Anita Jeanette Runyon Word

Anita Jeanette Runyon Word, 66, of Owensboro died Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, at Hospice of Western Kentucky's Heartford House. Born in Chehalis, Washington, Anita was the youngest of six siblings born to her parents, the late Hervie and Ressie Runyon. She grew up loving the outdoors and seeing the views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Saint Helens and Mt. Hood from her front yard. Her love of the mountains and Washington remained throughout her life. As a child, she enjoyed camping and visiting Spirit Lake with her family and babysitting her nieces and nephews. She graduated from Onalaska High School in 1969 and attended Centralia Community College. In 1970, she met the love of her life, Danny Ray Word, a soldier in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. The couple were married Aug. 1, 1970, at the home of her sister and brother-in-law, Mae and Wayne "Vic" Victory. After marrying, the couple moved cross country to her husband's hometown of Owensboro where they built a life together. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend. She retired from Unilever after 27 years. Anita also was a member of the Owensboro Church of Christ.
She lived her life simply and honestly. She was selfless, always putting others before herself, and was quick to tell you to do the right thing and follow the rules. She easily forgave others and was just as easy to love. She enjoyed cooking, watching HGTV, talking with friends and family, laughing, decorating, spending time at the family farm, designing home plans, and gardening. Every blade of grass, every tree, every flower, every bush – she and her husband planted in their yard. An avid sports fan, Anita loved to watch all things UK, especially the Wildcat basketball team. She also was a Seattle Seahawks and Mariners fan. Anita and Danny loved to travel and spent many trips driving cross country, visiting family in Washington state. Family meant everything to Anita. Despite living away from her Washington family, she always kept in touch with and wanted to always remain a part of their lives. This was important to her.
Aside from her parents, Anita is preceded in death by her brother, Glen Runyon, mother-in-law Ola Word, father-in-law Glendel Word, nephew Steve Victory, grandparents Dallas and Ida Bogar and Moses and Polly Runyon, and brother-in-law Marvin Case.
Survivors include her husband, Danny Word of Owensboro; daughter Jeanette (Michael) Noone of Owensboro; son Danny Word Jr. of Crofton; granddaughters Rebecca (Kyle Major) Word and Alexa (Chris Hardesty) Word, both of Owensboro; soon-to-be great-grandson Easton Major, daughter-in-law Lisa Word of Owensboro; sister Mae (Vic) Victory of Centralia, Washington; brothers LeRoy (Ellie) Runyon of Rochester, Washington, Clarence (Louise) Runyon, and Clyde (Caron) Runyon of Cinebar, Washington; sisters-in-law Shirley Degler of Owensboro and Sharon Runyon of Kingman, Arizona; nephews Kenny Victory of Centralia, Darrel (Charlotte) Runyon and Jeff Runyon of Chehalis, Dallas Runyon of Hawaii, and Duane (Beth) Case of Owensboro; nieces Luana (Mike) Kain and Roxanne (Brad) Bond, both of Chehalis, Joanne Coghlan of Rochester, Tami Runyon of Fairfield, Idaho, Denise (Ron) Shipley of Dallas, Oregon, Raeann (John) Spurlin of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Julie (Mike) Dean of Whitesville; special friends Judy Roby, Rosie Clark, Marianne McPherson, Jim and Brenda Daily, Tamara Zaborac-Payton, Debbie Zaborac, and Linda and Greg Oakley, special cousins Ethel Strickland, Steve and Vickie Word, Chad Word, and Brett Word; and a host of cousins, great-nieces and nephews, friends and extended family.
A memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday at Owensboro Church of Christ. Visitation is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory.
Memorial contributions may be made to Owensboro Church of Christ, 3300 Kentucky 144, Owensboro, KY 42303. Condolences may be left for the family at www.glenncares.com.