HORSE BRANCH, Ky. — Bernice Evenell Watson Cecil, 95, of Horse Branch, passed away Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, at the Ohio County Healthcare Facility in Hartford, Kentucky. She was born at home in Horse Branch on Oct. 20, 1925, the daughter of Theodore and Ollie Renfrow Watson.
She moved to Louisville, Kentucky, after graduating high school in 1943, where she lived until returning back to Grayson County, Kentucky, to reside with her daughter, Diane Cecil Scott, in Horse Branch in 2015. She retired from PNC Bank in 1990 and was a devoted Catholic attending the St. Matthias Church. She helped with the gift shop at the U of L Hospital, enjoyed going out with friends for lunch, and most importantly helped with her grandkids.
She worked alongside all of the “Great Generation” in the war effort during World War II. She worked in a factory making and inspecting floors for airplanes used during this time. She also studied aeronautics her senior year of high school as did all of the girls in order to keep the boys from being drafted until they graduated high school.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Cecil; her brother, Bill Watson; her grandson, James Scott; and great-grandson, Zachory Scott.
She is survived by her daughter, Diane Cecil Scott; her grandson, Daniel Scott; her granddaughter, Megan Cockerel; three great-grandchildren, Christopher Scott, Olivia Cockerel, and Natalie Scott; and several nieces & nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10, at the Caneyville Memorial Chapel. She will be laid to rest in the Louisville Memorial Gardens West. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.
Caneyville Memorial Chapel is both honored and privileged to be entrusted with the care of Mrs. Cecil.