Miss Ollie Withers

On a spring day in June 1942, probably good fishing weather, a little girl was born whose life would leave an impact on everyone with whom she came in contact. Her parents, the late Oma Goosey Stamper and the late Roy Reeves Goosey, named her Ollie. She would go on to attach the names Newton and then Withers to the maiden name of Goosey and earn nicknames like Tonnie and Maw, but she was known best as Miss Ollie. She was the first of seven daughters and shared a very special bond with each of her younger sisters; Susie Phillips, Nettie Faye Conley, Ruth Young, Carlie Stevens, Elizabeth (Kenneth) Mays, and Louemma (Algin C.) Stamper, and all of their children and grandchildren. Her family and the role that only she could play in it was the most important thing to her, coming in second place only to her unwavering faith. This is where she drew her strength and left her legacy. Miss Ollie’s life was blessed with many good deeds and relationships too numerous to name. She felt most accomplished in her role as mother to her eight children, all of whom she loved dearly; her four sons, Jesse and Albert Newton and James and Joseph Withers and her four daughters, Jeannie Hyde, Cheryl Sue Snelson, Sarah Canode, and Rita Withers-Chrisman. As her children married, she gained additional children, not merely sons and daughters in law. Once her child, so you remained, including Rhoda and Janet Withers, Travis Todd Canode, Anthony Chrisman, Tony Snelson, Zara Evans, Gilbert Hyde, Vanessa Brandenburg Newton, Linda Adams, Tina Stevens and Billy Smith, Jr. In true grandmother fashion, Miss Ollie tried her best to spoil her 15 grandchildren and their spouses; Natasha, Mary Beth, Patricia, Travis, Caitlin, Marie, Nathan, Jamie, Jonathan, Morgan, Cameron, Bryce, Easton and her namesakes, Ivy Mae and Hollie, her six special grandchildren; Josh, Hannah, Malia, Melissa, Donnie and Michael and her 19 great-grandchildren. She also never missed the opportunity to share her green thumb, love of rag rolling, wisdom, fish bait and the occasional chew of tobacco with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. This included special extended family, James Gumm, Leeoma McIntosh, and Tricia & Thomas Cook. Miss Ollie’s faith and love of God only grew stronger as she traversed her fair share of loss and grief. She was preceded to Heaven by her parents and step-father Charlie “Foxy” Stamper, her 1st husband Herman Newton and late husband Elmer Withers, brothers in law James Russell and Algin Stamper, “Bug” Young, and Harold Phillips, nephews Charlie Brooks and Charlie Phillips, her beloved grandmother Susan Francis Reece, two very special friends, Helen Gumm and Oberean Newton, and a host of other family and friends. She struggled for many years with her own devastating illness, yet through it all, her love and caring for her family and her unwavering faith remained her focus. The grace with which she faced each chapter of her life serves as a beacon of light that she left for her loved ones to follow. In this way, she will never truly leave us. Last but certainly not least, Mill Ollie is survived by her family at the Wolfe County Health and Rehabilitation Center, Fresenius Kidney Care in Jackson, Kentucky, and the members of the Lee and Wolfe County Ambulance Services, all of whom were integral in providing her with the highest level of care, dignity and respect during the last leg of her earthly journey. Miss Ollie gained her Heavenly glory on February 1, 2019 at the age of 76, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy of faith, unconditional love and a testimony of God’s grace. She will be laid to rest beside her husband Elmer in Hamilton Cemetery, Beattyville, Kentucky on Sunday, February 10th, following her celebration of life service at Newnam Funeral Home from 11 am-2 pm, Dr. Avis Thompson officiating. Pallbearers include Thomas Cook, Justin Wade, Tony Williams, Jordan Wade, Anthony Chrisman, Billy Smith, Jr., Todd Canode, Tony Snelson, Josh Hacker, and Jennifer Smith. Honorary Pallbearers include the Wolfe County Ambulance Service Members