Jack Comer

Jack Curtis Comer, 83, of Ironton, passed away Wednesday, July 11, 2012, at his residence. The Coal Grove native was born May 15, 1929, the son of the late John and Hazel Stapleton Comer. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty Hardy Comer.

Jack was a graduate of Dawson-Bryant High School and a former crane operator at Allied Coke Plant for 32 years, retiring in 1982. He was a member of the Campbell Drive Freewill Baptist Church in Ironton.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Jack Comer, Jr.; a daughter, Beaulah “Boots” Comer; three brothers, James Comer, Dick Comer and Ralph Comer; and three sisters, Glenna Comer, Judy Jones and Edna Mae Comer.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, John Thornton and Carolyn Comer of Burton, Texas; five grandchildren, Scott Comer, Chris Comer, Curtis Comer, Jack Ross Comer and Elisha Comer; and a brother and sister-in-law, Don and Wanda Comer of Coal Grove.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Phillips Funeral Home, 1004 South Seventh Street, Ironton, with Pastor Bob Bradley officiating. Burial will follow in Sugar Creek Cemetery and visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

 

Patricia Tavenner

Patricia Ann Tavenner, 83, of Findlay, passed away at 9:32 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2012, at the Bridge Hospice Care Center, Findlay. She was born on Aug. 8, 1928, to the late Harold and Lola (Gayhart) Leighty in Huntington, W.Va. Patricia married William Brown Tavenner on Jan. 1, 1947, and he survives.

She is also survived by one daughter, Karen Ann (Roger) Okerstrom, Valparaiso, Ind.; two sons, Stephen (Cathy) Tavenner, Columbus, and Charles A. Tavenner, Lima; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Patricia graduated from Ironton High School. She was a regional director and lifetime member of the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, Region 2. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Columbus, Happy Hour Garden Club, Arcadia Garden Club and the Clintonville Women’s Club, Columbus. Patricia also helped to start a handicap school in Columbus.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Coldren-Crates Funeral Home, Findlay. Online condolences may be made via www.coldrencrates.com.

 

Constance Unrue

Constance “Connie” Unrue, of Lawrenceville, Ga., went to live with the Lord on July 11, 2012. She was born July 23, 1935, in Ironton, the daughter of the late Kenneth Unrue and Valeria Tudor. She retired from the Salvation Army in Atlanta, Ga. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Ironton. She graduated from Ironton High School with the class of 1954.

She is survived by her son, Stephen Eastham of Lawrenceville, Ga.; sister, Gail Coffman of Ironton; brother, Kenneth Unrue Jr. of Haverhill; and several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service was 2 p.m. Saturday at the White Chapel Memorial Cemetery located at 1832 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, Georgia.

Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 155 Professional Park Drive, Cumming, Ga. Online condolences at www.byarsfuneralhome.com.

 

Michael Nance

Michael Edward Nance, 37, of Oak Harbor, passed July 12, 2012, at the University of Toledo Medical Center. The Kitts Hill native was born Nov. 20, 1974, the son of the Faith Marie Nance of South Point, who survives, and the late Raymond Jack Nance.

Michael attended Coal Grove Schools and later received his GED in Freemont. He worked in construction and had recently accepted Christ in his life. He loved to play drums, hunt, ride motorcycles and will be greatly missed by his family.

He is survived by, in addition to his mother, his sister and brother in law that raised him, Millie and Jim Yates of South Point; children, Shaun Depriest of Pedro, Alex Nance of Ironton, Braxton Nance of Virginia, Adriane Nance of Ironton, Venus Nance of Virginia; his fiancé, Carol Arent of Oak Harbor, and her children, Kristine, Samantha, Kathleen, and Gregory Arent. all of Oak Harbor; brothers and sisters, Missy Poland of Columbus, Jeannie Yates Sharon Nance and Charlotte Malone, both of Ironton, Millie and Bill Nance, both of South Point, Nora Nance and Ray Nance, both of Kitts Hill, and Barbara Barnhart of Lakeview; and a number of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. today at Tracy Brammer-Monroe Funeral Home, 518 S. Sixth St., Ironton, with the Rev. Marty Gute officiating. Friends may call from noon today until the time of the service at the funeral home. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.tracybrammerfh.com

 

Helen DuFore

Helen Joyce DuFore, 80, of Ironton, passed Wednesday, July 11, 2012, at Oakmont Manor in Flatwoods, Ky. The Ironton native was born March 26, 1932, the daughter of the late Albert Bodmer and Nola Saunders Bodmer.

Mrs. DuFore was a graduate of Ironton High School and member of the First Church of the Nazarene. In 1992 she retired after 42 years as a secretary for Ashland Oil.

She was preceded in death by, in addition to her parents, husband, Neil DuFore on Oct. 4, 1999; sister, Erma Bodmer; and three brothers, Ralph, Don and Fred Bodmer.

She is survived by a son and daughter in law, Neil and Claris DuFore of Ironton; granddaughter and her husband, Michelle and Mark Stamper of Ironton; grandson and his wife, Derek and Melissa DuFore of Ironton; three great-grandchildren, Craig Stamper, Courtney Stamper and Ava DuFore; brother, Lowell Bodmer of Ironton; sister, Jean Saylor of Ironton; and two sisters-in-law, Joyce Bodmer and Mary Bodmer both of Ironton.

Funeral services were noon Saturday at Phillips Funeral Home, 1004 S. Seventh St., Ironton, with Pastor Rob Hale officiating. Burial will followed in Woodland Cemetery. Pallbearers were Lowell Bodmer, Mark Stamper, Craig Stamper, Steve Bodmer, Mike Bodmer and Chad Bowman. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net

 

John Russell

John Russell, 64, of Ironton, died Friday, July 13, 2012, at Jo Lin Nursing Home in Ironton after a brief battle with brain cancer. John was born July 7, 1948, in Huntington, W.Va., a son of the late Robert (Bob) Russell and Lena (Lorain) Shafer Russell.

John was a machinist for CSX Transportation for 31 years, retiring in 2011. He most recently worked at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital. He was a U.S. Army veteran and served in the Vietnam War. John was of the Baptist faith. He was a Mason and a member of the Ironton VFW.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Regina (Sturgill) Russell; a daughter and son-in-law, John and Kristina Holtzapfel; grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Matthew Sheridan; step-grandchildren, Alex and Devin Holtzapfel, all of Ironton. He is also survived by a brother, Danny Russell of Palm Coast, Fla.; a sister, Bobbi Russell of Daytona Beach, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Tracy Brammer-Monroe Funeral Home in Ironton. Funeral will be 1 p.m. Monday. Donations may be made to the Ironton Catholic Schools on his behalf.

 

James Hall

James Robert Hall, 53, of Ironton, died Friday, July 13, 2012, at his residence. Arrangements are pending at Phillips Funeral Home.

 

Carl Jenkins

Carl. W. Jenkins, 54, of Ironton, died Friday, July 13, 2012, at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Ky. Arrangements are pending at Phillips Funeral Home.