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Local news Monday, Sept. 30, 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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Mary Jane Garrett Lackawannock woman was correspondent, bus driver Mary Jane Garrett, Lackawannock Township, Mercer County, passed away at 11:25 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, in the Skilled Care Unit of Sharon Regional Health System after a short illness. She was 77. Mary Jane was born Oct. 5, 1924, in Dennison Corners, Linesville, a daughter of the late Seth Samuel Vaughn and Sara Jane Dennison Vaughn of Pulaski. Mary Jane grew up in Pulaski and in 1942, graduated from Union High School. During World War II, she worked in the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corp. She married Maurice E. "Sol" Garrett Sr. on Oct. 26, 1943, and lived in Pulaski until 1956, when they bought the family farm in Lackawannock Township, Mercer. For more than 55 years, Mary Jane was the Pulaski correspondent for the Globe Leader and the New Castle News. She was a school bus driver for Watson's, who provided bus service to West Middlesex and Wilmington Area Schools. She worked on the Election Board in Lawrence and Mercer County for more than 50 years. In 2001, she and her husband were named Citizens of the Year for Lackawannock Township by the Lackawannock Township Civic League. She was a member of the National League of Families POW/MIA; and an honorary member of the Mercer County Vietnam Area ERA Veterans Association. For the past 33 years, she has been in charge of the memorial day services at the Pulaski Honor Roll. Mary Jane was very active in Pulaski Presbyterian Church, having served as deacon, elder and congregational secretary. For many years, she was the secretary/treasurer of the Sunday school. Mary Jane was the oldest member in years of belonging to the church. Mary Jane was a charter member of the Pulaski Area Snappy Dragon Garden Club. She belonged to the Lady West Rebekah Lodge 166 of West Middlesex, having served as a past noble grand. She was a past president of the James Stoner Ladies Auxiliary to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6233, West Middlesex; Mercer County Council Past President and District 28 Ladies Auxiliary of VFW. Mary Jane was a Gold Star Mother, belonging to Blue Star Mothers of America Inc. Chapter 7 in West Middlesex. Mary Jane is survived by her husband; and three daughters and their spouses, Lilyan and Frank Gottuso, Baden, Pa.; Melanie and Tom Inman, with whom she resided; and Melinda Jane and David Lewis, all Mercer. She was most proud of her seven grandchildren, Nathaniel Lewis, a senior at Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology; Zachary Lewis, a student at Slippery Rock State University; and Matthew and Kelley Lewis, Amy Gottuso and Sara and Rebecca Inman. Her sister, Martha, and her husband, Tom Houston of New Castle, also survive. Beside her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Capt. Maurice E. Garrett Jr., who was killed in a helicopter crash on Oct. 22, 1971. Maury's body was never recovered and is officially listed as Missing In Action. Mary Jane never gave up hope that her beloved son would come home. Also preceding her in death were two brothers, David, who died in infancy; and James Daniel Vaughn.
GARRETT Ethel Jean Allison
ALLISON Mrs. Clyde Gaylord (Ethel Jean), 70, New Castle Road, Slippery Rock. Calling hours: 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday (10-1-02) in SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock. Service: Funeral service at 11 a.m. Wednesday (10-2-02) in the funeral home. Interment: Slippery Rock Township Cemetery.
George K. 'Mike' Ellenberger Former Mercer man ran resort on Kentucky Lake PADUCAH, Ky. -- George K. "Mike" Ellenberger, 10 Cameron Drive, Benton, Ky., formerly of Mercer, died at 11:43 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, in Western Baptist Hospital. He was 67. Mr. Ellenberger was born July 13, 1935, in Mercer, a son of Glenn Kermit Ellenberger and Dorothy Elizabeth Morse Ellenberger. Self-employed, he owned and operated Ellenberger Resorts on Kentucky Lake in Benton for 20 years. He was also an employee of the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corp. for 15 years, as a machinist. Mr. Ellenberger was a member of Mount Carmel United Methodist Church in Benton. Surviving are: his wife of 48 years, the former Charlotte Hougelman, Benton; three sons, Brian Ellenberger, Hickory, Ky.; Gary Ellenberger, Reidland, Ky.; and Michael John Ellenberger, Benton; one sister, Emily Jane Barfield, Pikeville, N.C.; six grandchildren, Chad Ellenberger, Calvert City, Ky.; Dustin Ellenberger, Benton; Jason Ellenberger, Calvert City; Jennifer Ellenberger, Reidland; and Jessica Ellenberger and Randi Ellenberger, both Benton; and a great-grandchild, Tanner Ellenberger. Mr. Ellenberger was preceded in death by his parents. Memorial contributions may be made in care of the funeral home to the Kitchen Fund of Mount Carmel United Methodist Church.
Olive Boggs Adams Homemaker was Church of Nazarene member Olive Boggs Adams, Coolspring Township, formerly of 8203 Sharon- Mercer Road, East Lackawannock Township, died at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, in Woodland Place, Coolspring Township, following an extended illness. She was 89. Mrs. Adams was born Dec. 12, 1912, in Clay County, W.Va., to George Seldon Boggs and Madame Friend Boggs. A homemaker, she was a member of Mercer Church of the Nazarene. Her husband, Ronzel Dwight Adams, whom she married in 1937, died on June 30, 1973. Surviving are: two sons, Ronzel D. Adams Jr. and Donald R. Adams, both Mercer; one sister, Mildred Lehman, also Mercer; 20 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Besides her husband, Mrs. Adams was preceded in death by her parents; four daughters, Janis Alix, Shirley Sterns, Sybil Williams and Caroline Adams; one son, Randall Adams; three brothers, Norman, Marion and Russell Boggs; three grandchildren, David Davis, Debbie Sterns and Matthew Adams; and one sister, Orthella Duffield.
Attorney Warren R. Keck Jr. Greenville lawyer was descendent of early settler Attorney Warren R. Keck Jr. of 11 Bessemer St., Greenville, died at noon Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, in White-Cliff Nursing Home, Hempfield Township. He was 89. Born July 31, 1913, in Greenville to Warren R. Keck Sr. and L. Blanche Jewell Keck, he married his college sweetheart, Beulah Burch on June 8, 1940. She survives him. He graduated in 1931 from the former Penn High School, Greenville; in 1935 from Allegheny College, Meadville; and in 1938 from the University of Pittsburgh Law School. He practiced law in Greenville for 43 years with Whiteman, Voorhies, Dilley & Keck -- now Rowley, Wallace, Keck, Karson & St. John -- retiring in 1981. He served during World War II in the U.S. Navy in the Legal Department. He is a descendant of one of Greenville's earliest settlers, Joseph Keck. He served on the Greenville Salvation Army Board, the Greenville Businessman's Association, and Mercer County Department of Public Assistance Board. He was Mercer County solicitor, solicitor for the Greenville Municipal Water Authority, Greenville Sewer Authority, counsel for the Pittsburgh and Conneaut Dock Company and solicitor for numerous municipalities. He served as solicitor and board member of Greenville Savings and Loan Association. He was a member of the Greenville Country Club and Iroquois Club of Conneaut Lake. A lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in Greenville, he served on many boards in many capacities throughout the church until his illness. In addition to his wife, he is survived by: a daughter, Judy K. Young and her husband Ted, Mercer; a son, Warren Keck III and his wife Nancy, Greenville; four grandchildren, Warren Keck IV, Deborah Keck Stagon, Christopher L. Brown and Matthew W. Brown; two stepgrandchildren, Theodore Young and Timothy Young; six great-grandchildren and three stepgreat-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Altha Jewell Keck. Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Keck's name to the Memorial Fund of First United Methodist Church, 73 Clinton St., Greenville 16125.
Mildred 'Mitzi' A. Gula Sharon grad was Marine corporal, worked at WE Mildred "Mitzi" A. Gula, Hermitage, formerly of Tamplin Avenue in Sharon, died at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, in Nugent Convalescent Home, Hermitage, following an extended illness. She was 86. Mrs. Gula was born Sept. 17, 1916, in Farrell to George Sewecke and Martha Orabinec Sewecke. A graduate of Sharon High School, she served as a corporal in the Marine Corps during World War II. Mrs. Gula was a machine operator from 1943 to 1945 at the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corp. She was a member of St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church in Hermitage. Her husband, John Gula, whom she married on Aug. 13, 1947, died on June 25, 1991. Surviving are: one son, Thomas Gula and his wife Sydney, Cape Coral, Fla.; two brothers, Walter Sewecke and his wife Mary, Sharon; and George Sewecke and his wife Pat, Sharpsville; one grandson, John Gula; and nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, Mrs. Gula was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Henry Sewinsky. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church, 2230 Highland Road, Hermitage 16148.
Anna C. 'Mother Goose' Walker NYC musician was Farrell church music minister The following obituary is being reprinted to include additional information given by family members to the funeral director. A funeral service will be held today for Anna C. "Mother Goose" Walker, 18 Cathedral Drive, Farrell. She departed this life at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday (9-25-02) in Nugent Convalescent Home, Hermitage, at the age of 67. Anna was born June 10, 1935, in Sharon to the Rev. Thomas C. Walker and Jesse M. Leeks Walker. As a child and through young adulthood, she attended and served Bethlehem Baptist Church in Sharon, where she began her career as a pianist. Throughout life, she played for various churches in the Shenango Valley, her musical talents taking her beyond local limits. During a period of more than 50 years, she played for such great names as Brother Joe May in New York City; and served as a theater musician for the famous Apollo Theater, playing for such notable personalities as Duke Ellington and Count Basie. One of her most notable students today is Freddie Jackson, who credits her with getting his career started. Gospel music was always her first love and she loved working with children's choirs. She was nicknamed and affectionately called, "Mother Goose," first by a children's choir in New York. Anna returned to the Shenango Valley in 1981 and became Minister of Music at Greater Morris Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Farrell, a position that she cherished until her retirement in October of 1999. Her favorite saying was, "I'm Mother Goose -- On the Loose, For the Lord." She leaves to cherish her memory: a son, Tony "Marty" Meeks, Hazelton, Pa.; a stepson, Daniel McCrae, Charlotte, N.C.; a sister, Eleanor Walker, Phoenix; four nephews, Christopher A. Walker Jr., San Pedro, Calif.; Daneon D. Riley, Phoenix; Gerald G. Riley, Minneapolis, Minn.; and Thomas Russell, East Spencer, N.C.; and a niece, Marika Russell, Farrell. Special friends include The McCrae Family, Shirley McLean Family, Howard and Geraldine Lee, Carmen Craig, Willie "Skippy" Sanders; and the Rev. Jeanette Hooks, all Farrell; Brother Austin Shaw, Rev. James Harris and Gloria Harris, and the Rev. Lowell T. Williams and Jennifer Williams, all Ohio; the Rev. Edward Butler, Aliquippa, Pa.; the Rev. Alphonse Allen and Francetta Allen, Scranton, Pa.; The Harvey Family, Georgia; and a special, special friend, the Rev. Lonnie Simon, Youngstown; as well as a host of friends and loved ones throughout the community and around the country from New York to California. She was preceded in death by her parents; and by her lifelong companion, Leroy McCrae. She was a legend in her own time.
WALKER
Veronica 'Vera' Pilipovich Beader Former Farrell homemaker was member of St. George DOVER, Del. -- Veronica "Vera" Pilipovich Beader, 148 Beechhaven Drive, Dover, formerly of 300 Pershing Drive, Farrell, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, in Kent General Hospital after an extended illness. She was 78. Mrs. Beader was born March 22, 1924, in Farrell to Nikola Pilipovich and Anna Vestic Pilipovich. She was an alumna of Farrell Area High School. From 1942 to 1947, she was a storeroom attendant for the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corp. A homemaker, Mrs. Beader was a member of St. George Orthodox Serbian Church in Hermitage. Her husband, Uros Beader, whom she married on Oct. 12, 1946, died on Oct. 11, 1994. Surviving are: one daughter, Mrs. Robert (Veronica "Voni") Perrine, Dover; one sister, Mrs. James (Norma) Husnick, Brookfield; and one granddaughter, Natassia Perrine. Besides her husband, Uros, Mrs. Beader was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, William and John Pilipovich; and one sister, Elizabeth Vuckovic.
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