John Shafer

May 23, 1991– Feb. 18, 2020

John Derek Shafer, age 28, of Lebanon, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, at Hospice of Butler and Warren County.

He was born May 23, 1991 in Ashland, Kentucky, to John Randall Shafer and Mavis (Watts) Shafer-Back.

He worked in landscaping. John attended The Village Church of South Lebanon.

John is survived by his wife, Deborah Lee (Blankenship) Shafer, of Lebanon; mother, Mavis (stepfather, Jerome) Back, of Lebanon; brother, Dr. Eric Shafer, of Chicago; maternal grandmother, Mavis Gilkerson Watts; and paternal grandparents, John and Phyllis (Corbin) Shafer, of Ironton.

He is preceded in death by his father, John Randall Shafer; and maternal grandfather, Roy J. Watts.

Visitation will be held Friday from 3–6 p.m. at Baker-Stevens-Parramore Funeral Home, 6850 Roosevelt Ave., Middletown. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 6 p.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Joseph Stookey officiating. A gathering of family and friends will follow after the service at Baker-Stevens-Parramore Event Center.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy, 1080 Nimitzview Drive, #208, Cincinnati, OH 45230.

A graveside service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Woodland Cemetery, Ironton, with Rev. Steve Harvey officiating.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.bakerstevensparramore.com.

Mariam Thomas

Feb. 22, 1930–Feb. 18, 2020

Mariam Lou Thomas, of Ironton, was born on Feb. 22, 1930 and died on Feb. 18, 2020.

Mariam was a retired elementary school teacher from Ironton City Schools.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Romulus J. Willis and Sarah B. Willis, of Aid; her husband, James F. Thomas, of Ironton; and her sister, Vera J. Roach, of Enon.

Surviving her are sons, James W. Thomas, of Hurricane, West Virginia, Timothy F. Thomas, of Ironton, and William R. Thomas (spouse Ginger), of Ironton; and grandchildren, Stuart G. Thomas (spouse Natalie), of Denver, Colorado, Lauren S. Thomas (spouse Deniz), of Charleston, South Carolina, and Maggie N. Thomas, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Mariam spent a happy childhood in Aid before matriculating to and graduating from Ironton High School in 1948. Born into a family of educators, her father once served as the Lawrence County superintendent of schools. After attending Rio Grande College, Mariam embarked on her own career as an educator spanning 32 years before her retirement in 1995. She brightened the halls of elementary schools in Decatur, Blackfork and Ironton, with her longest tenure at Whitwell Elementary. Her sons Timothy and William both continue the family tradition in public education.

Mariam was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ironton and the Order of the Eastern Star, Waterloo Chapter. She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed other hobbies, including gardening (for which she won many awards as part of the Green Blades Garden Club) and supporting the various sports teams at Ironton High School.

Visitation will be from 6–8 p.m. Friday and 10-11 a.m. Saturday at Phillips Funeral Home in Ironton. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday with Pastor Carson J. Hunt officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery.

Gifts in memory of Mariam may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church of Ironton.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

Rena Fulks,

Rena W. Fulks, 80, of Chesapeake, died Wednesday, February 19, 2020.

She is survived by husband, Dan Fulks.

Slack and Wallace Funeral Home South Point, is assisting the family with arrangements which are incomplete.