• /

Mary Jane McDowell, 84, of Bluffton and formerly Columbus Grove, died at 10:46 p.m., Dec. 18, 2013, at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton, Ohio.

She was born Feb. 16, 1929, in Columbus Grove to Ralph O. and Florence E. (Ury) Roberts, who preceded her in death.

She married B. Milton McDowell on July 9, 1948, and he also preceded her in death on June 30, 2011.

  • /

Dorothy E. Fittro Storer Yant, 87 died Dec. 21, 2013. at Wapak Manor. She was born Nov. 6, 1926, in Lynchburg, Ohio, to the late Roy A. and Edna (Monce) Fittro. On April 11, 1945, she married Leo Storer and he died Dec. 3, 1979. She then married Lawrence Yant, Jr. on Dec. 12, 1981 and he died June 10, 2000.

She retired from Hayes-Albion, Spencerville, Ohio. She also had worked at White Cottage Rentals, Lima for 40 years. She was a member of the Bluffton Senior Citizens and was an auxiliary member for United Transportation Union. She was a graduate of Wilmington High School.

  • /

Velma Katherine (Emmert) Kingsley, 97, died at 7 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2013, at Frieda House, Bluffton, Ohio. She was born Sept. 30, 1916, to the late John and Grace (Plank) Emmert in Topeka Ind.  On Sept. 1, 1940, she married Leonard D. Kingsley who died on June 5, 2012.

Her early teaching career was interrupted by her whole-hearted embrace of motherhood; she later home-schooled some of her eight children when the family lived in Kupang, Timor, Indonesia. 

  • /

Velma K. Kingsley, 97, died Dec. 20, 2013, at Willow Ridge - Frieda House, Bluffton.  Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.

  • /

Claude F. Boyer, 84, of Bluffton died at 5:50 a.m., Dec. 17, 2013, at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. He was born Aug. 2, 1929, in Quakertown, Pa., to the late Marcus and Reda Meck Boyer. On June 29, 1952, he married Mary Maust and she survives.

Boyoer was a retired Mennonite minister. He served at Deep Run Mennonite Church, Bedminster, Pa., First Mennonite Church, Sugarcreek, First Mennonite Church, Reedley, Calif., and Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora.

  • /

M. Lois Baxter, 87, died Dec. 17, 2013 at St. Rita's Ambulatory Care Center, Glandorf. She was born June 26, 1926 in McCutchenville, Ohio, to the late Roy Calvin and May (Powell) Simpson. On June 20, 1948, she married James D. Baxter and he survives.

Lois retired in 1985 from teaching physical education and English at Columbus Grove High School. She had also taught at Morenci Public Schools, Morenci, Mich., and Anthony Wayne Local Schools, Whitehouse, Ohio. 

Pages