Adrain Cessna 84, of Island, Kentucky, passed away peacefully Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Twin Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation in Owensboro, Kentucky. Adrain Lee Cessna was born at home on August 30, 1940, in Island, Kentucky to the late John Homer “Bean” and Sallie Mae Davis Cessna. He married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Yvonne Graham on May 27, 1958.
Adrian worked in construction on various projects, including the Cannelton Dam, and as a coal miner for Brown Badgett/Webro. He also worked as an upholsterer for Brothers Furniture in Livermore where he helped build and upholster the iconic whiskey barrel furniture. As husband to the Island Heritage Council President, he was selected to serve as a working member of the Island Heritage Council helping build the Island Wooden Bridge Park and preserving the history of his hometown. He was a former member of the FOP in Owensboro, as well as the Elks Lodge where he served as the Exalted Ruler.
Adrain, like any good Kentuckian, was a diehard UK basketball fan. He shared an interest in history and antiques with his wife. Together they enjoyed buying and restoring antique furniture. Adrain especially enjoyed the outdoors. He enjoyed tending a garden and went to great lengths to ensure a ripe tomato by July 4 every year. He enjoyed family barbeques/cookouts, time spent at his River Camp, four-wheeling with family and friends and picking blackberries with the grandkids. Nothing, though, compared to the enjoyment he found spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were his most prized possessions. Adrain was also a jokester. He once salvaged and reconstructed an industrial smokestack from the furniture factory in Livermore on his property near the Wooden Bridge Park just to pique residents’ curiosity.
In addition to his parents, Adrain was proceeded in death by his son, Johnnie Lee Cessna; by two granddaughters, Christina Nicole Conrad and Hollie Celeste Schindler; and by his brother, Timothy Wayne “Timmy” Cessna.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Marilyn Cessna; two daughters, Vicki Murphy (David) of Owensboro and Carol Boarman (Bill) of Whitesville; a daughter-in-law, Mary Cessna of Owensboro; four grandchildren, Jill Alteri (Chris) of Pleasant View, UT, Cassie Brown (Brad) of Calhoun, Eric Hughes (Naomi) of Owensboro, and Adrian Cessna (Samantha) of Buttonsberry; ten great-grandchildren, Gracie Schindler of Livermore, Stewart Welch, Rilan Welch, Rowan Alteri, Ripley Alteri all of Pleasant View, UT, Eli Brown, Silas Brown both of Calhoun, Brianna Thomas of Sullivan, IN, Morgan Hughes, and Kendall Hughes both of Owensboro.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Sunday, January 12, 2025 at Muster Funeral Homes, Livermore Chapel with the Rev. Tab Cook officiating. Burial will be in the Island Community Cemetery in McLean County. Friends may visit with Adrain’s family from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. Sunday at Musters in Livermore.
The Adrain Cessna family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to Island Community Cemetery Fund; C/O Susan Edmonds; 125 East Broadway; Island, Kentucky 42350.
Adrain’s services will be streamed live on musterfuneralhomes.com at 1:00 P.M. Sunday.
Share your memories and photos of Adrain at musterfuneralhomes.com.