Former Bluffton mayor, James Porter King, 87, died May 16, 2021, at the Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton. Porter was born April 3, 1934, in Mt. Cory, Ohio, to the late Marco and Mamie (Smith) King. On May 6, 1953, he married Nancy Steinman King who survives.
Porter was a graduate of Cory-Rawson High School. He retired from Triplett Corporation, Bluffton, where he had been the chief financial officer. Porter was an avid stamp collector and was a University of Michigan fan, history and political buff and enjoyed golf.
Carol J. Vermillion, 88, of Gibsonburg, Ohio, died Monday, May 10, 2021, at Toledo Hospital. She was born Jan. 28, 1933, in Bluffton, Ohio, the daughter of Leland and Ruth (Andrews) Sechler.
Carol owned and operated Village Hair Fashions in Gibsonburg for 43 years.
Sharon Sue Niswander, 81, died May 10, 2021, at St. Catherine's Manor of Findlay. Sharon was born Aug. 16, 1939, in Lancaster, Ohio, to the late Gould and Viola (Krogh) Ackerman. On Oct. 9, 1960, she married Edward Niswander who survives.
Sharon graduated from Cory-Rawson High School. She worked at Kohl's Distribution Center in Findlay. Sharon also worked as a nurse's aide at Bluffton Hospital and was bill of lading clerk at Gate's in Sherman, Texas. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, baking especially pies, cakes and cookies.
Gerald "Jerry" Duane Yoakam, 84, died May 11, 2021, at Lima Memorial Health System. Jerry was born Feb. 20, 193,7 in Bluffton to the late Jesse and Lillian (Kennel) Yoakam. On June 7, 1958 he married Rachel DeVier Yoakam who preceded him in death on Aug. 12, 2014.
John "Jack" T. Hamel, 71, died May 5, 2021, at Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay. Jack was born April 1, 1950, in Lima to the late Harold and Jeanette (Ricker) Hamel. On Dec. 9, 1972, he married Rebecca Walls Hamel who survives.
Jack was a 1968 graduate of Ft. Jennings High School. He graduated from Nashville Auto & Diesel College and then he received his bachelor's degree in vocational education from the University of Toledo.
Joyce Anne Conrad, 72 of Columbus Grove, died April 30, 2021, at Mercy Health - St. Rita's Medical Center, surrounded by her family. Joyce was born Sept. 21, 1948, in Bluffton to the late Francis and Dorothy (Augsburger) Williams. On Aug. 25, 1972, she married Ronald Conrad who preceded her in death in 2011.
Joyce graduated from Bluffton High School in 1966 and was a homemaker. She was a member of Ebenezer Mennonite Church and she enjoyed gardening, flowers and feeding the birds. Joyce was very involved with the Tuesday Lunch Bunch from church.
