Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992
Samuel J. Willis
Feb. 25, 1930 – Feb. 8, 2004
Samuel J. Willis, 73, formerly of Shirley, died February 8 in Phoenix, Ariz. after a long illness. He was born February 25, 1930 in Shirley, a son of Lester and Gladys (Thompson) Willis.
Mr. Willis was retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1976 and resided in the Phoenix area the past few years. He graduated from Wilkinson High School in 1948 and entered the Air Force shortly after graduation.
Military graveside services were held Tuesday, February 17 at Cave Creek Military Cemetery, a National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.
He is survived by his wife, Frances Willis of Phoenix; two sons, Sam (wife Joyce) Willis, Steve (companion Nancy) Willis, and one daughter, Sandy Willis, all of Tucson; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; seven brothers. Bob Willis of Anderson; Joe and Roy Dale Willis of Markleville; Jerry Willis of Huber Heights, Ohio; Denzil Willis of Wilkinson; David Willis of Palm Coast, Fla.; Jerome Willis of Greenfield; three sisters, Ruth Loar, Eleanor Rumler and Laura Willis of Indianapolis.
His brothers and sisters plan a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 22 at Shirley Shelter House. Friends of the family are invited.
Patricia T. Magee
Dec. 31, 1931 – Feb. 17, 2004
Patricia T. Magee 72, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. died Tuesday, February 17 in Beach Memorial Hospital. She was born December 31, 1931 in New Castle, a daughter of the late Ralph and Kathryn (Murphy) Truitt.
Mrs. Magee grew up in Carthage and was a 1949 graduate of Carthage High School. She worked as a legal secretary and was a member of Beaches United Methodist Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, a member of Sawgrass Players Association and Longtime Newcomers. She was married to David A. Magee who preceded her in death February 2, 1983.
Survivors include two sons, David (wife Louise) Magee Jr. of Lexington, Ky., and Terry (wife Kim) Magee of New Cumberland, Penn.; one sister, Sue Ann (husband Kenny) Land of Carthage; and four grandchildren.
Services were held Saturday, February 21 at Todd Funeral Home, Butcher Chapel in Knightstown with Pastor Roger Campbell officiating. Burial was in Glen Cove Cemetery.
Visitation was held at the funeral home Friday, February 20.
Vernis A. Holliday
Aug. 21, 1927 - Feb. 5, 2004
Knightstown native, Vernis A. Holliday, died Thursday, February 5 in Las Cruces, N.M. after a long battle with cancer. Vern was born Aug. 21, 1927, the son of Frank and Alma Holliday.
He was born and raised in Knightstown and graduated in 1945 from KHS. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946 and attended Ball State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts and Masters Degree. The Hollidays moved to Las Cruces where he taught music at Hatch, New Mexico. He had taught school in New Mexico, California and Indiana. He was an active member in the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks and worked many years as District Chairman with the disabled veterans in Truth or Consequences. Vern had been a member of the American Legion since 1946, a member of the Masonic Lodge, Aztec #3 in Las Cruces. He was a retired teacher and building contractor.
Following cremation, a memorial service was held Sunday, February 8 at Elks Lodge in Las Cruces.
Survivors include his wife of over 50 years, Catherine (Linch) Holliday; one son, Ted A. (wife Mary) Holliday of Las Cruces; and one granddaughter, Heather Holliday (husband Edward) Thomas of Greenfield.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by twin sons, Bruce and Barry.
Memorials may be made to Mesilla Valley Hospice, 299 E. Montana, Las Cruces, NM 88005. Catherine Holliday’s address is 4265 Holliday Lane, Las Cruces, NM 88007.
Norman E. Leisure
Aug. 4, 1925 – Feb. 29, 2004
Norman E. Leisure, 78, of rural Knightstown, died unexpectedly Sunday, February 29 in Hancock Memorial Hospital in Greenfield. He was born August 4, 1925 in Indianapolis, a son of the late Lloy and Gladys (Sleeth) Leisure.
Norman was in the U.S. Navy in World War II and served as a crewmember of LST #498. He was also a survivor of D-Day, as he was a member of the first troops landing at Normandy.
Mr. Leisure had lived in Knightstown most of his life. He was a member of the Knightstown Christian Church, Knightstown American Legion and Golden Rule Lodge 316, F & AM. He was a beloved husband and father.
Survivors include his wife DeLois M. (Dee) Leisure whom he married August 6, 1945; two sons, Reginald (wife Jacqueline) Leisure and Thomas Earl Leisure, both of Knightstown; one daughter, Leah Brownfield of Indianapolis; one brother, Eugene (wife Velma) Leisure of Carthage; one sister, Maxine (husband Wendell) Clark of Knightstown; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday, March 3) at Todd Funeral Home, Butcher Chapel in Knightstown with Rev. Richard Thayer and Rev. Mervin Kilmer officiating. Burial will be in Glen Cove Cemetery with military services by Knightstown American Legion Post #152 and VFW.
Visitation was at the funeral home Tuesday, March 2.
G. Francelia Fields
Mar. 10, 1918 – Feb. 26, 2004
G. Francelia Fields, 85, a resident of Grant City, died Thursday, February 26 in Henry County Hospital in New Castle. She was born March 10, 1918 in Waynesboro, Penn., a daughter of the late Oscar and Ida (Maunn) Naugle.
Mrs. Fields was a homemaker and attended the Grant City Wesleyan Church.
Survivors include her husband, Wesley Fields of Grant City; two sons, Douglas Fields of Muncie, and Terry (wife Janet) Fields of Kennard; four grandchildren, Jason (wifeTina) Hazelett of Ft. Wayne, Jeff (wife Jennifer) Hazelett of Richmond, Michelle Cruse of Kennard, and Chanda (husband Brandon) Hastings of Kennard; nine great-grandchildren, Haley Cruse, Sidney and Grace Hastings, Paige, Chloe, Jayda, Zach, Alec and Ethan Hazelett; two sisters, Rebecca Hoover of Pennsylvania and Lucille Edwards of Arkansas; one sister-in-law, Ruth Cox of Grant City; a brother-in-law, Clovis Fields of Greenfield; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Miriam Nace and Ethelyn Tallent and one brother, Lloyd Naugle.
Funeral services were held Saturday, February 28 in the Condo & Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson with Bro. Larry Bassey officiating. Burial was in Glen Cove Cemetery in Knightstown.
Visitation was held at the funeral home Friday, February 27.
Betty J. Williams
Apr. 11, 1927 – Feb. 22, 2004
Betty J. Williams, 76, of Middletown died Sunday, February 22 at the Garden Manor Extended Care Center. She was born April 11, 1927 in Rock Hill, S.C., a daughter of the late L.J. and Sophie (Standafer) Shillinglaw.
Mrs. Williams worked as a nurse for Dr. Leonard Wiatt. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Monroe.
She is survived by a daughter, Becky (husband Norman) Kepner of Middletown; three grandchildren, Matt (wife Constance) Kepner of Middletown, Jason (wife Patty) Kepner of Trenton, Amanda (husband Kelly) Hunter of Phoenix, Ariz.; three great-grandchildren, Kevin, Kaitlynne and Kyle Kepner; one sister, Kathleen Campbell of Middletown; and two brothers, Bill Shillinglaw of Hunter, and Jim Shillinglaw of Monroe.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Williams in 1975; a son, Kevin Williams in 1970; and a brother, Jack Shillinglaw in 1997.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, February 25 at the Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home with Rev. Chuck Wolfinbarger officiating. Burial was in Woodside Cemetery.
Brenda J. Moore
May 18, 1947 – Mar. 4, 2004
Knightstown resident, Brenda J. Moore, 56, died Thursday, March 4 at Hancock Memorial Hospital in Greenfield. She was born May 18, 1947 in Elwood, a daughter of James and Beatrice “Helen” (Davis) Butcher Sr. of Shirley.
Ms. Moore had worked for Estell Ambulance Service and the Shirley Post Office. She was a member of the Shirley Christian Church.
Surviving are her parents; three sons, Howard (wife Carla) Moore of Greenfield, Harold (wife Peggy) Moore of Greensboro and Jerry Moore of Spiceland; six grandchildren, Brianna, Victoria, Harold Jr., Kyle, Aubrey and Justin; two brothers, Jim (wife Judy) Butcher of Fortville and William (wife Paula) Butcher of Shirley; several nieces and nephews; and a good friend, Rich Everhart.
Her husband, Howard Malcom Moore and a brother, Donald Butcher, preceded her in death.
Funeral services were held Monday, March 8 at the Condo & Son Funeral Home with Rev. James Hill officiating. Burial was in McCray Cemetery in Wilkinson.
Visitation was held prior to the service on Monday at the funeral home.
