Mrs. Ethel Ruth Slusher, 96, of Gray, departed this life on Tuesday morning, September 15, 2026 at the Hillcrest Health and Rehabilitation Center in Corbin. She was born on June 17, 1930 in Gray, the daughter of the late Ashley S. and Arletta “Lettie” Clouse Garland.
On September 1, 1948, she united in marriage with Claude “Crook” Edgar Slusher, who preceded her in death on July 10, 2010. After living fifteen years at Tinsley with her husband and four children, they moved to Gray.
She was a Christian and member of the Richland Christian Church for more than 80 years. She served the Lord as church treasurer, Sunday school teacher, church pianist, VBS teacher, youth camp cook, helped with the sick and any other way she could be of service. It was always a joy for her to lovingly give away blankets to warm someone’s heart. Being a talented seamstress, Ethel was always ready to design and sew what her family needed, or wanted, including wedding and prom dresses, cheerleading and drill team uniforms and the occasional patches on jeans. She made good use of denim and other fabrics by making quilts and throws for family members. If a haircut was needed, she would be ready with barber scissors in hand.
She was a sweet, caring and loving mother. Her cooking skills provided tasty family favorites, like biscuits, beef stew, white half-runners with potatoes and cornbread, banana pudding, peach cobbler, peanut butter cookies and especially, her fried apple pies.
Ethel was always interested in genealogy and enjoyed discovering connections with more and more family members as her research developed.
Along with her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Barry Miller; siblings, Vernon Garland, Lee Garland, Lurene Steele, her twin sister Effie Lawson, Rose Campbell and infant twins, Anna and Allen Garland; several nieces, nephews, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Being the matriarch of five generations, Ethel leaves behind to mourn her passing her children, Dianna Slusher Adams and husband, Wayne, of Barbourville, Rodney Slusher and wife, Martha, of Lagrange, GA, Karen Slusher Jackson and husband, Wil, of Rock Hill, SC and Peggy Slusher Lawhon Miller of Brentwood, TN; grandchildren, Jennifer Adams Warren and husband, David, Jeffrey Adams, Leah Jackson Beal and husband, Gary, Brandy Slusher Mihaly and husband, Greg, Andrew Jackson and wife, Brynn, Kelly Lawhon Creekmore and husband, DC, Brian Slusher and wife, Selema, Aaron Jackson and husband, Thomas, Heather Lawhon Fussell and husband, Brian, Jared Jackson and Dustin Lawhon and wife, Becca; step-grandchildren, Crystal Deyton and husband, Shane, Mindy Dettmering and husband, Troy, Danniel Neuhart and husband, Nick, Dylana Miller Machurek and husband, Matthew, and Haley Miller Price and husband, Josh; great-grandchildren, Devan Warren Miles and husband, Ricky, Deryn Warren and fiancé, Jonathan, Jaxen Warren and fiancée, Whitney, Ethan Slusher, Arden Beal, Ivy Beal, Cooper Jackson, Ruby Jackson, Ves Creekmore, Cole Creekmore and Leira Lawhon; step great-grandchildren, Nikki Stevenson, Jason Stevenson, Autumn Tomlin, William Dettmering, Addison Dettmering, Cayden Bowen, Nicholas Neuhart, Delilah Neuhart, Samantha Neuhart and Wesley Machurek; great-great grandchildren, Jensen Miles, Amelia Miles, Karlee Baker and Kamryn Warren; brother-in-law, Dallas Faye Slusher; sisters-in-law, Gerial Slusher, Shirley Slusher, Phyllis Slusher and Laura Slusher; numerous nieces and nephews; among other loved ones and dear friends who will cherish her memory.
Her funeral service will be conducted in the chapel of the Knox Funeral Home Saturday, September 19 at 6 P.M. with Bro. Wiley Smith officiating. She will be laid to rest in the Clouse Cemetery Sunday, September 20 at 11 A.M.
Casket bearers will be family and friends.
Friends may visit at the funeral home Saturday after 5 P.M. until the funeral hour. Family and friends will meet at the funeral home Sunday at 10:30 A.M. to travel in procession to the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests contributions to the Richland Christian Church, Attn. Wayne Rowlette, 357 KY 1232, Gray, KY 40734 in memory of Ethel Slusher.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Knox Funeral Home.
