The following obituaries were received on Monday.
Merlin Sears – Bedford
Merlin Sears of Bedford passed away on Saturday, June 25th at I.U. Health Bloomington Hospital at the age of 82. Born in 1929 in Bedford to Ambrose and Esther Sears, he had been married to Irma Williams since 1948, was retired from GM Powertrain, was a Regional Diretor of United Auto Workers and was also a member of the UAW Local #440 and the Highview Baptist Church. He was also awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash and was an Honorary Kentucky Colonel and a veteran of the United States Army Veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He is survived by two daughters, Rosie Ritchison and Patrcia Sears; three sons, Michael Sears, Jeffrey Sears and Timothy Sears; his companion, Dana Dippel; as well as several grandchildren and one sister, Ruth Brim. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two sisters, Lois Potter and Virginia Reynolds; three brothers, Eugene, Ambrose and Benjamin Sears. Funeral services will be held at 10:00AM on Wednesday, June 29th at Ferguson – Lee Funeral Home with burial to follow in Tunnelton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3:00PM until 8:00PM on Tuesday, June 28th at the funeral home.
Eleanor Louise Smith – Lawrenceport Community
Eleanor Louise Smith of Lawrenceport Community passed away on Monday, June 27th at Mitchell Manor at the age of 82. Born in 1929 to Aldon and Bessie Cogwell, she had been married to Harry Wayne Smith since 1948, was a homemaker, graduated from Mitchell High School in 1947, and was a member of Jacob Finger United Methodist Church, Tri Kappa, and Lawrence County Homemakers Club. She is survived by her husband; children, Linda Wedgewood, Mary Jo Losey, Harriett Prince, Larry Smith and Mike Smith; as well as several grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Evelyn Ramey. Funeral services will be at 10:30AM on Thursday, June 30th in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home with burial to follow in Lawrenceport Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00PM until 8:00PM on Wednesday and from 9:30AM until the hour of service on Thursday at the funeral home.
Carol Watson – Mitchell
Carol Watson of Mitchell passed away on Friday, June 24th at her residence at the age of 74. Born in 1936 in Mitchell to Jesse E. and Lillian Pemberton, she had been married to Bill Watson since 1956, had been employed as a nurse technician at Bedford Regional Medical Center and attended Mitchell Wesleyan Church. She is survived by her husband; sons, Bryan Watson, Barry Watson and Brent Watson; as well as brothers, James, Charles and Alan Pemberton and sisters, Eulah Wheeler, Beverly Dalton and Ellen Hoover. She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant brother, Gary Pemberton. Funeral services will be held at 10:30AM on Tuesday, June 28th in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home with burial to follow in Lawrenceport Cemetery.
