Tina Marie Woolery, 64, went home to be with the Lord Friday morning, March 19, 2021, at her home surrounded by her loving family.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home with Pastor Chris Lovett officiating. A live stream of the service will be available at millermosterrobbins.com. Eastern Star Masonic memorial services will be held prior to the start of the service. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the funeral home on Tuesday. Burial will be in Riley Cemetery in Reily, Ohio on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 1 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Crosspointe Biker Church or the Indy Honor Flight.
Jadah Bukofchan, September 21, 1989 – March 19,2021.
Obituary is currently pending.
All services will be private and held at the convenience of the family.
To sign the online guestbook or to leave personal memories, please visit www.cookrosenberger.com. The staff of Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Jadah Bukofchan.
Union County’s Bicentennial celebration is in jeopardy.
That was the message from Bicentennial Chairperson Melissa Spillers and Union County Commissioner Paul Wiwi Thursday morning, March 18, at the Union County Council meeting.
Spillers said the Bicentennial has received no money to date even though $30,000 was committed by the Union County Tourism Commission in the fall of 2020. Wiwi said the tourism commission and the Union County Development Corporation have failed to get together and sign the necessary contract. UCDC will be the conduit for the money between the tourism commission and the UC Bicentennial Committee.
Spillers said there is currently $112,000 in the tourism account in the county coffers. Tourism derives money from a motel/hotel/innkeepers tax that has been levied in Union County for the past three years. Local tax money is not involved.
According to Union County Auditor Cheryl Begley, even though the money is in the county’s account and the tourism commission has agreed to expend $30,000 for the Bicentennial celebration, she cannot move that money until she sees the signed contract.
The Bicentennial celebration is scheduled to formally start with opening ceremonies on June 27. Closing ceremonies will take place on July 11.
According to Spillers, when the UC Sesquicentennial was planned, the county spent $40,000 for a company to come in and plan the Sesquicentennial events. Additionally, one person was hired and the utilities and rent paid for 18 months for an office and place to sell Sesquicentennial memorabilia. According to the inflation calculator on the Internet, just the $40,000 in 1971 is equivalent to $259,766.91 50 years later in 2021. Thus, the $30,000 is less than 10 percent of the money the county leaders spent in 1971.
Spillers said if the Bicentennial gets to go on as planned, there will be events every day between June 27 and July 11, with most occurring in downtown Liberty. However, the Fourth of July celebration including parade and fireworks will be in College Corner on Saturday, July 3.
Also, the major music acts, planned for Friday, July 2, will be held at Union County High School. Everything is free to the public, if events are allowed to go on.
On July 2, a local bluegrass band will take the stage at 4 p.m., followed by Larry Sparks, called the father of bluegrass, at 6 p.m. He is from Wayne County and has a song called “Down in Union County,” which he will open his set with, Spillers said. After that is the main act, starting at 8 p.m. It was the bluegrass Band of the Year in 2019, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers.
Councilman Jeff Adams told the other council members Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers is a phenomenal band. The only thing that will cost money is there will be a Meet and Greet with Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers for $100 a person and the committee expects to sell 200 for a total of $20,000. Again, Adams said people who love bluegrass would pay that amount to get to meet the band.
Councilman Jim Hensley is on the Bicentennial’s Entertainment Committee and also believes the Meet and Greet will be very popular.
There will be buses supplied by Union County Transportation to and from the school so there is not a parking problem.
Every day there will be magicians, comedians and other entertainers near the courthouse in Liberty.
The cost for the bluegrass night on July 2, staging and Duke Tomatoe is $23,000, Spillers said. At the 2008 Brookville Bicentennial the committee there spent $35,000 on bringing in the band Night Ranger and related costs. The committee blocked off Main Street, which is U.S. 52, and had what many believe was the most people ever gathered together in Brookville for any event in its 200-year history.
Spillers said the bluegrass acts will bring in fans from all over the Midwest.
“Those are what are going to bring people into our community to see what we have, to see who we are, to see how pretty it is,” Spillers said. “They will say ‘this small town was able to put on an event like this.’ It will bring people in from all over.
“This is not only just going to be fun but it will be good for the whole community,” she continued. “It will be good for our small businesses.”
Spillers said she understands $30,000 seems like a lot of money, but this is a 14-day event and that is not a lot of money when looking at it that way.
She said the hesitation concerning the $30,000 has almost stopped the Bicentennial planning in its tracks.
“Without any funding, we cannot continue to move forward with anything,” Spillers said.
While the committee is seeking grants and sponsors for the event, without the money pledged to the Bicentennial, there may not be a Bicentennial.
According to Spillers, all of the events may not take place due to the lack of contract between the tourism commission and UCDC. Spillers said there is not enough money to print the tickets for the Meet and Greet. The Bicentennial Committee plans on making additional money through sponsorships, grants and the sale of memorabilia.
Begley said she could get the Bicentennial Committee the check in April if she can see the signed contract. Thursday morning, council voted unanimously to pass the $30,000 additional appropriation at its April meeting if the UCDC and tourism commission can get a signed contract to the auditor.
No members from UCDC and its board or the tourism commission attended the county council meeting.
Valona V. Kammeyer, of Indianapolis, was born on March 31, 1932, in Harrodsburg, KY, a daughter to Melvin and Cora Roberts Mobley. She was married to the late Irvin Kammeyer and together they raised two children. Valona was a member of the First Baptist Church in Greenwood. In her spare time, Valona enjoyed reading, coloring, listening to music and playing the piano, as well as travelling to nursing homes to play music for the residents. On Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at the age of 88, Valona passed away peacefully at Compass Park Masonic Home in Franklin.
Those surviving who will cherish Valona’s memory include one son, Alan (Ellie) Kammeyer of Houston, TX; one daughter, Cora Lynn Kiger of Indianapolis; three grandchildren, Kelli, Jamie, and Travis; as well as three great-grandchildren. Besides both of her parents, Valona was preceded in death by her husband, Irvin Kammeyer; four siblings; and one grandchild, Joshua.
Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home, 107 Vine Street, in Sunman. Visitation will be followed by a public graveside service at 2 p.m., at St. Paul Cemetery in Sunman. Reverend Dr. Sean Holloway will officiate the service and burial will follow immediately after.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, all attending are required to wear a mask and follow proper social distancing protocol. If you are not feeling well, or if you have a compromised immune system, you are encouraged to stay home.
To sign the online guestbook or to leave personal memories, please visit www.cookrosenberger.com. The staff of Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Valona Kammeyer.
Daniel Fred Bechtel, age 72 of Batesville, passed away on Monday, March 15, 2021, at Margaret Mary Health. The son of Henry A. Bechtel and Katrina M. (Klein) Bechtel was born on December 25, 1948, in Penntown. He married Donna Petrey on November 26, 1972, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Daniel worked for Campbell Hausfeld in Harrison for 49 years before he retired. He was a member of the Hope Baptist Church in Lawrenceville. Sports were a favorite of his, and he liked to bowl. He enjoyed watching baseball especially his Cincinnati Reds, and never missed an opening day. Daniel liked being outdoors going fishing, gardening and attending turkey shoots. Many times, you could find him going to farmer markets and canning the fresh vegetables and other food. Most of all he really loved spending time with his family, and relished his time with the grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Donna; daughters, Robin Hinds of Milan and Crystal Iles (John) of Milan; step-son, Rondal Lee Petrey of Harrison; grandchildren, Gavin R. Hinds Jr., Amber Hinds, Ashlee Iles and Erika Iles; step-grandchildren, Raymond Petrey and Cheyenne Petrey; great grandchildren, Oaklyn Hinds, Asher Hinds and Preston Iles; and step- great granddaughter, Rose Petrey; along with siblings, Viola Adams, Alice Reihle, Henry Bechtel and Rose Weber.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister Mary Rehbeger.
Visitation will be Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m., with funeral service at 2 p.m., all at Meyers Funeral Home in Batesville. Burial is to follow in Holy Guardian Angels Cemetery in Cedar Grove. Pastor Kelly Barns officiating.
Memorials may be given to the family by bringing to services or mailing to: Meyers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 202, Batesville, IN 47006.
In accordance with the Indiana COVID-19 precautions, all attending are required 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.
Longtime resident Nancy Davis, 67, of Liberty, died Saturday, March, 13, 2021, at McCullough-Hyde hospital in Oxford, Ohio, surrounded by her family.
Nancy was born to Nelson and Edna Murray Dick on July 16, 1953, in Canton, Ohio. She attended Short High School graduating with the class of 1971. Nancy worked in manufacturing, and retired from the Liberty Co-Op. She continued to stay busy working at the camp store in Whitewater State Park. Nancy had a passion for horses. She enjoyed horseback riding, feeding Paris the rescue horse, and even just stopping on the side of the road to watch the horses frolic in the field. Above all, Nancy loved her family and enjoyed spending every moment with her children and grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by those who knew her.
Nancy is survived by her daughters: Lisa Leach Williams McDonald and her husband Dewight of Connersville, Rebecca Pentecost and her husband Josh of Liberty; son: Douglas Leach of Florida; sisters: Leslie Moore of Liberty, Penny Jacobus of Columbus, Indiana; grandchildren: Taylor Ann, Logan, Lacey, Casie, and Cody Leach, Colin Williams, Lyllian, Rhett, and Wade Pentecost; great-granddaughter: Mia; several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Nancy is preceded in death by her sister: Roxie Spoonamore; brother-in-law: Terry Moore; nephew: Chad Spoonamore
A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday March 20, 2021, at Liberty Baptist Church. Showalter Blackwell Long, Fosdick Chapel, Liberty has been entrusted with arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s hospital, Union County Humane Society, or the Wounded Warrior Project.
Patricia Ann “Patsy” Edwards Price, 77, of Connersville, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. She was born on May 6, 1943, in Richmond, Kentucky, and is the daughter of the late Carl and Bessie Mae Wilson Edwards.
Patricia was a member of Everton Southern Baptist Church. She had worked at Little George’s Restaurant, Miller’s Cafeteria, Standard Grocery, and D&M. She retired from Stant’s Manufacturing.
She was enthusiastic about decorating for all the holidays. She also loved to collect costume jewelry and anything Coca-Cola or Mickey Mouse. She enjoyed cruising in her Mustang, as well, but her favorite way to spend her time was with her family.
Patricia is survived by her daughter, Amanda (Jack) House, of Connersville; two sons, Bruce (Lora) Price, and Chad (Martha) Price, both of Connersville; two sisters, Kimberly Kate (Mike) Pope, of Blooming Grove, and Norma Jackson, of Connersville; two brothers, Barry (Brenda) Edwards, of Liberty, and Timothy (Vicki) Edwards, of Connersville; 10 grandchildren, Cassidy (Eddie) Brewer, Cody House, Stephen (Ashley) Price, Bradley (Kinsey) Price, Patrick (Kenzie) Price, Zachary Price, Haley Price, Timothy Price, Skylar Isaacs, and Baylea Isaacs; eight great-grandchildren, Luke Brewer, Madelyn Brewer, Sophie Price, Brantlee Price, Bodee Price, Kayden Bunch, Slater Isaacs, and Lanie Lakes; a sister-in-law, Helen Edwards; three special nieces, Amy, Abby, and Ashley, as well as many more nieces and nephews.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her fiancé, Rodney Wentz; two brothers, Robert “Bobby” Edwards and Gary Edwards; two nephews, Jim Jackson and Clifton Edwards; a brother-in-law, Dennis Jackson; a sister-in-law, Connie Edwards, and the father of her children, Bruce Price Sr.
Visitation for Patricia will be held on Friday, March 19, 2021, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., at Urban Winkler Funeral Home, Connersville. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., on Saturday, March 20, at the funeral home, with Pastor Dan Jones and Pastor Freddie Helton officiating. Burial will follow in Dale Cemetery.
Betty Hoke, 78, of Connersville, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. She was born on March 23, 1942, in Monroe County, West Virginia, to Hassel Harvey Jackson and Virlilia Ann Dunbar Jackson. On June 18, 1961, she married Fred J. Hoke in Liberty. They were able to enjoy 55 years together before he passed on April 29, 2016.
Betty had attended Seventh Day Adventist Church in Connersville.
For many years, Betty had worked at D&M. She was also a caregiver to people who needed it and cleaned their homes. She loved gardening, canning, and taking care of her flowers. She collected dolls and also enjoyed watching the hummingbirds in her yard. Betty could often be found in the woods hunting for mushrooms, berries, and ginseng. She absolutely adored and cherished the time she was able to spend with her grandchildren.
She is survived by two daughters, Leann (Dave Seechan) Hoke and Amber (Bobby) Brown; three sons, Fred Hoke, Robert (Esther) Hoke, and Charles Hoke; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; her sister, Hazel Wilcox, and several nieces and nephews.
Along with her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Forest Jackson and Frank Jackson, and a sister, Virginia Richardson.
Visitation for Betty will be held on Monday, March 22, 2021, from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m., at Urban Winkler Funeral Home, Connersville. The funeral service will begin at 2 p.m., at the funeral home, with Richard Byrd officiating. Burial will follow in Brownsville Christian Cemetery.
Donald DeWayne Dawson, 67, of Connersville passed away Tuesday, March 16, 2021, from a massive heart attack.
He was born on April 10, 1953, in Connersville, to George and Catherine Bradenburg Dawson.
He was self-employed in small engine repair and was a great animal lover.
Survivors include a daughter, Tamara Dawson; granddaughters, Rashelle Camden and April Carlin; sisters, Barbara J. Eshelman, Sandra Crawford, Terry Bennett, Tammy Dawson, Sharon Miller, and Mary Lou Harrison, all of Connersville; brothers, Mike Dawson, Bill Dawson, and Herbert Dawson, all of Connersville; and several nieces and nephews.
Other than his parents, Donald is preceded in death by his wife, Katie Dawson; sisters, Joan (John) Day, Joyce (Don) Rudicil, Anita (Ray) Jones, Janice Seal, Patricia (Dale) Border, and Diana (Paul) Durham; brothers, Ed (Garry) Dawson, Gene (Sharon) Dawson, George (Marie) Dawson, and Jim (Clara) Dawson.
Friends and family are invited to visit from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., Friday, March 19, 2021, at Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home. A service will be conducted the same day at 1 p.m., at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Donald to the Fayette County Animal Shelter. Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.
