BERNICE SMITH SHARTZER

Bernice Smith Shartzer, age 97, died at 2:45 pm CDST July 17, 2009 in the home she had lived in for 72 years. Born June 6, 1912, she was the daughter of Oscar and Myrtle Ellen Poole Smith. She married Arnold Shartzer on January 10, 1934.

Educated in a one-room rural school, Caneyville High School, Western Kentucky State Teachers' College, and later, Western Kentucky University, she then taught in one-room schools, including Stinson where she attended as a child. She taught one year for $50 a month, and had to quit after 6 months because the county ran out of money! Most of her teaching career was at Caneyville Grade school where she enjoyed the second grade children until she retired in 1972. Wanting to continue her favorite activity, she did substitute teaching until she was 73. She never stopped teaching. Everyone could come to her for "living history lessons" because she remembered everything that happened to her, and could tell the best stories about how things used to be. Former students, family members, neighbors, and everyone she knew in the Caneyville community could count on her knowledge, compassion, and wisdom when they needed help or someone to celebrate their accomplishments. One of her favorite activities was to send cards to let people know she was thinking of them on special occasions or when they needed a boost. Some days she sent 5 or 6 cards! She loved to write the "Caneyville News", and always added her personal touch to the stories.

The center of Bernice Shartzer's life was around service to God through organizing and facilitating others' spiritual development. As a child of a Pentecostal Minister, she was baptized at 12 years old and became an early member of the Apostolic Church in Caneyville. She organized Sunday school classes and served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Caneyville Holiness Church until it merged with the Leitchfield House of Prayer to form the First Apostolic Church of Millwood. She continued to serve as Secretary/Treasurer of the church for many years. Church members, young and old alike, relied on her wisdom and support to help them walk their spiritual paths, and the organization benefited from her many financial contributions.

She is survived by daughters Bonnie Embrey, Caneyville and Carol June Maker, Tucson AZ; grandsons David Embrey, Caneyville and Glenn Embrey, Georgetown, Kentucky; great grandchildren Mercedes, Mariah, and Brennen Embrey, Edmonton, Kentucky, Owen and Thomas Embrey, Caneyville, and River Clark, Georgetown; granddaughters-in-law Connie Embrey, Cheryl Brown, and Carman Clark; Sisters Veneda McDonald, Anderson Indiana, Ruth Shiver, Carla Donahoo, Shirley Rhodes, Barbara Stanley, and Mary Cupp, Owensboro, Kentucky; brothers Kenneth "Pete" Smith, Gardnerville, Nevada, O T Smith, Crestwood, Kentucky, George and Paul Smith, Owensboro, and Joe T. Smith, Urbana, Illinois; Sisters-in-law Lucille Smith, Greensboro North Carolina, Judith Smith, Gardnerville, Nevada, Dixie Smith and Marie Smith, Owensboro, and Jane Smith, Urbana, Illinois; Brothers-in-law Ed Shiver, Carl Donahoo, James Stanley, and Ed Wayne Cupp; many cousins, nieces, and nephews and a host of former students.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her step-mother, Vivian Turner Smith, brothers Layman, Arthur, Justice, and Jimmy D, sister Jacqueline Pierce, daughter, Martha Jean Shartzer, and son-in-law, Albert G. Embrey.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, (July 22, 2009) at Millwood First Apostolic Church in Millwood. Rev. George Langdon will be officiating. Burial is in the Caneyville Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Dermitt Funeral Home in Caneyville from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. on Monday, 9:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday and after 9:00 a.m. until time of service at the church.