Loretta Frances Dunavent

Loretta Frances Thomas Dunavent passed away on Friday, September 25, 2026, at UL Health Shelbyville Hospital in Shelbyville, Kentucky. She was 93 years old and was born on December 29, 1932, on the Thomas family farm in Owen County.

She is survived by her children Judy Zeigler, Kenneth Dunavent, Emma Bass (Ron), Annette Calvert, and Leslie Dunavent, and Grandchildren Melissa Zeigler, Michael Dunavent, Jenny Bass (Bobby), Leigh Ann Calvert, Christopher Calvert, and Ben Dunavent; great-grandchildren Kayleigh Marshall and Tristan Armstrong; and her favorite furry friend, Shorty.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Maude Vest Thomas and Albert Thomas, Sr.; siblings Edith Wainscott, Hallie Dawson and Albert Thomas, Jr.; and son James Edward Dunavent.

Loretta retired from Kentucky Teacher’s Retirement. She was a member of Bridgeport Christian Church, where she served as a Deacon and member of the Helping Hands Circle. As a deacon, she preferred to work behind the scenes preparing and cleaning up communion, helping in the kitchen, and helping mail the church news bulletin. She enjoyed making jam cakes for the Helping Hands Bazaar.

Loretta’s favorite pastime was reading, and if you asked her what type of books she liked, she would say those with a happy ending. She also enjoyed bluegrass and country music, UK Basketball, Dale Hollow Lake, the Bluegrass Music Festival at KY Horse Park, and making strawberry cakes for the kids’ birthdays. She could be seen mowing her yard on the riding mower until she was nearly 90 years old.

After suffering a hip fracture and surgery in 2023, she became a resident at Maple Grove Assisted Living in Shelbyville, Kentucky, where she enjoyed her neighbors Joe and Shirley and other residents. She became known to the residents there for her love of Klondikes and anything chocolate, referring to herself as a “chocoholic.”

She was loved by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who invite you to have a Klondike in her memory.

Per Loretta’s wishes, there will be no visitation; however, a small service will be held graveside at Owenton I00F Cemetery, in Owenton, Kentucky, on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 2 pm, with Pastor Ann Shepherd officiating. Those wishing to attend should meet at New Funeral Home, 202 North Main Street, Owenton, KY 40359, to line up for the procession to the cemetery at 1:30 pm.

Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nephew, and great-nephew Steve Thomas and Seth Thomas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bridgeport Christian Church Helping Hands Circle for their work in donating to charities and providing scholarships to youth in the church, Life House for Animals, or to a favorite charity of your choice.

Special thanks to staff at UL Health Shelbyville Hospital for their care and kindness during Loretta’s hospitalization and passing.