Jolly Hensley age 81 of Salyersville, Kentucky passed away Monday, May 17, 2021 at the Pikeville Medical Center in Pikeville, Kentucky.
He was born February 10, 1940 in Salyersville, Kentucky to the late Sam and Ethel Howard Hensley.
Jolly is survived by one son, Clarence (Stacy) Hensley of Salyersville, Kentucky, four sisters, Maxine Hensley of Salyersville, Kentucky, Clissie (Don) Lykins of Ohio, Pruda Myers and Freda McNew, both of Salyersville, Kentucky, five grandchildren, Cassie Hensley (Curtis) Koons, Corie Hensley (Derrick) Bevins, Mynah Hensley (Aaron) Howard, Brock (Brandy Haney) Pinks, Brandon (Rikki) Pinks, ten great grandchildren, Ashton Pinks, Jackson Pinks, Riley Minix, Maddie Bevins, Greyson Bevins, Isabella Bevins, Jameson Koons, Hayden Koons, Evan Koons, and Tuff Scott Howard.
In addition to his parents, Jolly is preceded in death by his wife, Linda Isaac Hensley and one granddaughter, Victoria Lindsey Hensley.
Funeral services were conducted Friday, May 21, 2021 from the Magoffin County Funeral Home Chapel with Rick Howard officiating.
Burial followed in the Grover Howard Cemetery at the Mouth of Coon Creek, Kentucky.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Magoffin County Funeral Home.
www.magoffincountyfuneralhome.com
EULOGY
Welcome friends and family, and thank you for being here this morning to celebrate the life of a great man, Jolly Hensley. It is never easy to say goodbye, but it is with immeasurable grief that we gather here to say it to a man as special as Jolly. Jolly was born on February 10, 1940, in Magoffin County Kentucky to the late Sam and Ethel Hensley. He was a loving husband to his dear Linda who preceded him in death. Together they poured their hearts into their one son Clarence, and from that loving son came 6 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
That family was Jolly’s reason for living, they were his entire world and anyone close to Jolly knew it. Within minutes of meeting Jolly, the conversation would quickly turn to them. Whether it was him talking about his newest great grandchild or just conversation about their last visit to Lick Creek, he always had something to brag about. Family held such a special place in his heart, that he would and often, did give them anything they desired.
When his grand girls were younger, people would often see him with them in his lap as he drove his truck down what he referred to as ‘the lane’. Many days after that drive, he would take them to one of his favorite country stores and let them pile the counter high with as much as their tiny hands could carry. As time marched on, those grand girls would make him a great grandfather. One of his favorite things to do was take his great grandchildren to the barn and watch them feed the animals. His memory will live on as those grandchildren remember those summer days in the barn where he let them pretend to drive the tractors. He always said he had some rough and tough great grandsons, but his baby girl, Bella, was the boss of them all and kept them in line just like her Mamaw Linda would have.
He lived a long life, full of immeasurable love, and hard work. As most of you know, he did not sit still for long. He went to bed before sunset and was wide awake fixing breakfast before it rose, as if it were some sort of victory over the sun itself. He joked that his sister Maxine would sleep the morning away. Every morning he would walk in her front door at 7:30 just to tease and ask “have you burned those biscuits yet?”.
He spent most of his life working sun up to sun down and was most happy when he was busy. From road construction with Mountain Enterprise, to farming, he gave it his all each and every day. In his younger days, he enjoyed fox hunting and did every weekend until he couldn’t. In recent years, if he wasn’t working in the barn or tending to his garden, you could find him joking around with his ‘lil buddy Raymond,’ or sitting under his favorite shade tree watching traffic, eating lunch, or taking a nap. Most recently, his favorite pastime was to sit around at Samuel Lyon’s or Mamaw’s grocery, sometimes going from one to the next, and then back again, talking and visiting with friends and family.
Years ago, when Linda passed, Jolly told his grand girls, “we are going to be okay, the pain only lasts a little while but the memories of her last forever.” Today, those words of comfort echo true in our hearts. It’s never easy to say goodbye, but grief is the price we pay for a love as special as the one we feel here this morning.
