Amy Don Wilkerson Myers, 56, won her five-year battle with glioblastoma early on Tuesday morning, January 30th, surrounded by family, when Christ called her home. She will be remembered as a mountain of woman for her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, her unconditional love of her family and friends, and her unrivaled work ethic. Everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her described her as sweet, strong, and selfless.
The second child of Sharon and Richard Wilkerson, Amy was born on July 22, 1967. She grew up in Hickman, Kentucky, alongside her two sisters, Andrea and Allison. They frequently roamed the hilly streets of Hickman on their bicycles, Amy often disappearing to the public library for hours. She gained a love of learning in her youth—something she proudly attributed in large part to her father's career in secondary education administration.
After graduating as valedictorian from Fulton County High School in 1985, Amy attended Murray State University, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology. It was at Murray State that she met Johnny, the love of her life and her husband of nearly thirty-four years.
Amy and Johnny moved to Starkville, Mississippi in 1990, shortly after they married. While Johnny attended vet school at Mississippi State University, Amy worked in the vet school laboratory as a medical technologist. In December 1993, Amy and Johnny welcomed their first child, Nathan. After vet school graduation in 1994, they moved back to western Kentucky where Johnny began practicing veterinary medicine. In May 1995, they welcomed their second child, Mallie. Twelve years later, in August 2007, Ben came along, surprising everyone and perfectly completing the Myers family.
Amy was passionate about raising her kids to work hard in school and to love the Lord. She rarely missed Nathan's, Mallie's, or Ben's many extracurricular activities—football games, basketball games, soccer games, track meets, tennis matches, academic team meets, pageants, 4-H and FFA events, and so on. Attending Nathan's commissioning from the United States Naval Academy in 2016, watching Mallie graduate from law school in 2020, and seeing Ben honored as Student of the Year at his Paducah Middle School graduation in 2022 brought her indescribable pride and joy. There was never a more devoted mother than Amy. She was the quintessential tiger mom—encourager, protector, and when required, disciplinarian. She expected her children to lead principled lives, as she did so, so well, and she was thrilled to watch them succeed.
Amy worked in the lab at Baptist Health Paducah for almost twenty years. She loved her job and her co-workers, all of whom loved her back and regarded her as one of the most kind, conscientious, and diligent people they knew. On her days "off," she often assisted Johnny at the vet clinic or at home tending to their beef cattle. In the summers, she worked tirelessly in the large vegetable garden she kept with her mother and mother-in-law, planting, watering, pruning, picking, and canning. In 2006, she helped Nathan and Mallie grow Kentucky State Fair award-winning pumpkins.
Amy loved hummingbirds and litters of Golden Retrievers. She was articulate, and her vocabulary was filled with words that those around her could only understand after consulting Google. Her family will always remember her for her beautiful brown hair and brown eyes, along with her favorite Bible verse: Jeremiah 29:11. Through Amy’s daily actions, she left her family and friends with many guiding principles by which to live this one precious life. On hard days, she often recited Psalm 118:24 to her kids. Before Ben left for school almost every morning, she would say to him: “Be kind. Be respectful. Be a leader.” The kindness part was expected to be ignored though, when it was time for a Friday night football game.
Amy was a loyal member of Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which she attended with her family. Her church family was dear to her, as was the Ballard County community at large. She was especially grateful for the support from Bethel and Ballard throughout Ben's recovery from severe burn injuries in fall 2014.
Since Amy was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2019, she often posed the question, "why did this happen?" While only heaven knows, her loved ones know one thing for certain: no one is more deserving of a little extra time in eternal glory, and Jesus surely welcomed her with a front-row seat.
Amy leaves behind many loved ones who will honor and cherish her legacy until they see her again: her husband, Dr. John "Johnny" Davis Myers of Kevil, Kentucky; her three children, Nathan Hunter Myers of Paducah, Kentucky, Mallie Adaline Myers (Phillip) Ganey of Nashville, Tennessee, and John Benjamin "Ben" Myers of Kevil, Kentucky; her mother, Sharon Wilkerson of South Fulton, Tennessee; her two sisters, Andrea (Ron) Johnson of Kansasville, Wisconsin and Allison (Mark) McMinn of South Fulton, Tennessee; her mother- and father-in-law, John and Dorothy Myers of Kevil, Kentucky; her brothers- and sisters-in-law Keith and Tiffany Myers of Kevil, Kentucky and Lance and Teresa Morgan of Kevil Kentucky; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Kevil, Kentucky. Visitation will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 1st and 9:00 a.m. on Friday, February 2nd. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m, on Friday, followed by interment at the Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery. Morrow Funeral Chapel in LaCenter, KY is handling arrangements.
Amy's family extends gratitude to all who loved and supported them throughout Amy's battle with glioblastoma, which included many trips to and from MD Anderson in Houston, Texas. Special thanks also to Amy's dedicated physicians and all of the medical professionals who devote their lives to treating and finding a cure for GBM. Contributions in Amy's honor may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center or the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville.
2 Timothy 4:7-8: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.“
John 16:22: “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
