Melissa Anne Smiley

Melissa Anne Smiley, 54, of Cynthiana, passed away Monday, April 10, 2023 at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington.

Born June 22, 1968 in Harrison County, she was a longtime preschool teacher, having taught at Community Action Council and Toyota’s preschool program. Melissa loved attending Milford Christian Church and spending time with her grandbabies. She loved people... her family, friends and life, but most of all God.

Surviving are her mother, Jeannie Whalen Smiley; 3 children: Jared Wayne Hicks, Bridget Louise (Dakota) Rice & Brooke Jeanine (Camron) Schalch; a brother, James (Tammy) Knight; 3 sisters: Trudi (Edward) Rose, Jessica (Gayle “Bimbe”) Beckett & Lisa (Darryl) Gaunce; and 6 grandchildren: Kanaan, Kinlee & Klayton Rice, Brantley & Waylon Earlywine and Aubrey Schalch, along with several nieces & nephews.

Preceding her in death were her father, William Lowell Smiley; a son, Raymond Lowell “Lil Ray” Hicks; maternal grandparents, Harry & Millie Whalen; paternal grandparents, Clarence & Elsie Smiley; an aunt, Kathy Whalen Masterson; and a niece Mallory Brooke Fryman.

Services will be 11:00 A.M. Thursday, April 13th at Drake-Whaley-McCarty Funeral Home by Michael Cannon with burial to follow in Battle Grove Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be Luke Beckett, Zach Beckett, Chris Cooper, James Knight, Dakota Rice, Amos Rose, Jacob Rose and Jaye Whalen.

Honorary bearers will be Jessica Beckett, Lisa Gaunce, Matthew Knight, Tammy Knight, Dr. Brian Mulberry, Bridget Rice, Trudi Rose, Brooke Schalch and her grandchildren.

Visitation will be after 5:00 P.M. Wednesday.

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