

  <p>Straight, Russell</p>
  <p>Passed: 1996-09-22</p>
  <p>Age: 63</p>


  <p>Source: Jackson Herald</p>

  <p>Death Notice: 1996-09-25</p>

  <p>Obituary Date: </p>
  <p>Information: R&#39;WOOD MORTICIAN RUSS STRAIGHT DIES - Many citizens of Ravenswood say they lost a good friend when Russell Straight died Sunday.  ""He was a quiet man who made a big impact on the community,"" Earl Wolfe said of Straight. ""He did things for people that none of us will ever know about except those he helped"", Mayor Clair Roseberry said Monday.  Lonnie Kelly described his friend Russ as ""the next best thing to a father"".  ""He had compassion. He was a good listener.  I guess he was always there for everyone"".  Perhaps it was because of the profession he chose, (undertaker, funeral home director), or maybe he chose his profession because he was the kind of person the people of Ravenswood learned to depend on.  But his caring way with people went far beyond making them feel better in a time of sorrow.  Wolfe remembers Straight, who was originally from Paden City, when he came to Ravenswood weekends to do his apprenticeship with Burl Chambers while still in college.  After Russ came to Ravenswood to work for Chambers full time, he often drove the ambulance which was provided by the funeral home.  Wolfe remembers Straight was the one who picked him up and took him to Parkersburg when he had a bad accident in the 1950&#39;s.  He was also very instrumental in getting the ambulance service started in Jackson County.         Lion Lonnie Kelly, Mayor Roseberry and Russ Straight traveled all over the state and beyond to Lion&#39;s Club meetings.  Straight served as Zone Chairman, Deputy District Governor and Leadership Chairman for Lion&#39;s Club International.  He received the Melvin Jones Fellowship , an international award; and the Leonard Jarrett Award, the highest state Lion&#39;s award.  He and his wife, Patsy, attended three international conventions.  Mayor Roseberry remembers Straight as being most concerned about youth, wheter it be camps or scholarships.  ""He loaned the kids things for dances, and he was always a soft touch when a student needed to be sponsored for a pageant or some other activity,"" Roseberry said. Straight dabbled briefly in local politics as a city councilman, but preferred to observe and offer an opinion or suggestion when asked.  He was a respected businessman and strong supporter of progress for Ravenswood and the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce.  As an U. S. Army veteran, Straight worked with the VFW and the American Legion to see that all those who died in wars were properly honored on Memorial Day and Veteran&#39;s Day.  He was a dedicated family man and a member of the Gallatin Street Church of Christ.  ""I know I lost a good friend"", Mayor Roseberry said.  A lot of people may not know how good a friend they had in Russ Straight, but they certainly will come to realize it in the months to come.         Straight was born in Paden City, WV, on March 29, 1933, the son of Mansel and Elsie Lallathin Straight.  He is survived by his wife, Patsy McCarty Straight; sons, Mark of Huntington, Brent of Murfreesboro, Tennessee;  daughter, Maria Lee of Bowling Green, Ky.; mother Elsie Straight of Ravenswood; brother, Willard Straight of Paden City; and grandchildren, Nathan and Megan Lee of Bowling Green.  Visitation was Tuesday at Roush Funeral Home, Ravenswood from 2 to 9 p.m.  Services weill be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Roush Funeral Home, with Evangelists Rick Christian and Bob Buchanon.  Burial will be at the Ravenswood Cemetery with military rites.     by:  Lois McCann</p>


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