Mart V. Mainous
As Estill County mourns the loss of a dedicated public servant, a family is remembering a man who loved his neighbors, his friends and his family without end.
Former Commonwealth Attorney Mart V. Mainous died last week at his home after a long illness.
Mainous, who was born and raised in Owsley County, graduated law school and opened a practice in Estill County in 1957.
He was later elected as commonwealth attorney and for approximately 28 years he served Estill, Lee and Owsley counties in the position.
He was also a captain for the Army National Guard D Company out of Ravenna and traveled with the company to Fort Chaffee, Ark. to train.
According to his family and friends, Mainous was much more than the attorney and serviceman everyone in the community knew him as.
“He has a free heart,” his wife of 47 years, Sue, said.
She said this trait was evident in the constant concern and helpfulness Mainous extended to his neighbors and friends.
While he was very much a politician, Sue said Mainous also loved to garden.
He grew large garden on several properties he owned around the county.
“He grew way more than we could ever use or store away,” Sue said. “He would let me pick and can whatever I could and then the leftovers he gave away to people in need.”
Sue said she remembers her husband growing two or three acres of various types of greens at their property in Waco.
“Even after I picked what I could use you couldn’t even tell,” she said. “There was so much left over he just let people who needed food come and cut whatever they could use.”
She also said he made regular trips around the county visiting with friends and dropping off produce he had grown himself.
“He tried other hobbies,” Sue said. “But, they never worked for him quit like gardening did.”
In addition to feeding those in need with his garden, Mainous always made sure people in need of financial help had it.
“He would always find something around the house or the yard for someone to do so he could pay them,” Sue said. “He believed in helping people.”
Sue said one of Mainous’ nephews recalled on Facebook after his passing the time his family heard footsteps on their front porch in the middle of the night.
When they woke up in the morning, bags full of groceries were waiting for them on their doorstep.
“He said his Uncle Mart was the only one who would do something like that,” she said.
Mainous’ kindness and “big heart” were also evident in the raising of Sue’s children. Sue said she and Mainous met after he helped her get her divorce. They each had four children from previous marriages.
“Mart took my kids in and raised them just like they were his own,” she said.
The Mainous’ daughter, Pam Durbin, said she was proud of her raising and felt blessed to have a father who chose to take care of her and her siblings.
Pam and Sue both say Mart will always be remembered for being a good provider, a caring father, a loving husband and doting grandfather.
They recall nicknames he had for his grandsons and the candy he always kept in the trunk of his car to hand out to kids.
Through the recollections of Mart’s wife and kids, it is clear Estill County lost more than a man who served the community for most of his life.
Estill County mourns the loss of one of its best and most caring citizens.
Services for Mart were Saturday, Oct. 13, at Warren F. Toler Funeral Home Chapel. He was laid to rest at the Mainous Cemetery.
For a complete obituary, see page A6.