Harper Gatton Stackhouse, 79, of Paducah died Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Baptist Health Paducah.

He was a retired teacher, having taught in Kentucky and Illinois and a vocational coordinator in Illinois. For many years he was a bartender at the Ninth Street House Restaurant and he played St. Nicholas at Grace Episcopal Church, Whitehaven and special events in Paducah. As St. Nicholas he once gave the mayor a lump of coal! He was in the armed services and served liaison duty in the British Army in Heidelberg, Germany.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Garnet Linkenberg Stackhouse, and one brother, Frank Stackhouse.

A memorial celebration of his life will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, March 16, 2013, at the Grace Episcopal Church Memorial Garden. The Reverend Nick Jaeger will be officiating.

A memorial fund has been set up by Grace Episcopal Church, 820 Broadway, Paducah, KY 42001.