William Southerland Jr

William "Bill" Southerland, Jr., age 87, of Somerset, departed this life on December 2, 2010 at his residence.

He was born on January 28, 1923 in Pittsburg, KY, in Laurel County, to the late William and Ann Vaughn Southerland, Sr. He was a retired Steam Service Man with CMS Energy in Michigan. Prior employment included coal mining with Kennmont Coal Company (eight years). He served his country during WW II in the Army, Company A Signal Corp, attaining the rank of Grade T-5. He was of the Baptist faith.

Bill enjoyed hunting (deer, rabbit and squirrel) and fishing. He was a stickler for obeying the Wildlife Conservation Laws and preserving nature. He also enjoyed traveling, camping, the outdoors and watching the Atlanta Braves Baseball games. He derived much pleasure in using chain saws, string trimmers and other tool and equipment as well as burning tree limbs and debris, to clean and maintain the environment. He loved the Lord, his family and his fellow man. Bill was a member of the National Rifle Association and of Moose International, Inc.

Bill was married to Alberta Dunigan Southerland on May 6, 1942, in Perry County, KY and she departed this life on November 9, 1976, in Michigan with six children coming from this union: three daughters, Brenda Southerland (and Jake) Powell of Virginia, Rita Southerland (and Gary) Stoner of Michigan, and Betty Southerland (and Mike) Crutchman of Virginia; and three sons, William Steve Southerland of Virginia and Larry (and Pam) Southerland of Michigan and Garry Southerland (deceased).

Bill married Josie Gadberry Denney in Faubush, KY on September 1, 1983 and she departed this life May 5, 2010. With this union, he became a loving second father to eight step-children: Arnold Winston (and Kay) Denney of Bronston, KY, James Phillip (and Patty) Denney of Wyoming, DE, Jackie Eugene (and Marie) Denney of Unicoi, TN, Bill (and Sue) Denney of Faubush, KY, Evelyn Marie (and Desmon Keith) Dalton of Somerset, KY, Janice Louise Denney Marcum of Somerset, KY, Kathryn Sue (and Eddie) Corder of Monticello, KY, and Karen Elaine Denney Mofield of Nancy, KY. This leaves Bill with a total of thirty-one grandchildren and step grandchildren; and forty-eight great grandchildren and step great grandchildren and some great-great-grandchildren.

Preceding Bill in death were his parents, William and Ann Vaughn Southerland, Sr.; two wives, Alberta Dunigan Southerland and Josie Gadberry Denney Southerland; a son, Garry Southerland; a grandson, Lonnie Tower; one brother, Roy Lee Southerland; three sisters, Cora Southerland Harris, Nora Southerland Garlock and Ella Southerland Browning; and two step-sons-in-law, Joe Moistner and Johnnie Henderson.

Visitation for Mr. Southerland will be on December 4th, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at Lake Cumberland Funeral Home, 1046 West Highway 80, Somerset.

Funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on December 5th, 2010 at the Chapel of Lake Cumberland Funeral Home with Bro. J.S. New, Bro. Bruce Conley, and Bro. David Muse officiating. Burial will be at Lakeside Memorial Gardens on Monday, December 6th, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

The family requests expressions of sympathy be made to the Denham Street Baptist Church Building Fund, Gideons Memorial Bible Plan and/or Hospice of Lake Cumberland.