Obituaries by Location
Dr. Donald Davidson
Dr. Donald Davidson, 76, of Sarasota, Fla., passed away Monday, May 28, 2001, of complications of Parkinson’s Disease.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughters, Amy Skezas of Petaluma, Calif., and Hope of Philadelphia, Pa.; a son, Charles and wife, Karen of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and beloved grandchildren, Benjamin and Kaylen Davidson and Vasso Skezas.
He was an oral maxillo-facial surgeon and maintained practices in Uniontown, Brownsville and Connellsville, Pa., before retiring to Pittsburgh. Dr. Davidson held degrees from Townsend Harris Preparatory School, New York University, the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh, where he served his residency at the University Health Center. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Omega and Omicron Kappa Upsilon fraternities. He was a former consultant to the UMWA, Pennsylvania Blue Shield, and clinical professor of oral and maxillo-facial surgery at the West Virginia University Medical Center. He was also a past president of both the Pennsylvania Society of Oral and Maxillo-facial surgeons as well as the Great Lakes Society. He was a member of the American Society of Oral land Maxillo-facial Surgeons and a Diplomat of the American Board of Maxillo-facial surgeons. Memorial contributions may be sent to the National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 Northwest 9th Ave., Miami, FL 33136-1494. National Cremation Society is in charge of cremation.
Martha L. Foster
Martha L. Foster, 91, of Uniontown, Pa., died Tuesday, May 29, 2001, in Mount Saint Macrina Manor.
She was born July 25, 1909, in Tarentum, Pa., the daughter of the late Harry and Eliza Brown Girt.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Alonzo N. Foster II, in 1976; a brother, John Girt; and five sisters, Margaret Scott, Ruth Schrecker, Harriet Branthoover, Mildred Girt and Lydia Arnold.
Martha was a member of the Great Bethel Baptist Church of Uniontown, the Services League, the Colonel Andrew Lynn Chapter of the DAR, the Uniontown Hospital Auxiliary, and the Uniontown Flower Club.
Surviving are a son, Alonzo N. Foster III, of Uniontown; a daughter, Ellen L. Foster of Huntington Beach, Calif.; a niece, Marjorie Martin, raised by Martha and Family of Alexandria, Va.
Friends will be received in the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC., Uniontown, on Thursday, May 31, 2001, from 9 until 11 a.m., the hour of service, with Dr. Neil Hoppe officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Great Bethel Baptist Church, 47 West Fayette St., Uniontown, PA 15401, or the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
Marie E. Hall
Marie E. Hall, 74, of Scottdale, Pa., passed away Monday, May 28, 2001, at home.
She is survived by her stepmother, Mary Grace Skelton of Connellsville; five brothers, Paul Skelton of White, Pa., George and Don Skelton of Connellsville, Sam Skelton of Grindstone and Leroy Skelton of Canton, Ohio; a stepbrother, David Skelton of Connellsville; a sister, Christine Schroyer of Uniontown; two stepsisters, Linda and Peggy; four stepsons, Donald Hall of Scottdale, Jim Hall of Stahlstown, Webb Hall of Laughlintown and Roy Ed Hall of the state of Indiana; four stepdaughters, Edna Hazelett of Florida, Anna Jane Jennings of Ohio, and Helen Stevenson and Ethel Hissem of Stahlstown; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and special friends, Warren and Dottie Upton of Scottdale, and Raymond Newman of Connellsville.
Friends will be received in the Burhans-Crouse Funeral Home, 28 Connellsville St., Dunbar, today from 3 to 9 p.m., and on Thursday, in the New Life Apostolic Tabernacle, Connellsville, from 10 a.m. to Noon.
Elmer W. Harden
Elmer "Dude" Walter Harden, 79, of York Run, Pa., passed away Tuesday, May 29, 2001, at his home.
He was born at Shoaf, Pa., on March 3, 1922, the son of the now late, William and Plezzie (Flowers) Harden.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Harden on Sept. 12, 1999; four brothers, Omer, Lloyd, Jacob and Bill; and a sister, Zella. Dude was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Dude was Protestant by faith. He was a retired autoworker having worked at the Brook Park Ford Plant in Ohio, for many years. He was a member of the UAW, the 40/8, the Point Marion F.O.E., and the Moose Lodge in Medina, Ohio.
Surviving are one son, Elmer "Gene" Harden of York Run, Pa.; and two grandsons, Brandon and Tyler of Cleveland, Ohio.
The family will receive friends in the JOHN F. BROWNFIELD FUNERAL HOME OF SMITHFIELD, today from 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and on Friday, June 1, until 11 a.m., when services will be conducted with Pastor Mary Shultz and Pastor Joann Ables officiating. Interment will follow in Mount Moriah Baptist Cemetery, Smithfield.
Vitelle O. Harrison
Vitelle O. Harrison, 93, of Uniontown, Pa., died Saturday, May 26, 2001, in Mount Saint Macrina Nursing Home, Uniontown, Pa.
She was born July 5, 1907, in Woodriff, S.C., daughter of the late Ervin Boozer and Bessie Foster Boozer.
She was a member of Mt. Rose Baptist Church of Uniontown, Pa., where she was active serving with many of the church boards.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Garland Harrison Sr.; six sons, Carl, James, Robert (Tighe), Charles (Buddy), Wayne (Coop) and Walter Larry Harrison; one sister, Whilhelmenia Foster; three brothers, Ervin, Carl and Stephen Boozer; and one granddaughter, Brenda Dickson.
Surviving are one son, Garland Harrison Jr., and wife, Evelyn of Arkansas; one daughter, Dr. Selma Harrison of Columbus, Ohio; two special daughters-in-law, Betty Ford Harrison of Uniontown, and Norma King Fulton of Cleveland, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Alice Newman of Detroit, Mich.; a devoted family friend, Johnny Moorman of Uniontown; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, Percy Pearson of Baltimore, Md., Melzetta Williams of Washington, D.C., and Lettie Polite and Magnolia Whiteside of Asheville, N.C.; grandchildren of the late Aaron and Anna Humes Gregory; and other relatives and friends.
Friends will be received in the MURIEL E. LANTZ FUNERAL HOME, 297 East Main St., Uniontown, Pa., on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., where services will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Ludwell D. Wiley officiating, assisted by the Rev. Robert Crable and the Rev. Howard Dantzler. Interment will follow in Sylvan Heights Cemetery, Uniontown, Pa.
Leona R. Jackson
Leona Ruth Jackson, 73, of Glen Burnie, Md., and formerly of Point Marion, Pa., died unexpectedly Monday, May 28, 2001, at the home of her sister, Edith Summerfield, in Point Marion.
In addition to her sister, she is survived by five children, James Jackson of Smithfield, Pa., Deborah Jackson of Morgantown, W.Va., Patricia McGaughey and Joanna Lemus, both of Baltimore, Md., and Christina Bryant of Glen Burnie; 16 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received in the Richard R. Herod Funeral Home, 501 Morgantown St., Point Marion, Pa., on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m., on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and on Saturday until 11 a.m., the hour of service.
Julia M. Keys
Julia M. Ruse Keys, 94, of Carmichaels, Pa., died Monday, May 28, 2001, in her home.
She was a homemaker and a nurse’s aide.
Surviving are six sons, Ralph Keys of Jefferson, David Keys of Carmichaels, Harry Keys of Hampton, Va., George Keys of Pyatt, Ark., Tom Keys of Jefferson and Louis Keys of Mather; two daughters, Betty Philp of Carmichaels, and Mrs. John (Margaret) Lightner of Fredericktown,; 30 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; and 20 great great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received in the Behm Funeral Home, 1477 Jefferson Rd., Jefferson, Pa., today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., where services will be held on Thursday, May 31, at 2 p.m.
Merrietta Laws
Merrietta Laws, 91, of Mount Pleasant, died Sunday.
She is survived by two daughters, Clarissa R. McElhaney of Niles, Ohio and Shirley Jane Leasure of Normalville; several grandchildren; great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren and several stepchildren.
Friends will be received at Vito C. Martucci Funeral Home, 123 S. First St., West Side, Connellsville, today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sheridan Livingstone Jr.
Sheridan Livingstone Jr., 70, of Fayette City, Pa., died Tuesday, May 29, 2001, in his late home.
He was retired from U.S. Steel, Irvin Plant.
Surviving are his wife, Mildred Jean Lorinchak Livingstone; children, Sheridan Lee Livingstone of Daisytown, Timothy James Livingstone and wife, Daphne of Fayette City, and Jane Livingstone Booth and husband, Douglas of Daisytown; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a brother-in-law, Ed and wife, Marianne Lorinchak of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Friends will be received in the Eley/McCrory Funeral Home Inc., 334 Main St., Fayette City, Pa., on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m., on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and on Saturday, June 2, 2001, until 11 a.m., the hour of services.
Elizabeth A. Lovall
Elizabeth A. Gaskill Lovall, 78, of Uniontown, Pa., died Monday, May 28, 2001, in Uniontown Hospital.
She was born Sept. 26, 1922, a daughter of the late Carl E. and Georgia Yauger Gaskill.
Also preceding her in death were her husband, James M. Lovall; two sons, James C. Lovall and Jay Lee Lovall; and a brother, Carl Howard Gaskill.
Surviving are three daughters, Deanna Bittner and her husband, Donald, Shella Freeland and her husband, Ronald and Kathy Mayfield and her husband, John, all of Uniontown; seven grandchildren, Alan Lovall, whom she raised, and his wife, Lisa, Debbie Bittner, Belinda and Tabaitha Lovall, Jason and Eric Freeland and Jeanette Mayfield; a great-granddaughter, Ashley Sloan; and a sister, Doris Buehner of West Mifflin, Pa.
Mrs. Lovall was a member of the Evans Manor United Methodist Church.
Friends will be received in the JEROME W. SHELL FUNERAL HOME, 164 South Mt. Vernon Ave., today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and on Thursday until 11 a.m., the hour of service, with the Rev. Roger Howard officiating. Interment will follow in Sylvan Heights Cemetery.
Anna Dragone Mirto
Anna Dragone Mirto, 76, of Stratford, Connecticut, died peacefully Sunday, May 27, 2001, at her residence.
She was born April 10, 1925, in Uniontown, Pa., daughter of Vito Dragone and Margaret LaBella Dragone.
Anna retired from Bryant Electric Company with more than 39 years of service.
She was a member and past Vice President of the St. James Seniors and a member of Bryant Electric Retirees Club.
Two brothers, Carmen Dragone and Anthony "Tony" Dragone, and her parents preceded her in death.
She is survived by two sons: Matthew Mirto Jr. and his wife, Lorraine, of Shelton, Connecticut, and John Vito Mirto of Stratford, Connecticut; two brothers: Vito Dragone Jr. and Joseph Dragone both of Uniontown, Pa.; two sisters: Sandra Dragone Filcheck and Ernestine Dragone Maiolo both of Richmond, Virginia; two grandchildren: Wendy Ann and her husband, Michael Hiltz, and Matthew Mirto III and his wife, Jennifer; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends called at the ABRIOLA PARKVIEW FUNERAL HOME, 410 White Plains Road, Trumbull, Connecticut, on Tuesday, May 29, 2001, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Friends are invited to meet at St. James Catholic Church, 2110 Main Street, Stratford, Connecticut, today for a Mass of Christian burial at 9 a.m.
Interment will follow in Lawn Cemetery, Huntington, Connecticut.
In lieu of flowers those desiring may make memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, 372 Danbury Road, Suite 159, Wilton, CT 06897.
Hazel Pritts
Hazel Bauman Pritts, 77, of Indian Head, formerly of Somerset, died Sunday, in Westmoreland Manor.
She is survived by her husband, Ethan Pritts and three sisters, Audrey Hawkins and Mrs. James (Shirley) Pyle, both of Stoystown and Mrs. Larry (Donna) Campbell of Normalville.
Friends will be received at Robert H. Halverson Funeral Home, Somerset, today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
