All Obituaries

SHALERSVILLE-RAVENNA Kathleen Ann March, 71 years of age, passed away Tuesday January 14, 2020 at her residence. Born in East Cleveland, Ohio on July 29, 1948, she was the daughter of Izmeal and Barbara (Stastny) Mikula.  A graduate of Solon High School, she then attended Kent State University. Mrs. March was a resident of the Shalersville area the past 52 years, and a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Streetsboro where she was very active with Bible teaching and studies. She...

HIRAM David G. Collier, 79 years of age, passed away Monday January  13, 2020 in Ravenna, Ohio. David was born in Ravenna on January 16, 1940, the son of the late Raymond and Hazel (Loney) Collier. A lifetime resident of Hiram, David operated the family farm for many years, and later was employed by numerous local farmers. He had a true appreciation for farming, and the land around him, and also built a practice motorcycle track for others to enjoy. For many years he traveled to fairs...

WINDHAM Curtis L. Welcome, 72 years of age, passed away Sunday January 12, 2020 at UH-Portage Medical Center in Ravenna, Ohio. Born in Cleveland, Ohio on March 25, 1947, he was the son of the late Earl B. and Norma B. (Marten) Welcome, Jr. A lifetime resident of Windham, Mr. Welcome was a member of the Windham American Legion. He had been employed as a roofer for Roth Bros. Roofing for many years. He was a veteran of the Vietnam Era serving in the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Welcome loved most...

STREETSBORO Ronald Whitcomb, 79 years of age, passed away Friday January 10, 2020 at his residence. Born in Lyndhurst, Ohio on October 25, 1940, he was the son of the late Walter and Aida (Spice) Whitcomb. Mr. Whitcomb grew up in the Cleveland area, moving to Streetsboro 45 years ago. He had been employed as a truck driver for Don Hamilton Trucking in Bedford until his retirement, and was a member of the Teamsters.  Ron enjoyed restoring cars that included his 56 Chevy, traveling with...

HIRAM Joe Clay, 86 years of age, passed away Thursday January 9, 2020 at his residence. Born in Logan, West Virginia on November 19, 1933, he was the son of the late John M. and Esta (Eplin) Clay. A resident of the Hiram area since 1988, Joe had been employed at Jorgensen Steel in Bedford Hts. as assistant district manager. He served his country during the Korean Conflict with honor in the U.S. Marine Corps. Joe truly enjoyed the outdoors fishing, bow hunting and gardening were his favorite...

MANTUA Susan M. Gross, 69 years of age, passed away Sunday January 5, 2020 at her residence. Born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 26, 1950, she was the daughter of John and Lillian (Putka) Kalavsky. She was a resident of the Mantua area the past 49 years, and was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Susan was a 1968 graduate of Warrensville Hts., High School. Susan had been employed at Opinions LTD in Chagrin Falls in the Accounts Receivable Department until her retirement. She...

BAINBRIDGE TWP. Jean E. Benjamin, 88 years of age, passed away peacefully Saturday January 4, 2020 surrounded by her family. She was born on June 20, 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio the daughter of the late Durwood M.”Goody”  and Marcia (Eames) Nelisse, Sr. On September 30, 1950, she married Howard Benjamin who preceded her in death in 2014. Also preceding was her brother, Durwood M. “Buck” Nelisse, Jr. Jean is survived by her daughter ReNae (Ken) Krause of Mantua, and...

AURORA Dr. Clarence Craig Ferris, 85 years of age, passed away Friday January 3, 2020 at his residence. Born in Manhattan, New York on September 8, 1934, he was the son of the late Samuel and Norma (Bourgeois) Ferris. Formerly of New York and Pennsylvania, he had been a resident of Aurora since 1991. Following graduation from Danbury High School in Danbury, Connecticut, Mr. Ferris earned his Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and his Masters in Electrical...

MANTUA-FREEDOM Betty June Jackson, 77 years of age, passed away Tuesday December 31, 2019 at UH-Portage Medical Center in Ravenna, Ohio. Born in Braxton County, West Virginia on October 18, 1942, she was the daughter of the late John and Gracie (Groves) Smith. A resident of the Mantua-Freedom area the past 50 years, Betty was a member of the First Baptist Church of Garrettsville. A homemaker, she enjoyed crocheting, gardening, crafting, and the cherished times she spent with her...

HIRAM Mary F. Bunner, 61 years of age, passed away Monday December 30, 2019 at University Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Born in Cleveland on May 29, 1958, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Lillian (Opalecky) Kowalski. A 1976 graduate of Cleveland Central Catholic High School, she had been a resident of Hiram since 1996. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mantua. Mary had been employed at Ravenwood  Behavioral Health in Chardon the past 3 years as a...