Frankie Hage

Frankie (Scott) "Ginger" Hager died February 25th, 2018 at the age of eighty-two. She grew up poor. She would want people to know that, because she worked hard over the course of her life to attain and maintain a happy, secure life.

A great believer in accountability, she said that if you weren't happy with where you were in life, you shouldn't blame anyone or anything. Rather, she believed, you could and should change your circumstances. Though not possessing the means of her peers growing up, she decided to develop and use her mind, and to work determinedly.

One of 12 children (11 of whom survived), Frankie took a job to help the family as soon as she was old enough to be employed. Mom was an inspiration to her siblings. She remained a constant source of encouragement for them to do and be better. All of the children of Hope and Charles Scott grew into loving and successful adults, despite their origins.

When she was a young woman, a Methodist preacher helped her secure a scholarship to Kentucky Wesleyan College. There, she joined Sigma Kappa and also served as President of the Owensboro League of Women Voters. She graduated cum laude in 1957.

That year, she married Lawrence Hager (the marriage lasted until his death in 2016), notifying him in advance that she planned to become an attorney. She did, in fact, earn a law degree from Salmon P. Chase School of Law at Covington in 1978.

After working in private law practice, in 1980 she was the second woman appointed Owensboro City Attorney, a position she held for eight years.

She was a fierce advocate for women's rights, interested in women's equality, whether in pay or in position. Once, upon learning that a local bank executive hosted a men-only gathering of attorney clients each Christmas season, she alerted the executive's board of directors and reminded them how unhappy their female clients might be to learn of this type of discrimination. The attention drawn to the event brought about positive change.

All through the years, Frankie managed a household, its finances, and three active children. She was also devoted to her extended family, especially her grandmother Scott, who remained a constant source of encouragement during good times and bad.

In 1989 Frankie and her husband established the Lawrence and Augusta Hager Educational Foundation to help disadvantaged children and families.

She was a faithful member of Wesleyan Heights United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School.

Her volunteer board service included Kentucky Wesleyan College from 1972-1975 and again from 1991-2006; the Board of Pensions; the Board of Church and Society of the Louisville conference of the UMC; the Owensboro Riverport Authority; the Housing Authority; and Oasis Spouse Abuse Center.

Along with her husband, she was honored many times by the community. The recognition she cherished the most was receiving the 1995 Kentucky Wesleyan Outstanding Alumni Award, followed by an honorary doctorate in 2002.

She loved traveling, especially girl's trips with her sisters and visiting the Shakespeare Festival in Canada, with the Holders, the Buffmans and family.



Frankie was a supportive member of the Owensboro Museum of Science and History, the Owensboro Fine Arts Museum, the RiverPark Center, the Chamber of Commerce and the KET Fund for Excellence. She and her husband were fervent supporters of KET. She was, at one time, a member of Friends of KET and the 1985 KET Study Commission.

She was a charter member of Theatre Workshop of Owensboro, as well as for the Community Foundation of Owensboro and Daviess County, where she also served as Secretary.

No obituary that human hands could type would be sufficient enough to send my mother "home." We relinquish her only because we know that dad will be waiting, this time with nothing more to do than to be with her. We love you, mom. God speed!

She was the daughter of the late Charles & Hope (Banks) Scott and was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence W. Hager, Jr., and infant sister, Wilma Jean Scott.



She is survived by two daughters, Hope Boyd (Morton) of Prospect and Vanessa Roff of Owensboro; a son, Lawrence W. Hager, III (Michelle) of Owensboro; four sisters, Bobbie Ann Windhorst (Don) of Louisville, Betsy Scott Powell of Frankfort, Barbara Richey (Larry) of Lexington, IN and Carol Sue Frazier (Michael) of Campbellsburg; six brothers, Richard "Dickie" Scott (Honey) of Valley Station, Charles H. "Joe" Scott of Louisville, Thomas N. Scott (Marilyn) of Sellersburg, IN, Terry D. Scott (Mary) of Milton, Brian Keith Scott of Louisville and Kenneth Wayne Scott (Dee) of Lorton, VA.



10 Grandchildren: Krystal C. Hager Greenawalt, Lindsey N. Hager Serrano, Winston Alexander Roff, Miriam Augusta Roff, Jackson Thatcher Roff, Samuel Hager Newton Roff, Colby Lawrence Hager Boyd, Robert Morton Boyd, Elizabeth Randolph Boyd and step-grandson, Nathan D. English.



11 Great-Grandchildren.

Funeral Service: 7 PM Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at Prewitt New Castle Funeral Home, officiated by Rev. Michael Duncan.

Private Graveside Service: Rosehill Elmwood Cemetery, Owensboro, officiated by Rev. Kaury Edwards.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to one of the following:

Theatre Workshop of Owensboro, 407 West 5th St., Owensboro, KY 42301 or Wesleyan Heights United Methodist Church, 1215 Scherm Rd., Owensboro, KY 42301.