Obituaries

Dec 27, 2023

Ada Irene Easter, 95

Ada Irene Easter, 95 of Newark, Ohio, ran into the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at her home surrounded by her daughters, 2 granddaughters and 2 great grandchildren. She was reunited with her husband Bob of 67 years in what must have been a beautiful scene. She...

Dec 25, 2023

Carol Eugene Howard, 93

Carol Eugene Howard, 93 of Minford, died Monday, December 25, 2023 at SOMC Hospice. He was born July 23, 1930 in Portsmouth to the late Warnie and Francis Galloway Howard.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Mercetis Jolene Brown Howard, whom he married on July...

Dec 24, 2023

Ronald Dee Elliott, 60

Ronald Dee Elliott, 60 of Proctorville, formerly of West Portsmouth, died Sunday December 24, 2023 at his home. He was born August 15, 1963 in Portsmouth, to the late Donald and Barbara Bolton Elliott.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by a brother, David Lee Elliott and 2...

Dec 24, 2023

Robert Edward Russell Jr., 86

Robert Edward Russell Jr., 86 of West Portsmouth, died Sunday, December 24, 2023 at Southern Ohio Medical Center. He was born March 6, 1937 in Portsmouth, to the late Robert Edward Russell Sr and Ruth Reynolds Russell.

Along with his parents he was preceded in death by a brother Thomas...

Dec 23, 2023

Daniel Ray Dillow Roe, 46

Daniel Ray Dillow Roe, 46 of New Boston, passed away Saturday, December23, 2023 at Southern Ohio Medical Center. He was born February 6, 1977 in Portsmouth to the late Raymond and Jewell Swim Dillow.

He was a 1996 graduate of Fairmont Kettering High School. He was an avid Ohio State...

Dec 22, 2023

Bette J. Brown, 87

Bette J. Brown, 87 of Portsmouth died Friday December 22, 2023 at SOMC Hospice. She was born March 5, 1936 in Portsmouth to the late Moreen and Trigg E. Gilmore. Along with her parents she is preceded in death by her brother Woody Gilmore, and a son-in-law Mark Antis.

Bette and...

Dec 22, 2023

Bernard Bell, 80

Bernard Bell, 80 of West Portsmouth, died Friday, December 22, 2023 at Southern Ohio Medical Center. He was born April 19, 1943 in Monticello, Kentucky to the late Ivor Lee and Rose Pearl Hawkins Bell.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a step daughter, Amber Hamilton, 2 brothers;...

Dec 20, 2023

Betty Jean McGraw, 88

Betty Jean McGraw 88, of West Portsmouth, went home to be with her Lord Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Our comfort is knowing her joy as she is reunited with her loved ones and Heavenly Father She was born September 30, 1935 to the late Stephen Howell and Betty Campbell Howell.

Jean...

Dec 18, 2023

Gary D. McNutt Sr., 76

Gary D. McNutt Sr., 76 of West Portsmouth, died Monday, December 18, 2023 at Southern Ohio Medical Center. He was born April 16, 1947 in Portsmouth, to the late Wendall McNutt and Mary Jane Holsinger Vaughn.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother Ronnie McNutt....

Dec 14, 2023

Robert V. Logan, 69

Robert V. Logan, 69, of West Portsmouth died December 14, 2023, at his home.  He was born November 4. 1954 in Portsmouth, to the late William and Agnus (Cattee) Logan.

After graduation, Robert went on to be a carpenter.  He loved his freedom and the great outdoors. He enjoyed his time...

Dec 12, 2023

Peggy J. Vendura Whitt, 72

Peggy J. Vendura Whitt, 72 of West Portsmouth, died Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at Southern Ohio Medical Center. She was born January 11, 1951 in Scioto County to the late Gilbert Joseph and Evelyn Evans Vendura.

Along with her parents, Peggy was preceded in death by 2 sons: Gilbert Parker...

Dec 10, 2023

Donita Ruth Whitt, 69

Donita Ruth Whitt, 69 of South Shore, died Sunday, December 10, 2023 at SOMC Hospice. She was born October 17, 1954 in Portsmouth, to the late Ken Carver and Wilma Hook Duffy.

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by 2 brothers: John Duffy and David Carver and a...

Dec 8, 2023

Donald David Stone, 76

Donald David "Poke" Stone, 76 of Wheelersburg, died Friday December 8, 2023 at his home. He was born December 26, 1946 in Ironton to the late Utley James and Lena Johnson Stone.

Along with his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, James Russell Stone and a sister Loretta...

Dec 4, 2023

Diana Howell Mershon, 74

PORTSMOUTH – Diana Howell Mershon, 74, of Portsmouth, passed away on Monday, December 4, 2023, at SOMC Hospice. She was born December 3, 1949, in Portsmouth, Ohio to the late Silas and "Betty" Rebecca Jane (Dale) Howell.

Diana loved her precious plants, dogs, and dancing. She especially loved her family and...

Dec 3, 2023

Alvena Jean Entler, 75

Alvena Jean "Tootsie" Entler, 75 of West Portsmouth, died Sunday, December 3, 2023 at SOMC Hospice. She was born July 21, 1948 in West Portsmouth, to the late Henry Carl and Jesse Marie Burt Tieman.

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by 3 brothers: Robert, Lee and Charles...

Nov 30, 2023

Gary D. Hammond, 59

Gary D. Hammond, 59, of Portsmouth, died August 17, 2024, at SOMC Hospice.  He was born on October 22, 1964, to the late Gary and Suzie Barbara (Tong) Hammond.  Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Savahanna Mauk, and a brother, Danny Hammond.

Gary was a...

Nov 30, 2023

Anthony Scott Merritt III, infant son of Anthony Scott Merritt II and Briana Bravo of Lucasville passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at OSU Medical Center in Columbus.

Brody Christopher Lee Merritt, infant son of Anthony Scott Merritt II and Briana Bravo of Lucasville, passed away Tuesday March 26, 2024 at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Columbus.

Nov 28, 2023

Harry C. "Tater" Litz Sr., 88

Harry C. "Tater" Litz Sr., 88, of West Portsmouth, died November 28, 2023, at SOMC Hospice.  He was born in West Portsmouth on June 2, 1935, to the late Henry D. and Carma M. George Litz. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by; 2 sons, Ritchie Askew and...

Nov 28, 2023

Leroy R. Easter, 97

Leroy R. Easter, 97 of Friendship, died Tuesday November 28, 2023 at SOMC Hospice. He was born August 30, 1926 in Buena Vista, to the late Ernest William and Lorena Hazelbaker Easter.

Leroy was a United States Navy WWII veteran. He was a retired Carpenter and a member of Carpenters Local...

Nov 24, 2023

Helen Malone, 87

Helen Malone, 87 of West Portsmouth, died Friday, November 24, 2023 at Wesley Village at Hillview Retirement Center. She was born June 12, 1936 in McDermott to the late Elmer and Helen Louise Shelpman Stevens.

Along with her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her grandmother who raised her, Gertrude Shelpman,...