Local news
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2002
These are the top stories in today's print edition. Pick up a copy on the newsstand or contact us for convenient home delivery. Summaries of the week's news appear in the Sunday edition. These current and past weekly chronologies are online as are day-by-day links to past stories and deaths.
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Today's death record
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Today's obituaries
John Reed John Reed, 1296 French St. Extension, Hermitage, died Tuesday (2-19-02) in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System. He was 70. Obituary information was incomplete.
REED Mrs. Lillebelle Keir Sharpsville native, active in Hartford, was retired teacher Lillebelle Keir, 2841 state Route 7, Fowler, Hartford Township, died at 3:20 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, 2002, in her residence. She was 87. Mrs. Keir was born Aug. 2, 1914, in Sharpsville to Madison and Mary Rodecker Messersmith. Mrs. Keir was a school teacher, having taught second grade her entire career. She first taught in Brookfield in 1936, then Hartford Elementary School, and retired from Liberty (Township) School District, Trumbull County, in 1978. The E.J. Blott Elementary School in Liberty renamed its library the "Belle Keir Library" in her honor in 1968. Mrs. Keir was a graduate of the former Hartford High School and Kent (Ohio) State University. She was a member of Vienna United Methodist Church; Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 518, Hartford; Retired Teachers Association; Delta Kappa Gamma; B.M.H. Club; the Daughters Club; and was a Martha Jennings Scholar. She also served as a longtime corresponding secretary for the Hartford Alumni Association and was instrumental in Hartford being named a "Bicentennial Community" in 1976. Mrs. Keir enjoyed reading. Her husband, Donald D. Keir, whom she married June 9, 1937, died Aug. 30, 1988. Surviving are: one daughter, Mrs. Howard (Donna) Cailor, Boardman, Ohio; one son, Jack Keir, Vienna; one sister, Grace O'Brien, Katy, Texas; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Besides her husband, Mrs. Keir was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Blair; and one brother, Carl Messersmith. Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to Vienna United Methodist Church; Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 518, Hartford; or Hospice of the Valley, Warren Chapter.
KEIR Shirley Shank Shirley Shank, 2319 Mercer-West Middlesex Road, West Middlesex, died at 1:20 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2002, in University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She was 64. Obituary information was incomplete.
SHANK Arthur Fisk Brown Sr. Florida resident formerly of WM retired from Sawhill VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Arthur Fisk Brown Sr., 745 Third Circle, Vero Beach, formerly of West Middlesex, died at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, 2002, in his residence after an extended illness. He was 81. Mr. Brown was born March 27, 1920, in Oceola Mills, Pa., to Clayton D. and Bertha Spott Brown. He retired in 1981 after 40 years as a laborer with what is now AK Steel, Sawhill Tubular Division, Wheatland. Mr. Brown was a Protestant. Surviving are: his wife, Frances Brown, at home in Vero Beach; his children, Joyce, wife of Ray Lefountain, Vero Beach; Judy Foster, Phillipsburg, Pa.; Phillip Brown, Beaver Falls; Timothy Brown, Sharpsville; Arthur E. Brown Jr., Grove City; and George Brown, West Middlesex; one stepdaughter, Sarah Priester, Grove City; one sister, Ethel Humes, Meadville; 20 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren. His parents and nine brothers and sisters preceded him in death.
BROWN William A. Hudson William A. Hudson, 1580 Orangeville Road, Hermitage, died at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday (2-19-02) in his home after an extended illness. He was 88. Obituary information was incomplete.
HUDSON Susie Mae Watkins Ex-Detroit church worker retired as doctor's aide A funeral service will be held Saturday for Susie Mae Watkins, Masury, formerly of 15400 W. Seven Mile Road in Detroit. She peacefully went home to be with the Lord at 9:55 a.m. Monday, Feb. 18, 2002, in Orange Village Care Center in Masury, following an extended illness. She was 98. Susie was born April 1, 1903, in Alexander City, Ala., a daughter of Postelle Watkins. She attended school in Alexander City and retired as office assistant for Dr. Cameron in Detroit. Susie was also a past co-owner with her former husband, David Parker, of a fish market in Detroit. He is deceased. As an active and faithful member of Bethany Pembroke Chapel in Detroit, she attended the Ladies Class and was a former Junior Class teacher, both with the Sunday School Department; and belonged to the Women's Fellowship; Bethany Pembroke Chapel Choir; and Wednesday Night Bible Study. She also served as a refreshment hostess for Vacation Bible School; and for the Backyard Neighborhood Children's Bible Class in Detroit. Susie participated annually in the Circle Y Ranch Bible Camp in Bangor, Mich., where she assisted in the kitchen and worked as a chaperone, helping to monitor children from ages seven to 12. She also attended the Bowin Place Bible Study at her building complex in Detroit. Though the years, Susie was known for her thoughtfulness, doing laundry and preparing meals for sick and shut-ins of her church family. A beloved friend and trusted role model for many young Christians, she was a recipient of several commendations including Excellence in Christian Service to the Circle Y Bible Camp; and faithful service to Bethany Chapel; and earned a Certificate of Appreciation in 1984 from New Ways Ministries in Bermuda. Susie loved fishing in Belle Isle, Mich.; Canada; and at Circle Y Camp. She enjoyed traveling in the United States, and especially to Canada and Jamaica, where she traveled with her pastor and his wife, the Rev. Owen and Sybil Fraser; Liston and Maudie Kitchen; and a group of her other beloved church members. Susie moved from Detroit to Masury in 1998 and, until her illness, attended Cedar Avenue Church of God with her cousin and caretaker, Martha L. Martin, wife of Osborne Martin Sr. of Masury, with whom she lived. Surviving besides her cousin, Martha, are: a daughter-in-law, Savannah Hall, Atlanta; a godchild, Mrs. Herbert (Thelma) Mason, Detroit; two stepgrandchildren; her church family; and a host of cousins and other relatives and friends. Besides her former husband, Ms. Watkins was preceded in death by her mother, Postelle Burns; and her son, Robert Hall.
WATKINS Harriet L. Frey Gerlach Homemaker, county home retiree had Mercer bait shop Harriet L. Frey Gerlach, 125 N. East St., Mercer, died at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2002, in UPMC Horizon, Greenville, after a brief illness. She was 71. Mrs. Gerlach was born Aug. 7, 1930, in New Castle to Edwin L. and Agnes Wochner Frey. She attended New Castle High School and, with her husband, owned and operated B&G Bait & Tackle Shop in Mercer. A homemaker, Mrs. Gerlach retired as an aide from the former Mercer County Home. She was of the Catholic faith and was an avid bingo player. Surviving are: her husband, Burdette "Bud" Gerlach, whom she married Dec. 13, 1946, at the residence; one daughter, Cindy Say, Grove City; three sons, Robert Gerlach and his wife Kay, Grove City; Edward Gerlach, Slippery Rock; and David Gerlach and his wife Deborah, Jackson Center; one sister, Mrs. Ralph (Peggy) Rihel, Butler; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Gerlach was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, David Frey.
GERLACH Doris J. McLusky Hermitage woman was retired state employee A funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday for Doris J. McLusky of Hospitality Care Center and formerly of 819 Karen Lane, both Hermitage. She passed away at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday (2-19-02) in the care center. She was 83. Mrs. McLusky was born Feb. 5, 1919, in Avoca, Luzerne County, Pa., a daughter of Alex and Anna Grudinski. She graduated from high school and married Edward Walter McLusky on Sept. 25, 1936. He passed away Aug. 21, 1983. Mrs. McLusky moved to the Shenango Valley in 1940 and worked as an administrative assistant for several years with the Mercer County office of the Department of Public Assistance. She was appointed by former Gov. Dick Thornburgh to serve on the Mercer County Board of Assistance in 1982. Mrs. McLusky was a member of PARSE, the Pennsylvania Association of Retired State Employees. A volunteer, she was a member of what was Sharon General Hospital Ladies Auxiliary. Surviving are: one daughter, Nancy Dillon, Hermitage; one son, E. David McLusky and his wife Edith, Winter Springs, Fla.; three grandchildren, Karen Shaffer and her husband Edwin, Murrysville, Pa.; Cheryl Borawski, Hermitage; and Mark McLusky, Winter Springs; and three great-grandchildren, Adam Shaffer, Kaelah Shaffer and Megan Borawski. Also surviving are: two sisters, Sophie Wiancek and Jean McDermitt, both Luzerne County. Besides her husband, Mrs. McLusky was preceded in death by her parents; and three sisters, Mary Major, Alice Grudinski and Anna Lasak. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
McLUSKY Mildred Bardelick Mildred Bardelick, The Overlook nursing home, New Wilmington, died at 12:30 a.m. today (2-20-02) in the hospital of Jameson Health System, New Castle. She was 82. Obituary information was incomplete.
BARDELICK Audrey L. Cook Studios co-owner, elder was fraternal groups member A funeral service will be held Thursday for Audrey L. Cook, 740 Fredonia Road, Perry Township. She died early Sunday morning (2-17-02) in UPMC Horizon, Greenville. She was 59. Mrs. Cook was born Aug. 8, 1942, in Meadville to Lawrence and Iza Hollabaugh Slingluff. A graduate of Commodore Perry High School Class of 1960, she attended Thiel College in Greenville for one year. She and her husband, Harley J. Cook Jr., were co-owners for 34 years of Shelly Memorial Studios in Greenville and Sandy Lake. Through the years, Mrs. Cook also participated with her husband in other business ventures. In Greenville, she was a member of Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 63; and Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem Shrine 47, where she served two terms as Worthy High Priestess and three as Watchman of Shepherds. Mrs. Cook also served on the Supreme committees on the Supreme Floor. As a member of Hadley Presbyterian Church, she was an elder, served on the Session and was clerk of the church for many years. Mrs. Cook also taught Sunday school; was a Bible Study participant; and served on the search committee, a group organized for clergy selection. As a teen-ager, Mrs. Cook was an avid animal lover and had her own horses that she rode and showed at fairs. She loved gardening, cooking, canning and spending time with her pets. Mrs. Cook was a world class traveler and very involved with her grandchildren and her community. Surviving are: her husband, Harley, whom she married Aug. 5, 1961, at home; a son, Randall L. Cook, Greenville; a daughter, Susan Cook Anderson, Champion, Ohio; her mother, Clarks Mills; two brothers, Larry Slingluff, Williamsfield, Ohio; and Dale Slingluff, Hermitage; three grandchildren, Deane, Sadie and Owen; and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Cook was preceded in death by her father. Memorial contributions may be made to Hadley Presbyterian Church, Box 97, Hadley 16130; or in care of the funeral home to Lupus Research.
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