Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home

02/05/2026

Debora North

Debora Lee Walker Aker North, age 68, of Middlesboro, Kentucky, passed away on Wednesday, February 3, 2026, at Middlesboro Nursing and Rehab. Born on March 16, 1957, in Pineville, Kentucky, Debora was a woman who made caring for her family her life's work. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting and cooking, but her favorite hobby was spending time with her many family members and friends. She was a devoted mother and she adored her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Debora was preceded in...

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02/05/2026

Leonard "Cotton" Junior Swanson

Leonard Junior "Cotton" Swanson, passed away on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at Baptist Health in Corbin. Born on June 14, 1967, in Cincinnati, OH, he was a son of the late Jimmy and Joann Swanson. Leonard was a man of many talents. He was an exceptional mechanic who also had a knack for roofing. A lover of the outdoors, Leonard found peace and joy in fishing. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Paul...

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02/04/2026

Opal Lou Jackson Trivette

Opal L. Jackson Trivette passed away on Monday, February 2, 2026, at her home in Corbin, Kentucky. Opal grew up in Evarts, KY, in Harlan County. She had a wonderful group of friends from Evarts High School, Class of 1960, with whom she still kept in touch. She met her beloved husband, Jim, at EKU, and they were married on January 13, 1962. She was a devoted and loving wife and partner for 53 years. She was a saint of...

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02/03/2026

Audrey Jean Shelton Johnson

Audrey Jean Johnson, age 81, of Corbin, Kentucky, passed away on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Christian Health Care Center in Corbin. She was born on October 11, 1944, in Knox County, Kentucky. Audrey was a woman of faith, strength, and resilience. Audrey was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Johnson; son, James Ray Johnson; granddaughter, Angel Renee Johnson; parents, Oscar Shelton, and Freda and Lewis Jones; brothers, Kenneth Jones and wife Carolyn, Charles Jones and wife Betty,...

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02/02/2026

Groundhog Day is celebrated in a variety of ways, but we're probably all most familiar with Punxsutawney Phil and the annual gathering at Gobbler's K**b. Would you like to visit Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, or is the movie close enough?

02/01/2026

Whether it's Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Maya Angelou, or Oprah Winfrey, we've all been inspired by the heart and drive of many African Americans throughout our history. This month, as we celebrate African American Heritage Month, who has inspired you the most?

01/30/2026

In order to honor a loved one's life in a meaningful way, adding special touches to the final tribute is essential. But did you know that you can actually personalize the casket itself? You can! Check out this article to learn about 6 ways you can customize a casket to reflect a loved one's personality, interests, and hobbies.

Did you know that you can personalize a casket? Check out this article to learn about six ways you can create a truly one-of-a-kind casket!

01/30/2026

Jeannie Gayle Burkhart

Jeannie Gayle Burkhart, age 59, of Corbin, KY, passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at her home under the care of Bluegrass Care Navigators after a long battle with cancer. Jeannie was born on February 7, 1966, and will be greatly missed by her loving family and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, James Arlis Adams, on October 13, 2007, and her mother, Betty L. Adams, on November 5, 2016. Also, she was preceded in death...

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01/30/2026

Meet Evan R. Grisell!

Evan is the son of Eric and Dawn Grisell. He serves our community as a funeral director, embalmer, and life insurance agent. Growing up, he spent many weekends and summers working at our funeral home.

In 2018, he earned a degree in finance from the University of Kentucky. In 2020, he became licensed through John A. Gupton College. Evan is the seventh generation of the Grisell family in funeral service, carrying on a rich legacy.

In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his family and hiking outdoors. Fun Fact: Evan owns Everlasting Memories, LLC, a granite monument store and cemetery maintenance provider.

To learn more about Evan, visit www.vankirkgrisellfuneralhome.com/about-us/our-staff.

01/28/2026

June Carol Carpenter

She was born July 3, 1947, the daughter of the late Martha and Claude “Bud” Leger. She was the proud mother of four children, and everything she did carried their names written between the lines. She worked hard—not for recognition, not for praise—but because providing, protecting, and loving her family was simply who she was. Her strength showed up every day, steady and dependable, even when life asked more of her than it should have. She was well-liked because she...

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01/27/2026

Mark Anthony Summers

Mark Anthony Summers, age 61, of Barbourville, KY, passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at Barbourville ARH Hospital. Born in Gary, IN, he was the son of the late Joel Summers and Audrey Creel McHargue. Mark worked as a mixer at CTA Acoustics, where he was known for his dedication and strong work ethic. Mark enjoyed the outdoors and loved to fish and hunt whenever he had the chance. He was a natural tinkerer and could often be found...

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01/27/2026

Sharon Gail Wells

Sharon Gail Wells, age 56, of Corbin, KY, passed away on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at Baptist Health Corbin. Born in Knox County, KY, she was the daughter of Amanda Geraldine Smallwood and the late Oakley Smallwood, Sr. Sharon enjoyed the simple joys of life—camping, fishing, sitting by the firepit, and spending meaningful time with her family. She loved to cook and especially enjoyed hosting cookouts, where family and friends gathered to share food, laughter, and memories. In addition to...

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