Mary Ramsey
Mary C. (Marshall) Ramsey, 76, of Vevay, passed away at 9:36 a.m. Wednesday, December 8th, 2010, at Norton Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.
She was born November 19th, 1934, in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, the daughter of Lester C. and Jessie J. (Sharp) Marshall, Sr. She spent her early life in Arkansas and moved to Anderson at a very young age. She was a 1953 graduate of Anderson High School in Anderson.
She was united in marriage on January 19th, 1957, in Anderson to George D. Ramsey. Unto this union three daughters and a son arrived to bless their home.
She was employed with Delco-Remy in Anderson from 1953-1968 and the family moved to Switzerland County. Mary and George Ramsey opened Ramsey’s Grocery in Center Square and Mary operated the daily operation for five years. She then worked for 20 years as a cementer for U.S. Shoe Corporation in Vevay. She then worked for five years as a certified nursing assistant at Swiss Villa Living Center in Vevay. After retirement she would still volunteer at Swiss Villa for several years. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and adoring grandmother. She loved working puzzles, crossword puzzles, gardening and raising beautiful roses. She enjoyed brightening people’s lives with her caring nature. She was recently diagnosed with leukemia and passed away suddenly.
Survivors include her husband, George D. Ramsey of Vevay; her daughters, Kim Fornash of Madison, Terri Wright and husband Terry of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Tanya Pike and husband Billy of Bennington; her son, Eddie Ramsey of Madison; her grandchildren, Eric, Brett, Aaron, Krystal, Matt, Tamara, Stacey, Amanda, Sydney and Will; her great-grandchildren, Caleb, Angel, Anthony, Draven, Cassidy, Easton, Zoe, Lili, Shaelyn and Jace; her nephew, Mike Marshall and wife Dana of Festus, Missouri; her great-nieces, Shana and Courtney; and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her father, Lester C. Marshall, Sr., on September 13th, 1967; her mother, Jessie J. Sharp Marshall on September 24th, 1995; her brother, Lester C. Marshall, Jr., in February, 1995; and her nephew, Mark Marshall in November, 1994.
Funeral services were conducted by Brother Don Truesdell Saturday, December 11th, at Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home in Vevay. Burial was in Vevay Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Switzerland County Community Foundation. Online condolences may be sent to the family via the funeral home’s website at www.haskellandmorrison.com.
Jewell Stopher
Jewell Blackwell (Harris) Stopher, 79, of Vevay, passed away at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, December 8th, 2010, at her home.
She was born June 20th, 1931, in Uriah Alabama, the daughter of Curtis Agee and Mattie Tommie (Grimes) Harris, who both preceded her in death. She was raised in Alabama and was a 1948 graduate of J.U. Blackshear High School in Uriah. She w as a 1951 graduate of Montevallo College for Women in Montevallo, Alabama.
She was united in marriage on July 14th, 1951, in Louisdale, Mississippi, to Hillman Blackwell. Unto this union three sons and a daughter arrived to bless their home. They enjoyed over 43 years of marriage until his death on December 25th, 1994. She was united in marriage on July 13th, 2004, in Bay Minette, Alabama, to George Benjamin Stopher.
She was an executive officer for the Financial Executive Office for the U.S. Navy in Pensacola, Florida, retiring on June 30th, 1986, after 35 years of service with the U.S. government. She received the U.S. Navy Civilian Meritorious Award from the U.S. Navy. She had resided in Pensacola from 1968-2005, where she was a member of the West Pensacola Baptist Church. She will be remembered for her love of fishing.
Survivors include her husband, George B. Stopher of Vevay; her sons, Hillman Agee Blackwell and wife Meryl of Pensacola, Grover Alan Blackwell and wife Donna of Panama City, Florida, Joel Harris Blackwell and wife Susan of Daphne, Alabama; her daughter, Cynthia Delyn Blackwell of Cantonment, Florida; her stepdaughter, Michele Fuzzell of Twin Peaks, California; 18 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; her sister, Dorothy Smith of Uriah; and her brother, Curtis Theodora Harris of South, Florida.
She was also preceded in death by her sister, Kathryn Wood.
Visitation was held from noon to service time Monday, December 13th, at Faith Chapel South Funeral Home in Pensacola, Florida. Graveside services were held Monday, December 13th, with interment in Pensacola Memorial Gardens in Pensacola. Visitation was held Friday, December 10th, at Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home in Vevay. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice to the King’s Daughters’ Hospital. Online condolences may be sent to the family via the funeral home’s website at www.haskellandmorrison.com.
Denver Houze
Denver Cecil Houze, 80, of near Markland, passed away suddenly Thursday, December 9th, 2010, at his home.
He was born in Aurora on December 29th, 1929, the son of Robert and Mabel (Mellon) Houze. He was a 50-year member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local #181, where he operated numerous types of heavy equipment. He also spent several years as a top deck hand for the Mississippi Valley Barge Company and the Cromalloy Inland Barge Company, working up and down the Ohio River.
He spent all of his life along the Ohio River, working as a commercial fisherman. He loved using his CB radio to keep in touch with his fishing buddies, who knew him by his CB handle, “The River Rat.”
On January 3rd, 1947, he married Wilma Dunaway who survives. He is also survived by his son Ron and wife Rosann Houze of Quercus Grove; his daughters, Cynthia White of Vevay, Marilyn and husband Ronnie West of Rogers, Arkansas, and Sharon Ann and husband Jim Ford of Sparta, Kentucky; his grandsons, Patrick (Kelly) Houze, Eric (Shannon) White, Ronnie West, Jr., Bryan West, Gregory Givens; his granddaughters, Andrea Woolums, Faith Bruns, Cynthia Givens and Lindsey Givens; his great-grandchildren, Emily and Gracie White, Clay and Estin Bruns and Kacey Houze.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 14th, in Humphrey-Taylor-Detmer Funeral Home with burial in Cedar Hedge Cemetery in Rising Sun. Memorial donations may be made to the family.
Elmer Oder, Sr.
Elmer Leon Oder, Sr., 72, of Vevay, passed away at 11:47 a.m. Wednesday, December 8th, 2010, at University Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He was born March 23rd, 1938, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of the late John Breckingridge and Florence Loretta (Taylor) Oder. He was raised in Cincinnati and attended school there.
He was united in marriage on February 23rd, 1957, in Lawrenceburg, to Carol Kathleen Piotroski. This union was blessed with two sons and two daughters.
He had worked as a chief of security for Western & Southern Life Insurance Company in Cincinnati for several years. He moved to Switzerlad County in 1985 and was employed by Nine West Group from 1989 until it closed as a cement sockliner and rougher. He was a faithful member of Most Sorrowful Mother of God Catholic Church in Vevay. He was a devoted husband, father and grandpa. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting, farming, playing the guitar and being a scout leader.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Kathleen Piotroski Oder of Vevay; his son, Douglas Lee Oder and wife Pat of Cincinnati, Ohio; his daughters, Michele Ann Wuebblig and husband Tom of Cincinnati, Cherie Lynn Schoonover of Vevay; his adopted son, Charlie Pence and wife, Marsha of Sparta, Kentucky; his son-in-law, Tim Schoonover of Vevay; his sister, Phyllis Oder Finley of Cincinnati; his sister-in-law, Shirley Oder of Cincinnati; 22 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He was also preceded in death by his son, Elmer Leon Oder, Jr., on May 7th, 2007; his brothers, Johnny, Bobby, Billy, Lester, Earl and Paul “Buddy” Oder; and his sisters, Jeannie Moller and Patricia Gregory.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday, December 11th, by Father John A. Meyer at Most Sorrowful Mother of God Catholic Church in Vevay. Burial was in Vevay Cemetery. The Rosary was prayed Saturday during visitation at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home in Vevay. Memorial contributions may be made toward masses. Online condolences may be sent to the family via the funeral home’s website at www.haskellandmorrison.com.
Les Butters
Leslie Lee “Les” Butters, former Vevay resident, died December 6th, 2010 at Willow Haven Nursing Home. He was 78.
He was born on August 19th, 1933, in Vevay. He was the youngest of eight children born to Charles and Heisen Butters. He grew up in Vevay where he obtained his early education and he graduated from Vevay High School in 1950. After high school he joined the United States Army and proudly served his country in the Korean Conflict.
In his younger years he played AA ball in Terre Haute, Indiana and thus began a lifelong love of the game of baseball. He especially enjoyed watching the New York Yankees. He also enjoyed fishing. One of his greatest passions was being the Tonkawa Buccaneers Number “1” fan. He wholeheartedly supported Buccaneer football and the girls’ softball team.
Family members include his children, Richard Butters and his wife Sandy of Baker, Florida, Denise Sweet and her husband Bob of Catoosa, Terry Butters of South Bend, Indiana, Tom Butters and his wife Linda of Plant City, Florida and Suzanne Wade and her husband Robert, Indianapolis, Terry Reed and Roy Lopeman, both of Tonkawa; his loving partner in life and a very special person to the family, Nancy Lopeman of Tonkawa; his brother, Buck Butters; his sisters, Alice Carr, Louise Hiser and Marjorie Ford; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sons, Steve Lopeman and Virgil Lopeman; his daughter, Vicky Bartlett; and his brothers, Jim Butters, John Butters and Charles Butters.
A service was held Friday, December 10th, at Anderson Funeral Home in Tonkawa, Oklahoma with Reverend Derrick Marshall, Christian Life Church, officiating. Burial followed in Tonkawa IOOF Cemetery in Tonkawa.
Fred Ross
Frederick Walter “Fred” Ross, 73, of Rising Sun, passed away Wednesday, December 8th, 2010.
He was born the son of Ralph E. and Mary Alice Walter Ross January 30th, in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the waters receded from the Flood of 1937. He grew up in Portsmouth and Cincinnati, Ohio, where he graduated from Purcell High School.
In 2000, he retiredfrom Norfolk Southern Railroad. He had been an engineer for 33 years. He served as Mayor of Rising Sun from 1988-1992, was Ohio County Republican Chairman, a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Aurora, a Sagamore of the Wabash, Brotherhood of Local Engineers, and past member of Rising Sun and Brownsville, Texas, Rotary.
On May 10th, 1958, he married JoAnn Meguire. In 2008, the couple was surprised by their four children with a Golden Anniversary celebration. The couple has divided their time between their Rising Sun home and Rancho Viejo, Texas.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Julie (Tom) Thiemann of Aurora, Fred (Rita) Ross of Vevay, Jeff (Esther) Ross of San Antonio, Texas and Jenny (Bill) Finchum of Indianapolis; his grandchildren, Emily (Michael) McCoy, Adam (Josephine) Kreinhop, Morgan and Tanner Ross, Amy and Jesse Ross, Tyler and Travis Finchum; his great-grandchildren, Kylie and Carson McCoy and Addison Kreinhop; his brother-in-law, Marvin (Ruth)Meguire; and his sisters-in-law, Vivian Schroeder, Nanci Ross and Ruth Meguire.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Tony Ross.
Services were held Saturday, December 11th, at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Aurora. Memorials may be made to John Roeder Library Fund through the Rising Sun Community Foundation, The Waters of Rising Sun, St. Mary’s Church, Aurora, or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements were handled by Markland Funeral Home of Rising Sun.