JANET E. SMITH

Hartford City

Janet E. Smith, 74, passed away Friday, March 28, 2014 at home surrounded by her family.

She was born in Fort Wayne on May 3, 1939 to Leonard J. and Martha Jane (Hanley) Douglas and graduated from Central Catholic High School, Fort Wayne, in 1957. She attended Ball State University and married Joseph M. Smith on July 25, 1958 in Fort Wayne.

A homemaker, Janet was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Altar-Rosary Society and helped at the New to You Shop. Janet was a founding member of Cancer Support for Blackford County and was currently on its Board of Directors. She was a facilitator for Angels of Hope Breast Cancer Support Group in Blackford County and a member of Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group in Muncie. She was vice president of I.U. Health Blackford Hospital Auxiliary, volunteered in the Auxiliary gift shop, and served on the Medical Scholarship Committee for Blackford County. Janet also co-chaired the Survivors Committee for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life for many years and volunteered for the Red Cross Blood drives.

Janet’s mission in life was to be the best wife and mother she could be and to be a friend to many and often a lifeline to local residents who received a cancer diagnosis and needed support all while she was fighting her own battle.

Surviving are: her husband, Joseph; daughter Lora Smith; sons, Chris, Curtis and Brett Smith; grandchildren, Zackarrie, Cameron and Nathan Smith; brothers, Robert Douglas and Joseph Douglas and sister, Sharon K. Ball.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Dave Newton at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 2 in St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 209 S. Spring St., Hartford City.

Friends may call on Tuesday, April 1, from 3 – 8 p.m. at Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., Hartford City. A Christian Wake Service will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Memorials may be made to Cancer Support for Blackford County with envelopes available at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.watersfuneralhomes.com.

MONTE A. “CUJO” FOWLER

HARTFORD CITY

Monte A. “Cujo” Fowler, 52, passed away early Monday, March 10, 2014 at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital after an unexpected illness.

He was born July 11, 1961 in St. Mary’s, Ohio to Lloyd E. and Ruth (Starr) Fowler and attended Jay County schools. Monte worked as a dental lab technician in his and his sister’s business. He loved his Harley Davidson motorcycle and Maid-Rite sandwiches from Greenville, Ohio.

Survivors include his mother, Ruth (Max) Rauch, Michigan, two children, Josh (Jessica) Fowler, Salamonia, and Tana (Thomas) Trammell, Portland, a brother, Ted Fowler, two sisters, Pam Griffith and Teresa McDaniel, two grandchildren, William and Gwyneth Trammell, and close friends, Sherri Cox, Rocky Lillard and John Vaughn and several nieces and nephews. 

Cremation was held according to his wishes.

A memorial service will be at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 29, 2014 in Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., Hartford City with Rev. Bobby Thomas presiding. Friends and family may gather after 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.watersfuneralhomes.com.

CLARENCE MICHAEL “MIKE” EHRHART

HARTFORD CITY, IN

Clarence Michael “Mike” Ehrhart, 57, died unexpectedly Monday morning, March 24, 2014 in St. Joseph County, Indiana of heart-related complications.

Mike was born in Marion, Indiana on July 7, 1956, one of three children to Carl V. and Flora “Flo” (Muniz) Ehrhart, Sr., spent his childhood years in Matthews, Indiana and was a 1975 graduate of Blackford High School, Hartford City.

An avid golfer, he belonged to Arbor Trace Golf Club, Grant County, was a huge Dallas Cowboys fan, but most importantly…he dearly loved his grandchildren.

Mike was employed by OJC Trucking of Hartford City.

He leaves behind his son & daughter-in-law, Christopher Michael & Genie Ehrhart; his mother, Flo Ehrhart, all of Hartford City; brother, Carl V. Ehrhart, Jr. (wife, Carla) of Amboy;  sister, Sandra Hill (husband Joey) of Marion; two grandchildren, Collyn Michael and Arryana Ida-Lynn Ehrhart; former wives, Cynthia Jo Dooley  and step-son Paul Dooley, and Elizabeth Ann O’Hern and her sons, Nathan and Derek Reynolds; nieces, Ashley Nicole House, Cayla Marie Ehrhart, Cassandra Victoria Ehrhart and Angela Bishop, eight great-nieces and nephews and many special friends he loved.

His father preceded him in death on February 23, 2003.

Visitation and viewing hours will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 28, 2014 at Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., Hartford City. Mike will be cremated following the visitation.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watersfuneralhomes.com.

FRED DONATHAN

MILLGROVE

Fred A. Donathan, 81, passed away at 6:58 p.m. Sunday, March 23, 2014 at Albany Health Care, after an extended illness.

He was born in Owensville, Kentucky, June 19, 1932, the son of Lewis and Grace (McGlothline) Donathan, and resided in this area since 1949.

Fred married Norma G. Brown in Dunkirk on Sept. 17, 1951 and retired from Indiana Glass after working there over forty years.

A former member of the Moose Lodge, he also coached little league baseball, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and farming. In his later years he enjoyed sitting in his swing bird watching.

He leaves behind his wife, Norma; a son, Wayne (Cindy) Donathan; 3 daughters, Carolyn Beckley (Steve Gearheart), Mary (Theldon) Thornburgh, and Kathy (Jerry) Hummer; a brother, Marion (Gladys) Donathan; 2 sisters, Marie Harris, and Bertha Hall; 9 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews, including a special nephew, Billy Donathan, who spent so much time with Fred.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, Bill Donathan, Cecil Donathan, and Lee Donathan, and a sister, Pearl Yarber.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., Hartford City, with Pastor Delmar McCowan officiating. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery, Eaton.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at the funeral home.

His grandsons will serve as pallbearers: Mark Donathan, Brian Donathan, Doug Beckley, Shane Thornburgh, Wade Hummer, and Avery Thornburgh.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.watersfuneralhomes.com.

WALTER WILLIAM REIDY

 HOAGLAND, INDIANA

Walter William “Bill” Reidy, 72, died Sunday, March 16, 2014 at I. U. Medical Center, Indianapolis surrounded by his family.

Surviving are: his wife, Janet; two daughters, Rene (Randy) Janson, and Melissa (Fred) Carmona; three brothers, Bob (Doris) Reidy, Jerry (Jan) Reidy, and Dave (Barbara) Reidy; two sisters, Pat (Harry) Malpass and Nancy (John) Johnson; grandchildren, Myca, Aldrin, and Merie Jean Janson, Isabella Carmona, Jessica Loggains and Mitchell and Abraham Marquardt; great-grandchildren, Serenity and Vanessa Loggains.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Dave Newton at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 22 in St. John the Evangelist Church, 209 S. Spring St., Hartford City. Burial will follow in Hartford City Cemetery with military graveside rites.

Friends may call at Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., Hartford City from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 21 and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday.

A Christian Wake Service will be at 4 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

The Elks Lodge of Sorrow will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Memorials are preferred to Saint Anne Home, 1900 Randallia Drive, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.watersfuneralhomes.com.

MARY JANE COOK

Hartford City

Mary Jane Cook, 84, passed away Thursday, March 20, 2014 at her son’s home in Albany.

She was born in Hartford City on April 24, 1929 to Marion E. and Audrey (Marshall) Elliott.

Mary Jane married Gerald E. Cook, Sr. on May 12, 1951. He passed away May 9, 1992.  She operated Mary Jane’s Beauty Shop in Hartford City for many years.

Survivors include two sons, Edward R. (Kathy) Cook, Roswell, New Mexico and Gerald (Jocelyn) Cook, Jr., Albany, four grandchildren, Cory Cook, Heather (Will) Grinstead, Jamie Cook and Hannah (Josh) Kauffman, three great-grandchildren, Linae and Kagon Grinstead and Adriana Kauffman, and one sister, Carolyn J. (Jerry) Shaw and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother, Richard Elliott and a sister, Barbara Lakin.

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 24 in Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St. Hartford City with Chaplain Will Grinstead officiating. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory, Muncie.

Visitation will be Monday, March 24 from 11:00 until the time of the service.

Memorials may be sent to Ball Memorial Hospice or Alzheimer’s Association with envelopes available at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.watersfuneralhomes.com.

 

 

 

GERAL C. BERRY

HARTFORD CITY, IN—

Geral C. Berry, 61, passed away Saturday morning, March 15, 2014 at her home after an extended illness.

She was born in Hartford City on January 25, 1953 to George W. and Maxine (Hall) Adkins, Sr. Gerry married Larry J. Berry in Carter County, Kentucky in 1969.

A homemaker Gerry attended the Sunday Fellowship and had attended the Muncie Career Center.

Survivors include her husband, Larry; two sons, Larry W. (Mondae) Berry, and Jeremy W. (Stacey) Berry, all of Hartford City; two daughters, Tammy Berry and Valery Federspiel, both of Decatur; and  8 grandchildren, Bill, John, Dylan, Andre, Rosalie, Skye, Delores and Trinity Berry.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 in Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., Hartford City with her son, Pastor Larry Berry, officiating. Burial will follow in Hartford City Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 17 and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday.

The family requests memorials be directed to Cancer Support for Blackford County, Blackford County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 327, Hartford City, Indiana 47348.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.watersfuneralhomes.com.

LOIS J. BRYANT

HARTFORD CITY

Lois J. Bryant, 79, passed away Saturday morning, March 1, 2014 at her home.

She is survived by her husband, Roy, and four daughters.

No services are planned.

Waters Funeral Home, Hartford City, is handling cremation arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to: www.watersfuneralhomes.com.