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Date of these obituaries: 01-03-2004
James C. Merson, helped others cope with disease
Diagnosed at birth with Alport syndrome -- an inherited disease that damaged his kidneys -- James Charlie Mershon endured three kidney transplants in his lifetime -- in 1981, 1984 and 1991.
He adjusted to living with the malady, indeed helping others to do the same. In the mid-1980s, Mr. Mershon agreed to a request from social workers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital to counsel children preparing to undergo dialysis. He offered advice and encouragement to those kids about the difficult road that lay ahead of them.
"He told me it broke his heart knowing those little ones would have to go through what he went through, " said his wife, Vicki. "He said no child should have to suffer the way he did."
Mr. Mershon, of Newport, died Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital East in Fort Thomas. He was 42.
His ailment prevented him from participating in sports as a child, but it did not stop him in his adult years from coaching softball in the National and American divisions of the Newport Girl's softball league.
His treatment for his kidney disease caused other health problems. Medication he took to ward off rejection of his transplants caused skin cancer. Because of that, he had to have one of his arms amputated.
But that didn't keep her husband from making those around him feel happy and loved, Vicki Mershon said.
Among them was his stepdaughter, Stephanie McIntosh Blunt, now of Norfolk, Va. Mr. Mershon, who never had children of his own because of the fear of passing on his disease, embraced his stepdaughter as his own. She found in him someone who was always there for her and who provided a father figure for the entire family.
"He was my backbone, " Vicki Mershon said. "He was a clean-cut and stable guy, and we needed that in our lives. He was always there for his family, no matter what."
Other survivors include his parents, Wendell and Marie Mershon of Montgomery, Ohio; a sister, Sandy Richardson of Taylor Mill; a brother, Charlie Mershon of Taylor Mill; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 8 p.m. Monday at the Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Youth Dialysis Unit, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45229.
June C. Beacom, 68, of Hebron, died at 2:30 a.m. Friday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, Covington. She was a homemaker and a member of Taylorsport Community Church. Her husband, Robert Earl Beacom, died in 1988.
Survivors include sons, Robert Lynn Beacom of Taylorsport, Charles V. Beacom of Shreveport, La., and Preston W. Beacom of Dublin, Ohio; sisters, Dorothy Bloebaum and Helen Goins, both of Sayler Park, Cincinnati; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Hebron. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Hebron Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Marilyn Ruth Berryman, 77, of Pueblo, Colo., formerly of Hebron, died Wednesday at Pueblo West Nursing Home. Arrangements are pending at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Hebron.
Heather S. Brumback, 26, of Crittenden, died at 4 p.m. Thursday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. She was a hairdresser with Susan's Salon, Alexandria.
Survivors include her husband, Butch Brumback; her parents, Shirley Dunn and Charles MacFerren, both of Florence; and sisters, Beth MacFerren and Candice MacFerren, both of Florence, and Carolyn Ehlinger of Burlington.
Services will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Don Catchen and Son Funeral Home, Elsmere. Visitation will begin there at 5 p.m. Monday. Entombment will be in Hillside Chapel, Cincinnati.
Dorothy Bussell, 91, of Covington, died Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, Covington. She was a former presser with Crown Laundry and a member of Melody Makers.
Survivors include a son, Morris Bussell of Covington, and two grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Monday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Covington. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Monday. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Myrtice H. Clarkson, 87, of Covington, died Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a homemaker and a member First Church of Christ, Burlington. Her husband, Victor B. Clarkson, died in 1981. A daughter, Barbara Brockhoeft, died in 1991.
Survivors include daughters, Linda Culotta and Patricia Yowell, both of Villa Hills; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Monday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Monday. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill. Memorials are suggested to First Church of Christ, 6080 Camp Ernst Road, Burlington, Ky. 41005.
Margaret Lee Closser, 77, of Warsaw, died Thursday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a homemaker and a member of Warsaw United Methodist Church. Her husband, John Closser, died in 1986. Sons James Closser and Buzzy Closser died in 1968 and 1970, respectively.
Survivors include a daughter, Judy Satchwell of Sparta; a son, John Closser of Amelia, Ohio; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Carlton-Lowder Funeral Home, Warsaw. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Warsaw Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Arthritis Foundation, 2908 Browsboro Road, Suite 100, Louisville, Ky. 40206.
Blake Johnathon Connley, 5 days, son of Bill Connley and Traci Pfeiffer of Florence, died Wednesday at University Hospital, Cincinnati.
Other survivors include brothers, Brandon McKinney of Florence, Tyler Connley and Austin Connley, both of Dayton; a sister, Kiersten Connley of Dayton; grandparents, Axie Connley of Dayton, and Kevin and Patricia Willenborg of Florence; and great-grandparents, Francis Becker and Clyde Willenborg, both of Florence.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Evergreen cemetery Chapel, Southgate. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Stith Funeral Home, Florence, is handling arrangements.
Elizabeth Frances Nash Bravard Copens, 87, of Augusta, died Thursday at St. Joseph Hospital, Lexington. She was a cook and a member of Augusta Church of the Nazarene and the Augusta VFW Auxiliary. Her first husband, Charles Henry Bravard, and second husband, Dan Copens, both preceded her in death.
Survivors include sons, Charles Rochester Bravard and Donald Lee Bravard, both of Augusta, and Thomas Allen Bravard of Bethel, Ohio; daughters, Elizabeth Ann Berry of Aberdeen, Ohio, Dorothy Jean Napier of Brooksville and Sharon Sayers of Augusta; 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Moore and Parker Funeral Home, Brooksville. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Augusta.
Coyt W. Croley, 81, of Cold Spring, died at 2:25 a.m. Thursday at Northern Kentucky Care and Rehabilitation Center, Highland Heights. He was a retired tailor with Palm Beach Clothiers, Erlanger, and a member of VFW Post No. 8020, Wilder. He was an Army veteran of World War II, a former prisoner of war and a member of Disabled American Veterans.
Survivors include his wife, Irene Croley; a son, Edward Croley of Cold Spring; daughters, Brenda Croley of Greenville, S.C., Delora Eckerle of Fort Thomas, Kathryn Ladnow of Cold Spring and Doris Mays of Reading, Ohio; brothers, James Croley of New Paris, Ohio, Orbery Croley of Liberty, Ind., and Paul Croley of Dayton, Ohio; sisters, Doris Good of Connersville, Ind., Delores Greenburg of Ionia, Mich., Velma Pingleton of West Chester, Ohio, and Georgia Reiff of Mason, Ohio; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Alexandria Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Alexandria Cemetery.
Dortha Curtis, 80, of Corinth, died Thursday at Central Baptist Hospital, Lexington. She was a homemaker. Her husband, Edward Curtis, preceded her in death.
Survivors include daughters, Inger Cloe of Cynthiana and Bernadine Moyer of Dayton, Ohio; a brother, Warren Blake of Springfield, Mo.; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Woodhead Funeral Home, Berry. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pythian Grove Cemetery, Berry.
Dorothy G. Fischer, 96, of Villa Hills, died at 11:30 p.m. Thursday at Madonna Manor Care Center, Villa Hills. She was a former housekeeper for Rev. Carl Fischer.
Survivors include a niece, Mary Hanaghan of Dayton, Ohio, and a nephew, Thomas H. Druffel of Chicago.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Madonna Manor. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Monday. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice. Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Covington, is handling arrangements.
Bobby Joseph Lynn Gray, 26, of Carrollton, died Tuesday at his home. He was a painter and a member of the California 4H Club.
Survivors include a daughter, Brittany Gray of Covington; sons, Bobby Gray of Bedford, James Nicely and Jordan Dixon, both of Carrollton; his mother and stepfather, Sharon Gray and Robert Chilton of Bedford; stepfather, Ronald Peeno of California; a brother, Thomas Gray of Carrollton; a sister, Rhonda Celise of Covington; and stepbrothers, Adam Peeno, Johnny Peeno and Aaron Peeno, all of Covington.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Graham-Dunn Funeral Home, Carrollton. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Erlanger.
Noah Green, 82, of Georgetown, died Thursday at his home. He was a member of Trinity Assembly of God and worked in the floor covering business.
Survivors include his wife, Florence Shelton Green; sons, Ronnie Green of Georgetown and Ricky Greene of Berea; daughters, Connie Farris and Patricia Gaines, both of Georgetown; a brother, Kirby Green of Owenton; a sister, Edith Ellis of Frankfort; 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Beechwood Assembly of God, Owenton. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 tonight at McDonald & New Funeral Home, Main Street location, Owenton. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Assembly of God Church, 1220 Cincinnati Pike, Georgetown, Ky. 40324.
Martha Ann Davis Mills Grubb, 82, of Fort Mitchell, died Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a retired elementary school cook and a member of Roadside Baptist Church, Barbourville. Her husband, Frank Grubb, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Judy Kroger of Fort Mitchell; stepsons, Lincoln Grubb of Dayton and Oren Grubb of South Bend, Ind.; a sister, Bessie Baker of Barbourville; and two granddaughters.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Hopper Funeral Home, Barbourville. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 tonight and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Davis Cemetery, Barbourville. Memorials are suggested to Kidney Foundation of Central Kentucky, 2417-B Regency Road, Lexington, Ky. 40503.
Lois Jean Hall, 54, of Dayton, died Thursday at her home. She was a homemaker and a member of Dora Chapter No. 2 Order of the Eastern Star, Dayton.
Survivors include her husband, Tommy Hall; sons, Steven Kelly Hall of Newport and Tommy Scott Hall of Dayton; a sister, Lillie Strong of Highland Heights; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Monday at Cooper Funeral Home, Grants Lick. Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Entombment will be in Evergreen Mausoleum, Southgate.
Stewart B. Hedger, 65, of Seymour, Ind., died at 1:05 p.m., Dec. 24, at Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis. He was editor of several newspapers in Indiana, including the Vevay Reveille, Register Publications of Lawrenceburg and the Seymour Tribune. He was also a contributing writer to The Indianapolis Star.
Survivors include his wife, Janet Hedger; children, Julie Hedger of Louisville, Leigh Hedger and K.C. Hedger, both of Indianapolis; and his mother, Mary Hedger of Sherman.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Williamstown Methodist Church. Memorials are suggested to Glen B. Buhlig Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of University of Kentucky, Ag Alumni and Development Office, N212 Ag. Science Building North, Lexington, Ky. 40205. Burkholder Funeral Home, Seymour, is handling arrangements.
Cecilia Avila Hernandez, 22, of Gallatin County, died in a house fire Wednesday in Gallatin County. Her son, Alexander Manuel Velasquez, and daughter, Citialli Naomi Velasquez, also died in the fire.
Survivors include her husband, Manuel Velasquez of Gallatin County; four brothers and five sisters.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. John Church, Carrollton. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Graham-Dunn Funeral Home, Carrollton. Burial will be in Tepetzingo, Mexico.
Carroll Gordon Hitch, 95, of Covington, died at 10:54 a.m. Friday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. He was a cabinetmaker retired from Strick Furniture Co., Cincinnati, and a member of First Christian Church, Covington. His wife, Helen Hicks Hitch, died in 1993.
Survivors include a son, Larry Hitch of Edgewood; a granddaughter and a great-grandson.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Taylor Mill. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell.
Gladys Hollar Kenney, 97, of Carlisle, died Thursday at Harrison Memorial Hospital, Cynthiana. She was a retired teacher.
Survivors include a son, Bobby Gene Kenney of Williamstown; brothers, Fred Hollar and Myrrl Hollar, both of Carlisle; a sister, Elsie Kenney of Decatur, Ill.; two grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Mathers-Gaunce Funeral Home, Carlisle. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Saltwell Cemetery, Carlisle. Memorials are suggested to Nicholas County Senior Citizens, 124 E. Main St., Carlisle, Ky. 40311.
Robert Carl Krohman, 63, of Florence, died Thursday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. He was a superintendent and a former fleet director with Kenton County Public Works and president of the Northern Kentucky Public Works Association.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Krohman; sons, Tim Young of Hebron and Rodney Krohman of Florence; daughters, Sherry Mullikin of Burlington and Terri Davis of Amelia, Ohio; brothers, James Krohman of Fort Mitchell, Dewey Krohman of Taylor Mill and Mike Krohman of Villa Hills; sisters, Jane Worley of Colorado and Margie Hilbert of Florence; seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Cecilia Church, Independence. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Entombment will be in Floral Hills Mausoleum, Taylor Mill.
Ethel Jane Linville, 85, of Germantown, died Thursday at Augusta Health Care Center. She was a member of Chatham Church of Christ, Bracken County. Her husband, Samuel Grant Linville, died in 1979.
Survivors include a daughter, Diane Jane Linville Workman of Brooksville; a son, Sammy Earl Linville of Florence; a brother, Earl Welch of Germantown; a sister, Clara Louise Lansky of Florida; and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Palmer Funeral Home, Germantown. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Germantown. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Hope, 909 Kenton Station Drive, Maysville, Ky. 41056.
Frank W. Parker, 85, of Florence, died at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. He was service manager retired from Pieratts Appliances in Lexington, and a member of Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church, Huntington, W.Va.
Survivors include his wife, Cynthia Watts Parker; sons, Chet L. Parker of Columbus, Ohio, Roger K. Parker and John D. Parker, both of Florence; a sister, Marie Hayes of Melbourne Beach, Fla.; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Taylor Mill. Visitation will begin there at noon Tuesday. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, Ky. 41042; or Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075.
Patricia A. Pfaehler, 56, of Southgate, died Thursday at her home. She was a senior personal lines underwriter with U.S. Fidelity and Guarantee and an employee of the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Survivors include her mother, Nancy Prather Pfaehler; sisters, Kathryn Kretching of Elsmere, Sandy Huwel of Erlanger, Theresa Pfaehler of Maysville and Victoria Moermond of Alexandria; a brother, Charles J. Pfaehler of Alexandria; and a grandmother, Minnie K. Watson of Fort Thomas.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075; or Shriners Burns Institute, 3229 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45229; or the charity of the donor's choice.
Nolan Ray Powell, 72, of Maysville, died at 4:15 a.m. Friday at Meadowview Regional Medical Center, Maysville He was a retired employee of Asplundh Tree Service, Maysville.
Survivors include his wife, Alberta Jean Powell; sons, Douglas Ray Powell of Maysville and Nolan Brian Powell of Bracken County; brothers, Joseph Powell of Maysville and William Clayton Powell of Manchester, Ohio; and a grandson.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Brell and Son Funeral Home, Maysville. Visitation will begin there at 6 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be in Maysville Cemetery.
Kara Smith, 21, of Covington, died Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, Covington.
Survivors include her parents, Debbie Smith and Scott Kloentrup, both of Covington; grandparents, Charlotte Campbell Smith and Keith Smith, both of Covington; and great-grandmother, Viola Smith of Big Stone Gap, Va.
Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today at Highland Cemetery, Williamsburg. Visitation will begin there at 2 p.m. Croley Funeral Home, Williamsburg, is handling arrangements.
Alexander Manuel Velasquez, 2 months, of Warsaw, died in a house fire Wednesday in Gallatin County. His mother, Cecilia Avila Hernandez, and sister, Citialli Naomi Velasquez, also died in the fire.
Survivors include his father, Manuel Velasquez of Gallatin County.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. John Church, Carrollton. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Graham-Dunn Funeral Home, Carrollton. Burial will be in Tepetzingo, Mexico.
Citialli Naomi Velasquez, 2, of Warsaw, died in a house fire Wednesday in Gallatin County. Her mother, Cecilia Avila Hernandez, and brother, Alexander Manuel Velasquez, also died in the fire.
Survivors include her father, Manuel Velasquez of Gallatin County.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. John Church, Carrollton. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Graham-Dunn Funeral Home, Carrollton. Burial will be in Tepetzingo, Mexico.
Edward Walston, 76, of Petersburg, died Friday at Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati. Arrangements are pending at Stith Funeral Home, Florence.
Juanita Wheeler, 80, of Wilder, died Thursday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. She was a homemaker and a member of Wilder Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, Brighton Center Seniors, Traveling Seniors and Hilltoppers and Christian Neighbors. Her husband, Samuel Wheeler, died in 1987.
Survivors include daughters, Nita Evans of California and Brenda Wheeler of Southgate; a son, Tom Wheeler of Alexandria; sisters, Audrey Watson of Fort Gratiot, Mich., and Oreadus Thomas of North Street, Mich.; a brother, Elbert Ray Nobel of Rowdy; eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church, Cold Spring. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Fares J. Radel Funeral Home, Highland Heights. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to Wilder Volunteer Fire Department Women's Auxiliary, in care of Norma Turner, 1317 St. Johns Lane, Wilder, Ky. 41071.
Margaret M. Neal Worley, 70, of Newport, died at 1:35 p.m. Thursday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. She was a caseworker with Community Action Commission in Burlington. Her husband, Dell Worley Jr., died in 1975.
Survivors include a son, Wayne Worley of Petersburg; daughters, Sharon C. Morris of Petersburg, Alice K. Strathis and Beverly Ann Fields, both of Newport, Diana L. Sheehy of Gallatin County and Trudy Eads of Carlisle; a sister, Christine Ballou of West Harrison, Ind.; brothers, Bishop Robert A. Neal of Moscow, Ohio, and Daniel Neal of Cincinnati; 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Hebron. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Hebron Lutheran Cemetery.
