Elihu C. Asher

The Obituary of Mr. Elihu C. Asher Elihu C. Asher, born August 30, 1925 departed this life on March 18, 2008. He was the youngest of six children born to McKinley Asher and Grace Mosley Asher of Hyden, Kentucky. As a child his mother would send him out to catch a chicken for supper because she would tell him he was as quick as a cat and the only child within ten miles of town who was faster than a flying bird . She would tell him that if he did not catch supper, that they would starve to death. His three older brothers would take him on their fishing expeditions. This meant that he had to do all of the grunt work, but he didnt mind since he was learning how to fish. Elihu was known for being the best point-guard basketball player of Leslie County High School, because of his speed, agility and scoring. Elihu graduated from Leslie County High School in 1942, then attended Berea College in Berea, Kentucky on a basketball scholarship. While in School Elihu felt a need to honor the greatest nation in the world and his family so he enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 16, 1944 at Fort Thomas, Kentucky during World War II. Upon entering the army, he was a truck driver and delivered supplies to the troops. He then moved into communications as a decoder of enemy transmissions, and had this job until the war ended. Elihu joked by telling people he was on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean and when the Japanese heard he was coming they surrendered. He seperated from the Army on June 9, 1946 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and was honored with three metals: ATO, Good Conduct and the WWII Victory Medal. After leaving the Army, Elihu went to work for the Kenicott Copper Corp. In Eli, Nevada and worked as a copper miner for two years. He became an avid trout fisherman, by fly fishing everyday after work. In the late 1940's, he took $8000.00 to Lexington, Kentucky and started a life fo him and his family. He built the North Lime Bar & Grill which is still in business today. He sold the bar and started Ashers Drive-In, which was famous for its chicken baskets and was the second drive-in in lexington, KY. After selling the drive-in, Elihu built the Embers Inn located at New Circle Rd.. He allowed his two brothers to join in the Embers Inn by making a $1.00 investment. He then sold the hotel in 1969, but it is still in operation today know as the New Circle Inn. Elihu became a very prominet businessman in Lexington, Ky from thew 1940's through the mid 1970's. He invested in Liquid Gold a beer distributing company outof Nashville, TN. He and his two brothers built Russell Cave Shopping Center and the Boom-Boom Room. The Russell Cave Shopping Center is still in business and still owned and operated by the Asher Family. In 1970, Elihu stared a mobile home park on Cat Nip Hill Rd. In Nicholasville, KY. During the same time he founded the Tock Clock Company with Herbert Fowler. They designed and manufactured clocks for the blind. In the mid 1970's Elihu moved back to Hyden, KY and along with his siblings they owned 2200 acres of land with mineral rights, and made money having this land deep mined, strip mined and also by selling the timber and minerals to various companies. Elihu owned and operated Giovannis in Hyden, KY from the mid 1970's through the 1990's and also owned a mobile home park. During his life, Elihu had six children , four boys and aset of twin girls. He was a well known businessman, beloved and well respected family man. While raising his kids, he tried to instill in them the same morals that he was taught. He has taken his family all over the United States and taught them the history behind this great nation. Elihu felt that it was a great honor and privilege to live in such a free country. Anyone who knew him would never say anything bad about him because of his big heart and generosity. While his children attended school, they would sometimes bring home less fortunate kids. Elihu would feed these kids, buy them cloths and take groceries to their homes, or just simply show them love and attention. He treated all children as if they were his very own, he not only raised his biological children, but also a number of others. If Elihu heard of a family in need, he would help them in any way he could, he enjoyed helping other. Elihu had given his heart to the Lord when he was thirty years old. He was a member of the Rockhouse Baptist Church and Muncys Creek Baptist Church. He was active as a sunday school teacher and song leader at both churches. In June 1995, Elihu had a stroke and was then later diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. He became bed ridden in Sept. 2001. In March 26, 2002 he became the fifth resident of the Eastern Kentucky Veteran Center in Hazard, KY. Elihu has told his family that when he is gone to hold their head up high, and never forget who they are and where they came from. He wants to be remembered as a man who touched many lives. Elihu was preceded in death by his parents: McKinley and Grace Mosley Asher; three brothers: John, Clyde and Pearl; one sister: Georgia Turner, he leaves surviving the following relatives: Wife: Lucille Bentley Asher of Hyden, KY. Four Sons: Elihu Asher, Jr. & Suzette of Brooksville, FL. Philip McKinley Asher of Nicholasville, KY. Alan Douglas Asher & Charlene of Hyden, KY. Glenn Claiborne & Pam of Nicholasville, KY. Three Daughters: Tina Louise Fields & Christopher of Hyden, KY. Rita Diane Sparks of Manchester, KY. Vera Brent Asher of Lexington, KY. One Sister: Louise Coughlin & Joe of Lexington, KY. Also survived by 14 Grandchildren, 7 Great Grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral Services for Mr. Elihu C. Asher will be held at 12 Noon Friday, March 21, 2008 at the Muncy Creek Baptist Church at Hyden, Kentucky with Rev. Ronnie Melton and Rev. Densmore Goodson officiating. Interment will follow in the Woodrow Bentley Family Cemetery located at Hyden, Kentucky with full military rites observed by the Leslie County DAV Chapter #133. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday , March 20, 2008 at the church. The following will serve as pallbearers: Elihu C. Asher, Jr., Philip McKinley Asher, Alan Douglas Asher, Glen C. Asher, Jacob Asher, Christopher Fields and Jarred Fields.