Scott Gill, 60 years old, of New Alsace, passed away on Thursday, April 1, 2021. Married to the love of his life, Sandy Phillips Gill, they have four children whom they raised to love God and family above all else.
Scott coached many of the children’s sports teams including basketball and baseball and was always their biggest cheerleader. Whether he was working the chain gang for the football games, filling the gap as a coach, or cheering from the stands, Scott always supported his kids. He taught them how to use tools, how to work the log splitter and was looking forward to rebuilding his ’69 Camaro with them. His love of cars began when he raced his ’69 Camaro in high school. Later, he and Ronnie enjoyed taking their cars to car shows. Scott was an avid fisherman and enjoyed going to Kentucky and Michigan to fish. He enjoyed hunting deer and also travelled to Maine to hunt bear and then a trip of a lifetime to Texas where he bagged a big-horned ram. Scott took pride in his vegetable garden, sometimes planting more than he could handle. He was famous for his hot peppers and enjoyed canning beans, tomatoes and fresh made salsa.
Reflecting on how they met, Sandy was a server and Scott worked in the kitchen at ShowBiz Pizza Place in Indianapolis. He stood out to her as he always walked through the front doors of the pizza place with his Ardizzone & Nalley’s purple gym bag and a purpose. Prior to dating, she was tricked into dressing up as one of the stage characters and was lifted on to the back of a motorcycle which Scott happened to be driving. Holding on to Scott for dear life, Sandy began to enjoy the ride when she noticed little kids cheering her on. Fast forward to 38 years and four kids later, Scott loved waking the children up in the morning. Whether for school or for church, Scott would always find a fun way to wake them up. Sometimes he would sing and sometimes he would do the military march for them, but either way they woke up giggling and ready to start the day. Scott was known as the favorite uncle to all of his nieces and nephews; quite possibly because he and Sandy made up a song that told them this from a young age, but in reality, because he was a generous, kind, giving, and loving gentleman. Scott worked for Boyd Brothers Transportation where he’ll be dearly missed. He was a member of Knights of Columbus in Batesville and of the Central Indiana Bass Club. Scott was a proud member of the United States Army. He was also a key member of All Saints Parish, the Kingsmen, and E6, and proved himself to be someone to look up to. Scott converted to Catholicism while married to Sandy and was devout in his faith. He prayed the rosary every morning while driving to work and also shared this sacred time with his kids when taking them to sports in the morning.
Scott will be dearly missed by his wife, Sandy, and children Brooklynn, Courtney, Tyler, and Serena; his siblings Joyce (Ronnie) Hillard and Michael (Ellen) Gill; 21 nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Edward and Bonnie Price Gill and his sister Mary McElyea Vinson.
Visitation for Scott will be held on Easter Monday, April 5, at Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home. Rosary will begin at 9 and visitation will go from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial with Father Meyer presiding will be held at 12:30 p.m., at St. Paul’s Campus in New Alsace. For those not able to attend, mass will be lived streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/aspweeklyhomily. Memorials can be made toward an education fund for his children. Memorials will be accepted at the visitation or can be mailed to Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home at 25615 State Rt. 1, Guilford, IN 47022. Please visit www.andres-wuestefeldfh.com to sign the online guest book or offer condolences.
On April 1, 2021, Gary Lee Gayhart left this mortal earth to head to the great Tavern in the sky. Yes, Big Gary left us on April Fool’s Day to watch Reds Opening Day in the best seat in the house.
Big Gary was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Franklin Glenn and Mary Lou Gayhart. Gary grew up in the Cincinnati area and attended Lockland High School.
On April 10, 1976, Gary married Roberta “Bobbi” Boomershine. We can all agree that this was the best decision Gary ever made. Their wedding day started with breakfast at Frisch’s and ended with a reception at Riverfront Stadium with 53,000 of their closest friends cheering on Gary’s favorite team.
Along with his wife, Gary is survived by his children Lori (Trent) Sohn of Evansville, Shane (Marsha) Gayhart of Monroe, Gary Jr. (Lisa) Gayhart of Liberty and Christy (Chris) Toschlog of Centerville. To carry on his memory and tell their friends stories about their grandpa that no one will ever believe are his grandchildren Reagan and Griffin Sohn, Tristan and Allyson Gayhart, Joseph Gentry, Austin, Autumn, and Kaylee Westover, Ashley Toschlog, and his bonus grands Kelsey McGiff and Breanne Parks. He is also survived by his sister Janice, numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Glenn.
Big Gary never had just one job; most times he had two to three jobs at a time. He started in the Cincinnati steel foundries in high school and then went on to doing maintenance for Towne Center Properties for more than 30 years. He then spent his last 10 years working abatement removal alongside his best friend, Gary Jr. Throughout all of this work, Big Gary’s favorite job was serving as a DJ every Friday or Saturday night at the Red Frog, CC Tavern, Jackson’s, Decisions 3 or at any wedding where a couple wanted the best DJ in the Tri State area.
After his cancer diagnosis in 2012, Big Gary knew that time was precious and devoted his remaining years to his family and friends, especially his grandchildren. He and Bobbi also spent time marking off the destinations on their vacation bucket list.
A visitation will be held at Trinity Holiness Church located at 200 West Indiana Street, West College Corner, Indiana on Thursday, April 8, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Services will be held Friday morning, April 9, at 10 a.m., with burial to follow at College Corner Cemetery. Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Gary loved nothing more than watching the activities at the Grove from his backyard. In lieu of flowers, the Gayhart family asks that donations be made to the College Corner Community Club in Big Gary’s name.
Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.
My Long Suffering Wife Ruth said they looked like blood stains, and I could not disagree. I checked the walls for hash marks to tell how many bodies they had found there, but the light was too dim and the grime on the walls too thick to really get a good look at the walls’ surface.
Let me back up just a little bit. Ruth and I left Indiana on Friday, March 20, on a vacation. Our first stop was Laurel, Mississippi.
For those who do not watch HGTV, I will explain why we wanted to go to Laurel, Mississippi. Erin and Ben Napier, Laurel, Mississippi residents, host the show Home Town on HGTV. They go around their home town, Laurel, Mississippi, and rehab homes. They often show images, film clips, from their home town of Laurel’s downtown, and it looks nice. It is a very entertaining show at least to these two old people – well I am old, and Ruth is not.
We had planned the trip for several months finding late in March as a time that worked for both of us in scheduling jobs and that sort of thing. I do not like to make reservations because our plans usually change when we are on vacation, and we have been known to suddenly go to somewhere else on a whim.
I asked Ruth how busy can Laurel, Mississippi, be on a Friday night in March?
Ruth reminded me often on the trip that I say many stupid things during our conversations, and that one turned out to be a real doozy.
Initially, we had planned to make it a two-day trip to Laurel. On our past trips, I cannot wake up early and function so our time of departure was usually late morning or early afternoon, cutting down on travel time.
But, I am old. Seemingly, with every day I age more, my sleep cycle gets shorter, and I am condemned to have insomnia often. That was the case Thursday night prior to leaving Friday. I could not sleep. I think it was the excitement as I am like a little kid when planning to go on a vacation.
I gave up on sleep about 3:30 a.m., having tossed and turned for a couple of hours prior to that and waited downstairs for Ruth to wake up. It has been a 180 with us in that regard. She got up around 7, and we left before 8. I went to Mississippi via I-65 and Louisville instead of going through Cincinnati to Louisville. Cincinnati, while seemingly out of the way, is actually faster because of interstate travel compared to all of the state roads one has to take to get to I-65 around Seymour. However, Cincy was in rush hour, and I don’t do rush hours.
We made excellent time, and we both decided to do the trip in one day so we could see Laurel on a Saturday instead of Sunday as we had read many of the shops are not open on Sunday and others have limited hours.
As in most things, Ruth is much better with her Smart Phone than I am. A couple of hours northeast of Laurel, Ruth voiced the first warning about what was ahead. She had not been able to find any vacancies. I downplayed it as I had viewed the number of motels in Laurel, it is off I-59, which goes to New Orleans. There are several Laurel exits.
However, when we got to Laurel about 5 p.m. Central time, the first, and then the second and then the third motel, all said they were full. I asked at the third motel why there were so many people, and the lady at the desk said she did not have a clue, but they had been full all week. We looked and we looked. We finally found a Super 8.
When I went in the office, the lady behind the counter was very nice. She said she had one room left. I took it unseen.
Oh my.
She told me we did not have a refrigerator so she gave us a discount. The bill was $61 instead of $66.
It was on the third floor with an exterior entrance. Ruth and I talked about the last time we were in a motel where we had to walk up three flights of stairs to an exterior entrance. We could not remember the last time. Ruth is afraid of heights, well we both are, but Ruth’s is more acute. She did not like the open space between the steps as we went up the three floors of stairs. She almost froze on the stairway several times. In the parking lot, Ruth said we were going to take up the bare necessities because of the three-floor climb.
Next door to ours came the aroma of something I have not smelled since the late 1970s, marijuana, seemingly clouds of marijuana smoke. Ruth, a little too loudly, asked me if that was pot, and I nodded my head yes while putting my finger to my lips. Either she did not get it or did not care as she continued to talk about being next door to potheads. The walls and doors were like cardboard, which probably only amplified the sound.
On our way to the room, there seemed to be females of the oldest occupation accompanied by their “handlers” and/or “customers” going in and out of some of the rooms.
Our room’s interior was almost beyond description. Huge stains covered the mid-18th Century carpeting. Those were the ones Ruth said were blood stains. Again, I could not argue the point. We had no toilet paper, and we had one washcloth and no towels. Ruth checked the room for bedbugs and found none.
While I did stop back at the office to get toilet paper and towels, the nice lady seemed horror struck and asked me if the room had been cleaned. I just didn’t answer because I did not know the context of the question: whether she was talking about that day, week, month, century or the lifetime of the motel.
We drove to downtown Laurel and found a nice Italian restaurant. On the way to the restaurant, I passed two more fairly large motels. They were also full. And the ladies at the desks at both places said they did not have a clue why there were so many people in town.
Forced to go back to our room, I wedged a chair under the door knob and wedged another chair against the first chair. I was not armed. We kept our clothes on, including socks and shoes, and stayed on top of the covers. We ventured into the restroom as rarely as possible.
I kept all the lights on and the TV on. In the early morning, we changed clothes while sitting on top of the covers, never letting our feet touch the floor.
After returning to the room, I called ahead to our next destination, the Gulf Coast, using a number Ruth found on her phone. The lady I talked to was very, very nice. Ruth saw vacancies at the Harrah Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, so that is the first place I asked the lady to look. We wanted a king bed for two nights. The lady said the two-night bill would be $1,200. It took awhile for me to speak again to tell her that was just a tad out of our price range. I told the lady we could be inland from the coast. It did not matter. We just wanted a clean motel in a better neighborhood. She told me every time she found a vacancy at a motel, it would disappear before she could do anything. She said she had never encountered that before. Finally, she found a room at a Hampton Inn near the Pensacola Airport.
We took it.
At 6 a.m., after spending all night awake – remember this is the second night without sleep for me — we went to put the few things we took with us to the room back in the car’s trunk. An adjacent building to our right of the parking lot as we were facing the trunk was missing half of its roof. Insulation hung down from the roof’s remnants. There was a housing area behind the parking lot. Again, it was 6 a.m., on a Saturday morning. A younger person, early 20s maybe, walked from the housing area – there were no businesses there — to our right between us and the disabled building and across the parking lot. Like an idiot I made eye contact and being from Indiana, I nodded in greeting. He just gave me a dead-eye stare in return. The three of us were alone in the parking lot. I wondered at the time and now our close he was to shooting us.
He walked to a first-floor room, knocked on the door and while turned to stare at Ruth and I, the door was opened behind him. He went into the room. Now, it could have been all innocent, but I was thinking a heroin transaction.
We could not get away from that motel fast enough. After a Waffle House breakfast, Ruth’s first experience with Waffle House – it was nearby — we drove around Laurel for the next three hours. We probably went on every street in the town. It is about the size of Richmond with the look of Connersville.
We did not care for the Hampton Inn at Pensacola. None of the employees were friendly. In fact, they were surly to a person. Being from Indiana, I said hello to each and every employee and each guest I passed at the motel. The employees, to a person, did not respond except with glares. The guests were much friendlier in their responses. However, the younger, college-age guests, and there were many — seemed shocked any stranger, especially an old, bald, once fat guy, would give them a nice greeting.
At the end of our sojourn through the south, we stopped in Franklin, Tennessee, staying at a Holiday Inn Express and actually had a very pleasant stay. We plan to go back there and see more of downtown Franklin. And stay once again at the Holiday Inn Express.
One thing we did learn was to never plan another vacation in the south during the time of spring break.
Due to quick and efficient work by three area police agencies, two 25-year-old males were arrested and charged with various felonies after they allegedly stole vehicles from Brackney Inc. off Indiana 1 near South Gate.
The initial investigation into stolen vehicles, a stolen trailer and stolen tools led police to find roughly an ounce of methamphetamine and a smaller amount of heroin.
Nathine L. Dyer, 25, Big Cedar Road and Brian E. Lemmel, 25, Hamilton, Ohio, were charged with numerous felonies as a result of the investigation.
According to an Affidavit for Probable Cause filed by the lead investigating officer, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jason Robinson, Robinson was called to the Brackney business on Monday morning, March 29, on the report of four vehicles and a utility trailer being stolen from the business. It is believed they were stolen Sunday evening.
Robinson looked at surveillance footage from cameras located at the business. It showed people arriving on the scene in what appeared to be a dark blue four-door Infinity. An Indiana State Police crime scene investigation unit was called to the scene.
Over the course of the next couple of days, the vehicles were found at various locations in the county, including the parking lot at Brookville Aquatic Center. It is believed the vehicles were stolen for their catalytic converters, which can be resold for relatively large sums of money.
According to militosautorepair.com, “the main reason that catalytic converters are stolen is because they’re valuable to scrap metal dealers. They contain precious metals, including rhodium, platinum, and palladium. … All cars made after 1974 are required to have catalytic converters. Some are more appealing to thieves than others.”
On Tuesday, March 30, an employee of Brackney’s contacted the sheriff’s department and said he saw the stolen trailer at a location on Sleepy Hollow Road, which is near Big Cedar Road. Deputies went to the scene and confirmed it was the stolen trailer. The witness said a Chevy Avalanche dropped off the trailer. The Avalanche was accompanied by a Chevy HHR. One male got out of the Avalanche and one male got out of the HHR, unhooked the trailer and left it in a nearby field.
Responding deputies contacted Robinson, and he came to meet them at the Dyer residence on Big Cedar Road. Parked at the residence were the Chevy Avalanche, a Chevy HHR and a dark blue Infinity. Robinson said he recognized the Infinity from the video footage at Brackney’s.
By the time Robinson arrived at that scene, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Major Gregory Mehlbauer spoke with Nathine Dyer’s father, Tony Dyer. Tony told Mehlbauer his son, Nathine and Lemmel earlier brought the trailer to Tony’s property. Tony suspected it had been stolen, and he ordered Nathine and Lemmel to take the trailer off his property. Also, at the Big Cedar Road property was Evelyn Lemmel. She is Tony Dyer’s sister-in-law and Brian Lemmel’s mother. She also reported the two males had arrived at the residence earlier with the stolen trailer.
At that point, Robinson placed Nathine Dyer and Brian Lemmel under arrest. The two males were also at the Big Cedar Road residence while the officers and the males’ relatives were there. At that point, the preliminary charges against the two males were Theft.
They were transported to the Franklin County Security Center. Both were interviewed by Robinson and other deputies. Prior to transporting them, the two males were patted down. There was $2,139 in cash, in various denominations, in Dyer’s pocket.
Dyer admitted to driving the Avlanche with the trailer attached. He said Lemmel was his passenger. Dyer said he did not know the trailer was stolen, but Lemmel told Dyer “they had to get rid of it.” So, Dyer said he helped Lemmel and unhooked the trailer at the Sleepy Hollow location.
FCSD Deputy Arin Bowers spoke with Lemmel, and Lemmel admitted to stealing all four vehicles and the trailer from Brackney’s. He stated tools taken from Brackney’s were located in the Infinity and a room he lived in at the Mound Haven Motel.
Robinson then applied for a search warrant for Lemmel’s room at the Mound Haven Motel, the Chevy Avalanche and the Infiniti. The search warrants were signed by Franklin Circuit Court 2 Judge Clay Kellerman.
Robinson, with the help of other deputies, executed the search warrants.
In the Avalanche, deputies found a hard plastic container under the driver’s seat. Inside the container were several syringes and two separate baggies, which contained what was determined to be illegal drugs. Robinson said 28.5 grams of methamphetamine were in one baggie while 2.85 grams of heroin were in the other bag. Both substances were sent to the Indiana State Police Laboratory for confirmatory analysis.
On Wednesday, Robinson talked with Dyer again. He admitted the methamphetamine recovered from the Avalanche was his methamphetamine. However, Dyer said he was not dealing methamphetamine but bought the large quantity for personal use. He bought the large amount because he got a better price by purchasing a larger quantity.
Lemmel is charged with four counts of Auto Theft and two counts of Theft. All six charges are Level 6 Felonies.
Dyer is charged with Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 2 Felony; Possession of Methamphetamine, a Level 3 Felony; Possession of Heroin, Unlawful Possession of a Syringe and Theft. The last three charges are all Level 6 Felonies.
“This was an incredible and focused effort by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department — both in recovering stolen property for a local business and to get a large amount of dangerous drugs off the street — all within a very short time,” Franklin County Prosecutor Chris Huerkamp said.
In a press statement jointly released by Huerkamp and Franklin County Sheriff Peter Cates, Huerkamp said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible.
If convicted of a Level 2 Felony, Dyer could receive 10 to 30 years in prison. A Level 3 Felony conviction has a sentencing range between three and 16 years in prison. Level 6 Felony convictions carry a sentencing range of between six months and two and a half years in the Franklin County Security Center.
According to mycase.in.gov, Dyer has a pending case in Rush County involving three Level 6 Felony charges. They are: Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Cocaine and Unlawful Possession of a Syringe. Charges were leveled against him on September 8, 2020.
He is set to go on trial for those charges on May 18.
On December 13, 2019, he was charged in Franklin Circuit Court 2, with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of a Syringe. All three are Level 6 Felonies. On June 30, 2020, Dyer pleaded guilty to all three charges, and he received 270 days in the Franklin County Security Center on each charge and those sentences ran concurrently.
On March 21, 2019, Dyer was charged in Franklin Circuit Court 2 with Unlawful Possession of a Syringe, as a Level 6 Felony; and Visiting a Common Nuisance, as a class B misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty to the two charges on June 11, 2019, and was sentenced to 545 days in the FCSC with 395 days suspended. He also pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor and was sentenced to 180 days with 90 days suspended to run concurrent to the sentence imposed with the felony.
Lemmel has an open case in Wayne County. On March 19, he was charged with Operating a Vehicle while Never Being Licensed, as a class C misdemeanor.
Barbara Jean Weber, age 75 of Batesville, passed away on Thursday, April 1, 2021, at the Columbus Regional Hospital.
The daughter of Phillip Jr and Dorothy (Grainy) Stegman was born on March 20, 1946, in Cincinnati. She grew up in Cincinnati and attended Oak Hills High School. Barbara married Frank Weber Jr., and he passed away on March 8, 2010.
She is survived by her daughters, Dorothy Huff of Batesville and Tracy Weber of Takoda Trails in Forrest Park; along with her brother, Myron Stegman of Batesville.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Laura Weber and brother Ernie Stegman.
Friends and family may call from 1-3 p.m., on Thursday, April 8, 2021, followed by 3 p.m., Memorial Service all at Meyers Funeral Home in Batesville. Rev. Shawn Crisman officiating.
In accordance with the Indiana COVID-19 precautions, all attending are asked to wear a mask and follow proper social distancing protocol. If you are not feeling well, or if you have compromised immune system, you are encouraged to stay home.
You are welcome to leave a message here on Barbara’s obituary page for the family in the online guestbook.
Sr. Marta Aiken, age 95 of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, died on March 29, 2021, at the convent. Born Doris Anne Bakewell Aiken on May 6, 1925, in Cincinnati, she is the only child of Victor and Norma (Quitter) Aiken.
Sr. Marta attended Nativity School, followed by Pleasant Ridge School before the family moved to Richmond, and she continued her education at Hibbard Jr. High School, Richmond Sr. High School and ultimately Marian College. Marta first met the Franciscan Sisters when she attended St. Andrew Church in Richmond. Having enrolled in college during World War II, Marta joined the work force while pursuing her college degree and was employed at F.W. Woolworth, JC Penney’s and at a factory manufacturing machine gun shell casings. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in History at Marian University in Indianapolis, and met many members of the Sisters of St. Francis as she discerned her call to religious life.
Marta’s parents were not enamored with her decision to pursue a religious calling. Her father was non-Catholic and ultimately disowned her while her Catholic mother refused to support her decision. Marta noted that while she felt at home with her Sisters in Oldenburg, it would take several years of prayer and support before she would see her parents slowly accept her decision. During this time, Sr. Lavonne Long became her confidant as she had experienced a similar situation within her family.
When asked what attracted her to the Oldenburg Franciscans, Marta noted in an earlier interview, “I think the strongest attraction was the down-to-earth attitude that these Sisters shared with us at Marian. I saw the love of God, a charitable group of women who gave much to us as students, both in the classroom and in the dorm, women who lived the WORD in everyday life. After my first trip to Oldenburg, I knew in my heart that I too, wished to share my life and gifts with this group of women. I have never regretted a moment of it.”
Through the years Marta continued her education earning a Master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Spanish from Xavier University in Cincinnati, and completed studies at the University of Madrid, Spain, Middlebury College in Vermont and St. Louis University in Missouri.
Marta served as an educator at St. Leo and Our Lady of Angels in Cincinnati, St. Ann in Hamilton, Ohio; Holy Cross in St. Louis, Missouri; Immaculate Conception Academy in Oldenburg; St. Mary Academy and Marian University in Indianapolis, where she served as an Associate Professor of Spanish for 12 years. After 30 years of teaching, she opted for a sabbatical and spent two years at Shalom House for personal growth where she embraced a new ministry in the Hospice of Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis while continuing to serve as librarian at Chatard High School.
After discernment, Marta opted to pursue the Corporate Ministry Program at St. Louis University which included clinical Pastoral Education and marked new beginnings. After a residency at Jacksonville Baptist Medical Center in Florida, she was ready for full-time chaplaincy at St. Francis Hospital in Monroe, Louisiana, followed by 10 years at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tampa, Florida.
In 1996, Sr. Marta returned to Oldenburg to accept the Directorship of Pastoral Care of St. Clare Hall where she ministered for four years before seeking a part-time ministry as Chaplain of the Motherhouse Sisters to accompany them to medical appointments. Marta’s life has always reflected Franciscan charisms and was founded in prayer and service as she ministered as an educator, gentle listener, loving presence and a woman of quiet dignity, integrity and ever open to the Spirit.
A private visitation and service will be held. The funeral mass will be live-streamed at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 6th, with Rev. Robert Weakley O.F.M. officiating. It can viewed by going to https://youtu.be/cv35SbiLN4A. Memorials may be made to the Srs. of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, Indiana, 47036 (www.OldenburgFranciscans.org).
William David Oberding, age 60, of Batesville, passed away on Monday, March 29, 2021. The son of Maxinne and Elmer Oberding was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 31, 1960.
William married Christina Rowland. He ran his own business, Oberding Heating and Cooling for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Christina; his daughter Shannon Oberding and one grandchild, Maxton Oberding.
Betty Sue Gragg, 71, of Connersville, passed away on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, surrounded by her family at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born on May 9, 1949, in Connersville, and is the daughter of James Bradley Clark and Bessie Blanton Clark.
She married her husband, Jim Gragg, on August 22, 1992, and they were able to enjoy almost 30 years together.
Betty had formerly worked at D&M in Connersville until her health no longer permitted it.
Along with her husband, she is survived by four sons, Scott (Tammy) Neukam, of Hope Mills, NC, Chad Neukam, of Connersville, Kevin Neukam, of Connersville, and Andrew (Ashley) Gragg, of Connersville; 13 grandchildren, Chase Neukam, Chloe Neukam, Claire Neukam, Trey Neukam, Logan Neukam, Lainee Boulware, Mckynlee Neukam, Jeff Smith, Justin Justice, Nicholai Gragg, Serenity Gragg, Jacob Gragg, and Jace Gragg; two brothers, Stanley (Ruth) Clark, of Connersville, Hershel (Jackie) Clark, of Connersville; three sisters, Bonnie Hughes, of Connersville, Shirley (Ed) Borgerding, of Connersville, Carolyn Linville and her fiancé, Roger Dice, of Connersville, and several nieces and nephews.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by two infant brothers, Donald and Ronald Clark, and two sisters, Brenda Miller and Donna Philpot.
Visitation for Betty will be held on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., at Urban Winkler Funeral Home, Connersville. The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m., on Thursday, at the funeral home, with Pastor Ronnie Philpot officiating. Burial will follow in Dale Cemetery.
Shirley June Risch, 91, of Connersville passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at her home on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.
One of two children of Harry P. and Kathryn Moore Cates, Shirley was born in Connersville on April 4, 1929. She attended Maplewood School and graduated from Connersville High School with the class of 1947, where she was the drum major for all four years. She wrote articles for the Clarion newspaper and was editor of the Cohiscan her senior year. Shirley worked at Bragg’s Spartan Grill after school. During her senior year, she started work in the afternoons as secretary at Roots Blower. After graduation, Shirley worked there full time and was executive secretary to president Ralph Newquist. She was married on November 26, 1960, to Eugene Risch in Connersville. She worked as secretary at H. H. Roberson from 1961 until 1964.
While working as a secretary at Lingle Real Estate, Shirley obtained her broker’s license and has been affiliated with American Heritage Realty ever since.
Shirley served her community as past president of the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary, President of St. Vincent DePaul for more than 50 years, and was one of the original and longest running diplomats with the Chamber of Commerce, receiving the Humanitarian of the Year award in 1995. She also was a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Indiana Association of Realtors from which she received the distinguished citizen award in 1990, and was realtor of the year from the East Central Indiana Board of Realtors that same year. Shirley received an award for outstanding and dedicated service as executive secretary for the East Central Indiana Board of Realtors in 1983. She served as secretary in 1977, to the Connersville Board of Realtors and received the top sales award in 1993. Shirley also was a member of and held offices in ABWA and BPW. She was a co-founder of the Reality Store with her sister-in-law, Jeanie Risch; and along with Patsy Miller started the St. Gabriel Church Bereavement Committee.
Shirley enjoyed playing golf and was an avid bowler, playing on the same team for many years and she donated her many trophies to the Sportsman Store so they could be recycled and given to young kids.
Shirley and Gene had many fun times at Myrtle Beach where they would go twice a year with their friends.
She liked to read, work on puzzles, play cards, taking pictures, baking, holiday decorating, gift giving, and most of all spending time with her family. She spent hours every year fixing special calendars for special people.
Most of all, Shirley loved spending time with her daughter Susan (Steve); grandchildren Ryan (Mallorie Nunier) and Derek (Shelby); great-grandchildren, Cole, Margo, Tyrion, and Oberyn; and sister-in-law, Mary Ann (Chuck) Snyder. She is survived by them and her husband, Gene, of 60 years. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, James Robert Cates.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Reverend Dustin Boehm at 11 a.m., on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at St. Gabriel Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Dale Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 until 6 p.m., on Friday, April 9, 2021 at Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home where the Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fayette County Animal Shelter or St. Gabriel School Endowment Fund. Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.
Pamela S. Rose, age 67, passed away on Friday, March 26, 2021, in Houston, Texas, after a long battle with cancer.
Pamela was born August 17, 1953, in Connersville, a daughter to John and Dessie Smith. She grew up on the family farm near Brookville. Pamela graduated from Brookville High School in 1971, and attended Purdue University. After working for several years at Sperry Rubber and Plastics in Brookville, she moved to Houston, Texas where she became a legal word processor. Pamela worked for the distinguished Houston law firm Baker Botts L.L.P. for 30 years, retiring in 2018. Pamela was active for many years in the Star Trek fan community as a writer, publisher, and convention organizer. Her short stories and novels will continue to be read by fans all over the world. Like most writers, she was a voracious reader. Her favorite genres were science fiction, fantasy, and horror. She also read nonfiction books on culture and politics. Pamela had a love for dogs and in addition to having two of her own, she fostered dogs waiting to be adopted.
Pamela is survived by her siblings Gary Smith and Lisa Robbins; her son, Michael Rose; and two nieces, Sara Maule and Dana Nelson. Pamela was preceded in death by both of her parents, and her brother, Larry Smith.
A public graveside service by Pastor Freddie Helton will be held at Everton Cemetery on Monday, April 5, 2021 at 2 p.m.
To sign the online guestbook or to leave personal memories, please visit www.cookrosenberger.com. Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Pamela Rose.
