Ronald Christman
Ronald Edwin Christman, age 79, of Bennington, Indiana, passed away at 11:57 a.m. on Sunday, August 21st, 2022, at his residence.
Ronald entered this life on March 11th, 1943 in Jefferson County, Indiana. He was the loving son of the late Basil William and Agnes Maude (Herring) Christman. He was raised in Switzerland County and attended Switzerland County High School.
Ronald was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Ann Mathews on June 15th, 1962 at the Braytown Christian Church. This happy union of over 60 years of marriage was blessed with three children: David, Melissa and Andy.
Ronald was employed briefly as a truck driver for the Switzerland County Highway Department. Ronald farmed all of his life in the Switzerland County community. He was a member of the Coffee Creek Conservation Club, Amateur Trap Shooting Association, Switzerland County Tractor Pullers, National Rifle Association and Golden Eagles Motorcycle Club. He was a former member of the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department and United Farmers Association.
Ronald was awarded the ‘Conservation Farmer of the Year’ by the Switzerland County Soil & Water Conservation District on March 25th, 2011.
In his early years of life, Ronald enjoyed riding his motorcycle with his wife and traveling all over the states. Trap shooting was a big part of his life and he shared his love of shooting with his wife, his children and his grandchildren. Ronald also traveled all over the area starting with smaller shoots that led to attending the Indiana State Trap Shooters Association tournament.
He earned the title of the Indiana State Handicap Champion in 2009. Ronald shot at a distance of 23 yards at this event and hit 99 of the 100 targets. He also won numerous awards over his years of trap shooting and also earned the title of the Ohio State Handicap Champion. Since his childhood, Ronald also enjoyed hunting. He loved watching westerns, fishing and gardening, as well as, spending time with his granddaughters and his great-granddaughter.
Ronald will be missed by his wife, Phyllis Ann (Mathews) Christman of Bennington; by his children: David Christman and his wife Connie of Moorefield, Melissa Alexander and her companion Stan Sullivan of Moorefield, and Andy Christman and his wife Teresa of Vevay; by his granddaughters: Lindsay Christman and her fiancé Matt Becker and Hayley Christman and her companion Bralen Harsin; by his great-granddaughter, Presley Becker, and his soon-to-be great-granddaughter, Emerson Harsin; by his brothers: Lloyd Christman and his wife Deanna of Pleasant and Eric Christman of Pleasant; by his sisters: Roxane Stewart of near Pleasant and Arlene Chittenden of Lawrenceburg, Indiana; by his nieces and nephews; and by his faithful dog, ‘Dixie’.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Basil William and Agnes Maude (Herring) Christman; by his son-in-law, Ronald Keith “Ronnie” Alexander; by his nephew, Adam Roy Stewart; and by his brothers-in-law, Kevin Roy Stewart and Bob Chittenden.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, August 24th, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana, 47043.
Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, August 25th, at 11 a.m., by Reverend Lenny Thorpe at the funeral home.
Interment will follow in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Pleasant.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Switzerland County Animal Shelter or Pleasant Grove Cemetery Fund. Cards are available at the funeral home.
Jill Cooley
Jill Lynn (Worrall) Cooley, age 72, of East Enterprise, Indiana, passed away at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 17th, 2022, at her residence.
Jill entered this life on November 18th, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan. She was the loving daughter of the late Joseph and Norma Worrall. She was raised in Farmington, Michigan and attended Farmington High School.
Jill was united in marriage on August 28th, 1975 to Roger Dale Cooley in Michigan. Jill and Roger shared 47 years of marriage together until her passing.
Jill was employed in collections at Little Valley Homes in Novi, Michigan for 19 years.
Jill and Roger moved from Farmington, Michigan to the Switzerland County community in 2006. Jill was a member of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 Ladies Auxiliary and the Olive Branch Baptist Church in Bear Branch, Indiana. Jill loved crafting cards, reading and riding horses. She loved her family and her church family deeply and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-granddaughter.
Jill will be deeply missed by her husband, Roger Dale Cooley of East Enterprise; by her daughter, Vickie Alford and her husband Darrin of Fairview; by her step-son, Timothy Cooley and his companion Jenn Grimes of Troy, Michigan; by her grandchildren: Somer Bailey and her husband Adam, Mitchell Alford and his companion Kylie Carfield, Timothy Cooley, Jr., Kennedi Cooley and five other step-grandchildren; by her great-granddaughter, Mya Bailey; by her brothers: Jack Worrall of Novi, Michigan and Joey Worrall and his wife Lisa of Redford, Michigan; by her sisters: Joan Oakley and her husband Tony of Rosscommon, Michigan, Judy Hurst and her husband Eric of Sebring, Florida, Jeri Pearse and her husband Bill of Maybee, Michigan and Joye Patterson and her husband Buddy of Wolverine, Michigan; and by her several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Jaime Marie Cooley, who died on September 20th, 2015; by her parents, Joseph and Norma (McFee) Worrall; by her sister, Jean Kleiner; and by her brothers, Jeff and Joseph Worrall.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, August 26th, in the old sanctuary at Olive Branch Baptist Church, 2250 Milton Bear Branch Road, Dillsboro, Indiana, 47018.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 27th, by Pastor Patrick Lanman in the old sanctuary at Olive Branch Baptist Church.
Interment will follow in the Olive Branch Cemetery in Bear Branch.
Haskell and Morrison Funeral Home in Vevay is assisting the family during this difficult time.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Olive Branch Baptist Church or Keeping Pace Cancer Fund c/o Community Foundation of Switzerland County, Inc. Cards are available at the funeral home.
Phyllis Ferry
Phyllis Kay Ferry, 63, of Rising Sun, passed away on Sunday, August 14th, 2022 at St. Elizabeth Dearborn Hospital, Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
She was born on April 10th, 1959 in Milan, Indiana, the daughter of the late Rosetta (Moorehead) and Robert Eversman. She attended school at Rising Sun High School.
She was employed for many years for Plastic Moldings Corporation in East Enterprise.
Phyllis enjoyed watching westerns, attending auctions and going shopping, and above all, caring for her grandkids.
Phyllis is survived by her significant other of almost 40 years, Greg Woodruff of Rising Sun; by her daughters: Heather Woodruff of Rising Sun and Tiffany Woodruff of Rising Sun; by her brother Robert Eversman of Dillsboro, Indiana; by her sister Barbara Chase of Rising Sun; and by her grandchildren: Kendra Elza, Isac Elza, Jesse Hockett, Abbygail Murafski, and Brantlee Woodruff.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Ronnie Ferry; and by her daughter, Melissa Ferry.
A public visitation was held on Friday, August 19th, at the Markland Funeral Home in Rising Sun. Funeral services were held following the time of visitation on Friday, August 19th at the funeral home; with burial following at Rising Sun New Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are to the family to assist with expenses.
Brenda Harmon
Brenda S. Harmon, age 64, of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, formerly of Switzerland County, passed away at 4:59 a.m. on Saturday, August 13th, 2022, at the St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Florence, Kentucky.
Brenda entered this life on April 14th, 1958 in Milan, Indiana. She was the daughter of the late Wilford C. “Dub” and Freda Maxine (Allen) Harmon. She was raised in Vevay and attended Switzerland County High School.
She was employed for Speedway, Shell Gas, Ames and Ponderosa in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. She was a wonderful homemaker and enjoyed playing computer games, cooking and being outside. She loved her grandchildren deeply and her cat, ‘Bebe’.
Brenda will be missed by her daughter, Stephanie Harmon and her companion Chris Foster of Union, Kentucky; by her son, Eric Harmon and his companion Christina Orr of Erlanger, Kentucky; by her grandchildren: Tramen Harmon, Aidan Campbell, Alexis Campbell and Austin Fryman; by her sister, Karen Fields of Aurora, Indiana; by her brother, Dennis Harmon of near Fairview, Indiana; by her nephew, Skyler Harmon; and by her great-niece, Luna Harmon.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Wilford C. “Dub” and Freda Maxine (Allen) Harmon; by her brothers: Terry G. Harmon and Gary Wayne Harmon; by her infant sister, Pamela Harmon; by her infant brother, Terry Harmon; and by her long time companion of 41 years, William A. Oliver, Jr.
Visitation was held on Monday, August 22nd, 2022, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana, 47043.
Funeral services were conducted following the time of visitation on Monday, August 22th, at the funeral home. Interment followed in the Pleasant Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or Keeping Pace Cancer Fund, care of the Community Foundation of Switzerland County. Cards are available at the funeral home.
Michael ‘Ryan’ Mathews
Michael “Ryan” Mathews, age 55 of Seminole, Florida, passed away at his residence on September 7th, 2021.
Michael entered this life on June 6th, 1966 at St. Anthony Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the loving son of Marshall Allen and Lona F. (White) Mathews. He was raised in Zionsville, Indiana and attended Zionsville Elementary and High School through his senior year.
Michael was a member of Whitestown Lutheran Church in Whitestown, Indiana.
Michael moved to Brandon, Florida with his family in 1984. In 1987, the family moved to Seminole, Florida. Michael worked construction, commercial buildings and residential homes. Looking at skyline in Tampa, he worked on many of the buildings along the Hillsborough River. Later in life, he started his own business, “Good Ole” BozTree Service. He became disabled in 2017 and had to discontinue his services.
Michael will be remembered for always helping others. He enjoyed collecting antiques and recycling. He had a talent for pencil drawings. As his illness progressed, he was confined to his home in Seminole. He lived with his mother who coordinated his health care needs.
He was preceded in death by his son, R.J. Mathews; by his father, Marshall Allen Mathews; by his grandparents: George Elmer White, Leslie and Mary Ellen (White) McKenzie and Mae and Walter Mathews; and by his uncles: Lewis McKenzie, David “Buck” White, Elmer “Dumpy” White, Richard McKenzie, Robert “Hardley” McKenzie and Ernest McKenzie.
Michael will be missed by his mother and caregiver, Lona Mathews of Seminole, Florida; by his sister, Rene Mathews Stewart and her husband Ryan of Pasadena, Florida; by his brother, Patrick Mathews and his daughter Gemma Mae Mathews of Clearwater, Florida; by his daughter, Tonya Ballance of St. Petersburg, Florida; by his nephews: S/Sgt. Matthew Mulligan of Rocklin, California and John Mulligan of Indianapolis, Indiana; by his aunts and uncles: Donald and Mardi McKenzie of Tuttle, Oklahoma, Betty Scott and Loretta and Paul Hayes of Vevay, Ione Rogers of Morristown, Indiana and Alma Downey of Fishers, Indiana; and by his many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Celebration of Michael’s Life will be held at the Vevay Cemetery in Vevay on Sunday, August 28th, 2022 at 1:30 p.m.
Haskell and Morrison Funeral Home in Vevay is assisting the family during this difficult time.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Buck White Scholarship Fund c/o Community Foundation of Switzerland County, Inc. Cards are available at the funeral home.
Roberta Pavy
Roberta F. “Bert” Pavy, 95, of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, passed away on Saturday, August 13th, 2022, in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
She was born on February 26th, 1927, in Switzerland County, daughter of the late Earl Furnish and Hazel (Osborn) Furnish.
Roberta worked as a nurse for Dearborn County Hospital, retiring after many years of service.
She was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Roberta was a member and held several offices for both St. Anne’s Altar Society, and the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Roberta was also a member of the Cadet Nursing Corp at the end of World War II.
She enjoyed playing cards, reading, puzzles and crocheting. She enjoyed traveling, and took a special family trip to the Bahamas for her 80th birthday. She was an excellent baker and was famous for her rolls and cinnamon rolls.
Roberta enjoyed spending time with family and friends and she will be missed by all.
Roberta is survived by her children: Donna Wehmeyer of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Diane (Wayne) Caudill of Aurora, Indiana, Bessie Henson of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Jim (Kerri) Robinson of Georgetown, Texas, and Ann (Tracy) Craven of Lawrenceburg, Indiana; by her siblings: Jean Morton of Pleasant, Vera Wolf of Madison, and Earl W. Furnish of Vevay; by her grandchildren: Mary Bryant, Jason Wehmeyer, Sarah Oyler, Tracy Minnis, Tara Grimes, Heather Boggs, Joey Caseltine, Andy Robinson, Allison Robinson, Crystal Uhlman, and Casey Craven; and by her 17 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Earl and Hazel Furnish; by first husband, Richard “Tucker” Robinson; by her husband, Wilfred Pavy; by her son, John Robinson; by her brother, Robert “Bob” Furnish; and by her great-grandson, Jacob Boggs.
Visitation was held on Friday, August 19th, at the Rullman Hunger Funeral Home, 219 Mechanic Street, Aurora, Indiana. Funeral services were held following the time of vistation on Friday, August 19th, at the funeral home.
Interment followed in the River View Cemetery, Aurora, Indiana.
Contributions may be made to the Our Hospice of South Central Indiana or St. Anne’s Society.
Larry Rayls
Larry Gene Rayls, age 75, of Jacksonville, Indiana in Switzerland County, passed away at 1:15 a.m. on Saturday, August 20th, 2022, at his residence.
Larry entered this life on October 4th, 1946 in Madison. He was the loving son of the late Elmo and Betty Jean (Lock) Rayls. He was raised in Switzerland County and was a 1965 graduate of Vevay High School.
After high school, Larry was inducted into the Army National Guard where he served six years.
Larry was united in marriage to Lake Ann Johnson on April 11th, 1986 in Mt. Vernon, Texas. Larry and Lake shared over 37 years of marriage together. This blended family was blessed with a son, Brian from a previous marriage and a daughter, Kayla.
Larry was employed as a welder and construction worker for the Boilermakers Union for 40 years. He was a member of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and Switzerland Masonic Lodge #122 F&AM. He attended the Switzerland Baptist Church in Vevay.
Larry enjoyed fishing, spending time with his grandchildren and his family, as well as, traveling and going to Destin, Florida with his family.
Larry will be missed by his wife, Lake A. (Johnson) Rayls of Jacksonville, Indiana; by his son, Brian Rayls of Jeffersonville, Indiana; by his daughter, Kayla Day and her husband Brian of Mt. Sterling, Indiana; by his grandchildren: Colton and Gabriella Day; by his brothers: Denny Rayls and his wife Suzanne of Jacksonville, Indiana and Gary Rayls of Moorefield, Indiana; by his sister, Marilyn Reed and her husband George of Bennington; by his nieces, nephews and other relatives; by his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Larry Johnson of Brethitt, County, Kentucky, Mitchell Johnson of Sebastian, Kentucky, Phillip and Shelley Johnson of Vevay, Mark and Javier Johnson of Vevay, Fred and Tammy Johnson of Madison, Helen and Clarence Gabbard, Jr. of Altro, Kentucky, Jalia and John Nelson of Crestview, Florida, Carolyn Burns of Worthville, Kentucky, Kip Skaggs, Sr. of Vevay, and Nancy and Roy Rose of Madison.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmo and Betty Jean (Lock) Rayls; by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fred and Geneva Johnson; by his sisters-in-law: Freda Skaggs and Joyce Johnson; by his brother-in-law, Butch Burns; by his nephew, Kippy Skaggs; by his nieces: Kristina “Krissie” Rayls Stephan and Melissa Neveah Johnson.
Visitation was held on Tuesday, August 23rd, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana, 47043. Masonic Services were conducted following the time of visitation on Tuesday, August 23rd, during the visitation service by the Switzerland Masonic Lodge #122 F&AM.
Funeral services were conducted on Wednesday, August 24th, by Pastor Ron Lee, at the funeral home.
Interment and Full Military Rites were conducted by the Honor Guard of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 in the Vevay Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Huntington’s Disease. Cards are available at the funeral home.
James ‘Jim’ Welch
James A. “Jim” Welch, age 86, of Bennington, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022, at his residence.
Funeral arrangements are pending at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana, 47043.
Marshall Wentworth
Marshall W. Wentworth, age 89, of Madison, died with his loving family by his side at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 20th, 2022, at the Norton King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison.
Marshall entered this life on October 21st, 1932 in Moorefield, Indiana. He was the son of the late Marshall Howard and Elizabeth L. Watson Wentworth. He graduated from Vevay High School in the class of 1951.
Marshall was inducted into the United States Air Force on August 28th, 1951 during the Korean War. He rose to the rate of an Airman 3rd Class serving the 3597th Field Maintenance Squadron. He was honorably discharged on December 20th, 1954 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On December 10th, 1951 he was united in marriage to Marjorie Ann Bowman by Reverend Peters in Vevay. This happy union of 70 years was blessed with daughters: Judy, Frances Elaine, Mary Ann and Wanda; and a son, Marshall Dean.
He retired in 1994 after 40 years of service as the supervisor of operations at Indiana-Kentucky Electric Corporation.
He was raised in the Switzerland Baptist Church in Vevay, later the attended North Madison Baptist Church, and most recently the North Madison Christian Church.
Marshall was a member of the Major Samuel Woodfill Post No. 9 of the American Legion, serving on the honor guard since 1994; a life time member of Madison VFW Post No. l969, the Madison Moose Lodge No. 765, and the Switzerland County Masonic Lodge No. 122 F & AM since the age of 22.
He enjoyed bowling, fishing, woodworking, carpentry and riding motorcycles in every state of the USA. He was a devoted husband, loving dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, great- great-grandpa and friend.
Marshall will be missed by his loving daughters: Judy K. Wilkie and her husband Cecil of Clarksville, Tennessee, Frances Elaine Robison and her husband Bob of Zionsville, Indiana, Mary Ann Harsin of Hanover, Indiana, and Wanda Batts of Muncie, Indiana; by his loving son, Marshall Dean Wentworth and his wife Becky of Madison; by his grandchildren: Trina, Brian, Ben, Aaron, Rebecca, David, Jon, Stacy, Justin, Brandon, Blair, Kira, Amber and Chris; by his great-grandchildren: Reyna, Jessica, Dylan, Chase, Kevin, Alexandria, Tori, Zeny, Blair, Jude, Kyla, Caleb, Johnathan, Emma, Braxton, Harper, Catalee, Gatlin, Jenna, Julie, Luke, Owen, Isaac, Lucas, Lydia, Willa, Malia, Cora, David and Jason; by his great- great-grandchildren: Sophia, Daniel, Clayton and Emerysn; by his sisters-in-law: Linda Wentworth of Pensacola, Florida and Wilma Turner of Vevay; and by his several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his father, Marshall Howard Wentworth, who died on January 17th, l961; by his mother, Elizabeth L. Watson Wentworth, who died on November 15th, 2015; by his beloved wife of 70 years, Marjorie Ann Bowman Wentworth, who died on May 25th, 2022; by his brothers and sister-in-law: Nelson Allen Wentworth and his wife Joanne, and Shirley D. Wentworth; by his son-in-law, Vassel Lane Harsin; by his great-granddaughter, Kelsie Nicole Harsin; and by his nephew, Jeffery Wentworth.
Friends may visit on Saturday, August 27th, from 2-4 p.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. Funeral services will be conducted following the time of visitation at 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 27th, at the funeral centre. Interment will follow in the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1415 North Gate Road in Madison.
A final Salute with military honors will be provided by the Major Samuel Woodfill Post No. 9 of the American Legion. Switzerland Masonic Lodge No. 122 F. & A.M. will conduct a service on Saturday, August 27th at 3:30 p.m. at the funeral centre.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Major Samuel Woodfill Post No. 9 of the American Legion Honor Guard or the Jefferson County Animal Shelter. Cards are available at the funeral centre.