The tornadoes that struck Friday night in Arkansas and Illinois left property and lives in ruins. They also hit parts of neighboring states. At least 41 tornadoes were recorded by the National Weather Service, 16 in Tennessee and eight within Kentucky.
A funeral home in western Kentucky was prepared to receive the families of loved ones who have lost their loved ones, while also grieving its own losses.
Beshear Funeral Home, Dawson Springs, was planning for at least four funerals for storm victims in the coming days and must catch up on funerals that were delayed by the storm, according to Jenny Beshear Sewell (a cousin of Kentucky’s governor).
Two sisters, who worked at the funeral home in small western Kentucky town, died from storm-related causes.
Carole Grisham, 80, and Marsha Hall, 72 were able to ride it out in their home during the tornado’s descent in the darkness of the night. Sewell spoke by phone Wednesday. The basement-less home was destroyed.
Sewell stated that Hall, who was a regular at the funeral home had worked hard Friday hours before she succumbed to the storm. Hall said goodbye to her coworkers as she left the office.
Hall received a text from Sewell as the tornado was approaching. She gave Hall an update about the storm’s path, and asked the sisters to take shelter in the basement of the funeral home or a basement at a church. Hall responded “OK” to the text from Sewell, the last time she received a message from the employee she considered a family member.
The business of laying the remains to rest will not wait. A funeral service was planned at the funeral home for a woman who’s funeral was postponed last Saturday due to the storm. “Everybody will need to get warm if the natural gas supply isn’t restored after services resume.” Sewell stated that this is the best we can do.
Arrangements for Grisham & Hall are still pending, but a double burial is expected, Sewell stated.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear pledged $5,000 to each victim’s family to pay for burial costs. With 74 deaths so far, the state was the most affected.
Madisonville in western Kentucky mourns the loss of a couple who were killed by the twister that ripped through Dawson Springs.
Mike Eckert’s nephew Jeffrey Eckert, 70 years old, recalled his uncle being “mysterious” and “cool”. He recalled his uncle owning a boat, playing in different bands and buzzing his house after he had earned his pilot’s licence to let his family know it was time for him to meet them at the airport.
Many mourners wore animal print in memory of Jeffrey Eckert’s wife, Jennifer Eckert (69), who loved to wear them. Kathy Moore, her niece, is fondly remembered for her chocolate merengue pie recipes and her love of her grandchildren.
Moore stated that her grief was temperated by the memories and relationships Jennifer Eckert left behind.
Moore stated that relationships are the most important thing in life. “Life must end. Love does not.”
The grief has also extended to Florida, where a father and his son were killed while on vacation at a West Tennessee resort.
Steve Gunn was with his 12-year-old son Grayson at the Cypress Point Resort. This resort is a popular spot for anglers and hunters. They will be buried in Florida on Saturday.
Sandy Gunn, his sister, said that he couldn’t have gone to Walmart without being stopped by a hundred people. “His son was everything you dreamed of as a child.”
Jamie Hall, her brother-in-law and hunter, was also part of the group. He is still missing.
She said, “Our world is broken.” “I am terrified every time the phone rings. My brother-in-law was the most kind and gentle man I could have ever known.”
A vigil was held in Mayfield earlier this week to remember the victims of the tornado that flattened a Kentucky candle factory. Robert Daniel, a deputy jailer, was among the eight victims. He was escorting inmates from the factory. He will be buried on Saturday.
Makayla Wadkins (24), helped to set up a temporary memorial in downtown Mayfield. The fence was covered with flyers that included color photos and the names of the victims.
Wadkins from Kirksey said, “We’re just going allow the families to have somewhere to grieve and be surrounded by flowers and beauty.”
