Gary Smitha
Gary Allen Smitha, Sr., age 75, of Madison, died on Friday, May 5th, 2017, at 3:50 p.m. at his home with his loving wife at his side.
Gary entered this life on September 14th, 1941 in Gallatin County, Kentucky. He was the loving son of the late William and Helen Hon Smitha. His family moved to the Madison community in 1943 where he lived most of his life. He was a 1959 graduate of Dupont High School and then went to Memphis State University for two years.
He married Thurma “Corkey” Lee Moore on April 6th, 1962 at the Wirt Baptist Church. This happy union of 55 years was blessed with a daughter Deborah and with a son, Gary, Jr.
Gary began employment with Cummins Engine Company, and within six months was made a supervisor and was the youngest employee to do so. He also served as general manager and later retired as director of tools in 1995 after 32 years of service. He had traveled extensively for Cummins while employed there.
Gary and Corkey resided in North Vernon for 17 years and he became a member of the First Christian Church. They later moved to Memphis, Tennessee for four years to set up the new plant there. Gary played in the band, “Rambling Fever” and was the lead singer and played guitar. He enjoyed country music, video games, and fishing. He was expecting another great grandchild.
Gary enjoyed his family and they were the most important thing in his life. He dearly loved the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gary was one who left his mark on anyone whom he came in contact with.
Gary will be missed by his loving wife of 55 years, Thurma “Corkey” Lee Moore Smitha of Madison; his loving daughter, Deborah Creech and her companion Christopher Williams of North Vernon, Indiana; his loving son, Gary Smitha, Jr. and his wife Carrie of Madison; his brothers: William “Jack” Jackson Smitha and his wife Susie of Madison; James Douglas Smitha and his wife, Becky of Madison; his sisters: Rita Fae Stinson of Madison and Charlotte L. Gossman and her husband, Steve, of Columbus, Indiana; and by his sister in law, Eunice Moore of Madison.
He will also be dearly missed by his loving grandchildren: Bridget, Jerry, Cassi, Jay, Joey, Kimberly, Kristina, and Dustin; by his great-grandchildren: Jackson, Jace, Jasper, Zoey, Chloe, Sierra, Jaylin, Jacob, Logan and Mason; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his father, William Smitha; his mother, Helen Hon Smitha; and his brother in law, Eugene Moore.
Funeral services were conducted on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, by Brother Dale Boyd at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. Interment followed in the Dupont Cemetery in Dupont, Indiana.
Friends were invited to call on the family on Tuesday, May 9th and Wednesday, May 10th at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association. Cards are available at the funeral home.
Susan Jewell
Susan K. Jewell, 79, of Farmersburg, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017 at her residence.
She was born on May 21st, 1937 in Kokomo, Indiana to William Edward Kelly and Ruby H. Bannister Kelly. Susan graduated from Farmersburg High School in 1955 and was named valedictorian of her class. She was a member of Farmersburg Church of Christ.
Susan started farming with her father at age 8, later she worked for the Northeast School Corporation as a math and reading aide from 1972-1981. She was an avid softball player, longtime 4-H Leader, a huge sports fan, loved to fish, play the ukulele and sing.
Susan is survived by her daughters, Pamela Jewell Yates and her husband, Todd of Milan, Indiana and Lisa Jewell Holmes and her husband, Steve; by her son, Brian Jewell and his wife, Jeanie; her brother-in-law, Jack Pirtle; and her grandchildren: Wade Holmes and his fiancé, Erica; Ashley Swenson and her husband, Michael; Chelsea Holmes; Danielle Yates; Dillon Jewell and his wife, Kelsey; and Austin Jewell. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, William “Bill” Kelly; and her sister, Pat Pirtle.
Services will be held on Sunday, May 21st, 2017 at 1 p.m. at the Farmersburg West Lawn Chapel.
DeBaun Springhill Chapel, 85 East Springhill Drive, Terre Haute, Indiana, was entrusted with care and arrangements.
Nicholas Guard
Nicholas Ray Guard, 65, of Greendale, Indiana, passed away at 5:08 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Nicholas was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 15th, 1951, the son of the late Eva Mary Rachel (Schmidt) and Sebastian Guard. Nick grew up in Dearborn County and went to school at Lawrenceburg High School. He also attended the Greendale Church of Christ. Nick was a member of the Greendale Fire Department for over 20 years.
On October 9th, 1981 he married Cynthia (Weber) Guard who preceded him on August 2nd, 2009.
He began working for Argosy Casino when it first opened. He worked as a Floor Technician and retired from the newly named Hollywood Casino in 2015. Nick was also a member of the United Steel Workers Union. Nick enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family.
Nicholas is survived by four daughters: Dena Campbell and husband Jamie, of Vevay; Dawn Blackwell of Rising Sun; Tracy Boetticher of East Enterprise; and Alisa Beckman, of Batesville, Indiana; by grandchildren: Dakotah, Billy, Jacob, Justin, Jackie, Dylan, Laynie, Dalton, Anias, Athena, Dizirae, Shelby and Jordan; and by two great grandchildren: Avery and Zander.
He is also survived by a sister, Bonnie Shuter, of Lawrenceburg, Indiana; by a niece, Tammy Widrig and husband Brian of Burlington, Kentucky; by a great nephew Ethan; and by a great niece Joslyn.
He was preceded by his parents; by his wife, Cynthia; and by an infant daughter, Angela.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 9th at the Markland Funeral Home in Rising Sun. Friends are invited to call on the family on Tuesday, May 9th, at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the family for funeral expense.
Esther Miller
Esther Alma (White) Miller, 75, of Rising Sun, passed away at 3:45 a.m. on Monday, May 8th, 2017 at Ripley Crossing in Milan, Indiana.
Esther was born in Ohio County on December 24th, 1941, the daughter of the late Gertrude Marie (Ellis) and John Henry White, Sr. She was a graduate of Patriot High School, Class of 1959, and was former President of the Patriot Alumni Association.
Esther married Harry E. Miller on June, 6th 1959 in Rising Sun. Esther and Harry were married almost 48 years until his passing on January 21st, 2007.
Esther worked as a home health caregiver. She also worked at the Rising Sun Care Center and Frisch’s in Lawrenceburg. Esther enjoyed playing cards, sewing, baking and decorating cakes.
Esther is survived by two daughters: Monica Curry (Allen), of Dillsboro and Michelle York, of Lake Worth, Florida; by grandchildren: Mark Curry, Benjamin Curry, Michael Curry, Jessica Miller-Karn, Shelby Routh and Austin York; and by great-grandchildren: Bryce, Cane, Jazmyn, Lincoln, Lee, Hunter, Adalyne, Alexis and Kyla.
She is also survived by her sister, Henrietta Lay, of Holton, Indiana; by two brothers: Clarence Wesley White, of Riverside, California and Charles Wayne White (Veeta), of Rising Sun; and by daughter-in-law, Justina Miller of North Vernon, Indiana.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband Harry; by a son, Michael Miller in 2015; by brothers: John Henry White Jr., James “Sugarbowl” White, George Robert White and Howard “Butch” White; by a sister, Velma Vest; and infant sister, Anna Elizabeth White.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 11th at the Markland Funeral Home in Rising Sun, with Pastor Aaron Snelling officiating. Friends were invited to call on the family on Wednesday, May 10th, at the funeral home.
Burial will be at Rising Sun New Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Ripley Crossing Activities Fund. Cards are Available at the funeral home.
Dylan Hiner
Dylan Gage Hiner, 17, of Knightstown, Indiana, formerly of Vevay, died unexpectedly on May 4th, 2017.
Basketball was Dylan’s passion. A sophomore at Knightstown High School, Dylan started on the varsity basketball team there for the past two years.
Dylan lived his life for others, and was very close to his family, which include his parents: Kevin and Donna (York) Hiner, of Knightstown; a brother, Cameron (Mary) Hiner, of Knightstown; sisters, Natosha (Drew) Smith, of New Castle, and Megan (Joe) Haase, of Knightstown; maternal grandparents, Dorvin and Martha York, of Spiceland, Indiana; his maternal great-grandmother, Colene Catron, of Spiceland, Indiana; his paternal grandparents, Ray (Penny) Hiner, of Kennard, Indiana and Phyllis (John) Ulam, of Anderson, Indiana; three nephews: Ayden and Bronson Hiner, and Easton Smith; several aunts, uncles, and cousins, including John and Nikki Walters, and Brayden, Brynnlee, and Keelan Walters, to whom Dylan was very close.
Visitation was held on Monday, May 8th, 2017, at the Hoosier Gym in Knightstown, Indiana. Funeral service were held on Tuesday, May 9th, at the Knightstown High School Gym in Knightstown. Burial was in Glen Cove Cemetery, Knightstown.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dylan Gage Hiner Memorial Fund, c/o Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service, 7355 S. State Road 109, Knightstown, Indiana, 46148.
Arrangements were entrusted to Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service, New Castle, Indiana. www.hinsey-brown.com.