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Esther Marie Strait age 83, 101 North Park Street Portland passed away Friday morning in the Ball Memorial Hospital In Muncie. She was born in Jay County November 26, 1925 the daughter of Oscar and Emma (Burkey) Smith. She was married to Joseph Hendricks who passed away and she was later married to Kenneth R. Strait and he died July 9, 1994. She was retired from Jay Garment in Portland and was a member of Salamonia Christian Church and West Walnut Street Church of Christ.
Surviving are a son Ronald Hendricks of Portland , two grandchildren and two great grandchildren
Funeral services will be Monday at 10:00 A.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Nichols presiding. Burial will follow in the Studebaker Cemetery in Geneva . Visitation will be Sunday from 12:00 – 3:00 P.M. Memorials can be made to the Jay County Humane Society.
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Rick D. Taylor age 48, 122 North Munson Ave. Portland passed away Wednesday September 16, 2009 while on a hunting trip in Alaska. He was born in Portland December 16, 1960 the son of David Taylor and Rachael Chapman Scott. He was a lineman for A.E.P. and member of the I.B.E.W. union. He was a 1979 Jay County High School graduate and an avid outdoorsman.
Surviving are his three daughters Abra Taylor of Wasilla, Alaska, Andrea Taylor of Portland and Alisha Taylor of Portland His father and step-mother David and Thelma Taylor of Bryant, Four brothers Burl Taylor of Portland, Jack Scott of Portland, Wes Taylor of Montpelier and Donnie Smith of Deerfield, Eight sisters Monica Miller of North Webster, Juanita Harshman of Bryant, Kim Shannon of Portland, Shawn Bowdell of Celina, Mindy Betts of Centerville, Amanda Philabaum of Redkey, Bobbie Taylor of Richmond and Debbie Morris of Millgrove. He was preceded in death by his mother and step-father Daniel and Rachael Scott. Funeral services are pending in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in Portland
Darrell G. McCord age 75, 521 West High Street Portland and former Randolph County resident passed away Saturday evening at his residence. He was born in Muncie June 12, 1934 the son of Elmer Ray and Mary Beulah (Sims) McCord. He was married October 4, 1958 to Marilu Pogue who survives. He served with the U.S. Army and retired in 1990 from Anchor Glass Container in Winchester after thirty eight years. He was a member of Full Gospel Temple in Muncie and American Legion Post #353 in Farmland.
Surviving are his wife Marilu, one son Kevin McCord of Winchester, Five daughters Mrs. Dave (Robin) Short of Richmond, Teresa McCord of Portland, Mrs. Kirk (Kim) Morris of Farmland, Lisa Hill of Portland and Mrs. Dave (Dawn) Milligan of Portland. Seven brothers Burl McCord of Ridgeville, Joe McCord of Winchester, Orville McCord of Winchester, Daniel McCord of Farmland, Ronnie McCord of Muncie, Leon McCord of Ridgeville and Monty McCord of Winchester, Two sisters Mrs. Jim (Evelyn) Rutledge of Farmland and Freda Frey of Arkansas City, KS. Sixteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren
Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11:00 A.M. in the New Covenant Fellowship Church with Pastors Denny Helton and Terry Bye presiding. Visitation will be Tuesday from 3:00 – 7:00 P.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in Portland and prior to the services at the church. Memorials can be made to Jay Randolph Developmental Services or State of the Heart Hospice.
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James T. Wright age 83, 5351 West 200 North Portland passed away early Thursday morning at his residence. He was born in Jay County May 30, 1926 the son of Russell and Freda (Schultz) Wright. He was married June 5, 1952 to Mary “Dimples” Gibson and she died May 17, 2004. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict as a medic and was a longtime farmer in Jay County .
Surviving are four daughters Mrs. Tom (Linda) Diller of Portland , Mrs. Ron ( Nancy ) Stauffer of Geneva , Candy Adamson of Yorktown and Mrs. Don (Sherry) Ainsworth of Bryant. One sister Mabel Barr of Bluffton
Eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren . Funeral services will be Monday at 10:00 A.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Bothast presiding. Burial will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Pennville. Visitation will be Sunday from 12:00 – 3:00 P.M. Memorials can be made to the Pennville Fire Department. CLICK HERE TO PRINT
Olga Louise Stone age 75, 916 West Seventh Street Portland passed away Tuesday afternoon in the Parkview Hospital in Ft. Wayne . She was born in Moorehead , Ky. December 3, 1933 the daughter of Ray and Ora (Ingram) Armstrong. She was married November 26, 1949 to Edward Ray Stone and he died June 8, 1990. She retired from Jay Garment after thirty three years and worked for Jay-Randolph Developmental for five years. She was a member of Church of God of Prophecy where she was very active in all the events held there.
Surviving are three sons James stone of Portland, Ken Stone of Michigan and Roger Stone of Portland, Five daughters Mrs. Rocky (Susie) Reitenour of Portland, Mrs. Tim (Connie) Ray of Portland, Tina Hollingsworth of Portland, Mrs. Roger (Vicki) Corle of Portland and Mrs. Terry (Tammy) Wilhelm of Portland, Four brothers Robert Armstrong Sr. of Portland, James Armstrong of Portland, Ralph Armstrong of Portland and Albie Armstrong of South Carolina, Three sisters Patty Hostetler of Portland, Shirley Lewis of Portland and Maxine Ayers of Louisville.
Twenty five grandchildren, thirty nine great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by five siblings.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 2:00 P.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastors Jerry Qualls and Nan Weesner presiding. Burial will follow in the Green Park Cemetery . Visitation will be Friday from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. Memorials can be made to the Church of God of Prophecy.CLICK HERE TO PRINT
Charles Duane Weesner age 72, rural Portland resident passed away Monday afternoon at his residence. He was born in Jay County August 19, 1937 the son of Gerald and Bernice (Long) Weesner. He was married September 8, 1957 to Frances Rines who survives. He was a farmer, school bus driver and had been a mechanic for Sheffer-Weinland in Portland . He was a member of the Fairview United Methodist Church , served on the Jay County Fair Board, Wayne Twp. Advisory Board and was a 4-H Leader.
Surviving are his wife Frances, one son Gary Weesner of Lafayette, two daughters Mrs. Jeff (Beth) Stephen of Portland and Mrs. Jeff (Nancy) Snyder of Portland, one brother John Weesner of Frankfort, one sister Mrs. Russell (Eunice) White of Portland and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers Earl, Harry and Howard.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 10:00 A.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Denney presiding. Burial will follow in the Little Salamonia Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 3:00 – 8:00 P.M. Memorials can be made to State of the Heart Hospice.
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Everett J. Ritter age 91, 1109 West 200 South Portland passed away early Monday morning. He was born in Jay County March 27, 1918 the son of William and Augusta (Bialeschki) Ritter. He was married February 17, 1946 to Dorothy Frank and she died August 21, 2007. He was owner and operator of Ritter Electric for twenty four years retiring in 1983 and was a farmer. He was an avid woodworker donating many pieces to local organizations. He with his wife Dorothy were recipients of 2005 Jay County Hall of Fame by the Cincinnatius League. He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Portland .
Surviving are one son Kenneth N. Ritter (wife Jan) of Greenwood, Indiana, Two daughters Mrs. Randy (Diana) Kooy of DeMotte, Indiana and Martha Ritter (Husband Hilary Godard) of Lindley, N.Y. One sister Pauline Bauldauf of Portland Four grandchildren
Funeral services will be Friday at 1:00 P.M. in the Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Strietelmeier presiding. Burial will follow in the Green Park Cemetery . Visitation will be Thursday from 3:00 – 7:00 P.M. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services Friday at the church. Memorials can be made to the Zion Lutheran Church .
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