Nurse, Clerk Candidate Dies at 61

Della Sue Lucas, a longtime nurse and a current candidate for the office of Breathitt County Court Clerk, died on Thursday, March 19, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center after an acute medical condition.

She was 61.

Lucas was well known and respected in Breathitt County for a long career as a beautician and later as a nurse.  She worked as a referring specialist for Bluegrass Care Navigators.

She filed for the office of Breathitt County Court Clerk and was actively campaigning until a recent routine surgery temporarily sidelined her.

Complications developed, and Lucas was rushed to the emergency room at the Kentucky River Medical Center on March 13 and later flown to the University of Kentucky Medical Center.  She died in Lexington six days later.

Born in 1965 to the late J. C. and Susie J. (Shelton) Lucas, she attended Breathitt County Schools and graduated from BHS in 1982.

“Della had a zest for life that was truly infectious,” her family included in her obituary.  “She brought light into every room she entered and kindness into every moment she shared with others.”  

She is survived by three daughters,  several brothers and sisters, and numerous other relatives.  Also left to mourn her are her eight grandchildren, who made her smile and laugh.

Funeral services for Della Lucas were held on Monday, March 23, with Paul Shepherd and Gary Bellamy officiating.  She was buried later that afternoon near her parents and family in the Lucas Cemetery on War Creek.