Elisha Haze Dugger, Jr.

Elisha Haze Dugger, Jr.

December 5, 1943 - September 6, 2025

Elisha Haze Dugger, Jr., age 81, of Corbin, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Elisha will forever be remembered as a man of generosity and kindness. He was someone who would gladly give you the shirt from his back, who might not share the food from his own plate but always made sure everyone around him was fed, and who was among the most intelligent men you could ever meet.

A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Elisha cherished his family above all else. For fifty-four years he walked faithfully beside his beloved wife, sharing life’s joys and challenges together. For forty-five years he embraced the role of father, guiding his children with wisdom, patience, and love. For twenty-four years he delighted in being a grandfather, shaping hearts with his steady presence. And though he did not hold her in his arms, for five months he cherished the knowledge of his great-granddaughter, a new light in the family that all who knew him are certain he would have deeply adored.

Elisha dedicated his professional life to education, leaving a lasting impact on countless students and colleagues. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with a minor in Science, as well as a Master’s Degree in Education, and he was also certified in small engine repair. Over the years he taught at Lone Jack High School, Lynn Camp High School, and Scott County High School in Tennessee. Throughout his long career, he was regarded as a pillar in the lives of many students who carried his lessons with them into adulthood.

Beyond his vocation, Elisha was a lifelong learner. He developed a deep love for the Star Wars saga, collecting memorabilia from the franchise, and spent many evenings stargazing through his telescope, marveling at the universe with a curious and thoughtful spirit. In recent years, when it seemed as though he was running out of things to read, he often turned to mathematics, enjoying books on the subject and working through equations simply to keep his mind sharp. He also enjoyed keeping up to date with the news, and at other times he could be found watching a western, or at least attempting to without dozing off.

Elisha’s legacy of love, wisdom, and generosity will live on in the hearts of those he leaves behind. He was known for his contagious smile and his constant desire to share laughter, always eager to pick and joke with others whenever he had the chance. His family and friends will remember not only his devotion to teaching but also the lighthearted spirit and warmth that made every moment in his presence brighter.

He is survived by his faithful wife, Billie Etta Dugger; his firstborn daughter, Stephanie Alice Dugger, and grandchildren Elisha Paige Dugger and Rebel Haze Dugger; his second-born daughter, Verna Gail Collins, and husband Johnny Lee Collins, Jr., along with grandchildren Nikolas Lee Collins and Alyssa Kaydence Nicole Mullins, her husband John Conner Mullins, and their child, Elisha’s first great-granddaughter Rhaenyra Maeve Kora Mullins. Elisha is also survived by his sister, Ina Jo Gregory, and her husband Allen Gregory.

He was preceded in death by his father, Elisha Haze Dugger Sr.; his mother, Crittie Mary Dugger; his brothers, Ross Holman Dugger, Ralph Dean Dugger, and Harry Edward Dugger; and his sister, Edith Hazel Blankenship.

He will be profoundly missed by all who were blessed to know the warmth of his presence. If he could leave behind two reminders, they would be these. First, that grief is not a burden but the truest proof of love that continues even when left unfinished. And second, that it is his wish that his beloved wife continue to be cherished with the same devotion he carried for her, until the day he can hold her once more.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Thursday, September 11, 2025, in the Hart Funeral Home Chapel with Charlie Humfleet officiating.  Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery at Gray, Kentucky.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 6 – 8:00 P.M. at Hart Funeral Home, located at 1011 Master Street in Corbin.