Catherine Collins

Catherine I. Collins, 85, of Coal Grove, died at Jo Lin Health Center, Wednesday, March 14, 2012. She was the wife of the late Edward (Red) Collins. She was born in Manchester, March 15, 1926, to the late Carey F. and Inez Bradford Shelton.

She was employed in the meat department at Food Fair in Coal Grove. She was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the Coal Grove Betterment Club.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Clarence and Carlos Shelton. She is survived by her children Frank Collins, Roger (Nancy) Collins, Tim (Valrie) Collins, all of Ironton, and Juelda Collins and fiancé Philip Elias of Coal Grove; grandchildren, Joshua and Adam Collins, Mandy (Damon) DeMeio, Nicholas, Kesha, and Katie Collins; one great grandchild, Lacie Thomas; sister Louanna Payne of Manchester; brother John Wesley Shelton of West Union; and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside service will be Saturday at 1 p.m. in Woodland Cemetery Section P, with Rev. Steve Harvey officiating. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Saturday morning at O’Keefe-Baker Funeral Home. Donations can be made to the Coal Grove Betterment Club Scholarship Fund C/O Vickie McDaniel 103 Brammer Drive, Coal Grove, OH 45638.

 

Gary H. Blankenship

Gary H. Blankenship, 72, of Deering, passed away Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at King’s Daughter’s Medical Center in Ashland, Ky.

He was born Feb. 25, 1940, the son of the late Joe and Emma Blankenship.

Gary was a member of Ice Creek Missionary Baptist Church and attended Coal Grove schools. He was an employee of Stan Harvey and Ferrell Gas Companies for many years. Gary was a talented woodworker and spent numerous hours building homes, cabinets and furniture for his family and friends.

Besides his parents, he is also preceded in death by a sister, Natta Dryden.

Gary is survived by his loving wife, Judy Waller Blankenship and five children, Dana (Stee) Vanover of Deering; Todd (Toml) Blankenship of Coal Grove; Richard (Carla)Blankenship of Ironton; Julie (Danny)Walter and Barry (Jennifer) Blankenship of Deering; 13 grandchildren: Jessica Fultz, Trent Blankenship, Tori Euton, Holli Swarts, Hannah, Joel, Emma, Dale and Barron Blankenship, Layla Bea, Austin Thomas, and Ryan and Sam Walter; eight great-grandchildren, Ryleigh, Levi and Lexi Blankenship, Cadence Fultz, Atticus and Emmitt Bea; Jackson Thomas, and Ben Walter.

He is also survived by two brothers, James Blankenship of Tennessee and Larry (Charlene) Blankenship of Pedro; and three sisters, Glenda Marshall of Deering, Brenda (Ted) Taylor of Ironton, and Sherry (Danny) Brammer of Deering.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. today at O’Keefe-Baker Funeral Home with Pastor Roger Pierce and Dr. Kevin Willis officiating, Burial will be in Ice Creek Cemetery.

 

Henry Willis

Henry Burton Willis, 88, of Ironton, passed away Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Edgewood Manor in Lucasville.

The Lawrence County native was born May 1, 1923, the son of the late Nelson Sr. and Lydia Adkins Willis. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Gilmore Willis.

Mr. Willis attended South Point High School and was a U.S. Army WWII veteran. He was a former chemical operator with Allied Chemical in South Point, retiring after 28 years of service. He was a member of the Haverhill United Methodist Church and a member of the V.F.W. Post 8850.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by: a son, Marion Willis; two brothers, Nelson Willis Jr. and Herman Willis and three sisters, Kathryn Osborne, Bessie McClure, and Nola Danner.

He is survived by a son and daughter in-law, Henry B. Jr. and Linda Willis of Hecla; a sister, Ruth Rice of Flatwoods, Ky.; four grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service at a later date at the Haverhill United Methodist Church. Phillips Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

 

Lucille Rigney

Lucille Rigney, 77, of Chesapeake, died Thursday, March 15, 2012 at Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, W.Va. She was the wife of Oscar Rigney, who survives. Funeral will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Hall Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Rome Cemetery. Visitation will be noon-1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

 

Harold Hieronimus

Harold Hieronimus, 78, of Pedro, joined his wife, Alice, in Heaven on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at the Sanctuary of Ohio Valley Nursing Home in Ironton.

He was born Jan. 22, 1934, a son of the late Luther Hieronimus and the late Jane Kimble Hieronimus. He was a former Dayton Malleable employee with more than 30 years of service.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Rosea Daniels and Dorothy Littlejohn; and two grandchildren, Baylee Millhouse and Dustin Yeley.

He is survived by a son; Kevin Hieronimus and his wife, Amy, of Ironton; three daughters, Gina Millhouse and her husband, Paul, of South Point, Donna Adkins and her husband, Jeff, of Coal Grove, and  Jennifer Remy and her fiancé Mark of Oak Hill; three brothers; Roy Hieronimus of Coal Grove,  Alva Hieronimus and his wife, Laray, of Nashville, Tenn., Don Hieronimus and his wife, Brenda, of Marion; and a sister Carolyn Daniels of Coal Grove. Harold also leaves to mourn his passing, 10 grandchildren: Zachary Hieronimus, Justin Adkins, Shelia Baker, Jessica Lawler, Zane Millhouse, Kayla Harless, Ray Remy, Jeffrey Yeley, Matthew Bundy, Aliceson Bundy; six great-grandchildren: Mylie Hieronimus, Richard Remy, Briar Harless, Allison Lawler, Audry Lawler, Ethan Lawler and a host of family and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Brown Funeral Chapel with Pastor Kevin West officiating. Burial will follow in the Etna Cemetery.  Visitation will be Saturday from 6-9 p.m. Friends may share condolences with the family on the Facebook page of Brown Funeral Chapel.