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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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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 Funeral arrangements are pending in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home.







Keith Kunce age 76, 203 East Apt. 1 Portland died early Friday morning in Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie .  He was born in Portland December 4, 1932 the son of Eli and Hassie Gladys (Bishop) Kunce.  He was married in 1952 to Mildred Irene Nuckols and she died September 10, 1998.  He was retired from Delco Remy in Muncie and was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene.

Surviving are one daughter Mrs. Jeff (Anita) Harker of Portland, Two grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and two great grandchildren  He was receded in death by a daughter Cheryl D. Conrad.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11:00 A.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home.  Burial will follow in the Green Park Cemetery .  Visitation will be Monday from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. and one hour prior to the services.  Memorials can be made to the Jay County Humane Society.
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Ray Hudson age 83, 8423 Annwood Road , Largo , Florida and former Portland resident passed away November 25th in the Largo Medical Center . He was born in Portland September 12, 1926 the son of Ray and Marie (Ferris) Hudson. He was married September 12, 1948 to Barbara Boyd who survives. He was retired from General Motors as a tool and die maker. He served with both the U.S. Army and United States Marine Corps. And was a member of American Legion Post #211. He was also a member of Park Street Baptist Church in Largo .
Surviving are his wife Barbara, one son John Hudson of Etowah , TN. , Three grandchildren and one great grandchild
Services will be held at a later date. Memorials can be made to the West Walnut Street Church of Christ. Baird-Freeman Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements.
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Norman J. Vinson age 55, 7652 West 400 North Pennville died Saturday in the Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne from injuries from a motorcycle accident in Peru .  He was born in Peru August 7, 1954 the son of Joseph H. and Beulah (Reed) Vinson.  He was married April 25, 1980 to Toni Ross who survives. He was area manager for Wampum Hardware.  He was president of Pennville Lions Club, E.D.I.T. Committee, Board Member of Jay County Chamber and 1972 graduate of North Miami High School .

Surviving are his wife Toni, Two sons Joseph Vinson of Pennville and Jeff Vinson of Twelve Mile, IN.,  Two daughters Tara Drumm of Bryant and Cheryl Vinson of Kokomo,  Two brothers Wallace Townsend of Twelve Mile, IN. and Conrad Townsend of Rochester.  Three grandchildren

Funeral services will be Friday at 10:00 A.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor Jonathan Fightmaster presiding.  Burial will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Pennville.  Visitation will be Thursday from 2:00 – 7:00 P.M.  Memorials can be made to the Norm Vinson Memorial Fund. CLICK TO PRINT

Teddy P. Bessesen Sr. age 66, 617 Pierce Street Ridgeville died Thursday in the V.A. hospital in Indianapolis . He was born in Ephrata , Washington December 5, 1942 the son of Peter and Goldie (Tuttle) Bessesen. He was married February 1, 1974 to Catherine Hicks who survives. He served with the U.S. Army during Vietnam and then the Army Reserve and Army National Guard retiring in 1994. He also was a truck driver. He was a member of American Legion Post #211 in Portland and Ft. Recovery V.F.W.
Surviving are his wife Catherine, Two sons Teddy Bessesen of Geneva and Timothy Bessesen of Portland , one daughter Catherine Bessesen of Ridgeville and foster son Kyle Wellington of Ridgeville. Six grandchildren and six great grandchildren
Funeral services will be Tuesday at 10:00 A.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor Esther Kershaw presiding. Burial will follow in Antioch Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post #211. Visitation will be Monday from 3:00 – 7:00 P.M. Memorials can be made to Easter Seals.CLICK HERE TO PRINT


Phyllis Hart age 76, former resident of 1227 West Arch Street Portland passed away early Sunday morning in the Jay County Hospital .  She was born in Randolph County March 16, 1933 the daughter of John and Isabelle (Sanders) Cline.  She was married to Carl Hart and he died September 9, 1992,  She had worked for G.C. Murphy in Winchester , United Telephone Company and was a Welcome Wagon Hostess.  She was a member of the Faith Baptist Church and Jay County Hospital Aux.

Surviving are two sons Rick Hart and Greg Hart both of Portland,  Two brothers Larry Cline of Dunkirk and Keith Cline of Pennville, one sister Janice Evans of Muncie, Four grandchildren, two great grandchildren, five step-grandchildren and several step-great  She was preceded in death by one son Kevin and two brothers Carl Cline and Randy Morrical.

Funeral services will be Friday at 10:00 A.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor Wayne Ward, Pastor Phil Jellison and Kevin Inman presiding.  Burial will follow in the Claycomb Cemetery .  Visitation will be Thursday from 3:00 – 7:00 P.M.  Memorials can be made to the Jay County Cancer Society or Faith of Flame Television Ministry. CLICK HERE TO PRINT