Mr. Haskell Ardith Markwell, age 85, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 21, 2023, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born Friday, September 10, 1937, in Elliott County, Kentucky, a son of the late Cecil and Maude Bell Knipp Markwell.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six brothers, Hazel Markwell, Tracy Markwell, Willard Markwell, Alva Ray Markwell, Milton “Robie” Markwell and Willis Markwell; three sisters, Nola Thornsberry, Essie Risner and Velda Jewell Markwell.
He is survived by his wonderful wife and soulmate of nearly 64 years, Violet Roseberry Markwell. Haskell and Violet were for the most part inseparable. You rarely saw one without the other and they truly took care of one another. On the rare occasions that Violet wasn’t out helping Haskell on the farm, she sent him off with an enormous jug of ice water and he drove the tractor back to the house to eat the lunch that she always had ready for him. He kept her entertained with his silliness and loved to aggravate her by trying to get her to get up and dance with him if a favorite tune came on. For many years, every Saturday morning, he drove her to get her hair done.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his two daughters and sons-in-law, Viola and William Waddell, Alice and Bill Bradley, all of Olive Hill, Kentucky; six grandchildren and their spouses, Chesla and Kevin Winkleman of Sandy Hook, Kentucky, Kelly and Jeremy Benton of Longview, Texas, Channing Knipp of Los Angeles, California, Chaston and Natasha Knipp of Olive Hill, Kentucky, Bradford and Kayla Bradley, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, and Kaitlin and Issac Brown of Wallingford, Kentucky; eight great-granchildren, Chase, Tommy, Harrison, Piper, Avery, Lucas, Parker and Lainey, who will be arriving in the fall; one brother, Louie Markwell of Morehead, Kentucky; two honorary grandchildren, Aiden & Allie Jo Pennington.
It would be hard to describe Haskell without using the word “farm”, for he was a man of his land. His farm was his pride and joy and from sunrise to sundown you could find him tending to his cattle, working in the hayfield, fixing fences, cutting up trees for firewood, etc. His routine was so set in stone that on any given Christmas Eve, his family sat around the tree, staring at one another, until he finished feeding the cows and came home to wash up so they could open gifts. His barn was like his temple and there was a certain place for every tool and object inside. If you were helping him put things away, or locking up, he was probably coming right behind you to make sure you did it his way. If his barn was his temple then his John Deere tractor was his chariot. He’d make sure it was locked up tighter than Fort Knox at the end of the work day. He loved locks and had a keyring like nothing you’ve ever seen. Many times he worked alone but, more often than not, Violet and/or his grandson Chaston were with him to lend a hand. In later years he developed an unlikely friendship with a stray dog named Bozo who became part of the family. Haskell was not really a “pet person” but Bozo became his ride along farm buddy, jumping on the back of the truck to go with him into the “holler” til the end of the work day.
Despite his incomparable work ethic, he was also one of the most fun people to be around. He loved music and had a way of dancing with his hands first and feet second. He loved to sing and didn’t care whether he could carry a tune or not. He loved TV. Anytime his grandchildren were over, there was a safe bet there was going to be a war over what they all watched that night and an even safer bet, that Haskell had the final say. Sanford and Son, Bonanza, and Gunsmoke were some of his favorites. WWF was also one of his nightly watches until they “started talking bad” and later WLJC, the gospel music channel, became his and Violet’s nightly program. He was a master checker player and you could often find him at the Globe Feed Store playing whomever was brave enough to take him on. He argued with telemarketers so often that one could wonder if he just answered the phone for fun. He was a member of the Church of God for many, many years and could most always be seen on a Sunday morning wearing his fedora hat with a feather sticking from the brim.
He was a man unlike any other. A man who would drive a county over just to save a few pennies on gas and routinely brushed his teeth on the front porch every morning, because, you were not allowed to spit in the bathroom sink. He loved Long John Silver’s just as much as he hated having his hair messed up. He would do anything for you at the drop of a hat and ask for nothing in return (except maybe a day of help in the hayfield). He was the best husband, father, and grandfather that anyone could ask for. He was a hardworking but silly, genuine and quirky, one of a kind man who will be missed dearly.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Friday, May 26, 2023 at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky with Brother Elijah Wagoner, Brother Tippy Price, Brother Steve Madden and Brother Justin Wagoner officiating. Entombment will follow in the Garvin Ridge Cemetery in Olive Hill, Kentucky.
Friends may visit from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023 and after 9 a.m, on Friday until the service hour at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky.
Chaston Knipp, Channing Knipp, Bradford Bradley, Roger Markwell, Kevin Winkleman and Isaac Brown will serve as pallbearers.
William Waddell, Bill Bradley, Johnny Markwell, Willie Markwell, Paul Reynolds, Mark Burton, Mark Orcutt, Darrell Price, Louie Keaton and William Hall will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky is caring for all arrangements for Mr. Haskell Ardith Markwell.
