Beech Tree News Network

Otis Earl Bryant, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center. He had been a resident of Bee Hive Assisted Living in Leitchfield when he was taken to TLRMC last Tuesday suffering from shortness of breath. His condition briefly improved before he passed due to complications from kidney failure. He was with his son, Paul, daughter, Mary Sue Pauley, and granddaughter Beth Bryant when he passed. Otis was 100 years old.

Otis was born in Butler County on November 26, 1913 in a log house on a farm off Bryant Hollow Road in Welchs Creek, KY. He was the third of seven children born to Argalis and Martha Ellen Embry Bryant...Espie (Veda) both deceased; Damon (Cuba), both deceased; Odell (Ida Mae), both deceased; Opal Woosley (Estill), both deceased; Macy Higgs (Marion) and Murl Day (Hargis). Otis attended Bryant Elementary School and worked on the family farm along with the rest of his brothers and sisters. After marrying Frankie Louise Crume from Spring Lick in 1938, Otis and Frankie moved to a farm on Bryant Ridge Road and raised crops and livestock. It was there in Caneyville, where they moved to in 1943, they became parents of three children…Charles Leon (Wanda…deceased) a pharmacist in Cave City; Paul Aaron (Brenda) operator of Otis Bryant and Son, Inc, and Mary Sue Pauley (Randy), a retired registered dietician in Leitchfield. In addition to their three children Otis and Frankie also have ten grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

Otis has been involved in agri-business since he early 1940’s, Otis and his cousin Abraham Bryant bought a flour and cornmeal mill from Huff Brothers in Caneyville. Otis delivered the flour and cornmeal as far away as Paintsville, KY. At various times from 1942 to 1962, Otis’s brothers, Espie and Damon were also involved in the operation of the business. In 1962, Otis opened his own feed mill on Hwy 62 toward Leitchfield with his brother-in-law Arthur Crume. Not only did they sell and deliver feed, custom mixes and farm supplies to ten and more surrounding counties, but he and his son Paul expanded the business to include seed, fertilizer, and custom planting and harvesting. In 2008, the feed part of the business was sold and the name of the business was changed to Caneyville Milling. Paul still operates the fertilizer and row crop part of the business under the name of Otis Bryant and Son, Inc.

Despite working six days a week at his business from opening to closing until his 80’s, Otis still found time to be involved in helping his community grow. Otis was a member of the original Caneyville Volunteer Fire Department. He served as fire chief for many years and was on call 24/7 for any fire emergencies within Caneyville and surrounding communities. He was also one of the founders of the Leitchfield First Federal Savings and Loan and served on its board of directors for the Grayson County War Memorial Hospital in the 1950’s and 60’s. After Frankie’s death 2000, Otis spent less time at the business and more time at his home where he loved to watch old westerns and the news channels. He also renewed a past friendship with Jewel Mudd, who now resides in Springview Health and Rehab Center. He visited Jewel, who is 101, several times a week. He was a faithful member of the Caneyville Church of Christ and attended whenever his health permitted. Due to his declining health, he moved to the Bee Hive Assisted Living home in Leitchfield where he loved to talk with his fellow residents and the many friends and family members who stopped by to visit

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, (March 29, 2014) at the Dermitt Funeral Home in Leitchfield. Jarod Jacobs will be officiating. Burial will be in the Layman Memorial Cemetery.

Visitation will be at the Dermitt Funeral Home from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday and from 9:00 a.m. Saturday until time of services.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be to the National Kidney Foundation or Diabetes Foundation.