Merle F. Porter
Merle F. Porter, 89, of Bedford, died Wednesday at his residence surrounded by his family.
Born Feb. 24, 1924 in Lawrence County, he was the son of Frank and Elsie (Jackson) Porter. He married Mary Frances Tarr on Oct. 1, 1950 and she survives.
He was a graduate of Shawswick High School with the Class of 1942. He was a lifelong farmer and in the dairy business for 46 years. He was very handy and could fix most any farm machinery. He loved his granddaughters and enjoyed being around his great-grandchildren, and he also loved music, especially country and gospel. He wrote several songs; his first, “Back on my Tractor Again” in 1955 which was a parody on the Gene Autry song, “Back in the Saddle Again”. He was more recently known for his singing “The Long Black Train”. He had played at Mr. Gatti’s in Bedford and Crazy Joe’s. He enjoyed playing his guitar and singing at his church, New Hope Community.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Frances, of Bedford; a daughter, Karen L. Dailey and husband, Robert, of Bedford; two granddaughters, Brooks Rush and husband, John, of Anderson, S.C., Becky Johnson and husband, Chris of Bedford; three great-grandchildren, Finley, Fallyn and Foster Johnson all of Bedford; one brother, Jack Porter of Goose Creek, S.C.; four nieces, Patty Smith of Indianapolis, Ruth Barrett and Judy Johnson both of Bedford, Debbie Mahoney of North Vernon; one nephew, Danny Dillon of Columbus; one sister-in-law, Ruth Dillon of Columbus. He was preceded in death by his parents, four half-brothers, Joe, Raleigh and Ervin Porter and Ed Holland.
Funeral service will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Friday in the Elmwood Chapel of the Day & Carter Mortuary. Burial will follow in Green Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the hour of service on Friday at Day & Carter Mortuary. Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book and light a candle in memory of Merle at www.daycarter.com.
Don R. Elliott
Don R. Elliott, 84, of Bedford, died at 7 a.m. on Wednesday at Garden Villa following a lengthy illness.
Born Nov. 21, 1928 in Oolitic, he was the son of Lacy T. and Inez (Allison) Elliott. He married Gloria Scott on Sept. 4, 1949. He had worked at B & B Shoes, was a delivery man for Thompson Dairy in Bedford, worked at GE in Bloomington and had been an actor and model. He was a member of Oolitic Methodist Church, American Patriot Lodge No. 750 F & AM, Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis and the Indiana National Guard.
Survivors include his wife, Gloria, of Bedford; a daughter, Donna Elliott of Ellettsville; two granddaughters, Amy Ikerd of Indianapolis and Leah Ikerd of Miami, Fla.; one great-grandchild and another on the way; a brother, Sherrill Elliott of Washington; three sisters, Nita Fern Pruett of Oolitic, Peggy White and Carol Clark both of Bedford. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Mildred Kessinger, Joy White and Ruth Ann King.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the Elmwood Chapel of the Day & Carter Mortuary with Pastor Dan Voorhies officiating. Burial will follow in Cresthaven Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Friday at the Day & Carter Mortuary where Masonic services will be conducted at 7 p.m. The family asks that memorial contributions be made to Parkinson’s or Polio Disease research. Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book and light a candle in memory of Don at www.daycarter.com.
Mapha Jean Beavers
Mapha Jean Beavers, 84, passed away at 12:03 a.m. Wednesday at Mitchell Manor Living and Rehabilitation Center.
Born Feb. 2, 1929, in Lawrence County, she was the daughter of Harlan and Emily (Houchin) Vincent.
Mapha Jean had been employed at Philco-Ford, and General Motors. She graduated from Mitchell High School in 1948.
Surviving: children, Kimberly Sue Shover, Mitchell, Anthony Traco Vincent, Santa Fe, N.M.; grandchildren, Emmalee Shover and Jeffrey Shover.
Her mother and stepfather, Emily and Walter Tow, and father, preceded her in death.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center. Burial will be in Mitchell Cemetery.
Friends may call from 3-7 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. until the service on Saturday at the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.chastainfuneralhome.com.
Patricia McCoskey
Patricia C. McCoskey, 84, Marshall, Mich., died at 9:41 a.m. Tuesday at University Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Dawalt Funeral Home in Salem. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Helen Smallwood
Helen Smallwood, 92, a Mitchell native, died Tuesday in Golden Valley, Ariz., at home with her family. A full obituary with local service information will be published at a later date.
