Jewell Thomas Dunaway

Jewell Thomas Dunaway was born in the Lake community of Laurel County to Nell Rowland Thomas and Orie Thomas. She had two older brothers, Eugene and Vascoe, and a younger sister, Betty Lou, all of whom she adored. When she was 14 her family moved “to town” to the little white house just across the railroad tracks on East 4th Street. It wasn’t long until she met a handsome, dark-haired young man, Keith Dunaway, whose family operated a restaurant and House Funeral Home, close to where she lived. Soon they were both smitten and were married when he was 18 and she was 16. The Army and the Korean War came calling, taking him away from her for a short time while he served in Germany. After he returned daughter Debra was born and became the apple of their eyes! In 1958 they built their house on McFadden Lane on the family farm which remained as their only home. Soon daughter Bridget was added to the family. While Keith worked away for the L & N Railroad during the week, she took care of her two girls and managed the home. For years she would only see Keith on the weekends, but in the 1970's he was able to get a position with the L & N that kept him home. After Keith retired in the 1980's they and Keith’s sister Luann Parsons and daughter Debbie operated a floral business. Unfortunately, Keith passed from cancer in 1992, leaving her heartbroken. He was her one and only. She kept busy with her grandchildren, Jennifer and Ashton, attending their school and other activities. They spent a lot of time with their “Little Mom” who they dearly loved. She was delighted when the great-grandchildren came along and relished the time she spent with them. She also enjoyed being a greeter at House & Rawlings Funeral Home, where she carried on the family business as part-owner. She also liked to travel with her family. She took several girls’ trips with Debbie, sister-in-law Elsie Thomas, and nieces Jeanne Thomas Smith and Judy Thomas Phelps. Her last big trip was in an RV to Oregon with Bridget, Debbie, and Brianna to visit her brother Vascoe and his family. She had a servant’s heart. She kept the nursery at Calvary Baptist Church for many years. She loved babies, children, and “old people” and they loved her. She always had a bright smile for friends, family, and strangers. While at Laurel Heights nursing home she would sit out in the 2nd floor lobby and greet everyone she saw. She kept an immaculate house. She loved dogs. She taught her family the importance and meaning of honesty and hard work. She lived the life of a Christian and always saw that her children and grandchildren were involved in church. She loved her nieces and nephews as if they were her own children. She always made sure her appearance was classy; and she was always proud that she didn’t look her age. She made her girls promise not to put her date of birth on her obituary. She liked to say she was “39 and holding.” She was preceded in death by her husband Daniel Keith Dunaway, parents Nell Rowland Thomas and Orie Thomas, brothers Eugene Thomas and Vascoe Thomas, son-in-law Felix York, brother-in-law Randolph Byrley, sisters-in-law Elsie Thomas, Luann Parsons, and Sylvia McKenzie. She is survived by her sister Betty Lou Byrley, daughters Debra Lou York and Bridget Leigh Dunaway; her grandchildren Jennifer York and Ashton York; her great-grandchildren Brianna Jewell Bowling, Daniel Keith Hibbitts, Dean Thomas Curry, and Clayton River Curry; and her great-great grandchildren, Greyson Blain Bowling and Hudson Lee Bowling, plus a host of nieces, nephews and other family and friends. The family wishes to thank her care givers and the nurses and staff at Laurel Heights Nursing Home. A funeral service honoring Jewell Thomas Dunaway will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of House-Rawlings Funeral Home with Claude Maggard officiating. Interment will follow at A. R. Dyche Memorial Park in London, Kentucky. The family will receive friends on Thursday beginning at 11:00 a.m. until the service hour, also at the funeral home. The family has entrusted House-Rawlings Funeral Home with the arrangements. The family has requested that the funeral service be Livestreamed: Click here to view Livestream of Funeral Service

Jewell Thomas Dunaway

February 27, 2026