Obituaries – 8/9/13
Published 10:01 am Friday, August 9, 2013
Ella Bowling
March 2, 1919 – Aug. 4, 2013
Ella Marie Bowling, the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord. God in His infinite wisdom has seen fit to remove from our presence, Ella Marie Bowling, 94 on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013. She was born March 2, 1919 in Carter County, Ky., the daughter of Mason Reeves and Ida Baldridge Reeves.
She was united in holy wedlock to the late Rev. Edgel Bowling, on Jan. 1, 1934. They spent their early married life in Wyoming County, W.Va. She was a farmer, gardener and homemaker. She moved with their family to Lawrence County in 1944, and spent the rest of their lives in this community. Those left to cherish her memory are one son, Rev. Jerry Bowling, State Route 93, Ironton; two daughters, Mrs. Arnold (Esther) Malone, of Fairborn, and Mrs. Duanne (Joann) Barr of Jackson; 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 10 great great grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews and cousins, dearly loved.
Ella was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Edgel; a son, Glenn R. Bowling, and one infant daughter, DoraJean; an older sister, Ethel Mae Reeves, and a brother, Virgil Reeves. Also, two beloved sons-in-law, Ronald Aldridge and Harvey Patton, and one daughter-in-law, Gertrude Gullet Bowling.
She was a faithful member of the Lorain Street Gospel Mission for approximately 25 years, athough she and her husband were gospel singers and musicians and avid church workers all their lives around the area. She especially enjoyed the harmonious music and majestic spiritual nature of her church. Some of her most cherished moments were the rearing of her babies, singing in the church choir at the Johns Creek Church in earlier years and mingling with the neighbors at bridal, wedding and baby showers. She loved people and particularly enjoyed her 80th birthday surprise party by family and friends; and later, hosted her 86th birthday dinner so she could visit with everyone.
Ella was quietly gutsy and determined and will be remembered for taking on the challenge of teaching herself to drive at the age of 40 years old in a pasture field on the farm on Slabfork Road. As her babies grew up and relocated to various parts of the state, Ella would put on her wheels to go check on them, especially when a new grandbaby was born or someone was ill. She was always interested in her extended family and what they were doing. Also, when visiting, she never went empty handed, being the gardener and farmer, Momma, good cook/baker. Ella put her trust in the Lord and the Good Book, (Bible) which she tried to read daily. She had a thirst for knowledge and in earlier years, had health magazines and various books on her bookshelf, including scrapbooks, cookbooks, and photo albums collected from her life including Billy Grahams, family Christmas cards and papers yearly. Ella’s interest in photography and her collections have propagated picture taking in her entire family lineage. In later years, the Ironton newspaper or a religious magazine or Bible would be found in her lap or her hands as she took an impromptu nap in the afternoon.
Her childhood education was attained in a one-room school at Straight Creek, Ky. She maintained a one- card report that was laced with A’s only, and encouraged her family to do the same. She put her trust in the Lord as a child of 12, after suddenly losing her father to a short, tragic illness. Her family core was based on strong religious beliefs and this philosophy continued throughout her lifetime and as she guided her children to adulthood. For awhile, after moving from the farm, she and her husband attended South Point Church of God where she expressed her faith in words and special gospel singing of her and husbands favorite old songs. Rev. Bob Queen was a special friend, pastor and most loyal visitor and prayer warrior in times of need, day or night.
To Ella, each day of life was a gift, just like Thanksgiving and Christmas to some others, every day was special. She felt she was rich beyond any words because so many beautiful, kind people loved and supported her, especially as her health problems began. She kept all the pretty cards and notes through the years and pretty Christmas boxes. She appreciated the natural world throughout her farm life, and if prizes had been given in the country for flowers, her petunias would have taken all the prizes, for she put them everywhere. As she was not so able to raise a garden and flowers at the last residence, the natural forest by her home gave her all sorts of four-legged creatures to watch. Foxes, dogs, deer, possums, groundhogs, raccoons and all sorts of strays went to her porch and lawn for an apple or a scrap. Usually, an old skillet or pan could be found at the end of the back porch with morsels of something for them. Her own treasured four-legged companions, three cats, Boots, Baby and Scamp at home, added smiles and more smiles to each day of her shut-in life. In the fall, she always looked forward to harvesting the apples from the red delicious apple tree by the porch and she became a little feistier as she peeled the bountiful fruit for canning and ate a few pieces here and there as she worked. She worked with a cheerful disposition and also, always searched for someone to share the apples with, so there would not be too many wasted.
Truly, the great central sun of this household has gone down. She will not be forgotten, nor can she ever be replaced. May we meet in the golden summer of another life, where children, mother and father and all will gather again in a sweet reunion, where partings are unknown. She would commend all in such sorrow to the grace of Him who is the resurrections and the life.
In lieu of flowers, friends and loved ones may make contributions in her memory to the Lorain Street Mission, where she faithfully attended or the Ironton Humane Society.
The funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Phillips Funeral Home, where visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Saturday, with the funeral to follow at noon. Interment will follow in Slabfork Cemetery on Johns Creek with Brother Jack Pemberton officiating. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.
Earl Slack
March 9, 1921-Aug. 6, 2013
Earl L. Slack, 92, of Chesapeake, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013, at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Huntington, W.Va. He was born March 9, 1921, in Carroll County, a son of the late Frank and Margaret (Marteney) Slack.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Carl Slack, a great-grandson, Tyler Mayse, a son-in-law, Larry Grabiak, and a daughter-in-law, Vicki Slack. He was a crane operator at Republic Steel in Canton, prior to attending Kentucky Christian College. Upon graduating with a degree in Christian Ministries, Earl was ordained in Minerva and ministered over the years with several congregations in Ohio, including Chesapeake Christian Church and South Point Christian Church, where he was a member. He was actively involved in KYOWVA Evangelistic Association and served as a guest minister at several area congregations. Earl was also known for his beautiful tenor singing voice. Everyone who knew him knew that he was an avid golfer, sports fan, and gardener. He was employed by Chesapeake Schools as a school bus driver, and worked part time as an attendant at Schneider Funeral Home and Slack and Wallace Funeral Home. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Dorothy A. (Lozier) Slack; one sister, Dorothy Jenkins of Minerva; three sons, Roger A. Slack of Chapel Hill, Tenn., Robert E. (Jane) Slack of Huntington, W.Va., and Richard L. (Lesa) Slack of Chesapeake; two daughters, Jean Ann Grabiak of Mount Pleasant, Pa., and Susan C. (Kyle) Self of Anchorage, Alaska; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Slack and Wallace Funeral Home in South Point, with Phil LeMaster and Jerry Greenslait officiating. Burial will follow in Rome Cemetery, Proctorville, with Willie Purdee officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home today from 5 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Art Bush Ministry Inc., P.O. Box 700, Chesapeake, OH 45619, or Howell’s Mill Christian Assembly, 99 Christian Camp Road, Ona, WV 25545. Condolences may be expressed at www.slackandwallace.com.
Marie Akers
Nov. 11, 1921 — Aug. 5, 2013
Marie Akers, 91, of Westerville, passed away peacefully on Aug. 5, 2013, at her residence with her family by her side.
She was born in Wurtland, Ky., on Nov. 11, 1921, to the late Leroy and Virginia (Hall) Nichols. Marie was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church of Westerville. Mrs. Akers enjoyed reading, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends.
Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her loving husband James Akers in 1968; two sons, Michael G. Akers, and Paul E. Akers; one daughter-in-law, Wanda ‘Walls’ Akers; one son-in-law, Robert Bledsoe; one grandson, Michael James Akers; one great-grandson, Michael Jamie Akers; and two sisters, Anna Deer, and June Adkins.
Left behind to cherish her memory is a devoted family including four daughters, Patricia Bledsoe of Greenup, Ky., Barbara (Beryl) Satterly of Grayson, Ky., Karen (Rickey) James of Pickens, S.C., and Janice (Paul) DeHart of Westerville; five sons, Larry (Esta) Akers of Ironton, Patrick (Judy) Akers of Waverly, Daniel (Kimberly) Akers of Kitts Hill, Alvin (Robin) Akers of New Carlisle, and Gregory Akers of Columbus, 25 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren, all whom will miss her dearly.
Funeral service will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Carman Funeral Home in Flatwoods, Ky., with words of comfort delivered by the Rev. Paul Schmidt. Burial will follow at Caroline Cemetery. Friends may call from one hour prior to service time.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.carmanfuneral.com.
Nancy Bruce
Nancy S. Bruce, 71, of South Point, died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at St. Mary’s Medical Center. Graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Highland Memorial Gardens, South Point. Visitation is from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at Slack and Wallace Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed at www.slackandwallace.com.