DOROTHY M. SWOVELAND

Hartford City

Dorothy M. (Schmidt) Swoveland, 91, passed away Friday morning, May 16, 2014 at her home. Dorothy was born in Blackford County on February 19, 1923, the daughter of Luther L. and Ella M. (Cale) Schmidt Clamme. She graduated from Montpelier High School in 1939.

She married William Blaine Swoveland on September 10, 1944 at Zion Lutheran Church, Hartford City. Mr. Swoveland died June 17, 2010.

Having previously worked for St. Joe Paper Company and Ball State University, she retired from Hartford Concrete Product in 1984. Dorothy also participated in farming with her husband. She was a life-long member of Zion Lutheran Church and belonged to BPW. She enjoyed playing bridge, fishing and wintering at Bonita Springs, Florida. She was also an avid Pacers and Colts fan.

She is survived by her four daughters, Anita M. Reid, Hartford City, Mary L.(Richard) Cary, Loudon, TN, Judith A. (Max) Wiesenauer, Georgetown, IN and Patricia J. (fiancé, John Jackson) Gaither, Hartford City.  Her grandchildren are Holly Underwood, Bradley Reid, Kimberli Withrow, Aimee Wilson, Chad Wiesenauer, Jason Wiesenauer, Michael Gaither and Elizabeth Dennison.  Twenty-one great-grandchildren, one sister, Louise K. Clamme and several nieces and nephews survive.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Robert C. Schmidt, a sister, Margaret E. Felger Morrical and a grandson, Dustin L. Reid. 

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 26, 2014 in Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., Hartford City, with Rev. David H. Fleener officiating. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery, Eaton.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday, May 25 from 4 – 7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Monday.

Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 308 S. Monroe St., Hartford City 47348 or donor’s favorite charity.

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

JEFFERY A. HUDSON, SR.

Jeffery A. Hudson, Sr., 53, passed away Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at his residence.

He was born in Hartford City on August 31, 1960, married Martha Eldridge in Hartford City in 1988 and had worked at Sinclair Glass in the shipping department. He loved the Lord and music, attended church and was a fan of the Indianapolis Colts.

He is survived by his wife, Martha, children, Teresa (Jeremy) Ferguson, Dunkirk, Chris (Wendy) Alter, Montpelier, Jeff Hudson, Jr., Hartford City, Ryan Hudson, Hartford City, Bill Wagoner, Sandy Hook, KY, Jamie Watson and Rebecca Hudson, both of Hartford City, 22 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.   Also surviving are 2 brothers, John (Marcella) Hudson and Wayne (Dorothy) Hudson, 3 sisters, Marcine Williams, Sally Dobbs and Peggy (Bill) Tucker, and special niece and nephew Vicky Drake and Steve Gee, as well as several other nieces, nephews & cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ida Mae (Hatton) Hudson-1987, a son, Jeffery Allen Wagoner on July 31, 1983, a sister, Freda Gee, a grandson and a great-granddaughter.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 10, 2014 at Full Gospel Lighthouse Tabernacle, 468 E. Washington St., Dunkirk, with Rev. Bobby Thomas & Tim Hall, Jr., officiating. Burial will follow in Hartford City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday, May 9 from 4 – 8 p.m. in Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., Hartford City and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church.

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

Monica J. Holiday

HARTFORD CITY, IN 



Monica J. Holiday, 29, found her eternal peace, Sunday morning, April 13, 2014 in Montpelier, Indiana.

She was born in Lebanon, Missouri, on September 17, 1984, the daughter of Harry Don West and Veronica Bergdoll.

A loving and caring mother, Monica was an exceptional artist, drawing anything that was put in front of her.  She enjoyed anything to do with being outdoors and loved animals.

She leaves her soul-mate and long-time companion, Steve Holiday, a son Waylon Maddox; two daughters, Dessica Holiday and Ariel Holiday; step-sons, Steven Maddox and Jason Maddox; her father and step-mother, Harry Don and Mary West; mother and step-father, Veronica and Dave Schmuck; step-father, Robert Flick, Sr.; four brothers, Jeremy Flick, J.R. West, Dwayne West and Harold Dean West; sister, Frankie Hiatt; grandmother and step-grandfather, Connie and Lee Trimley; step-grandmother Sandy Schmuck and step-grandfather, Steve Schmuck; mother-in-law Dessie Holiday; uncles, Wade West, Jack West, Dean Bergdoll, Rocky Lillard and Randy Lillard; aunts, Rosalie Downey, Anna Sue Holland, Lori Schmuck and Heidi Moreno; as well as many cousins and a host of friends.

She is preceded in death by her great-grandmother, Opal Lillard, her father-in-law Thomas F. Holiday and an uncle, Ace Lillard.

Services will be at the Hartford City Cemetery on Saturday, April 19, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. with Rev. Bobby Thomas presiding. Burial will follow the service.

Family and friends will gather from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., Hartford City prior to the procession departing to the cemetery.

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

WAVA LEA READER

Hartford City, IN

Wava Lea Reader, 59, passed away Monday, April 14, 2014 at her home after a lengthy illness.

She was born on February 25, 1955 in Roll, Indiana, and graduated from Blackford High School in 1973. She married her husband, Jeff Reader, on March 1, 1980 in Roanoke, Indiana.

Wava resided in Japan and Hawaii. While in Japan, Wava was awarded the Nippon Zenkokai award by the emperor of Japan in 1991 for community relations. She also spent many years manufacturing Native American crafts and was well known for her dream catchers.

Her hobbies include gardening, Native American crafts, traveling, spending time with family, as well as her cats, Diva and JoJo.

Wava attended the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church, Dunkirk.

She was preceded in death by her mother and step-father, Patricia and Victor West; grandparents, Hoyt R. and Gertrude (Foley) Bridges; and uncles, Russell and Herb Bridges.

Survivors include her husband, Jeff; two daughters, Brandy M. E. Reader, Hartford City, and Leigh A. (Dallas) Gray, Millgrove; four grandchildren, Cassidy M. Reader, Mazy M. E. Reader, Izzy M. E. Reader, and Brody M. Gray; a brother, Richard A. Brown, Hartford City; a sister, Ulondra E. (Brown) Dawson, Hartford City; step-sisters, Vicki M. (West) Ingersoll, Westfield, and Stormy D. West, Columbus, GA; two uncles, William A. (Nancy) Bridges, Rhode Island, and Hoyt R. (Kathy) Bridges (retired Army MSGT), Marietta, GA; an aunt, Clara Bridges, Hampton, VA; cousins, Herbie J. Bridges, Hampton, VA, Stephen Bridges, Bear, Delaware, and Paul Bridges, Spiceland, Delaware; and a nephew, Cory M. Dawson, Greenwood.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 17, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. at Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., with Rev. Bobby Thomas officiating. Cremation will follow.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 10:30 A.M. to the start of the service on Thursday.

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

BETTY RAE CRIST

Hartford City

Betty Rae Crist, 85, passed away Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at her home.

She was born in Covington, Kentucky on July 17, 1928 to Emery Ray and May (Elmer) Plummer. She grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Shortridge High School in 1944. Betty married John W. Crist in Blackford County on July 17, 1948.

Betty was a member of Omega Nu Tau Sorority, Blackford Country Club and Matthews Community Church.

Survivors include a brother, John H. (Judy) Plummer, Unionville, Indiana, a niece, Betty J. (Kenneth) Whitlow, Indianapolis, a great-niece, Teri Langley, nephews, Tony Plummer, Jim, Danny, Larry and Donnie Pierson, step-children, Sandra (Michael) Collins, Hartford City and Patricia (Jack) Bergdoll, Royerton, step-grandchildren, Tammy Rea, Julie Lemons, Barry Bergdoll, Bill Hayworth, Lisa Niemin and Brian Frost.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John, on March 9, 1991, a sister, Ruth Pierson, a half-sister, Mary Jane Leathers, two nephews, Marc Whitlow and John H. Plummer II and a step-grandson, Bret Bergdoll.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Sunday, April 6 in Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., Hartford City with Rev. Lloyd Hall officiating. Entombment will follow in the Crist family mausoleum at Elizabethtown Cemetery, Delaware County.

Visitation will be Saturday, April 5 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. and Sunday one hour prior to the service.

Memorials are requested to Children’s Wish Foundation International, P.O. Box 28785, Atlanta, Georgia 30358.

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

M. LANE FISHER

Hartford City

M. Lane Fisher, 72, passed away Sunday, March 30, 2014 in I.U. Ball Memorial Hospital.

He was born in Connersville on January 12, 1942 to Ray J. and Bernice (Riddle) Fisher and lived most of his life in Blackford County. Lane graduated from Roll High School and married M. Sue Girod. She preceded him in death on November 30, 1978.

Mr. Fisher was a former co-owner of the NAPA store in Hartford City. He was a former member of Hartford City Elks #625 and was a Past Exalted Ruler.

He is survived by two children, Michael “Mike” Fisher (wife, Stacey Terhune), Pendleton and Michele (husband, Matthew) Mentis, Muncie, three grandchildren, Claire Fisher, Mabrey Mentis and Myla Mentis.

He was preceded in death by his father on December 12, 1985, his mother on June 1, 2009 and a granddaughter, Melia Mentis, on April 17, 2002.

Visitation will be Thursday, April 3, 2014 from 5 – 7 p.m. at Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., Hartford City.

 Delaware County Veterans Honor Guard will perform military rites at 11 a.m. Friday, April 4 in Gardens of Memory.

Memorials may be sent to Riley Hospital or any cancer support charity.

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

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.