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Bennie E. Brown age 73, 095 East Brown Drive Portland passed away Sunday afternoon in the Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie . He was born in Portland September 27, 1936 the son of Benjamin and Harriet Ermina (Bush) Brown. He had worked for Sheller-Globe, Sterling Casting in Bluffton and Goodhews in Ridgeville. He was a member of the American Legion and Moose Lodge.
Surviving are two daughters Karla Brown of Portland and Twila Billman of Warren, his companion Sharon Mayne of New Castle , one sister Etta Ullom of Portland and two grandsons Justin Stephen and Jeremy Stephen both of Warren .
Funeral services will be Wednesday at 10:30 A.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor Larry Eads presiding. Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Muncie . Visitation will be Tuesday from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. and Wednesday one hour prior to the services. Memorials can be made to the Jay County Cancer Society.CLICK HERE TO PRINT
Clara Wanda Garringer age 85, 302 West 12th Street Portland passed away Saturday evening in Persimmon Ridge Healthcare. She was born in Jay County June 17, 1924 the daughter of Harry and Martha (Hayes) Hicks. She was married October 27, 1949 to Leo Garringer who survives. She had worked for Mutual Security and Modern Book Binery. She was a member of Jay County Fair Board and Antique Auto Club.
Surviving are her husband Leo and several nieces and nephews.
Private family services will be held in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor Hugh Kelly presiding. Burial in the Green Park Cemetery . Memorials can be made to the Bluff Point Cemetery. CLICK HERE TO PRINT.
Odus A. Marchal age 88, former rural Portland resident passed away early Thursday morning in Persimmon Ridge Healthcare. He was born in Versailles , Ohio April 23, 1921 the son of Nicholas and Tracy (Barga) Marchal. He was married June 16, 1945 to Esther Braun who survives. He served in the Pacific with the U.S. Army during WW II. He was a retired Noble Twp. dairy farmer, worked for Jay County Highway Dept. for nine years, clerked for Loy’s Sale Barn for fifteen years and worked at True Value in Portland for thirteen years. He also trucked grain, livestock, fertilizer and milk. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church since 1950 and was an usher, Eucharist minister and mass server, past president of Holy Name Society, worked bingo for thirty two years, American Legion Post 345 in Ft. Recovery and Salamonia V.F.W. Post 2840, Portland Moose Lodge, Tri State Gas engine and Tractor Association and Jay County Fair Board.
Surviving are his wife Esther, Two sons Larry Marchal (wife: Winifred) of Portland and Mike Marchal (wife: Deanna) of Portland , Two daughters Mary Ann Mangen of Amhurst , Wi . and Mrs. Mike (Theresa) Baucher of Celina, Ohio Eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren Two infant sons preceded in death Thomas and Donald. Also surviving are three special nieces and several great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Monday at 10:00 A.M. in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Fr. Robert Moran presiding. Burial will follow in the Holy Trinity Catholic Church with military rites by Ft. Recovery American Legion. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 – 4:00 P.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in Portland . Memorials can be made to Masses or State of the Heart Home Health and Hospice. CLICK HERE TO PRINT
Lanny Brubaker age 71, 1909 North Reiley Road Muncie passed away Thursday afternoon at Renaissance Healthcare. He was born in Jay County April 17, 1938 the son of Francis and Elgia (Reichard) Brubaker. He was a tool and die maker for City machine in Muncie .
Surviving are one son Ben Brubaker of Muncie, Step-son Ronald Crump of Ft. Knox, Ky., Two daughters Bridgett Rice of Hodgenville, Ky. and Leslie Diane Honeyman of Troy, Ohio, One brother Lynn Brubaker of Farmland and one sister Janelle Brubaker of Muncie.
Graveside services will be Saturday at 11:00 A.M. in the Salamonia Cemetery in Jay County with Pastor Mark Strietelmeier presiding. Memorials can be made to the choice of the donor. Baird-Freeman Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements.
Margaret Ann Bennett age 88, 417 West Votaw Street Portland passed away Monday morning in Randolph Nursing Facility in Winchester . She was born in Illinois May 19, 1921. She was retired from Jay Garment and had also worked for Hooks Drugs.
Surviving are a son David Bennett of New Castle and a daughter Debra Bennett of Portland , Sister-in-law Ethel Bennett of Portland , Three grandchildren and eight great grandchildren
Funeral services will be at 1:00 P.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor Darrel Borders presiding. Burial will be in the Gravel Hill Cemetery west of Bryant. Memorials can be made to the Jay County Cancer Society. CLICK HERE TO PRINT
Rev. Roy Norman Keen
Oct. 7, 1929 – Nov. 30, 2009
The 15th child of Cleora and William,
in Delaware County was born.
His eighty plus years on this earth are gone
Rev. Roy Norman Keen’s family mourn.
Ina, beloved wife, and his high school dream,
has been rejoicing in Heaven since March 8,
reuniting with family, meeting son Stephen Lemoine,
along with some grandchildren and great.
His life has been full, his days filled with work
to care for his family and tend to the flock.
His first girls were miracles, then three and four
the next four were boys, chips off the old block.
First Kay, Brenda, Carol, and Beckey, his baby,
then followed by Paul, Mark, John ‘n Stephen,
Those more like him had personal opinions
His parenting advice didn’t work like that he had given.
He built many houses, and sold quite a few
his Keen Realty ads set to rhyme,
He wrote poetry, songs, and a book or two,
plus auctioned new and used treasures in time.
Nutralite, Amway and other multi-level sales,
he jumped on the wagon, hopes of success galore.
Short term pastorates, revivals, an antique store,
one year of teaching, Keen’s Pizza Clinic, and more.
With dreams in his mind and a burden for souls,
the churches he pastored, the money he gave,
were done with much prayer and seeking God’s will,
his aim and his goal were lost souls to save.
Nottingham Church and Alexandria Friends,
were the first ones his young family knew,
next Gaston and Portland Wesleyan Churches ,
and Brinker Heights Wesleyan, too.
To his final endeaver, the Homeland Mission
He volunteered as long as he could.
His weakened heart ‘n cancer finally took their toll
At Heaven’s gate he’s finally stood.
Seven children, their spouses, ten grandchildren,
three greats, and one sister survive,
They have blessed assurance, no doubt at all
He served a risen Savior; He’s alive.
He is survived by his sister, Georgia Bell (Dolly) Buck, daughters: Christina Kay (Steve) Crabtree, Olathe, KS; Brenda (Ernie) Hall and Carol (Scott) Roll, Marion, IN; Beckey (Dan) Gillett, Goodyear, AZ; sons: Paul (Vicki), Portland, IN; Mark (Becky), Ft. Wayne; and John (Laura), grandchildren: Lindsay Crabtree, Brook (Eric) Christian Neal [Andrew], Holly (Vic) Butcher [Dawn, Vincent], Tory Johnson, Karalynn Roll, Shane and Chad Keen, Ryan [Quentin, Madelyn] and Kendra Keen, and Erin Keen; and step grandchildren: Duane [Kelsey] and Craig Hall [Arielle]. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and long-time family friends, Russell and Patricia Weaver.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and siblings: Lewis, Althea Morgan, Henry, Theodore (Ted), Rose Denney, Lucille Waitley, Arthur (Bud), Ulabee (Bee) Mendenhall, Albert (Bill), Charles (Charlie), Frankie, and two infants.
Visitation will be at Baird Freeman Funeral Home, 221 N. Meridian St. , Portland , IN from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Friday December 4, 2009 and Saturday from 9:30 – 10:30 A.M. at the church. The funeral service will be Saturday December 5, 2009 at 11:00 A.M.at Brinker Heights Wesleyan Church , 1203 E. Bradford St. , Marion , IN with burial at IOOF Cemetery , Dunkirk . Memorials may be made to Brinker Heights Wesleyan Church , Homeland Mission, or Family Hospice and Palliative Care.
Ronald Jacks age 62, 110 East Greenway Parkway Apt. 2041 Phoenix , Arizona and former Portland resident passed away November 23rd in the Scottsdale Healthcare in Scottsdale , Arizona He was born June 7, 1947 in Michigan City , Indiana the son of Maynard LeRoy Jacks and Helen McGahey. He was married to Elke Levy on May 6, 2006 who survives. He had served with the U.S. Army and was a truck driver for Fed-Ex.
Surviving are his wife Elke, one son David Jacks of Portland, two daughters Robin Jacks of Portland and Sherry Hensley of Portland, Three brothers Larry Bryan of Vicksburg, Mi., Allen Simmons of Portland and Jan Simmons of Portland, Four sisters Jackie Brown of Portland, Judy Sanders of Portland, Pam Jacks of Portland and Vicki Florence of Portland, one granddaughter
Funeral services will be Friday at 10:00 A.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor Jeff Horsman presiding. Burial will follow in the Green Park Cemetery . Visitation will be Thursday from 3:00 – 7:00 P.M. Memorials can be made to the choice of the donor.
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John S. Rines age 75, former 2246 East 200 South resident passed away Sunday morning at Miller’s Merry Manor in Dunkirk . He was born in Jay County December 14, 1933 the son of Fred and Lois (Journay) Rines. He was married September 17, 1955 to Cletes Glentzer who survives. He was a farmer and truck driver for First Fleet. He was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church .
Surviving are his wife Cletes, his mother Lois Rines of Portland, Four sons Stewart Rines, Scott Rines, Steve Rines and Stanley Rines all of Portland, Three daughters Mrs. Peter (Catherine) Foss of Saratoga, California, Mrs. Randy (Corienne) Brockman of St. Henry, Ohio and Mrs. Chuck (Susan) Huffman of Dunkirk, Two brothers Alan Rines of Albany and Paul Rines of Portland, One sister Rachael Stahl of Americas, Georgia Fifteen grandchildren and one great grandchild
A memorial service for John will be held Thursday at 10:30 A.M. in the Asbury United Methodist Church with Pastor Greg Rittenhouse presiding. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services. Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Asbury United Methodist Church Endowment Fund. Baird-Freeman Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements.
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