Elles Guest Obituary

Mr. Elles Ray "Jim" Guest, Jr., age 99, a Bardstown resident, passed away Monday July 7, 2025 at Carl M. Brashear Radcliff Veterans Center. He was born June 18, 1926 in Hahira, Georgia to the late Eunice Peters and Elles Ray Guest, Sr. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jeanette Guest, two sons Don Smith, and Jerry Smith, a granddaughter, Francine (Franny) Smith, and two grandsons, Donald and Derek Smith. He is survived by three daughters, Mary (Steve) Hagan of Bardstown, Ky., Cheryl (Bert Trentel) Faulkner of Melbourne, Fla., Theresa Jung of Savannah, Ga., two sons, Frank (Sharon) Smith Jr., of Shepherdsville, Ky., Joe Paul ( Patsy) Smith of Ballground, Georgia, and one brother, Larry Guest of Alabama.
Mr. Guest retired from the U. S. Army, as a decorated Command Sgt. Major, after serving 32 and a half years. He served in WWII, Korea, and The Vietnam War. He was a 50 year plus member of The American Legion Old Kentucky Home Post 121 and later Post 42. He served as a Vice Commander, Financial Officer and Chaplain. Jim was also a member of The Masonic Lodge 466 in Dothan, Alabama. He was a dedicated father to his family. He also had 15 grandchildren, and 25+ great grandchildren. He was an avid reader and loved to work crossword puzzles in his spare time. Mr. Guest enjoyed listening to music, especially The Big Bands Era and enjoyed dancing.
Mr. Guest was inducted into the Kentucky Veteran's Hall of Fame in 2020. He also received the Presidential Lifetime Volunteer Award. Mr. Guest was a member of the Veterans Overseas Deployment Teams. He has an area that is specifically dedicated to him, at the Hal Moore Museum in Bardstown, Ky.
Funeral Services for Mr. Jim Guest will be 11:00 am Monday, July 14, 2025 at the Houghlin-Greenwell Funeral Home in Bardstown, KY. Chaplain Steve Orr will officiate. Interment will be in St. Joseph Church Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, July 13, 2025 from 4:00-8:00 pm. Dr. Peter Trzop will share Mr. Guest's eulogy Sunday at 7:00 pm. Additional visitation will be Monday after 9:00 am until time of the funeral service. The Houghlin-Greenwell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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