London, Kentucky - Julia Jane Beets came into this world at Cane Creek, KY on September 28, 1924, the second child of Fred and Sallie Bodkins Taylor. She departed for Heaven on August 22, 2025. Since her oldest sister Laura had died at birth Julia was considered the oldest of her siblings yet she was the last to leave. Her brothers were Louis "Buster" Smith and Jack Smith. Her sisters were Beatrice Asher, Helen Smith, Leatrice Williams and Marcella Parks.

Julia's parents separated when she was a baby so she and her mother lived with her grandparents. A year after Grandpa Bodkins died, Uncle Jim bought them a house and they moved to Mount Olivet, near the Knox Laurel line. Julia spent her childhood days there attending the school and church in that community. She loved to tell stories about the people in that area. With her daughter they compiled a book of those memories.

Julia was head strong and independent. As a child she locked Grandma Bodkins out of the house so she could cook a meal. This determined spirit kept her going over 100 years. Even on her last day here she clamped her lips shut so nothing could be put in her mouth.

During World War 2 she went to Hamilton Ohio and worked at Mercy Hospital for about a year. Then she went to Dearborn, Michigan and worked a few months at the Ford Motor Company. After the war she returned to Mount Olivet and in 1946 married Denver Jones, who had recently returned from serving his country. They had two daughters Carol Tincher and Gail Helton.

In 1952 she married Sammy Beets. After a 6 week honeymoon in Florida they moved to Indianapolis. In 1959 they returned to Laurel County to stay. She and Sammy had three daughters - Janell Cox (now deceased), Renee Beets and Sincelia Shell.

Julia grew up poor and was determined to have nice things. In her younger years she would get deals on antique furniture which needed work. She refinished the pieces herself and had them repaired. She collected many things over the years from Fire King dishes to Holly Hobbie items to Dickens' Villages. To get good deals she rummaged through thrift and antique stores, flea markets, yard and estate sales, and auctions.

Grandmother Bodkins taught her to embroider and sew but to not waste anything. Julia pieced scraps of material to make cushions which she often lined with old lace bought on one of her scavenger hunts. She would then use the leftovers to make clothes and shoes for dolls. Then the tiny fragments would be used for yo-yos from which she lined lamp shades or made wall hangings. She tried her hand at needle point.

Julia found great satisfaction in decorating her home and having friends and family visit. She showcased her talents by giving tours of her home. She could tell you where she got each piece and how much she paid for it.

She loved decorating for the holidays. It took weeks to get ready for her Christmas party. The porches and every room in the house were festooned with lights, garlands, nativity scenes, trees, and flowers.

Julia was an excellent cook and served many delicious meals for visiting friends. She always took chicken and dumplings to family reunions and made dried apple stack cakes for Christmas gifts. Biscuits and gravy, pot roasts, fried corn and cornbread, meat loaf, rice pudding and blackberry cobbler were some of her signature dishes.

Julia worked hard and played hard. As a teenager she went to box suppers and dances. As an adult she spent most Saturday nights for years at the Moose Lodge. She loved being with people and joking around.

In her childhood Uncle Jim gave her a United States map which she pored over while dreaming of visiting those places. That dream came true. She traveled to all 49 continental states, Mexico and Canada. A favorite expression was "Hit the Road Howdy!" Each year several trips were planned. Each July the family traveled to Lake Tansi TN. As dementia began to take over she had to be home each night. Yet every day she had to ride somewhere in the car especially to visit family and Mt. Olivet.

Family was important to Julia. She had lost touch with some of her relatives so her daughters took her to Caraway, Arkansas; Pampa, Texas and Indiana on a search. At each place she was thrilled to reconnect with the children of her Uncles Steve, Jim and Rob.

Julia accepted Jesus as her Savior in 1988 and later became a devoted member of Slate Ridge Bible Church.

A celebration of Julia's life will be at Bowling Funeral Home on Thursday, August 28th. Visitation begins at 2 followed by the funeral service at 3. Her body will be laid to rest at Mt. Olivet Cemetery located near her beloved childhood home.