William L. Danks

October 8, 1928-September 13, 2018

In Loving Memory

William began his career in funeral service in 1948 at Price Funeral Home in Lewisburg, Kentucky. It was there that he served his apprenticeship. He graduated from the Kentucky School of Embalming in 1950 and went on to serve his country in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955. He married Ima Sue Dorris in 1952, just before he was transferred to Keflavik, Iceland for one year of service as a qualified Weather Observer. 

Upon separation from the Air Force, Bill went back to work briefly with Price Funeral Home, until a position became available with Reid Funeral Home in Earlington, Kentucky. He left there in 1956 to go to work at Richardson Funeral Home in Russellville, Kentucky. In 1958, he worked briefly for Byrn Funeral Home in Mayfield, Kentucky as well as Tucker Funeral Home in Central City, Kentucky. In 1959, William went to work at Casebier Funeral Home in Beaver Dam and continued to work there until 1966, at which time he and his wife, Ima, purchased the business and established William L. Danks Funeral Home.

Along with serving the families of Ohio County, Bill had been a very active member of the community over the years. He was a charter member of the Ohio County Chamber of Commerce and at one point served as President. Bill was also a charter member of the Ohio County Football Boosters, a charter member of the Ohio County Civitan Club, served on the Ohio County Industrial Foundation and is a 63 year member of the Beaver Dam Masonic Lodge #420 F&AM. Bill was a dedicated member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church where he served as chairman of the deacons for many years.

His work didn’t stop here in Ohio County, he also served on many boards at the state level through the years, including 26 years on the board of directors for the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky, where he served as president from 1974-1975, as well as 13 years on the Kentucky State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors where he served as Vice Chairman and was Past President of the Southern District of the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky. Bill also served on the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Funeral Directors Burial Association. He treasured the friendships and memories that he made while serving with his fellow funeral directors from across the state of Kentucky.

Bill dedicated his life to serving others and their families during their most difficult time of need, up until his recent retirement. He has been a familiar face around the community for many years, and been an inspiration to those he has met along the way, with his classic phrase “I’m too blessed to be stressed.”

Together, Bill and his wife Ima have three children, eight grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Ima S. Danks

Treasurer

Ima is a native of Lewisburg, Kentucky and a graduate of Lewisburg High School. In 1952 she married William L. “Bill” Danks. She and Bill moved to Beaver Dam in 1959 and she began working as the Secretary at Beaver Dam Baptist Church. When Erwin L. Casebier Funeral Home came up for sale in 1966, she and Bill purchased the business now known as William L. Danks Funeral Home. Ima began serving her Funeral Directors apprenticeship soon after and became a licensed funeral director in 1969. She is a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church, Beaver Dam Women’s Club and the Ohio County Chamber of Commerce. Together, Ima and her late husband Bill have three children, eight grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

William Jeffrey Danks

President

Jeff graduated from Ohio County High School in 1974. In 1977 he began serving his apprenticeship under his father at William L. Danks Funeral Home. Upon completing his apprenticeship he attended The Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in Louisville, graduating with honors and earning his funeral directors and embalmers license in 1979. He returned home to join the family business where he has served as a licensed funeral director and embalmer for the last 37 years. Jeff is a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church and the Beaver Dam Masonic Lodge #420 F&AM. He also served as Past President of the Southern District of the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky. He has three children and seven grandchildren and he resides in Beaver Dam.

Lauren Danks Allen

Vice President/ Secretary

Lauren graduated from Ohio County High School in 2005. After graduation she moved to Morehead, Kentucky to attend Morehead State University on a Cheerleading Scholarship. In 2008 she transferred to Western Kentucky University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Criminology. After graduating from WKU, Lauren began serving her apprenticeship at William L. Danks Funeral Home. In 2010, she attended Vincennes University where she received an Associate’s Degree in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science. She became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 2014. Lauren attends Living Faith Baptist Church and is a Delta Gamma Alumnae of the Morehead State Delta Omicron Chapter.  She and her husband Colten were married in 2014 and they have two children, MaKenna Blakelee and Hendryx Cole. They reside in Beaver Dam.

Colten B. Allen

Apprentice

Colten is a 2011 graduate of Ohio County High School. After graduation he began working at National Office Furniture in Fordsville. In 2014 he joined the William L. Danks Funeral Home family where he began serving his funeral directors and embalmers apprenticeship. He is a member of the Freidaland Masonic Lodge #863 in Horse Branch and attends Living Faith Baptist Church. Colten and his wife Lauren were married in 2014 and they have two children, MaKenna Blakelee and Hendryx Cole. They reside in Beaver Dam.

Jaime Renfrow Maiden

Funeral Service Professional

Jaime is a native of Horse Branch where she spent most of her childhood. She graduated from Muhlenberg North High School in 1995. After graduation she worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Phlebotomist until returning to school at Mid-America College for Funeral Services in 2007 to obtain an Associate’s degree in Mortuary Science and Funeral Service. In 2009, after serving her apprenticeship at James H. Davis Funeral Home in Owensboro, Kentucky she became a licensed funeral director and embalmer. While working as a full time licensed funeral director and embalmer at Johnson-Vaughn-Phelps Funeral Home in Bowling Green she obtained a Bachelor’s of Business Management. In 2012 she returned to Ohio County where she worked as a full time funeral director and embalmer. In 2016 she joined the staff at William L. Danks Funeral Home. She and her son Ethan reside in Beaver Dam.

Donald K. "Donnie" Pearson

Apprentice

Donnie is a 1980 graduate of South Hopkins High School.  After graduation he began his working career in the construction industry.  Donnie formally joined Bandy Funeral Home in 1985, where he had grown up with his grandfather, uncle, aunt and cousin working and learning the business.  It was taught at an early age that caring for families in their difficult time was a way to serve the community. 

He later stepped away from the business to begin his own business in a different industry, and ran it for 30 years in Hopkins, Muhlenberg and Ohio Counties.  After retiring his business in 2022, he accepted a position with William L. Danks Funeral Home as an apprentice funeral director to continue his service of helping others.

Donnie married Angela Raymond Pearson in 2007 and they currently reside in Beaver Dam. They have 4 adult children and 6 grandchildren.