Harry Nelson Couch

Harry Nelson Couch, an avid outdoors-man, skilled mechanic, and the life of every room he was
in, died on December 19th, 2023. He was 65 years old.

Harry was born to Albert and Mary Ann Couch on March 8, 1958 in Hyden, KY. At the age of 4,
Harry and his family suffered a tragedy when Albert was killed in a mining accident. He was
adopted a few years later by his mother’s new husband, Miller Rice, who thereafter added Harry
and his sister Ann to his own family, which included daughters Vicki Lynn and Donna and would
later include daughter Julie.

Harry worked as a trucker, mechanic, and school bus driver for many years, working alongside
his father in their business Julia Trucking, driving a mobile MRI machine between hospitals in
Eastern KY, and driving a school bus for the Leslie County Board of Education. Harry practiced
his mechanical skills both professionally and at home, where he spent much time in his garage
and always seemed to have a truck or two in the process of being restored. Harry also taught
each of his daughters how to drive, going so far as to teach his daughter Stacey how to drive an
18-wheeler truck and his daughter Morgan how to ride a motorcycle!

If Harry couldn’t be found in the garage, he was probably out hunting, fishing, or exploring the
off road tracks of his native Leslie County, KY. Harry loved spending time outdoors, and
frequently went on hunting or fishing trips with his family and friends. His daughter Morgan
accompanied him on many of these expeditions, and together they became an accomplished
pair of deer hunters. Harry also loved to take visitors around his beloved home, driving them
around to see the natural beauty that Eastern Kentucky has to offer.

But more than all this, Harry loved his family. He adored his three daughters, Stacey, Nikki, and
Morgan, and spent as much time as he could with them as they grew older and began their
lives. He treated others like his own children, including Nick Feltner who he loved like a son. He
spent a lot of time at his parents’ house, next door to his, and was always the jovial heart of
every family gathering. He welcomed his daughters’ significant others into the family without
prejudice or judgment, and always made room in his home and in his life for them. His presence
in the family is already missed.

Harry is preceded in death by his father, Albert, his grandparents Harry and Mae Muncy,
grandparents Estil Couch and Gladys Shepherd Couch, grandparents Charlie and Alta Rice,
and his uncle Kermit Couch. He is survived by a large family who loved him: his daughter
Anastasia “Stacey” Harper and son-in-law Tony Harper, his daughter Nikki Couch, his daughter
Morgan Couch, his parents Mary Ann and Miller Rice, his sister Anna Mae (Robert) Eldridge, his
sister Julia (Dustin) Tennill, his sister Vicki Lynn (Rick) Rose, his sister Donna (Stephen) Wright,
his nephews Andrew Richardson, Adam Richardson, and Jonah Tennill, his special friend Vicki
Whitaker, and a host of aunts, cousins, and friends.

Visitation will be held at Walker Funeral home in Hyden, KY on December 23rd from 12-2
PM, with funeral service to follow at 2 PM. Memorial donations can be sent to the Kentucky
Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Minister: Pastor Merle Caudill

Interment: Keen-Woods Family Cemetery, Hyden, KY.