County Line • Winter 2026 • In memoriam

John Murry Ballou, 83, passed away Dec. 28. He previously served as sheriff in Adair County and was a veteran in the U.S. Army.

Donald Doyel, 85, passed away Jan. 24. He previously served as judge/executive in Edmonson County during the mid-80s.

Jerry “Peanuts” Gaines, 88, passed away Oct. 22. He previously served as sheriff in Warren County from 1978-82 and 1987-2018. Prior to that, he served as a magistrate. He was president of KACo in 2014, a founding member of the Kentucky Sheriffs Association Boys and Girls Ranch, a five-time president of KSA, 1995 National Sheriff of the Year and president of the National Sheriffs Association in 2000-01. He was an Army veteran.

John Thomas “Johnny” Gingles, 74, passed away Jan. 6. He previously served as magistrate in Calloway County for 23 years.

John Goble, 72, passed away Dec. 29. He previously served as coroner in Scott County for 19 years and was a veteran of the Marine Corps. He served on the KACo Board of Directors 2011-18.

Jimmy Groves, 91, passed away Feb. 5. He previously served six terms as circuit court clerk in Todd County and one term as president of the Kentucky Association of Circuit Court Clerks, later serving as chairman of the Education Committee. He was a U.S. Army veteran.

William Harold “Willie” Harper, 44, passed away Nov. 19. He was serving in his first term as jailer for Caldwell County.

Michael Helmig passed away Jan. 27. He retired last spring after 27 years of service as sheriff in Boone County.

Forrest Richard Hicks, 66, passed away Nov. 20. He was serving as coroner for Wayne County and was a past president of the Kentucky Coroners Association.

Donnie Keeton, 57, passed away Nov. 26. He was in his second term as magistrate of District 2 in Morgan County.

Melvin “Blue” Lakes, 78, passed away Dec. 23. He previously served as coroner in Jackson County for 20 years.

John W. Muster IV, 78, passed away Dec. 3. He previously served as coroner in McLean County with more than 55 years of service as coroner or deputy coroner.

John C. Price, 69, passed away Dec. 23. He previously served as county attorney in Fleming County for 28 years.

Aubrey Wayne Russ, 51, passed away Nov. 17. He was serving as Butler County jailer.

Danny Odell Walker, 73, passed away Nov. 18. He previously served as magistrate in Lyon County.

Ronald “Ronnie” Wardrip, 74, passed away Nov. 28. He previously served as sheriff in Garrard County for 16 years. He was an Army veteran.

Mark Wells, 72, passed away Dec. 31. He previously served as magistrate in Christian County.

Tony Wolfe, 61, passed away Oct. 13. He was serving his fourth term as magistrate in Allen County.