The following obituaries were received on Tuesday –
Donna Lucille Beacher – Mitchell
Donna Lucille Beacher, 60, of Mitchell, passed away at 12:45 a.m. Sunday, January 22, 2012, at her residence.
Born March 22, 1951, in Lawrence County, she was the daughter of Daniel F. and Georgia Mildred (Stevens) Hardman. She married Charles Lambert Beacher July 30, 1976.
She had been employed as a teacher aid at Mitchell and DePaul Schools and was a 1969 graduate of Mitchell High School. She was an advocate for children with dyslexia, and a baton instructor for several years. Donna enjoyed genealogy and published a book on the Stevens Family.
Survivors include her husband, Charles Lambert Beacher, of Mitchell; daughter, Stormi Lynn Reynolds, of Mitchell; son, Daniel Charles Beacher, of Mitchell;
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Daniel Hardman.
Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 26, at Haverly Chapel with Bro. Max Timbrook officiating. Burial will be in Hamer Cemetery at Spring Mill State Park.
Friends may call from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday and from 9:00 a.m. until the service on Thursday at Haverly Chapel.
Naomi Mae (Pierce) Gillespie – Bedford
Naomi Mae (Pierce) Gillespie, 82, of Bedford, passed away Saturday, January 21, 2012 at her home.
Born November 27, 1929 in Lawrence County, she was the daughter of Elston Ray and Lottie (Allen) Pierce. She married Robert Craig Gillespie on May 5, 1950 and he preceded her in death. She worked at Cosner’s Grocery for 27 years and was a member of the ST. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Kathy Watson and her husband David, of Mitchell. Cindy Farrell, of Bedford; four sons, Bruce Gillespie and his wife Seama, of Evansville, Dennis Gillespie and his wife Lisa, of Bedford, Mark Gillespie and his wife Tracy, of Heltonville, Scott Gillespie and his wife Kim, of Bedford; 13 grandchildren, Paul Gillespie, Dana Combs, Michael Gillespie, Matt Farrell, Andrew Gillespie, Amy Gillespie, Kevin Gillespie, Sam Gillespie, Steven Gillespie, Casey Gillespie, Robert Gillespie, Daniel Gillespie and James Gillespie; ten great grandchildren; a sister Jane Kelly; two brothers Richae and Jimmy Pierce, all of Bedford.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother Norman Pierce; one sister Deanna Delaney and one great grandchild Robert Kiven Gillespie.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 25th at the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church with Father Rick Eldred officiating. Burial will follow in Cresthaven Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday January 24th at the Day & Carter Mortuary where a rosary service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m.
The family asks that friends consider memorial contributions be made to the Robert C. Gillespie Memorial Scholarship c/o Bedford North Lawrence Scholarship Foundation or the St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church.
Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book and light a candle in memory of Naomi at www.daycarter.com.
Louie Dale Hamilton – Springville
Louie Dale Hamilton, 94, of Springville, passed away on Monday, January 23, 2012, at White River Lodge.
Born January 15, 1918 in Greene County, he was the son of Vernie and Maude (Jackson) Hamilton. He married Eugenia L. Saunders in 1941 and she preceded him in death.
He worked for Indiana Limestone Company for 19 years and also in the construction industry. He was a member of Gullets Creek Baptist Church.
Survivors include his two sons, Bob and his wife Donna Hamilton, of Bloomington, Roger and his wife Kathy Hamilton, of Bedford; one daughter Ronda and her husband Gary Mitchell, of Springville; 5 granddaughters; 6 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandson; one sister Naomi Parkes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife; two brothers, Oval Hamilton and Vearl Hamilton and 6 sisters, Nellie Hatfield, Goldia Brazzell, Lucille Hostetter, Norma Saunders, Mildred Hamilton and Leon Pritchett.
Funeral service will be on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 10 a.m. at Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home. Burial will be in Owensburg Cemetery in Greene County. Friends may call on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Contributions may be made to the Gullets Creek Baptist Church in memory of Louie Dale Hamilton.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fergusonlee.com.
Thomas Edward Benham – Bedford
Thomas Edward Benham, 52, of Bedford passed away at 12:32 a.m. on Sunday, January 22, 2012 at his home surrounded by his wonderful family and friends.
Born January 16, 1960 in Bedford, he was the son of Harold and Eileen (Maynard) Benham. He married Debra Biszantz Macy on July 2, 1993 and she survives.
Tom was the owner of Aircut Abrasive Balsing from 2002 to 2012. He worked for Architectural Stone Sales as a journeyman stone cutter from 1976 to 2002. He was a lifelong member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Tom was the adventurous type and self-admitted adrenaline junky. Tom loved racing his late model race car, then in more recent years his passion shifted gears. His zest for living brought him more success as he achieved his Class D Professional Skydiving License. Tome had nearly 1,000 jumps of every type imaginable to his credit. Tome was a member of the Bedford Boat and Sportsman’s Club and also the Sons of the American Legion Gillen Post # 33.
Survivors include his wife Debra, of Bedford; his children, Amy Wolfe and husband Brain, of Bedford, Lorie Hammond and husband Chad, of Bedford, Thomas Benham II, of Bedford; stepchildren James Macy and fiancé Stephenie, of Bloomington, Michael Macy, of Bedford; two grandsons, Bryce Wolfe and Carson Hammond; his mother, Eileen Banham; his sisters, Elaine Wykoff and husband Roger, of Bedford, Maureen Benham and Gary Jones, of Denver, CO., Nancy Goode and husband James, of Jefferson City, MO., Andrea Parker and husband Chuck, of Mitchell; his brother William benham and wife Mary Pat, of Cincinnati, OH., Alan Benham, of Bedford; his nephews Scott Wykoff and fiancé Cindy Fender, of Bedford, Cary Wykoff and wife Marlisa, of Bedford; niece, Lisa Henderson and husband Kevin, of Mitchell and many more nieces and nephews, the mother of his children, Ellen Staggs, his father and mother-in-law Max and Rilda Biszantz of Greenwood; his friends Bob and Leesa Fiddler and Lynn Masterson.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Vanessa Jane Benham and his father Harold Benham.
Funeral services will be Friday, January 27, 2012 at 1 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, with Father Rick Eldred officiating. Burial will follow in Hopkins Cemetery in Needmore. Friends may call on Thursday 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home.
The family asks that friends consider memorial contributions be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Building Fund in lieu of flowers.
Online condolences may be sent to www.fergusonlee.com.
Tony Dale Spires – Bedford
Tony Dale Spires, 56, of Bedford, passed away at 12:15 a.m. Sunday, January 22, 2012 at his home.
Born May 24, 1955 in Bedford, he was the son of Runt Spires and Shirley (White) Spires Swartz. He married Carrie Sykes Fitzgerald on June 23, 2011 and she survives. He was a stonecutter having worked in several local mills. He was a member of the Bedford Moose Lodge and served in the National Guard.
Survivors include his wife, Carrie, of Bedford; six sons, Jackie and wife Kelly Spires, of Bedford, John Spires, of Texas, Jimmy Spires, of Texas, Randy Perers, of Texas, Joseph and wife Stephanie Hignite, of Bedford, Stephen Fitzgerald, of Bedford; three daughters, Misty Deckard, of Bedford, Tonay and husband Chris Ferran, of Bedford, Jessica Spires, of Texas; 18 grandchildren; four sisters, Cathy Baker, of Tunnelton, Donna Spires, of Mitchell, Stormi Swartz, of Bedford, and Kristie Swartz, of Bedford; three brothers, Ricky Spiers, Danny “Bones” Spires ad David Swartz, of Bedford; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Linda Jamison and Debbie Shelton; two brothers, Bobbie Spires and Randy Spires.
Friends may call on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home. The family request friends wear casual attire. Cremation will follow.
Memorial contributions may be considered to Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home to assist the family with funeral expenses.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fergusonlee.com.
Kenneth D. Mikels – Bedford
Kenneth D. Mikels, 71, of Bedford, passed away at 1:33 a.m. Sunday, January 22, 2012 at Westview Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Born April 11, 1940 in Monroe County, he was the son of Virgil and Ruby (Taylor) Mikels. He had worked as a security guard for Wtterau Foods and was of the Protestant faith.
Survivors include a sister, Norma Donica and husband Albert Eugene of Bedford; five nephews, Allen Donica and wife Terri, Fred Donica, Richard Lee Donica and wife Sheila, Mike Donica and wife Dian, all of Bedford and Jim Donica and wife Teresa, o fTexas; one nieces, Debbie Ratliff and husband Phillip, of Bedford; five great nephews; four grat nieces; one great great niece; one aunt; two step-nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 26th in the Elmwood Chapel of the Day & Carter Mortuary. Burial will follow in Knights Ridge Cemetery in Monroe County. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25th at Day & Carter Mortuary.
Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book and light a candle in memory of Kenneth at www.daycarter.com.
