Obituaries

Mar 12, 2026

Nelson Preston Brickey Jr., 89

Nelson "Pret" Brickey Jr., 89 of West Portsmouth, died Thursday, March 12, 2026 at SOMC Hospice. He was born May 11, 1936 in Portsmouth to the late Nelson Preston Brickey Sr. and Laura Amanda Smith Brickey.

Pret was retired from Norfolk and Southern Railroad where he started at the age...

Mar 10, 2026

Theresa Frey, 90

Theresa Elizabeth (Fasone) Frey, 90 of West Portsmouth, died Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at Southern Ohio Medical Center. She was born May 31, 1935 in Columbus to the late Samuel and Sarah Palumbo Fasone.

Theresa was of the Catholic faith, a homemaker and formerly worked at Marriott in Columbus.

Along...

Feb 25, 2026

Johnnie R. Welch, 86

Johnnie R. Welch, 86 of West Portsmouth, died Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at his home. He was born October 20, 1939 in West Portsmouth to the late Johnnie and Willa May Conley Welch.

Along with his parents he is preceded in death by his wife Roseann Esham Welch and a son...

Feb 23, 2026

Melissa A. Dean Ward, 35

Melissa A. Dean Ward, 35, of West Portsmouth, Ohio, passed away Monday, February 23, 2026, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. She was born April 7, 1990, to the late Beverly Ward.

Melissa was a 2009 graduate of Portsmouth West High School. She was a beautiful person, both inside and...

Feb 23, 2026

David Bryan Speck, 66

David Bryan Speck, 66 of Portsmouth, died Monday, February 23, 2026 at SOMC Hospice. He was born February 15, 1960 in Portsmouth to the late Norman and Mary Boyd Speck.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister Cathy Clark and 2 brothers; Blaine Eugene Speck and...

Feb 21, 2026

Sherry Paxson McNutt, 62

Sherry Irene Paxson McNutt, 62 of Portsmouth, went home to be with her Lord on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at her home. She was born May 2, 1963 in Portsmouth to the late Earl and Edith White Paxson.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph...

Feb 20, 2026

Scott Vallance, 42

Scott Vallance, 42, of McDermott, went to be with the Lord on February 20, 2026 at his home. He was born September 21, 1983 in West Portsmouth to James and Vickie (Williams) Vallance, who both survive.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Paul and Jessie Williams and Jim and Janet...

Feb 20, 2026

John D. Mershon, 88

John Mershon, 88, of West Portsmouth, Ohio, passed away February 20, 2026 at SOMC Hospice. He was born February 17, 1938 in Scioto County, Ohio, to the late Shirley Edward Mershon and Helen Lucinda (Swords) Mershon.

Along with his parents he was preceded in death by his brothers, Donald Earl Mershon,...

Feb 18, 2026

Kristopher Burgess, 47

Kristopher Burgess, 47, of West Portsmouth, passed away February 5, 2026, at his residence. He was born September 9, 1978, in Portsmouth to John Burgess II and the late Linda Kaye (Pollard) Burgess. Along with his mother, he was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents.

He was a 1997...

Feb 16, 2026

Frank C. Peters, 85

Frank C. Peters, 85 of West Portsmouth, died Friday, February 13, 2026 at SOMC Hospice. He was born May 1, 1940 in Sciotoville to the late Roscoe and Ruth Stewart Peters.

Along with his parents he was preceded in death by sister, Nancy Peters Hickman, an infant son Patrick and his...

Feb 13, 2026

Kootela "Kay" Collins, 85

Kootela "Kay" Payne Collins, 85 of West Portsmouth, died Friday, February 13, 2026 at her home. She was born November 11, 1940 in Rubyville to the late Boyd and Myrtle Frye Payne.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Steven E. Collins, whom she married on...

Feb 7, 2026

Christopher D. Payne, 53

Christopher D. Payne, 53, of Lucasville, passed away February 7, 2026 at Southern Ohio Medical Center after a long and hard-fought battle with diabetes. He endured dialysis treatments while striving to regain the life he loved. He was born October 4, 1972 in Portsmouth, Ohio to Danny and Lena Payne. Along with his...

Feb 3, 2026

Barbara D. Haynes, 63

Barbara D. Haynes, 63 of West Portsmouth, passed away Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at SOMC Hospice. She was born July 7,1962 in Lucasville, to the late Ernest and Louella Pyle Brigner.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by 2 brothers; Keith and Bryan Brigner and 2 sisters; Rita...

Feb 2, 2026

Elva Rose Day Thompson, 90

Elva Thompson, affectionately known as "Grandma Rosie" of Portsmouth Ohio, passed away at Bridgeport Healthcare Center on February 2, 2026. She was the daughter of the late Lon and Martha Butler Day.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Jim Thompson,...

Jan 30, 2026

George S. Hall, 68, of Portsmouth, passed away Friday, January 30, 2026, at SOMC Hospice. He was born February 7, 1957, in Scioto County to the late John F. Hall and Audrey (Thompson) Hall.

George was a hardworking, gentle, and caring man who was a devoted husband and loving father. He enjoyed collecting old and rare books,...

Jan 28, 2026

THE SERVICE FOR CHARLES LEWIS HAS BEEN CANCELLED TODAY AND IS RESCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2026 AT 1:00 PM

Charles Edward Lewis, 79

Charles Edward Lewis, 79 of West Portsmouth, died Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at his home, He was born June 19, 1946 in Portsmouth. Along with his parents he was preceded in...

Jan 27, 2026

Donald Parish Schmidt, 76

Donald Parish Schmidt, 76 of West Portsmouth, died Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at SOMC Hospice. He was born December 13, 1949 in Portsmouth to the late Bert E. and Victoria Skaggs Schmidt.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter Crystal Dawn Seth.

Donald was...

Jan 25, 2026

Bennie D. Lewis, 68

Bennie D. Lewis, 68 of West Portsmouth, died Sunday, January 25, 2026 at SOMC Hospice. He was born July 16, 1957 in Portsmouth to the late Hassle and Helen Sparks Lewis.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia A. McDowell Lewis, whom he married in...

Jan 23, 2026

Samuel Dwight Journey, 64

Samuel Dwight Journey, 64 of West Portsmouth, died Friday, January 23, 2026 at his home. He was born December 28, 1961 in Portsmouth to the late David Nathaniel and Anna Louise Blevins Journey.

Along with his parents he was preceded in death by 3 sisters; Virginia Sadler, Lois Ann Journey and...

Jan 20, 2026

Donald G. Thacker, 86

Donald G. Thacker, 86 of West Portsmouth, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at SOMC Hospice surrounded by his family. He was born November 16, 1939 in Portsmouth, to the late Chester and Myrtle Neeley Thacker.

Along with his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Nancy...