July 29, 2005

Anna Louise Rushing Boatwright, 81, of Paducah died at 12:25 p.m. Thursday, July 28, 2005, at Western Baptist Hospital.

Mrs. Boatwright was a charter member of Concord United Methodist Church since 1959. She taught the Wesley Sunday school class for 35 years. She was past president of the United Methodist Women, and served on the administrative board and many church committees. She was the oldest of 15 children of Jim and Cora Lee (Legate) Rushing of Lone Oak.

She retired from McCracken County Schools as School Bus Transportation Supervisor, and became known as the "Bus Lady."

As a lifelong Democrat, she had served on the McCracken County Executive Committee since 1972, and on the State Central Committee under the last five governors. She served as an election officer and was actively involved in campaigns on both the state and local levels. She served under four governors as Chairman of the State Water and Recreation Committee. She served as president of the Alben Barkley Democratic Club, and was the recipient of the Alben Barkley Award, which is awarded yearly to an outstanding citizen. She was also appointed a Democratic Lifetime Wendell Ford Delegate.

Mrs. Boatwright was serving her second term as Justice of the Peace for the 3rd District. She was a current member of the McCracken County Planning and Zoning Commission, and was a member of the Foster Care Committee to support and review foster parents for children.

She served as president of Purchase Area Homemakers Extension for three years, president of McCracken County Extension for two years, and president of McCracken County Homemakers. She organized the Golden Girls Homemaker Club and served as president. She was named McCracken County Homemaker of the Year, and also served on the Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association State Board.

Mrs. Boatwright was instrumental in securing support for a satellite program for ovarian cancer screening, and worked with the University of Kentucky to set up free screening across the state.

She was a member of the board of directors of the McCracken County Senior Citizens.

Surviving are one daughter, Pat Dykes and husband, Mike, of Paducah; one son, Mike Boatwright and wife, Kaloia, of Paducah; five sisters, Rebecca Metcalf, Martha "Babe" Perry and Betty Rushing, all of Paducah, Joyce Guhy of Fort Pierce, Fla., and Shirley Meyers of Columbia, Ill.; six brothers, Kenneth, Buddy, Roy and Bob Rushing, all of Paducah, Bill Rushing of St. Louis, and Don Rushing of Fort Pierce; two grandchildren, Dusty Downey and wife, Janea, of Calvert City, and Roger Boatwright and wife, Heather, of Philadelphia; and four great-grandchildren, Johnny and Angela Boatwright, both of Philadelphia and Kim and Laura McCain, both of Lone Oak.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J.W. "Johnson" Boatwright; two sons, State Rep. Johnny Boatwright and Conservation Officer Gary Boatwright; one granddaughter, Lynette Boatwright McCain; one brother, Jimmy Rushing; and two sisters, Allie "Dink" Jones and Margie Schnittger.

Services were Sunday, July 31, 2005, at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with the Revs. Earl Dickerson and Larry Davidson officiating. Burial was in Mount Kenton Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Roger Goodwin, Jonathan Courtney, Eddie Kaletch, Rex Smith, Glenn Denton and Danny Orazine. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Wesley Sunday school class and elected officials of McCracken County.