Dr. Sally Ann Utley Asefa, 76, Owensboro
Dr. Sally Ann Utley Asefa, 76, of Owensboro, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at the Heartford House under the care of Hospice and Palliative Care of W. Kentucky. It is with great sadness to her family.
A native of Huntingburg, Indiana, Sally was born on July 8, 1949, to the late Albert and Claire Utley.
Sally was a beloved mother, sister, aunt and friend. She touched many lives with her humor, kindness, intelligence and warmth. Her greatest joys in life were being a mom to her son, Sam, spending time with her special sister and best friend, Abby, and with her brother, Bill, and being “LaLa” to her niece, Alli.
Sally loved teaching, spoiling her cats, particularly Curly Joe, and dressing up as Dr. Tigger on Halloween. She cherished her close friends, Sr. Judith Nell Riney, Marilyn Conley and Karen Utley.
An avid fan of the Savannah Bananas, Sally was a member of the K Club and knew the names and positions of all the players and could recount each fantastic trick play and funny skit. She had secured great tickets to a game in June of this year, but sadly, her illness prevented her from attending.
To get through the cold, dark Kentucky winters she watched Indiana University and University of Louisville basketball, and she was particularly thrilled with the U of L basketball revival last season. LaMar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens were her “go to” team in the NFL.
Sally earned her PhD in economics from Iowa State University, and was employed as a professor at Brescia University from 1980-2006 and the University of Saint Frances from 2006-2007. She then taught at Kentucky Wesleyan College from 2007 until her retirement in 2017.
Always active in the community, she served on the boards of Wendell Foster, Owensboro Riverport Authority, Audubon Area Community Services and Girls Inc. She was a graduate of Leadership Owensboro and a longtime member of the Leadership Owensboro Curriculum Committee.
In addition to her parents, Sally was preceded in death by her dearly loved maternal grandmother, Ina Mae Southwood.
Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Sam Asefa of Chicago, Illinois; sister, Abby Wallace (Al) of Owensboro; brothers, Bill Utley (Karen) of Valparaiso, Indiana and Mark Utley (Angie) of Cincinnati, Ohio; nieces and nephews, Alli Phillips (Ryan) of Owensboro, Megan Utley of Chicago, Illinois, Sarah Utley of Berlin, Germany, Ben Utley of Valparaiso, Indiana, Belle Cochrane (Tom) of Christchurch, New Zealand, Evin Wallace of Caryville, Tennessee and Shiloh, Maggie, Mars and Hank Utley, all of Cincinnati, Ohio. Sally’s great-nephews are Blake and Isaiah Wallace and Thomas, William, Lucas, and Benjamin Cochrane, and her special buddy, Wilder Phillips.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, 900 Old Hartford Road, Owensboro, KY 42303.
If possible, please wear a Savannah Bananas, Indiana University, University of Louisville or cat shirt. (Not UK cat, though. Sally would not want us to let you in!)
Per Sally’s request, expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Kentucky, Brescia University, Kentucky Wesleyan College or Wendell Foster.
Condolences and memories for Sally’s family may be left at www.glenncares.com.
