Paul Levell
Paul David “Dave” Levell, 64, of Vevay, passed away Wednesday, July 19th, at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Louisville.
He was born July 29th, 1941, in Florence, the son of Cecil and Marie (Sigmon) Levell, who both preceded him in death. He was a retired limo driver for Belterra Casino Resort and Spa, retiring in 2003. He was employed by U.S. Shoe Corporation in Vevay from 1994-1999. He was a former forklift operator for Schenley Distillery in Lawrenceburg from 1959-1990. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War from 1961-1963. He resided in Switzerland County all of his life and was a member of the Grants Creek Baptist Church. He enjoyed flying little airplanes, traveling and old western TV shows.
He was united in marriage to Helen Lucille Ketenbrink on September 21st, 1963, at the Grants Creek Baptist Church. Unto this union a daughter and a son arrived to bless their home.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Lucille Levell of Vevay; his daughter, Karen Ann Levell of Vevay; his son, Paul David Levell, Jr., of Vevay; his granddaughter, Madeline Jordon of Florence; his brothers, Harold Levell of Aberdeen and Bill Levell of Patriot; his sisters, Linda Levell of Rising Sun and Sharon Sue Wainscott of Dry Ridge, Kentucky; his special friends, Jeff and Sheila Jordon of Florence; and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by his sister, Kathy Gilland.
Funeral services were conducted Sunday, July 23rd, by Reverend Howard Wade at Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home in Vevay. Burial was in Vevay Cemetery with full military rites conducted at the graveside by the honor guard of Vevay American Legion Post 185 and Vevay VFW Post 5396. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia Society or Switzerland Baptist Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family via the funeral home’s website at www.haskellandmorrison.com.
Gladys Phillips
Gladys Lillian (Whitham) Phillips, 88, of near Rising Sun, passed away Tuesday, July 18th, at Dearborn County Hospital in Lawrenceburg.
She was born July 25th, 1917, in Switzerland County, the daughter of Willard and Cora (Cochran) Whitham. She was owner and operator of Phillips General Store in Aberdeen from 1946-1963. She was also a custodian for the Aberdeen United Methodist Church and also handled the billing for Aberdeen-Pate Water Company when it first started. She was a member of the East Enterprise Extension Homemakers Club and Aberdeen United Methodist Church. In early life she attended New Liberty Baptist Church.
She spent many years raising a fruitful garden and canning her produce. She was an exceptional baker and her signature food was fresh baked bread and rolls. She was especially proud of her first tomatoes off the vine and abundant bean harvest. She assisted with some of the farm chores raising tobacco and cattle. She loved raspberries and blackberries and often took her granddaughter Kystie to pick with her. When daughter Eileen’s children were young she often cared for them during the day. She was a loving grandmother and often sewed clothing for the children. She spent many hours quilting and made a quilt for each of her children and grandchildren. She also had quilts set aside for the first great-grandchild in each family.
On December 23rd, 1936, she married Orville Phillips, who died April 16th, 1965.
Survivors include her daughter, Eileen Wiesmann and husband Ronald of East Enterprise; her son, Stanley Phillips and wife Linda of Aberdeen; her granddaughters, Kystie Mann and husband Justin of Bloomfield, Indiana and Kami Simpson and husband Denton of North Vernon; her grandsons, Matthew Phillips and wife Chandra of Evansville and Jason Wiesmann and wife Kim of Indianapolis; her granddaughter, Devona Wiesmann of Indianapolis; her great-granddaughters, Kaleigh and Kiera Mann, Alyssa Simpson, and Alexis Wiesmann; her sisters, Elberta Stevens and husband Dale of East Enterprise and Ruth Jean Sechrest of Phoenix, Arizona; her sisters-in-law, Myrtle Whitham of Lawrenceburg, Marjorie Whitham and Mildred Whitham, both of East Enterprise; her brothers-in-law, Hilbert Bovard of Rising Sun and Warren Works of East Enterprise; and several nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by an infant son, Orville Phillips, Jr.; her brothers, Harold, Herman, Raymond “Jim” and William “Bill” Whitham; and her sisters, Dorothy Dickerson, Marjorie Bovard and Hazel Works.
Funeral services were conducted Friday, July 21st, by Reverend John Scudder at Aberdeen United Methodist Church. Burial was in Rising Sun New Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Aberdeen United Methodist Church. Markland Funeral Home of Rising Sun was in charge of arrangements.
Clifford Akins
Clifford Walter “Cliff” Akins, 44, of Vevay, passed away Wednesday, July 19th, at Jewish Hospital in Louisville.
He was born January 8th, 1962, in Louisville, the son of Ralph Faber and Nancy (Bunch) Casper. He spent most of his life in Louisville and had resided in Switzerland County the past 11 years.
On October 1st, 1994, he was united in marriage to Wendi Jo Castle in Louisville.
He was employed as a construction worker with the Labors Union Local 795 in New Albany and helped with the construction of the Belterra Casino Resort and Spa and the Switzerland County Jail. He enjoyed weight lifting and was a Louisville Cardinals basketball fan.
Survivors include his wife, Wendi Jo (Castle) Akins of Vevay; his daughters, Jessica Akins and Krista Castle, both of Vevay; his father, Ralph Faber of Silverlake, Wisconsin; his mother, Nancy (Bunch) Casper of Horse Branch, Kentucky; his sister, Lisa Johnson of Owensboro, Kentucky; and his nieces, Samantha Johnson and April Edwards.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Luella Marlow; his stepfather, Bud Casper; and his step grandfather, Dave Marlow.
Funeral services were conducted Monday, July 24th, by Reverend Charles Dayadharum at Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home in Vevay. Burial was in Vevay Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Switzerland County YMCA Endowment Fund. Online condolences may be sent to the family via the funeral home’s website at www.haskellandmorrison.com.
Laura Johnson
Laura Evelyn (Hall) Johnson, 90, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, July 19th, at Metro Health Hospital in Grand Rapids.
She was born January 20th, 1916, in Ironton, Ohio, the daughter of John Hall and Mary (Herdman) Hall Valentine, who both preceded her in death. She was a graduate of Withrow High School in Cincinnati where she had resided most of her life. She resided in Grand Rapids the past eight years to be near her son. She was a homemaker and was very fond of her dogs and gardening.
She was united in marriage to Raymond D. Johnson in 1943, in San Antonio, Texas. Unto this union two sons and a daughter arrived to bless their home.
Survivors include her sons, John Robert Johnson and wife Judi of Grand Rapids and Donald Ray Johnson and wife Bethany of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; her grandchildren, Crystal, Nicholas, Bethany, Amber, Jaleah, Adrienne and Laura; and her great-grandchildren, Holly, Hannah, Alex, Troy and Landon.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, Raymond D. Johnson; her daughter, Donya Rae Johnson; and a brother.
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, July 25th, by Reverend John Scudder at Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home in Vevay. Burial was in Vevay Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Swiss Friends of Animals. Online condolences may be sent to the family via the funeral home’s web site at www.haskellandmorrison.com.
Clifford Griffin
Clifford Melvin “Cliff” Griffin, 61, of Columbus, passed away Saturday, July 22nd, in Columbus.
He was born April 8th, 1945, in Albany, Georgia, the son of Melvin Lee and Kathleen (Patterson) Griffin. He resided in Albany until the age of one, moving with his family to Madison in 1946. He was inducted into the U.S. Army November 30th, 1963, in Indianapolis, during the Vietnam War. He rose to the rank of Private First Class, serving in the Engineers. He was honorably discharged on October 11th, 1965, from Fort Riley, Kansas.
He was united in marriage on November 18th, 1989, at Ruter Chapel United Methodist Church in Vevay to Celisa “Ce Ce” O’Neal.
He was employed by Bruns-Gutzswiller Construction Company for over 30 years as a brick mason. He was a 33-year member of the Bricklayers Local #4 of Indiana-Kentucky and a 34-year member of Jefferson Post 9 of the American Legion. He was of the Methodist faith and resided in Columbus since 1990. He enjoyed working, playing golf, and his daughters.
Survivors include his wife, Celisa “Ce Ce” (O’Neal) Griffin of Columbus; his daughters, Darla Griffin and companion James Stotts of Grant, Florida, Candice Smith of Madison, Cayla Margaret Griffin of Columbus, and Courtney Jo Griffin of Columbus; his mother, Kathleen Patterson Griffin of Madison; his sisters, Linda Griffin Dean and husband Forrest of Dupont and Karen Dale Griffin Tingle and companion Eugene Shelton of Madison; his brothers, George Alexander Griffin and wife Penny of Madison, Allen Wayne Griffin and companion Karen of Madison, and Joseph Kerry Griffin and wife Melissa of Madison; his half brother, Richard Wilking and wife Kathy of Madison; his mother-in-law, Kay Kidwell O’Neal and companion Dicky Jones of Vevay; his father-in-law, Tommy and Ruth O’Neal of Sunman; his grandchildren, Dustin, Kyle, Matt and Daniel; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; his aunts and uncles, Ernestine and Charles McLemore of Mississippi, Ronnie and Jean Waters of Temple, Texas, Thomas William and Brenda Patterson of Phoenix, Arizona; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Barry and Georgette O’Neal of Moorefield.
He was preceded in death by his father, Melvin Lee Griffin on February 14th, 1978; his infant daughter, Terri Griffin on June 17th, 1967; and his grandparents, John and Ione Patterson and George and Cora Griffin.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 29th, at Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre in Madison. Burial will be in the Brooksburg Cemetery with full military honors conducted at the graveside by Jefferson Post 9 of the American Legion. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Friday, July 28th, and from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cayla and Courtney Griffin Education Fund. Online condolences may be sent to the family via the funeral home’s website at www.morgan-nay.com.
Pearl Herring
Pearl (Spencer) Herring, 89, of Columbus, formerly of Pleasant, passed away Friday, July 21st, at the Columbus Health & Rehab Center in Columbus.
She was born March 31st, 1917, in Switzerland County, the daughter of Ulyess Spencer and Bessie B. McFarland Spencer LeClerc, who both preceded her in death. She resided in Switzerland County most of her life and was a 1935 graduate of Vevay High School. She also attended Versailles Trade Vocational School.
She was united in marriage November 23rd, 1940, in Scottsburg, by Reverend Frank Reed, to John Raymond Herring. Unto this union one daughter arrived to bless their home.
She was employed for four years in the office of Reliance Electric in Madison. She worked 20 years for the U.S. Shoe Corporation in Vevay, Madison and Osgood as a dye out machine operator.
She was a member of the Bennington Order of Eastern Star No. 407, Columbus Extension Homemakers Club, and Brushy Fork Baptist Church near Pleasant. She enjoyed wintering in Palmetto, Florida, for 20 years and enjoyed the many social activities there. In 1995, she moved to Columbus to be near her daughter. She was a lady who enjoyed people and social events. She always stayed busy and enjoyed people wherever she was.
Survivors include her daughter, Marlene Kincer and husband Don of Columbus; her sisters, Leona Watson of Ogilville, Indiana and Norma Leap of Vevay; her step granddaughters, Madonna King and husband Ted of Columbus and Sherry Hennies and husband Jim of Lawrenceburg; her step great-grandson, Jesse Hennies; her step great-granddaughter, Jamie Hennies; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Raymond Herring on March 24th, 1993; and her brother, Roy Spencer.
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, July 25th, by Reverends Mike Cantrell, Floyd Fisher and Dewayne Slusher at Brushy Fork Baptist Church near Pleasant. Burial was in Pleasant Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s favorite charity. Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home of Vevay was in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s favorite charity.
Gordon L. Weaver
Gordon L. Weaver, 48, of Patriot, passed away Sunday, July 23rd, at Dearborn County Hospital in Lawrenceburg.
He was born January 5th, 1958, in Peoria, Illinois, the son of John Henry Weaver II and Audrey (Emery) Weaver.
On August 24th, 2001, he married Rose Messang, who survives.
Other survivors include his mother, Audrey Weaver of Warsaw, Kentucky; his sons, Jacob Messang and Joseph Messang, both of Patriot; his brother, Donald Cunningham of Vevay, John Henry Weaver of Texas, Willie Weaver of Aurora, J.D. Weaver of Lawrenceburg, George Weaver and Adam Weaver, both of Walton, Kentucky; his sisters, Cleveta Utter of Corinth, Kentucky, Katherine Robinson of Rockmart, Georgia, Regina Brooks of Rising Sun, Cindy Turpin of Harrisburg, Kentucky, Eve Weaver of Raton, New Mexico, and Tammy Weaver of Monroe, Wisconsin; and his sisters-in-law, Mildred Bevis and Mary Hann, both of Florence.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) by Pastor Henry Clay Wallace at Markland Funeral Home in Rising Sun. Burial will be in Cedar Hedge Cemetery in Rising Sun. Friends may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until service time today. Memorial contributions may be made to the family.