Obituaries from December 2017

Karen Sue Tucker, 70, of Greencastle, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. She was born Jan. 23, 1947 in Lafayette, the daughter of James M. and Wilma R. (Rohler) Hockema. She was a graduate of Petersburg High School. Karen had also attended the University of Evansville...

Ruth Ann Hammond, 74, of Greencastle, formerly of Indianapolis, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. She was born April 19, 1943 in Indianapolis, the daughter of Forrest Herschel and Nancy Louise (VanVactor) Skinner. Ruth Ann had retired from IBM, where she had worked for several years...

Donald Wils Bowlby, Greencastle, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family. Family meant everything to him. He is survived by his wife, Lenora; his daughter, Carol Seketa; and sons Allen Bowlby, David Bowlby, Michael Dollinger and Mark Dollinger. Also by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his brother, Paul D. Bowlby; and his sister, Margaret Perish...

Jack E. Young, 81, Greencastle, and formerly Brazil, passed away on Dec. 4, 2017 at Asbury Towers Nursing Center in Greencastle. He was born on Feb. 24, 1936 in Indianapolis, to Marvin E. Young and Freda Everett Young. In 1946, the family moved to Reelsville. He graduated from Reelsville High School in 1954...

Phyllis "Jo" Blaschke, 84, of Mooresville, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. Jo was born on May 28, 1933 in Morgan County, Ind., to the late Edgar and Inez (Simpson) Sims. Jo graduated Mooresville High School in 1951 and Indiana Central Business College...

Jonathan Jerome South, 58, La Crescenta, Calif., passed away Dec. 1, 2017 at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles due to complications from throat cancer. He was born in the Putnam County Hospital on Jan. 1, 1959. Jonathan was the youngest son of Donald and Rose South of Brick Chapel...

Edgar Lee "Ed" Culley, 73, passed away on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017 at Danville Regional Hospital. He was born on Sept. 22, 1944 in Greencastle to the late Lloyd Culley and Margaret (Wilson) Russell. On Aug. 13, 1966 in Shaweetown, Ill., he married JoAnn (Long) Culley. She survives...

Susan Hetser Sendmeyer, 71, formerly of Greencastle, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 with her family at her bedside after an extended illness. She was born in Greencastle on Sept. 14, 1946 to the late James and Helen Hetser. Susan was a 1965 graduate of Greencastle High School...

Gary Lee McMahon, 81, of Bainbridge, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. Gary served in the Army as a paratrooper. Gary retired from Allison Transmission after 30 years. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mrs. Sonya L. McMahon; son, Shelly (Paula) McMahon of Bainbridge; granddaughters, Larinda and Molly McMahon; and grandson Cody Gibson...

Harriett L Hood, 91, of Greencastle passed away at her residence on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017 with her family by her side. Harriett was born in Emerson, Neb., on Jan. 12, 1926, the daughter of Lloyd and Myrtle (Heekens) Surber, and was a 1943 graduate of Greencastle High School...

Paul Edward Rossok, 64, of Lancaster, Pa., passed away on Nov. 2, 2017. Paul was born on Sept. 2, 1953 in Greencastle, Ind. He was the son of Gaylord and Martha (Cox) Bell, also of Greencastle. Paul graduated from Greencastle (Ind.) High School in 1971...

Julian Leon Stout, 89, of Roachdale, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 at Hendricks Regional Health, Danville. He was born on April 18, 1928 in Crawfordsville to Merle Lee and Hazel (Joslin) Stout. Julian graduated from Crawfordsville High School. He served in the United States Navy...

Ruth Marie Hanlon, 81, of Greencastle, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. Born Jan. 13, 1936 in Clay County, the daughter of Estel and Herberta (Leberer) Sutton. She was a graduate of Greencastle High School. Ruth had retired from DePauw University where she had worked as an accounting clerk for 38 years...

Fred J. Girton, 85, of Greencastle, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 at Hendricks Regional Hospital in Danville. Born Feb. 15, 1932 in Indianapolis, he was the son of Eugene and Edith (Rogers) Girton. He was a 1950 graduate of Fillmore High School...

Lonzie "L.C." Clarence Lawhorn Jr. 73, Bainbridge, passed away Friday, Dec. 15, 2017 at his residence. He was born on Feb. 8, 1944 in Liberty, Ky., to the late Lonzie and Minnie Bell (Sharp) Lawhorn. On June 4, 1983 he married Barbara Ann (Beaman) Parrish. She survives...

Donald G. Spencer, 80, of Coatesville, passed away Friday, Dec. 15, 2017 at his residence surrounded by his family. He was born in Eminence on Aug. 7, 1937, the son of Joseph Jennings and Frieda Patten Spencer. He was a department supervisor at Duke Energy for 35 years...

James "Jim" R. Walton, 83, of Greencastle, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. Born Jan. 2, 1934 in Coatesville, he was the son of Leonard "Pete" C. and Dorothy (Bierman) Walton. Jim had been a tow motor operator with Diamond Chain and worked with Comprehensive Services in Greencastle...

Sally "Maxine" Neeley, 88, finished her journey on this earth Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Born on Aug. 19, 1929, she was the daughter of Alice (Pingleton) and Luther Johnston. She was married to Chet Neeley for 47 years before he passed away in 1994. She was also preceded in death by a son, David Neeley; sisters Oma Woods and Betty Johnston; brother Henry Johnston; and granddaughter Kandi Travelstead. ...

Sarah Beth Kerr, 86, of Greencastle, passed away on Friday, Dec. 22, 2017 at Mill Pond Heath Campus in Greencastle. Arrangements are pending at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, Greencastle.

Rose Ann Shoemaker, 70, of Greencastle, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017, at her residence surrounded by her family. Arrangements are pending at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, Greencastle.

Sarah Beth Kerr, 86, of Greencastle, passed away on Friday, Dec. 22, 2017 at Mill Pond Heath Campus. Sarah was born in Greencastle on Nov. 20, 1931, the daughter of Russell and Geneva (Maxwell) Elmore. She was a graduate of Greencastle High School. Mrs. Kerr was employed at Greencastle Schools and retired from Gobin United Methodist Church where she served as secretary...

Doris C. Williams, 84, of Toledo, Ohio passed away Friday, Dec. 22, 2017 at Darlington House. She was born on Jan. 9, 1933 in Greencastle, Ind., to Everett and Madonna (Mason) Elmore. She married Gordon "Dale" Williams on June 11, 1951 and together they raised three daughters. They were married for more than 66 years...

Byron Millard Halfhill, 82, passed away Monday, Dec. 25, 2017 at Regional Hospital in Terre Haute following an accident at home. He was born in Bowling Green, Ind., on Feb. 10, 1935 to the late Carl and Florence (Greenwood) Halfhill. Byron graduated from Bowling Green High School and served his country in the United States Army...

Rose Ann Shoemaker, 70, passed away Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 at her residence with her family by her side. Rose was born in Greencastle, on April 16, 1947, the daughter of James and Nelly (Hill) Jones. She attended Greencastle High School. Survivors include four children, John Shoemaker (wife Sheila), Cloverdale, Robert Shoemaker (fiancé Dawn Fox), Greencastle, Richie Shoemaker (significant other Shalisa), Bainbridge, and Melissia York (husband David), Greencastle; three sisters, Loretta Bruns (husband Erich), Greencastle, Barbara Duff, Greencastle, and Linda Rogers, (husband Larry), Greencastle; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.. ...

Jeannine S. Auen, 51, of Greencastle, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Arrangements are pending at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, Greencastle.

Robert Marion Moore, 78, of Greencastle, passed away on Monday, Dec. 25, 2017 at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis. Arrangements are pending at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, Greencastle.

Robert Marion Moore, 78, of Greencastle, passed away Monday, Dec. 25, 2017 at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis. Robert was born in Greencastle on Aug. 26, 1939, the son of Hubert and Mary Frances (Moore) Blumer and was a graduate of Greencastle High School...

Donald Smallwood, 73, of Greencastle, passed away Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born Oct. 2, 1944 to Dave and Opal (Wagers) Smallwood in London, Ky. He married Mary Shirley Sweet on July 3, 1963. They raised two sons and a daughter...

It is with great sadness we announce the death of Joseph Edward Blaikie Jr., born January 9, 1950 in Everett, Massachusetts to parents Joseph Edward Blaikie and Mary (McEleney) Blaikie. He is survived by his wife and dearest love, LaVergne (Nagel) Blaikie, whom he married on December 13, 1969 after returning home from serving with the U.S. Navy in Vietnam...

Annabeth Smith, 82, of Greencastle, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017. She was born in Martinsville on Sept. 13, 1935 to the late Harlan and Flossie (Freeman) Jamison. Annabeth was a retired food service director for the South Putnam School Corporation after 18 years. She was a 50-year member of the Eastern Star and a member of the Amity Baptist Church...