Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Bessie Brawley
COOLVILLE - Bessie Alice Brawley, 84, of Coolville, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2001, at Arcadia Nursing Center, Coolville.
She was born April 6, 1916, daughter of the late John Thomas and Mary Ellen Kidder Bowman. She was a homemaker.
She is survived by five daughters and sons-in-law, Irene and Charles Blake of Reedsville, Donna and Butch Welch of Coolville, Patty and Robert Franklin, Kathy and Jim Bobo, all of Kansas, and Terry and Charles Modesitt of Hockingport; a son and daughter-in-law, Walter and Linda Brawley of Xenia; two sons, David Brawley of Athens and Daniel Brawley of Coolville; three sisters, Myrtle Mellon and Jean Smith of Coolville, and Flossie Dillon of Reedsville; two sisters-in-law, Iva Nestor of Columbus and Betty Cup of Johnstown; 30 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ira Brawley, three daughters and a son.
Services will be held Thursday, 11 a.m., at White Funeral Home, Coolville, with the Rev. George Horner officiating. Burial will be in Coolville Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Ralph Besco
CROWN CITY - Ralph E. Besco, 56, of Crown City, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2001, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va.
Born Feb. 24, 1944, in Fairborn, he was the son of Betty Vernon Banks Besco of Pedro and the late Ralph Floyd Besco. He also is survived by his wife, Peggy Sue Barcus Besco, and children Debbie Lusher, Cindy Besco and Perry Curtis Cardwell.
No funeral services or calling hours will be conducted. Cremation has taken place. Arrangements are by Cremeens Funeral Home, Gallipolis.
Bertha Smith
POMEROY - Bertha F. Smith, 95, of 37395 W. Shade Road, Pomeroy, died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001, at Veterans Memorial Extended Care, Pomeroy.
She was born Sept. 16, 1905, in the Pine Grove community, Racine. She was the daughter of the late Anthony and Elma Moore Fell.
She is survived by children Kathryn Windon and Barbara Tripp.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Fred B. Smith; and an infant son.
Services will be held Wednesday, 1 p.m., at Ewing Funeral Home in Pomeroy. Burial will be in Meigs Memory Gardens.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday, 4 to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice.
Anna Smathers
NELSONVILLE - Anna Kathryn Smathers, 82, of Lancaster, formerly of Nelsonville, passed away Monday, Jan. 15, 2001, at Crestview Manor Nursing Home in Lancaster.
She was born Sept. 24, 1918, daughter of the late Solomon and Minnie Morrison Harris. She was the widow of Curtis Smathers.
She formerly attended Buchtel United Methodist Church.
She is survived by a son, Robert (Jeri) Smathers of Logan; two daughters, Arlene (Ross) Lauderback of Carbon Hill, and Beverly Cruit of Lancaster; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, Solomon, Gene, Buddy and Floyd Harris; three sisters, Majel Shindler, and Eldava and Elizabeth Harris; and a grandson, Chad Smathers.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, 10 a.m., at Souers-Cardaras Funeral Home, with the Rev. Gordon Sullivan officiating. Interment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Nelsonville.
Friends may call at the funeral home today, 2 to 8 p.m.
Shaun Ratliff
McARTHUR - Shaun Ratliff, 22, of Lancaster, passed on to be with the Lord on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2000, at Fairfield Medical Center, Lancaster.
He was a member of Fairfield Christian Church, where he was very involved with the youth activities.
He is survived by his parents, Harold and Ellen Ratliff of Lancaster; a brother, Ryan "Buff" Ratliff of Lancaster; maternal grandparents Bill and Luretta Cox of McArthur; paternal grandparents Fred and Virginia Ratliff of McArthur; uncles Jerry Cox of McArthur and Larry (Rita) Cox of Wellston; an aunt, Crystal Ratliff; and a host of friends.
Services will be today, 2 p.m., at Fairfield Christian Church, with Matt McGue officiating. Burial will be in Elk Cemetery, McArthur.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the Fairfield Christian Academy Playground Fund, 1965 N. Columbus St., Lancaster 43130.
Arrangements are by Halteman-Fett-Dyer Funeral Home, Lancaster.
Melba Merrick
STEWART - Melba V. Merrick, 75, of 9480 Haga Ridge Road, Stewart, died Monday, Sept. 4, 2000, at St. Joseph's Hospital, Parkersburg.
She was born Feb. 24, 1925, in Cutler, Ohio, daughter of the late Raymond and Gladys O'Neil Jarvis. She was a homemaker and attended Mount Liberty Church, Cutler.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Lloyd Merrick; a son and daughter-in-law, Lloyd E. and Michele Merrick of Stewart; a daughter, Shirley Merrick of Stewart; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two daughters, Sandra Merrick and Sharon Judson, and two brothers, Jack and Robert Jarvis.
Graveside services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Mount Liberty Cemetery, Cutler. Arrangements are by White-Moquin Funeral Home, Coolville.
Donna Harmon
ATHENS - Donna Halbirt Harmon passed away late Saturday, Sept. 2, 2000, at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital. She had been in declining health for several years following a stroke.
Born Donna Dorr Halbirt on Aug. 9, 1913, she was the daughter of Earl and Bernice Dorr Halbirt of Canaan Twp. She graduated from Rome Canaan High School in 1931. After two years at Ohio University, she taught at Canaanville School for several years, beginning in 1934. She received a degree in education from OU in 1938. She was later employed by OU, in both the president's office and the business office. In the early 1940s, she was secretary to the president of a tool manufacturing firm in Dayton.
She was married to William A. Harmon on June 17, 1943, and had one child, William Jr.
Mrs. Harmon was a member of Athens First United Methodist Church and the Nabby Lee Ames Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, of which she was a past regent. She was a life member of the Hospital Guild and of the Athens County Historical Society. She was a past member of Canaanville Methodist Church, the Business and Professional Women's Club and several bridge clubs. She had traveled extensively.
She was a descendant of one of the first settlers of Athens. The party came by canoe from Marietta in 1797, surveyed the town and claimed lots. In this line, she was a member of the sixth consecutive generation to live in Athens County.
Mrs. Harmon is survived by her husband; her son and daughter-in-law, William Jr. and Judith; three grandchildren, Katherine of Bloomington, Ind., John of Columbus and Sarah of Cleveland; a brother and sister-in-law, John and Margaret Halbirt of Spring, Texas; a brother-in-law, Foster Harmon of Sarasota Fla.; and a sister-in-law, Mary Halbirt of Athens.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Roger and Phil, both of Athens County.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, 10 a.m., at Jagers and Sons Funeral Home, Athens, with the Rev. Thomas Hanover officiating. Burial will be in West Union Street Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to charity of the donor's choice.
Arthur Hayes
THE PLAINS - Arthur James Hayes, 75, of Lindley Inn, The Plains, died at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2000.
Born in Minneapolis, Minn., on Oct. 2, 1924, he was the son of the late Wilbur L. and Mary Constance Sullivan Hayes. He was a retired advertising executive and member of Christ the King Catholic Church. He received a bachelors degree from University of Minnesota and an MBA from Harvard Business College. He was a veteran of the Navy, having served on the USS Missouri in the Pacific Theatre.
He is survived by sons and daughters-in-law James J. and Terry Hayes of Athens and Jeffrey B. and Judi Hayes-Warren of Oregon; a son, Thomas W. Hayes of Athens; and grandchildren Beth Hayes, Ben Hayes, Michael Hayes and Benton Hayes of Warren, Ore., and Jennifer Hayes of Athens.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Dodge Hayes, in 1999; a son, Peter D. Hayes; a sister, Marge Keefe; and a brother, William Hayes.
Arrangements for burial of cremains in Six Oaks Cemetery in Hilton Head Island, S.C., are being completed by Jagers and Sons Funeral Home, Athens.
Kistenia Spencer
COOLVILLE - Kistenia S. Spencer, 87, formerly of Sixth Avenue, Parkersburg, died Saturday, Sept. 2, 2000, at Eagle Point Nursing Facility.
She was born in Newton, daughter of the late Aron B. and Florence Tawney Drake.
She is survived by a son, Arnold N. Spencer
She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil H. Spencer; and a daughter, Wanda Jean Spencer Hinson.
Services will be held today, 1 p.m., at Franklin Funeral Home, Parkersburg, with the Rev. Roy Knight officiating. Burial will be in Parkersburg Memorial Gardens.
Paul Chesser Jr.
OAK HILL - Paul Leroy Chesser Jr., 61, of Oak Hill, died Monday, Sept. 4, 2000, at his home.
He was born Jan. 31, 1939, in Athens, son of the late Paul L. Sr. and Helen S. Moore Chesser. He was a truck driver.
He is survived by his wife, Viola Adkins Chesser; six sons, Paul L. III (Tammy) Chesser, Rupert (Tina) Chesser and Anthony Chesser of Chauncey, Aaron (Valerie) Chesser of Chillicothe, Tony (Marsha) Phillips of Jackson and Billy (June) Phillips of South Carolina; three daughters, Paula Chesser of the home, Tammy (Roger) Moore of Oak Hill and Tonda (Allen) Maynard of South Webster; two half brothers, Tom and Lee of Cleveland; two sisters, Daisy (Dale) Canter of Hamden and Jean Chesser of Dayton; four half sisters, JoAnn Chesser of Malta, Marge Stark of Cleveland, Joyce Brozak of Guysville and Daisy Chesser of Cleveland; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, an infant daughter and an infant son.
Services will be Thursday, 1 p.m., at Kuhner-Lewis Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Gerald Lewis officiating. Burial will be in Hickory Grove Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, 4 to 8 p.m.
Betty McGuire
LANCASTER - Betty J. McCune McGuire, 61, of Lancaster, died Monday, Sept. 4, 2000, at Rockmill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Lancaster.
She was a member of AMVETS auxiliary, VFW and the Hardley Able Club.
She is survived by a daughter, Jackie and Chris Keller of Lancaster; three sons, John E. Hitchcock of Logan, Jeff A. and Kenton C. Hitchcock of Columbus; a stepdaughter, Tina Hitchcock of Lancaster; eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild; seven sisters, Shirley (Paul) Vamos of Portsmouth, Vera (Jerry) Leasure of South Carolina, Nancy (Richard) Snoke of Reynoldsburg, Dixie Misner of Athens, Pat (Tony) McPherson of Coolville, Debbie McCune of Indiana and Becky (Jeff) Galloway of Indiana; three brothers, Pete McCune of Athens, Tim (Diane) McCune of Albany and Mike McCune of Chauncey; several nieces and nephews; and many special friends.
She was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Hitchcock; her parents and a brother.
Services will be Friday, 11:30 a.m., at Sheridan Funeral Home, Lancaster, with Pastor R. Schildbach officiating. Burial will be in Floral Hills Memory Gardens.
Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
John Gonyer
ALBANY - John R. Gonyer, 44, of Albany, passed away Friday, Sept. 1, 2000, at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens. He was born Feb. 27, 1956, in Haverhill, Mass., the son of the late Richard H. and Flora Morse Gonyer.
He attended Faith Baptist Church in New Marshfield.
He is survived by his wife, Kristine Pinney Gonyer of Albany; a son, Richard Nyberg of Chillicothe; a stepson, Roly Gonyer of the home; two stepdaughters, Darlene and Wanda Nyberg; several grandchildren; four brothers; two sisters; father- and mother-in-law, Kenneth and Ruth Pinney of Logan; and grandparents-in-law, William and Mary Ellen Mingus.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Faith Baptist Church in New Marshfield, with Pastor Adelbert Winegardner officiating. Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church.
Arrangements were completed by Souers-Cardaras Funeral Homes in Nelsonville.
Richard Hartley
ATHENS - Richard P. Hartley, 72, of Athens, died Saturday, Sept. 2, 2000, at his residence.
Born Feb. 11, 1928, in Athens, he was the son of the late Pearl Austin and Henrietta Mae Pierce Hartley. He was retired from the Athens Post Office and Athens City Schools, and was a charter member of the Alexander Lions Club, a member of Union United Methodist Church, Constitution Lodge 426 F&AM, Athens Grange, Ohio Two Cylinder Club and National Two Cylinder Club, and the Athens County Antique Machine Club.
He is survived by two sons and their wives, James R. and Theresa Hartley and Michael B. and Jan Hartley of Athens; a daughter, Nancy A. Hartley of Athens; three grandchildren, Dustin Uribe, Corey Uribe and Brent Hartley; two step-grandchildren, Sheila Hawkins and Beverly Hawkins; four step-great-grandchildren; and a brother, Kenneth Hartley of McArthur.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Barbara Graham Hartley, on Oct. 12, 1999; and two brothers, Robert and Paul Hartley.
A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced by Bigony-Jordan Funeral Home, Albany.
