked at F.W. Woolworth Co., at the candy counter. She later worked at United Department Store and Catos in Somerset.

Faye was a Florence Nightingale in her community in her younger years. She was the first woman in her area to drive a car in the late 1920’s and she took many elderly people to doctor appointments and sat with the sick and bereaved. She cared for her parents in their home until they passed away. She spent many days and nights wallpapering for the elderly who could no longer perform the task as well as doing many other deeds needing to be done. She could not say no to anyone in need.

Faye and Goebel spent weekends on beautiful Lake Cumberland with their Children picnicking and water skiing or traveling to educational points of interest. Saturday nights would find them at Somerset Speedway tailgating with Grandpa Elmer Sears out of the back of his pickup enjoying a bountiful meal prepared by Faye.

Her hobbies included gardening, cooking and canning for her children. She canned 256 quarts of green beans when she was 95 and took her first plane ride to Davenport, Iowa to her grandson’s graduation at the age of 96 and loved it. She attended the Kentucky Derby with family members when she was 85, went on her first cruise at age 90 and drove her car until the age of 98. She looked forward to traveling with her children and took many Senior Friends trips. One notable trip, she was privileged to see the World Trade Center three months before the total devastation by terrorist on September 11, 2001.

Faye was a lifelong Conservative Democrat and Fall Branch Precinct Chairperson. She was recognized by Pulaski Fiscal Court serving as an election officer for over 50 years. She attended the inauguration of three governors and was instrumental in filling of a charter bus for the inauguration of Gov. Brereton Jones. On her 100^th birthday, she was presented the Congressional Record by Congressman Harold Rogers and recognized on the floor, she was named a Somerset Colonel by Mayor Eddie Girdler and a Pulaski County Colonel by Judge Executive Barty Bullock. Just recently she was presented The Senate of the Commonwealth of Kentucky tribute as part of the Older American’s Month by Senator Rick Girdler, and recognized on the senate floor. She is also a Kentucky Colonel.

Faye loved March Madness and UK Basketball was her passion. She was interviewed by Phil Pendleton and featured on WKYT News during the 2015 SEC Tournament for her love and devotion to Big Blue Basketball. She also was a huge Cincinnati Reds fan and attended many games at Crosley Field and Riverfront Stadium now known as Great American Ball Park.

Faye was blessed with good health and a great life filled with adventure. She attributed her longevity to hard work and staying busy. She got up and dressed up every morning until her health started declining in February. Her motto spoken on her 100^th birthday “If it’s good talk away, if it’s bad stop and pray”.

Her greatest joy was spending time with and cooking for her children and grandchildren. Known as “Little Granny” to her grandchildren, she was the “Apple Of Their Eye”.  No mother or grandmother was more loved and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

The family will receive visitors on Wednesday, December 27^th, 2017 after 5:00 PM at Pulaski Funeral Home.

A service honoring Faye will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, December 28^th, 2017 at Pulaski Funeral Home with her great nephew Bishop Rick Shelby, Kentucky State Youth and Discipleship Director for the Church of God, Lexington, Kentucky officiating; Bro. Lowell Gossett will assist.

Interment will be at Mill Springs National Cemetery following the service.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons and great-grandsons, Brian Thomas, Dr. Tony Sears, Peyton Gover, Aaron Thomas and Austin Thomas, Jacob Ware, Austin Sears, and Chase Sears.

Honorary Pallbearers are; Bob Freeman, Clarence Floyd, Robert Thompson, Kenneth Seibert, Lin Coner, C.V. Hansford, Shelley Gover, Holly Weddle, Tonya Ware, Mike New, Lola Frances Hargis, Linda Coffey, Sharon Young, Tracey Jones, Tonya Ruhland, Jeff Pierce, and Scott Pierce and all the wonderful nursing staff at Somerset Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Pulaski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.