Obituaries

Eileen Ehlman, 85, of Crittenden, KY, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, February 23, 2026. The daughter of the late Alice E. {Richardson} and Omer L. Lucas, Eileen was born in Walton, KY on March 31, 1940.

At the center of Eileen's world was her beloved husband, Edward “Jerry” Ehlman. A loving and devoted wife for over 65 years, her life revolved around Jerry. Together they built not only a lasting marriage, but a family grounded in love.

Eileen had a deep appreciation for farming and gardening, finding happiness in tending the land. Whether in her garden or her kitchen, Eileen’s hands were rarely still. She loved canning the harvest and sharing the fruits of her labor with family and friends. Cooking and baking were more than hobbies for Eileen. She had a true gift for hospitality and believed that food was one of the ways to care for others. Through her meals, and even through the multiple cookbooks she proudly published, she fed people not just with delicious dishes, but from the soul.

Eileen was also a dedicated member of Lions Club International; she served as District Governor from 1995 to 1996. Her commitment to helping others reflected her generous spirit.

She will be deeply missed by her daughters, Gail (Steve) Jones, Myra (Mark) Hegge, JerriLynn (Andy) Moffitt, and Leann (George) Pegg; her brothers, Ollie (Mary) Lucas and R.C. (LuAnn) Lucas; her grandchildren, J.T. (Amber) Jones, Tyler (Becky) Jones, Craig (Kate) Jones, Kevin Hegge, Eric Hegge, William Moffitt, Katherine Moffitt, Dustin Pegg, Alexander (Amber) Pegg, and Tori (Jeremiah) Kone; and numerous great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Eileen was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Edward “Jerry” Ehlman; her brothers, Omer Lucas, Jr. and Noble Lucas; and her sisters, Lottie Jean Adams and Mary Elizabeth Collier.

A visitation will be held between 11 AM and 1 PM on Friday, February 27th at Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Home, 11382 Madison Pike Independence, KY 41051. Eileen will then be laid to rest at Independence Cemetery where a graveside service will be held at approximately 1:15 PM.

In lieu of flowers, to honor her family’s experiences and the sacrifices made in the line of duty, memorial donations may be made to Cruising to Combat PTSD by clicking here or the Chip Terry Fund by clicking here.