Dr. Michael Ehrie Jr.

Dr. Michael Grant Ehrie, Jr. of Ashland, KY passed away at his residence on December 11, 2019. He was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana on March 16, 1948 to the late Michael Grant Ehrie, Sr. and Margaret Ricketts Ehrie.
He was a 1966 graduate of Paul G. Blazer High School in Ashland and a 1970 graduate of Northwestern University. He graduated from University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1974 and was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha. He completed a residency in anatomic pathology at Harvard University’s Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts in 1977. He then completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in pulmonary medicine at Duke University in 1981.
He returned to Ashland in 1981 and entered the private practice of pulmonary and critical care medicine. He committed his life to providing outstanding care to patients at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital. He loved mentoring and teaching medical students, residents, and nurses. He was instrumental in developing OLBH’s Vitality Center and pulmonary rehabilitation program. He served as the OLBH Chief Medical Officer and held multiple leadership positions on the medical staff, including Co-Director of the Intensive Care Unit from 1981-2002. Later in his career he became board certified in sleep medicine.
In recent years he worked tirelessly to educate students in eastern Kentucky public schools on the dangers of teen vaping and lectured to over 5,000 students.
Dr. Ehrie is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Jane Ray Ehrie of Ashland, KY; a son Michael Grant Ehrie III and his wife Dr. Julie Kurek of Evans, GA; a daughter Margaret Ehrie Rice and her husband Dr. Drew Rice of Bristol , TN; brothers Mark Reed Ehrie and wife Barbara of Ashland, MS and Matthew Ryan Ehrie and wife Nicole of North Andover, MA; and grandchildren Michael Grant Ehrie IV, Ava Rose Ehrie, and Hugh Andrew Rice. He was a strong supporter of the golf programs at Russell High School. He grew up in the First United Methodist Church and was a faithful attendee at First Baptist Church in Ashland.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 1:00PM at First Baptist Church of Ashland and will be officiated by Pastor Steve Willis. Entombment will follow in Rose Hill Burial Park. Visitation will be at Steen Funeral Home, 13th Street Chapel on Monday evening from 6:00 – 8:00PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Dr. Ehrie’s memory to OLBH Vitality Center, 1100 St. Christopher Drive, Ashland, KY 41101 or First Baptist Church of Ashland, 1701 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, KY 41101.
Online condolences may be made to www.steenfuneralhome.com