Obituaries-04/08/17

Published 11:30 am Monday, April 10, 2017

Robert Scherer

Jan. 27, 1929 — April 7, 2017

Robert “Bob” Scherer, 88, of Circleville, passed away Friday, April 7, 2017, at Berger Hospital, surrounded by his family. Bob was born on Jan. 27, 1929, in Ironton, to Albert and Lois Scherer.
From his earliest days, he actively worked the family farm and dairy operation, including driving a daily delivery truck through the hills of southern Ohio at the age of 12. He attended Green Township High School in Scioto County, and went on to graduate from The Ohio State University in 1951 with a degree in agricultural science. At Ohio State, he met and later married his wife, Margaret “Peggy” Scherer, with whom he shared the remaining years of his life, until her death last year.
Scherer was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps in 1951, served on active duty for three years, and then continued his service in the USMC Reserve for the next three decades, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. After leaving active military duty, he began a long professional career during which he became a local, state, and national leader in the agribusiness industry. Scherer first advanced through the ranks of the Landmark Cooperative System and became its Chief Executive Officer in 1980. He later led Landmark through a major corporate merger to form CountryMark, Inc., and then accepted a position in Washington, D.C. as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Cooperative Business Association. Under his leadership, NCBA became an influential trade association for cooperative businesses all over the nation and the world, and a primary facilitator of US AID contracts, supervising and managing agricultural innovation projects in many developing nations.
Throughout his life, Scherer has been a notably strong advocate for The Ohio State University and its College of Agricultural Sciences, serving on numerous boards, committees, and task forces aimed at a wide array of developmental and fund-raising goals.  Among many other honors and distinctions, he has received the Ohio State Distinguished Agricultural Alumni Award, the National Cooperatives Statesman Award, the Central Ohio Executive of the Year Award, and the USMCR Distinguished Service Medal. In 2000, he was inducted into the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Aside from their five years in Washington, Scherer and his family have been residents of Circleville for the past 51 years. He has been an active contributor to the community in numerous capacities, as a farm owner and conservationist, consultant and mentor to many groups and individuals, active member of Community United Methodist Church, and as the leading force in the creation and growth of the Deer Creek Chapter of Pheasants Forever.
Bob is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Margaret (Peggy) Scherer; his parents, Albert and Lois Scherer; and his grandson Benjamin Leahy Scherer.
He is survived by his sons, Gary (Debbie) and Tom (Julie) Scherer, of Circleville, and Mark (Lisa), of Omaha, Nebraska; grandchildren, Christopher (Tammy) Scherer, Elizabeth (Luke) Stevenson, Abigail Scherer, Eric (Jillian) Scherer, Philip (Jessica Graeve) Scherer, Michael Scherer, Jennifer (Cody) Griffin, and Rebecca (Camron) Taylor; and great-grandchildren, Caden, Ryan, Libby, Maddy, Cole, Breanna, Mackenzie, Skylar, Noah, Fynlee and Penelope.
The family will welcome visitors from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Monday at Wellman Funeral Home, Circleville. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Community United Methodist Church in Circleville with luncheon to follow.
At their discretion, friends are encouraged to make memorial contributions to Community United Methodist Church, or the Margaret and Robert Scherer Family Scholarship Fund # 646377 at The Ohio State University Foundation, 1480 West Lane Avenue, Columbus, OH  43221, or any charity of their choosing. Online condolences can be made to www.wellmanfuneralhomes.com.

Johnnie Dury, Jr.

Johnnie Duty, Jr., 83, of Huntington, West Virginia, died Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at Huntington Health and Rehabilitation Center, Huntington, West Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Mary Duty. There will be private family services. Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Bobby Clagg

Bobby Clagg, 60, of Proctorville, died Friday, April 7, 2017, at the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, Huntington, West Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Kelli Clagg. Arrangements are pending at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville.

Mary Reams

Mary Karolyn Spillman Reams, 88, of Greenup, Kentucky, died Friday, April 7, 2017, at her residence. She is survived by her husband, Gerald Brock Reams, MD.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Bailey Family Funeral Home, Flatwoods, Kentucky. Visitation will be noon until the time of the service at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed at www.baileyfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Jami Hankins

Sept. 14, 1958 — April 5, 2017

Jami Denise Hankins, 58, of Ironton, passed away Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at her residence. The Lawrence County native was born Sept. 14, 1958, the daughter of the late James Browning and Ann Kidwell (Kenneth) Armstrong, of Ironton.
Jami attended South Point Schools and was a 1976 graduate of Ironton High School. She was a former employee of Hank’s Market and Pick ‘n Save Grocery Store in Ironton. Jami was a kind person with a great sense of humor. She loved to play the piano, spend time with her family and watch her grandson, Ayden, play ball.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Mark Browning and Jeff Armstrong; and grandparents, Margaret and Elbert Browning and Harry and Helen Kidwell.
In addition to her mother and father, she is survived by a son, Kyle (Ali) Hankins, of Ironton; beloved grandson, Ayden Hankins, of Ironton; two sisters, Beth Ann (Glenn) Fitzpatrick, of South Point, and Kelli (Jeff) Karlick, of Grove City; a brother, Chuck (Kelly) Armstrong, of Grove City; nephews, Glenny Fitzpatrick, Timmy Fitzpatrick, and Charlie Browning; and special friends, Timothy and Deanna Hankins, of Ironton.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Monday at the Tracy Brammer-Monroe Funeral Home, Ironton, with pastor Eric Barnes officiating. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, and burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

Helen Sesher

March 24, 1924 — April 6, 2017

Helen B. Sesher, 93, of Ironton, passed away, Thursday, April 6, 2017, at Crystal Care Health Center, Coal Grove. Mrs. Sesher was born March 24, 1924, in Ashland, Kentucky, a daughter to the late Chester and Lillie (Riffe) Harr. She is also preceded in death by her husband, Charles Albert Sesher, who passed away Aug. 13, 2001.
Mrs. Sesher attended Boyd County Schools. She was a retired supply clerk for Galion Community Hospital. Mrs. Sesher enjoyed crafting and taking care of her family and attended the Meade Station Church of God.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Orville, Vernon, Clifford and Harold Harr; two sisters, Leatha Adams and Alene Travis; and grandson, Bryan LeMaster.
She is survived by a son, Charles M. (Connie) Sesher, of Ironton; two daughters, Cathy (Mike) Blankenship, of Ironton, and Bonnie (Steve) Bailey, of Green Cove Springs, Florida; five grandchildren, Chris Sesher, Mark Sesher, Brandon LeMaster, Jennifer Griffith and Mike Shesher; and nine great-grandchildren, Evan Griffith, Lona Griffith, Braydon LeMaster, Ella LeMaster, Alex Sesher, Kyle Sesher, Samantha Sesher, Dylan Sesher and Derrick Sesher.
She will also be missed by her many friends at Crystal Care
Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Woodland Cemetery with the Rev. Leon Dalton officiating. Visitation will be noon-1:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Tracy Brammer-Monroe Funeral Home, Ironton.
The family has requested donations be made to Community Hospice Care Center, 1480 Carter Avenue, Ashland, KY 41101.  To offer the Sesher family online condolences, please visit www.tracybrammerfh.com.

Russell Vallence

Russell Lowell Vallence, 78, of Raceland, Kentucky, died Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at Crystal Care Nursing Home. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Phillips Funeral Home, Ironton, with the Rev. David Fairburn officiating. Burial will follow in Rude Cemetery, Flatwoods, Kentucky. Visitation will be 11 a.m. until the time of the service Monday at the funeral home. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

Donald Manion

May 2, 1935 — April 2, 2017

Donald W. “Butch” Manion, 81, of Frankfort, died peacefully Sunday, April 2, 2017, at the Adam Regional Medical Center. He was born May 2, 1935, in Vinton County to the late William and Althea Detty Manion. On Nov. 26, 1955, he married Ruth Thacker, who survives.
Also surviving is a brother, the Rev. Ralph Manion, of Ray; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Melvin and Joyce Thacker; and several nieces and nephews who he loved like they were his own.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Cloyd, Michael and Neal; three sisters, Marjorie, Leora and Gerladinel; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Raymond and Wilma Weaver.
Butch was a member of the Ohio Section of the Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, and he bowled a 768 actual in the state bowling tournament in Akron. He played baseball for the Chillicothe Colts, Mead team, Chillicothe Businessmen and a Goodyear team. He played softball for Penton Nursing Home, River Oil, the Circleville Top Hats and many independent teams. He loved all sports. Butch retired from Mead Paper Corporation in 1995 as a pipefitter. He attended Chillicothe High School and Brookside Church, and loved his church family and gospel music.
Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the Haller Funeral Home and Crematory, Chillicothe, with the Rev. Jack Norman and Dr. Ralph Hux officiating. Friends may call from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. His online memorial register is available at www.hallerfuneralhome.com.