Juanita (Shepherd) Williamson

Juanita Shepherd Williamson, age 82, of Morehead, KY, passed away Thursday, March 13, 2025.

Born November 6, 1942, in Pyramid, KY, near David, in Floyd County, she was a daughter of the late Gold and Gracie Layne Shepherd.  Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Harold Shepherd, Frank Shepherd and infant Eugene Shepherd, and two sisters, Ethel Mullins and Helen Klingler.  Her beloved son, Billy Joe Williamson, Jr., passed away May 11, 2024, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. 

Survivors to cherish her memory include her husband of 61 years, Billy Williamson, Sr.; her eldest son, Michael (Kim) Williamson of Morehead; her daughter, Lisa Williamson (Sandy) Gibbs; of Morehead; six grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

Also four sisters, Mary Trimble of Salyersville, KY, Caryol Allen of Eastern, KY, Lynn Fletcher of Gunlock, KY, and Anna Caldwell of Salyersville, KY; a host of nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews; two sisters-in-law, Charity Shepherd of Gunlock, KY and Lois Hatter of Falcon, KY; and her LDS church sisters and brothers. 

The family thanks ALL caregivers of the last 9 years to “Wandy, as she was known to them, but especially Jessica Oliver and her family. Glenn Vaughan has been a provider of invaluable assistance.

A 1964 graduate of Cumberland College, Juanita began teaching in West Van Lear, Kentucky, English classes (including some high school drama units) to substitute teaching in the late 1960s and 70s in Fleming and Rowan County schools. 

In the 1970s she was an award winning ARTEX paint saleslady, a sometime guitar picker and singer of folk tunes, and did “String Art,” quilting, knitting, crocheting and canning from the “victory” garden produce to drying apples and making Bill Sr.’s grapes into jelly, blackberry jams, and other pantry preparations.  Juanita was a taxi for cheerleading, numerous sports and band practices and events during the 70s and into the 80s.

In the 1980s, she started a hobby home business of “Machine Quilting,” and with help from Bill, Sr., quilted bordered and bound numerous hand-stitched quilt tops on her sun porch (estimates range from 1,000 or more over a span of several years).

Visitation will be Monday, March 17, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Northcutt and Son Home for Funerals in Morehead (400 Fraley Drive) and Tuesday from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. at the Owingsville Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 A funeral service will be Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 12 p.m. at the Owingsville Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1954 KY 36, just south of I-64 Exit 121 in Owingsville) with Bishop John Nelson officiating.  Granddaughter Sarah Vaughan will provide family reflections.

Interment will follow in New Alfrey Cemetery in Morehead.  Pallbearers will be Harland Hatter, Mike Williamson, Jacob Williamson, Lee Adkins, Glenn Vaughan, Darin Vaughan.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Kerber, Steven Vaughan, Doug Trimble, Dustin Oliver, Dakota Oliver, Charlie Oliver.

https://zoom.us/j/96677500976 - the service will be livestreamed on this link.

Arrangements for Juanita Shepherd Williamson are under the direction of Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals.

Sign guestbook at www.northcuttandson.com

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