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These notices are dated: 09-08-2004
Michael Conner, Pure Prairie League keyboardist
One of Michael Edward Connor's first jobs was mucking out stalls at River Downs racetrack with his friend, Michael Reilly.
It wasn't long, however, before Mr. Connor was owning the horses, not cleaning up after them.
What made that possible was his gift for playing the piano, which landed him a job as keyboard player for Pure Prairie League, a seminal country-rock act of the early 1970s.
"He was so mellow he was almost comatose, " Reilly, a fellow band mate, recalled. "They called him 'The Sugar Bear' because he was just a bear of a guy -- . He rarely got his hackles up."
Mr. Connor, who died Thursday at his home in Sarasota, Fla., after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer, was 54.
He grew up in Latonia and graduated from Newport Catholic High School.
He studied classical piano at the Baker Hunt Art and Cultural Center in Covington, where he met another student, Sheila Deck, now Sheila Horstman of Mount Lookout.
He had a "vast and consummate talent, " she said. "That was his life. There was just no one better."
During high school, Mr. Connor also played rock music in a band called the Corvairs. Through those gigs, he met Reilly, who grew up in Fort Thomas and played bass for a band called the Renegades.
"His left hand and my bass lines worked pretty well together, " said Reilly, who now lives in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
The two toured England for a year as part of the opening act for David Bowie, then joined Cincinnati-based Pure Prairie League in 1972 and recorded "Bustin' Out."
In 1975, radio stations started playing "Amie, " a track from the album. It became a Top 40 hit that spring, pushing album sales to more than 500, 000.
Mr. Connor played with the band through its glory years, including 1979, when the band added Vince Gill -- who went on to greater fame in country music as a solo performer -- and recorded its biggest hit, "Let Me Love You Tonight."
The band called it quits in 1987 but reunited for a summer tour in 2000.
After the band broke up, Mr. Connor started buying, training and breeding racehorses with some of his cousins, including Kentucky Derby winner Steve Cauthen.
From 1980 to 1987, Reilly and Mr. Connor owned a house together in Park Hills. Mr. Connor also lived in Ireland for a year, but he eventually settled on Siesta Key in Sarasota.
Five years ago he married
a Florida woman, Heidi Anderson, and became a stepfather to her two children.
An avid sailor, he transported boats from Florida up and down the East Coast and to the Bahamas.
About 200 people showed up Sunday for an impromptu tribute to him in Sarasota, which was still without electrical power because of Hurricane Frances. There were Irish dancers, singers and a woman who played the pennywhistle, Reilly said.
The details haven't been worked out yet, but Reilly said he and his former band mates plan to have a bigger tribute on Friday, Oct. 8, somewhere in Northern Kentucky, that will include a Pure Prairie League reunion and some guest singers.
"He will be missed by many, many people, " Horstman said. "He was a musical genius."
Survivors include his wife, a stepson, Chris Duffy of Sarasota; and a stepdaughter, Corina Duffy of Sarasota.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. Saturday at Connley Brothers Funeral Home in Latonia. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, Latonia. Burial will be in Mother of God cemetery in Fort Wright.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Back Stretch Works of Mercy, c/o Father Niehaus, Box 727, Florence, Ky., 41022.
James Becker, taught psychology at TMC
James Anthony Becker was a popular professor of psychology at Thomas More College for 20 years.
"He loved Thomas More and everything connected with the college, " said Mr. Becker's wife of 46 years, Rita Kenney Becker. "Many of his former students kept in touch with him."
Mr. Becker, 69, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., died suddenly at his home of an aneurysm on Sunday.
He was a psychology professor from 1962 to 1964 at Xavier University in Cincinnati and then taught psychology at Thomas More from 1964 through 1984, when he and his family moved from Fort Thomas to Hilton Head.
At Thomas More he was director of the Co-operative Education Department and founded the Thomas More Weekend College. He delivered the college commencement address one year.
He was a past president of the Northern Kentucky Mental Health Association and a former member of the board of directors of the Campbell Lodge Boys Home. He also was a member of the Highland Country Club.
Mr. Becker participated in Catholic church activities in Northern Kentucky and later in Hilton Head, where he was head usher of Holy FamilyCatholic Church.
He was on the board of directors of the Hilton Head Island St. Patrick's Day Parade Foundation and was an avid golfer and traveler.
"His first love was teaching, " said Mrs. Becker. "Students always loved him and he got along well with other faculty members. He was very outgoing."
A native of Erie, Pa., Mr. Becker was a graduate of Marquette University in Milwaukee and earned a doctorate in psychology at Loyola University in Chicago.
Other survivors include daughters, Catherine Ann van Lierop of Bellevue, Ky., Jeanne Therese Stockhauser of Miamisburg, Ohio, Karen Agnes Murphy of Hilton Head Island and Susan Mary Kaminsky of Charleston, S.C.; sons, Daniel James Becker of Jacksonville, Fla., and Dr. John Michael Becker of Wilder; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Hilton Head.
Visitation was to be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at the Island Funeral Home and Crematory in Hilton Head.
Memorials may be made to the Hilton Head Preparatory School Scholarship Fund, 8 Fox Grape Road, Hilton Head Island, S.C., 29928.
James Anthony Becker, 69, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., died Sunday at his home. He was a professor of psychology at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and a retired professor and director of cooperative education at Thomas More College. He was founder of Thomas More's Weekend College, a member f the American Psychological Association, a past president of the Northern Kentucky Mental Health Association and a former board member of the Campbell Lodge Boys Home. He was a member of Holy Family Church, where he was head usher, a member of the Knights of Columbus and the board of directors of the Hilton Head Island St. Patrick's Day Parade Foundation.
Survivors include his wife, Rita Kenney Becker; daughters, Catherine Ann Stan van Lierop of Bellevue, Jeanne Therese Stockhauser of Miamisburg, Ohio, Karen Agnes Murphy of Hilton Head Island and Susan Mary Kaminsky of Charleston, S.C.; sons, Daniel James Becker of Jacksonville, Fla., and Dr. John Michael Becker of Wilder; and six grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Holy Family Church, Hilton Head Island. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. today at Island Funeral Home, Hilton Head Island. Inurnment will be in St. Francis Columbarium, Hilton Head Island. Memorials are suggested to Hilton Head Preparatory School Scholarship Fund, 8 Fox Grape Road, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29928.
Virginia Dee Kessinger, 81, of Fort Wright, died Sunday at Villaspring Care Center, Erlanger. She was a homemaker, president of the residents association at Atria Highland Crossing in Covington and a member of Faith Presbyterian Church in Louisville. Her husband, J.T. Kessinger, died in 1996.
Survivors include nieces.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today at Rest Haven Cemetery, Louisville. Memorials are suggested to Faith Presbyterian Church, 9800 Stonestreet Road, Louisville, Ky. 40272. Stith Funeral Home, Florence, is handling arrangements.
Paul Lawson, 65, of Morning View, died at 8 a.m. Friday at his home. He was a disabled printer with Central Carton Co.
Survivors include daughters, Benita Lawson of Florence and Danita Lawson of Covington; a son, Paul D. Lawson of Independence; his mother, Virginia Lawson Shell of Visalia; a sister, Jean Brumley of Visalia; and a brother, Delbert Lawson Jr. of Visalia.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Taylor Mill. Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Cremation will be at Hillside Chapel, Cincinnati.
Anne Brudnyak Luggen, of Bellevue, died Monday at her son's home in Cincinnati. She was a homemaker and a member of Divine Mercy Church, Bellevue, the Daughters of Isabella and Rosie Reds. Her husband, Edmund L. Luggen, died in 1973.
Survivors include a son, Dr. Michael E. Luggen of Cincinnati; a brother, John Burnack of Merritt Island, Fla.; and a grandchild.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Divine Mercy Church. A reception in the church's Charity Hall will follow services. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, St. Bernard, Ohio. Memorials are suggested to Divine Mercy Church, 318 Division St., Bellevue, Ky. 41073. A.C. Dobbling and Son Funeral Home, Bellevue, is handling arrangements.
Acton Lusby, 89, of Owenton, died Tuesday at St. Joseph Hospital, Lexington. He was a former Owen County deputy sheriff, an officer with the Owenton Police Department the county dog warden and ambulance driver. He also sold bait. His wife, Edna Morrow Lusby, preceded him in death.
Survivors include sisters, Doris Bourne, Marie Marrow and Retta Hollins, all of Owenton.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at McDonald and New Funeral Home, Main Street location, Owenton. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Owenton Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to U.S. Highway 127 S., Owenton, Ky. 40359.
Douglas C. Lyons, 42, of Walton, died Saturday in an accident on Madison Avenue in Covington. He was a welder and foreman with Geottle Construction Co., and a member of Union Baptist Church.
Survivors include daughters, Christina Lyons, Alexa Lyons and Hannah Lyons, all of Walton; his parents, George Douglas and Helen Lyons of Walton; and a sister, Theresa Lyons of Lakeside Park.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin there at noon Thursday. Burial will be in New Vine Run Cemetery, Dry Ridge. Memorials are suggested to Doug Lyons Children's Fund, in care of U.S. Bank, 19 N. Main St., Walton, Ky. 41094, or any U.S. Bank branch.
Betty Mae Vaughan McDannold, 88, of Erlanger, died Saturday at Baptist Village Care Center, Erlanger. She was a retired Walgreen's employee and a member of Banklick Christian Church and Order of the Eastern Star No. 493, Independence. Her husband, Alfred McDannold, died in 1959. A son, Billy Gene McDannold, died in 1999.
Survivors include daughters, Jean Hallauer of Spring Hill, Fla., and Hazel Letcher of Crittenden; a sister, Edna Southard of Florence; brothers, Mose Vaughan of Lakeland, Fla., and Ed Vaughan of Gainesville, Ga.; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Banklick Christian Church, 4150 Madison Pike, Covington, Ky. 41015; or Calvary Christian School, 5955 Taylor Mill Road, Covington, Ky. 41015.
Larry Taylor Mullins, 63, of Morning View, died Monday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, Covington.
Arrangements are pending at Swindler and Currin Funeral Home, Independence.
Allen Frank Nie, 76, of Fort Thomas, died Aug. 24, at Veterans Medical Center, Cincinnati. He was a salesman with Nie's Shoe Store, a member of Lawler Hanlon VFW Post No. 5662 in Newport and St. Therese Over 55 Club, and coached Knothole baseball. He was a former board member of Youth Haven, and was an Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Navine Swis Nie; and a son, Greg Nie of Chicago.
Mass of Christian burial was Tuesday at St. Therese Church, Southgate. Memorials are suggested to St. Therese Church, 11 Temple Place, Southgate, Ky. 41071; St. Luke Community Foundation, 85 N. Grand Ave., Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075; or Sisters of Notre Dame, 1601 Dixie Highway, Covington, Ky. 41011. Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, is handling arrangements.
Barbara J. Lehmkuhl Palmer, 56, of Erlanger, died Saturday at her home. She was a homemaker and a member of the American Policeman Hall of Fame and Citizens of Police Survivors. Her husband, Sgt. Robert Palmer; a son, Casey Lee Palmer; and Robin Nicole Palmer, all preceded her in death.
Survivors include sons, Jesse Erin Bundy of Florence and John Eric Bundy of Del Ray Beach, Fla.; her mother, Marcella Lehmkuhl of Erlanger; sisters, Carol Trimble of Villa Hills, Debbie Kidd of Crittenden and Teresa Cook of Las Vegas; and brothers, Bernard "Butch" Lehmkuhl of Hollywood, Fla., John "Jack" Lehmkuhl of Burlington, and James Lehmkuhl of Florence.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Pius X Church, Edgewood. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 4460 Lake Forest Drive, Suite 236, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242.
Loretta L. Schubert, 66, of Newport, died at 1:30 p.m. Monday at her home. She was a retired barmaid. Her husband, Elmer Ewing, died in 1999.
Survivors include a daughter, Robin Fulmer of Morning View; sons, Donald Fulmer of Nashville, Tenn., and Charles Fulmer of Tampa, Fla.; sisters, Goldie Hehman of Bedford, Texas, Patricia Trimble and Mary Browning, both of Newport, Virginia Powell of Covington, Ruth Kulosa of Edgewood and Constance Ashcraft of Dayton; brothers, Edward Woodyard of Cold Spring and Leroy Woodyard and Ronald Woodyard, both of Dallas, Ga.; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Newport. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Friday. Cremation will be at Southwest Ohio Crematory, Milford, Ohio.
Brooks Schwarberg, 84, of Fort Thomas, died at 4:10 p.m. Friday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. He was the retired owner of Krauss Awning Co., a member of St. John's United Church of Christ in Newport and president of the Life Partners Fellowship Group. He was a member of the church's retired men's club, he started the church dartball team and was a Sunday school teacher. He was a member of the Optimist Club of Newport, a member of the board of managers for the Buenger Boys and Girls Club, and an Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Jane Maschinot Schwarberg; daughters, Bonnie Hoffman of Fort Mitchell, Jeri McMath of Fort Thomas and Debbie Hecky of Southgate; a sister, Evelyn McReynolds of Lexington; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Saturday at St. John's United Church of Christ, Newport. Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Saturday. Memorials are suggested to St. John's United Church of Christ Memorial Fund, Park and Nelson Place, Newport, Ky. 41071; or Buenger Boys and Girls Club, 36 E. 10th St., Newport Ky. 41071.
Beulah Snyder, 95, of San Diego, formerly of Latonia, died Tuesday at Grossmont Hospital, La Mesa, Calif.
Arrangements are pending at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia.
Julie Ann Tinker, 37, of Taylor Mill, died at 11 a.m. Saturday at University Hospital, Cincinnati, from injuries sustained in a car accident. She was a clerk with the Cincinnati Firefighters Credit Union and a youth minister at Fellowship of Believers Church, Florence.
Survivors include her husband, Bob Tinker; a daughter, Shelby Leeann Tinker of Taylor Mill; a son, Robert Austin Fields of Taylor Mill; her parents, Robert White of Tampa, Fla., and Shandra White of Florence; brothers, Robert A. White of Burlington and Anthony L. White of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and grandmothers, Betty Shroder of Florence and Ruth Pennington of Tampa.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Fellowship of Believers Church. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Shelby and Robert Tinker, in care of the Cincinnati Firefighters Credit Union, 1243 W. Eighth St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45203. Don Catchen and Son Funeral Home, Elsmere, is handling arrangements.
Mary Blanche Webster Wolfe, 80, of Independence, died Sunday at her home. She was a retired employee of Kenner Toys. Her husband, Theodore R. Wolfe, died in 1994. A son, Teddy Wolfe, died in 1993. A daughter, Bonnie Wolfe Huffman, died in 2000.
Survivors include a daughter, Wanda Bach of Independence; a son, Lenny Wolfe of Florence; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will begin there at noon. Burial will be in New Bethel Cemetery, Verona. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, Ky. 41042; or St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
