Obituaries — 7/26/15

Published 12:30 am Sunday, July 26, 2015

Mary Powers

Mary “Joan” (Clester) Powers of Bethany, Oklahoma, died June 28, 2015. Joan was born on Oct. 4, 1929, in Ironton, to Audrey Laura (Willis) and Virgil Oliver Clester. Joan graduated from Ironton High School in 1947 and was crowned the May Queen that same year.

She then attended Olivet Nazarene College graduating with a BS degree in elementary education in 1951. It was while in college that she met her husband of 63 years, Joseph Dudley Powers, MD.

Joan is survived by her four children, Bradford Eric Powers, Peter Kerry Powers, Elizabeth Ann Fitzgerald, and Stephani Sue Cochran; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a brother, Ronald Edwin Clester. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and two brothers, Milton Lee Clester and Gordon Clester.

To read more about Joan’s life, a full obituary can be found at the Mercer-Adams Funeral Home website at www.mercer-adams.com.

Earl Hankins

Earl E. Hankins, 87, of Ironton, passed away Thursday, July 23, 2015, at a local health care facility. The Lawrence County native was born April 18, 1928, a son of the late Fred and Ava Morrison Hankins. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Erma Jean Whitt Hankins, who passed away, Dec. 10, 2009.

Mr. Hankins was a graduate of Dawson-Bryant High School and was a U. S. Navy veteran. He was a former owner and meat cutter for Hank’s Market and a member of the Sugar Creek Missionary Baptist Church. Earl loved going to and supporting the church and loved bowling.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Dan Hankins, Bill Hankins, Ted Hankins and Edward Hankins.

He is survived by two sons, Gary (Ruth Ann) Hankins and Tim (Deanna) Hankins; a sister, Betty Jo Meenach; five grandchildren, Kyle Hankins, Michelle Salyers, Melissa Berling, Alexa Hankins and Bridgette Christian; six great grandchildren, Brea Malone, Brad Pierce, Karlee Pierce, Olivia Garrett, Ayden Hankins and Whitney Sleezer; a great-great-grandchild, Elijah Malone; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Sugar Creek Missionary Baptist Church with pastor Mike Long officiating. Burial will follow in Zoar Cemetery and visitation will be Monday from 6-8 p.m. at Phillips Funeral Home. Donations may be made to the Sugar Creek Christian Academy, 94 County Road 44 S., Ironton, OH 45638. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

Norma Fuller

Norma “Jean” Fuller, 77, of Concord, North Carolina, died Monday, July 20, 2015, at Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County in Kannapolis, North Carolina. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. on Monday at Mt. View Baptist Church, Maiden, North Carolina. Private burial will be in Rome Cemetery, Proctorville. Visitation is from 12:30-1 p.m. Monday at the church. Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, is assisting the family with local arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.

Evelyn Kitchen

Evelyn I. Kitchen, 87, of Huntington, West Virginia, died Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at Madison Park Senior Community, Huntington. She is survived by her husband, Jackie Lee Kitchen. A memorial service will be 6 p.m. Monday at Apostolic Life Cathedral Church, Huntington. Visitation is from 5-6 p.m. Monday at the church. Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to www.timeformemory.com/hall.