Jean Staker

July 25, 1924-Feb. 3, 2015

Jean Kuehne Staker, 90, entered into the Gates of Heaven surrounded by her loving daughters on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015

She was the only daughter of the late Earl and Ruth Zimmerman Kuehne. Jean was born on July 25, 1924, in Ironton.  She was a 1942 graduate of Green High School and 1945 graduate of St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Huntington, West Virginia.

Jean worked for 23 years at Mercy Hospital in many administrative capacities and for the State of Ohio for 10 years as a patient care assessor.

She was married to the love of her life, John W. Staker, on Dec. 16, 1945, at St. John Lutheran Church by the late Rev. Elmer Hoffman. They remained lifelong members of the church.

Jean was preceded in death by her loving husband of 64 years, John W. Staker.  She was also preceded in death by her stepfather, James F, Bailey, Sr, brothers, James F. Bailey, Jr., Curtis O. Bailey, Sr., Arnold E. Bailey, Gale R. Bailey, and sister, Sandra S. Bailey.

She is survived by five daughters, Kendra (Ed) Hughes of Portsmouth, Karyn (Dale) Sexton of Ashland, Kathy Jane Staker and Jonna Kay  Staker, both of St. Albans, West Virginia, and Connie (David) Conley of Ashland; six grandchildren, Matt (Denise) Young of Wadsworth, Chris (Marla) Young of Seaman, Rebekah Piatt of Winter Park, Florida, Megan (Josh) Daniel of Ashland, Tara Sexton of Ashland, John David (Amy) Conley of Nancy, Kentucky; seven great-grandchildren, several stepgrandchildren;  two sisters, Omedia (Holly) Howell of Franklin Furnace, and Sharolyn K, (Davis) Heatwole, of Blacksburg, Virginia, and a brother, Robert A. (Frieda) Bailey of Franklin Furnace and several nieces and nephews.

Jean will be fondly remembered for her 50-plus years of nursing and her many talents including knitting, crocheting, cross stitching, and quilting.

The family would like to extend a special thank you for the years of loving care to the Life Steps Staff at Best Care Nursing and Rehab Center.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church with pastor Carl Beck officiating.  Burial will be at St. John Cemetery.  Friends may call at Harrison-Pyles Funeral Home in Wheelersburg from 6-8 p.m. today and one hour before the service on Saturday at the Church.

Memorial contributions may be sent to St. John Lutheran Church.

 

 

Alice Peters

Nov. 21, 1923-Feb. 3, 2015

Lt. Col. Alice V. Peters, U.S. Army (Ret.), 91, a Coal Grove native, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, at Kingsbrook Life Care Center, Ashland.  She was born Nov. 21, 1923, in Sciotoville, a daughter of the late Ralph L. and Emma Irwin Peters.  She is survived by three sisters, Mary Frances Roush, of Coal Grove, Thelma Louise McGuire, of Ironton and Sarah Jeanette Killin, of Ironton; one brother Ralph G. Peters, of Coal Grove; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was raised in southeast Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University with a teaching degree.  She received her master’s degree in music from Marshall University. After teaching at Coal Grove School for six years, she joined the Army in 1951.   Her military career started as the bandmaster of the 14th Army Band (WAC), a position she held for 11 years.  It was the only all-female band in the entire military and they toured the country extensively.  They were the preferred band at many presidential functions and marched in three inaugural parades.  Alice led the band at the 1956 World’s Fair in New York as well.  Her military career had just begun.

She worked at the Office of Public Affairs at the Pentagon and was the only person on duty the day she received the call informing her that President Kennedy had just been shot.  The days following were “crazy,” as she recalls.  It wasn’t long before she transferred to another position at the Military District of Washington.  From there she went to Logistics Command Headquarters in Europe and then back to the States as the Chief of Information at the Defense Language Institute.  Alice retired after 21 years at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

She spent her retirement years enjoying boating with her dear friend, Col. Dorothy Gray.  Their friendship began in 1955 and endured until Dorothy passed away in 2006.

A graveside service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday at Woodland Cemetery, Ironton with the Rev. Bradley Jenkins officiating.  Full military graveside honors will be conducted with burial to follow.  There will be no visitation.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Coal Grove United Methodist Church.

Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, Ohio is in charge of arrangements.  Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.

 

 

Kevin Rose

Kevin Leland Rose, 49, of Scottown, died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Huntington.  Funeral service will be conducted 2 p.m. Saturday at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville.  Burial will follow in Locust Grove Cemetery, Willow Wood.  Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.  Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.

 

 Shirley Nelson

Oct. 20, 1932-Feb. 4, 2015

Shirley May (Shafer) Nelson, 82, of Ironton, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Russell, Kentucky. The Michigan  native was born Oct, 20, 1932, the daughter of the late Earl and Malissa Laundrum Shafer. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Orin Nelson.

Mrs. Nelson was a  1950 graduate of Ironton High School and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Ironton. She was also a homemaker and loved her family dearly.

Shirley is survived by: a daughter, Orinna Dee (David B.) McDaniel, of Ironton a nephew, Marvin Shaffer, Jr., of Olathe, Kansas

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Marvin Shafer, Sr.

Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Monday in Sugar Creek Cemetery with pastor Matt O’Bryant officiating. Burial will immediately follow. Donations may be made in Shirley’s name to Calvary Baptist Church, Fifth and Quincy streets, Ironton, OH 45638. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

 

 

Dan Ferguson

Oct. 8, 1933- Feb. 4, 2015

Ralph “Dan” Ferguson, 81, of Ironton, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 in Community Hospice Care Center, Ashland.  Mr. Ferguson was born Oct. 8, 1933, in Ironton, a son of the late Harvey and Olivia Penrod Ferguson.  He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marlene Beasley Ferguson whom he married March 15, 1958.

Mr. Ferguson was a 1951 graduate of Rock Hill High School and a former employee of Ashland Oil and Refinery. Mr. Ferguson was a U.S. Air Force veteran, where he worked as a mechanic on B-52 bombers.  He was a member of Elm Street Church of the Nazarene where he served as a church board member, a trustee, Sunday school superintendent and was part of building the church fellowship hall.  Mr. Ferguson was a devoted Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Browns fan.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brother,  Harvey Cecil Ferguson, Jr. and Jim Ferguson and a sister,  Betty Ferguson.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children,  Ralph “Danny” Ferguson, Jr., Sherry (Paul) Delong and Paul David (Crystal) Ferguson, all of Ironton six grandchildren, Matthew (Kayla) Delong, of Ironton, Megan (Chris) Hart, of Auburndale, Florida, Marissa Delong, Kelli Ferguson, David Ferguson and Brooke Ferguson, all of Ironton; three great-grandchildren,  Chelsea Hart and Chase Hart, of Auburndale, Florida and Lily Delong, of Ironton; sister, Genevieve (Mart) Howard; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Elm Street Church of the Nazarene, 317 Elm St., Ironton, with Brother Wayne Beard officiating.  Burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery with military graveside rite by VFW Post 8850.  Friends may call from 6-9 p.m. today at the Tracy Brammer-Monroe Funeral Home.  Donations may be made in Dan’s name to Ironton First Church of the Nazarene Youth Group, 2318 S. Fourth St., Ironton, OH 45638.  To offer the family online condolences, please visit www.tracybrammerfh.com.

 

 

Dortha Black

Dortha T. Black, 90, of Chesapeake, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, at Cabell Huntington Hospital, Huntington.  Funeral service will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, by Dr. David Lemming.  Burial will follow in Woodmere Memorial Park, Huntington. Visitation will be from 6-9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home and one hour before the funeral service on Sunday.  Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.

 

 

Sandra Hill

Sandra M. Hill, 57, of South Point, wife of George Hill Jr., died on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, at Community Hospice Care Center, Ashland. A memorial service will be at noon Saturday at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church 1757 10th Ave., Huntington, with Reginald Hill officiating.   Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville is in charge of arrangements.  Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.

 

 

Ruth Burcham

Alice “Ruth” Burcham, 90, of Ironton, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, in a local health care facility.  Arrangements are pending at the Tracy Brammer-Monroe Funeral Home.