Fannie E. Drown
SHREVE — Fannie E. Drown, 79, of 450 E. Wood St., Shreve, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2004, at her residence.

She was born Aug. 25, 1924, in Wayne County to Lee and Mary F. (Sigler) Christine and married William M. Drown on Dec. 25, 1942.

Surviving are three children, William L. (Rebecca) Drown of Utica, Bonnie (Jim) Bowen of Shreve and Linda (Dave) Repp of Apple Valley; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Shirley Eggerton of Midville, Mary Ann Wigton of Loudonville and Patricia McCaulley of Apple Valley; and five brothers, John Christine and Roger Christine, both of Loudonville, Guy Christine and David Christine, both of Perrysville, and William Christine of Fredericktown.

In addition to her husband and parents she was preceded in death by five brothers and a sister.

Funeral will be Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at Schlabach Funeral Home in Shreve with the Rev. Marla Wagner officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Wayne County, 2525A Back Orrville Road, Wooster 44691.

Mary Lou Hill
MOUNT VERNON — Mary Lou Hill, 72, of 905 W. Burgess St., Mount Vernon, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2004, at her home following a brief illness.

She was born June 24, 1931, in Mount Vernon to Andrew and Laura (Pierre) Bernicken and had lived in Mount Vernon all of her life. She was a lifelong member of St. Vincent de Pal Catholic Church and was active in volunteer activities to better under-privileged members of the community. She was an avid lover of cooking and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

She is survived by two daughters, Deborah (Garry) Carpenter of Gambier and Denise (James) Starling of Mount Vernon; four sons, Douglas (Cheryl) Hill of Grove City, and Damian (Lisa) Hill, Daniel (Kelly) Hill and David (Tammy) Hill, all of Mount Vernon; a sister, Peggy Larrick of Lancaster; a brother, James Bernicken of West End, N.C.; grandchildren, Stephanie Graves, Angela Myers and Christina Watson, all of Tennessee; Heidi (Andy) Campbell of Grove City, Aaron and Adam (Diana) Taylor, Chelsey Hill, Crystal Hill, Sara Hill, Jessica Hill, and Amanda and Jenna Riel, all of Mount Vernon; 14 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Cheryl (Dave) Cooke of Savannah, Ga., and Lois Owen-Bernicken of Mount Vernon.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles “Dan” Hill, in 1998; her father, Andrew Bernicken; her mother, Laura Bernicken; brothers, Joseph and John Bernicken; an infant brother; and a niece, Judy Bernicken-Keefer.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, a Rosary service will immediately follow. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Mount Vernon with the Rev. Ted Thomas as celebrant. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Knox County, 302 E. High St., Mount Vernon 43050.

Mary S. Owen
Mary S. Owen, age 99 of Sunbury, formerly of Centerburg died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, at Country View of Sunbury.

She was born in Kingston Twp. of Delaware County on Feb. 13, 1904. Mary was a member of Sunbury United Methodist Church and Mt. Pleasant Ladies Aid Society. She enjoyed quilting and had formerly operated the 3C Inn in Centerburg.

She was preceded in death by her husband, W. Ronald Owen on Nov. 14, 1970; three brothers; and five sisters, including LeVena Comstock on March 7, 1994.

She is survived by nieces Ruby I. (Charles C.) Nettelhorst of Sunbury, Florence M. (Charles W.) Murray of Sunbury, six great-nieces and nephews; and other friends and family.

Friends may call Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. at DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Ohio 3 at 61, Sunbury, where funeral services will follow at 1p.m., with the Rev. Gerald Davis officiating. Interment will be Eastview Cemetery, Centerburg.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Vista-Care Hospice, 2760 Airport Dr., Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43219.

Irene Sigman
MOUNT VERNON — Irene Sigman, 92, died Jan. 4, 2004, at The Laurels of Mount Vernon.

She was born March 20, 1911, in Knox County to James and Frances (Wallace) Fry. She was a member of the Grove Church of Christ and the Harrison Grange. She was a member and past matron of Glenwood Chapter 303 OES.

She is survived by three grandchildren, Candy (Greg) Cook of Gambier, Sam (Sylvia) Roesler of Florida and Gisele McHenry of Mount Vernon; two great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Marguerite Payne of Mount Vernon.

Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Sigman, in 1979; a daughter, Ruth Roesler, in 2000; four brothers; and two sisters.

Friends may call today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the North-Dilley Funeral Home, where the funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. Evangelist Jerold Tear will officiate. An Eastern Star Service will be conducted today at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Grove Church of Christ, 7740 Grove Church Road, Gambier 43022.

Mark B. Spray
McCONNELSVILLE — Mark B. Spray, 76, of 606 N. Eighth St., McConnelsville, died Jan. 4, 2004, at the Mark Rest Center in McConnelsville after an extended illness.

He was born March 8, 1927, at Dodridge County, W.Va., to Herbert and Sophia (Bode) Spray. He was a retired district conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was an Army veteran and a graduate of The Ohio State University. Mark was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in McConnelsville, where he served as a deacon, trustee, elder, Sunday school teacher and choir member. He was a member of the Morgan County Camera Club and the Howard Chandler Christy Art Guild, and held several offices in both clubs. He was also an avid photographer and stamp collector.

Surviving are his wife of 49 years, Eloise (Baker) Spray; one son, Sgt. Maj. Mitchell D. (Becky) Spray of Manassas, Va., who is a drum major for the U.S. Army Band based in Fort Myer, Va.; two grandchildren, Amanda Spray and Matt Spray; three sisters, Doris Spray Belt and Frances Varner of Utica, and Ruth (Blaine) Kohl of Mount Vernon; and three brothers, Glenn (Elsie) Spray, Rex (Evelyn) Spray and Nelson Spray, all of Mount Vernon.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by two sisters, Mabel Spray and Lucy Spray Strubler; and one brother, Howard Spray.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Miller-Huck Funeral Home in McConnelsville. Visitation will also be Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in McConnelsville, where funeral will be at 11 a.m. The Rev. Barbara Morrison will officiate. Burial will be in Owl Creek Cemetery near Mount Vernon.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, American Heart Association or American Diabetes Association.

Jan Sweet
DANVILLE — The Rev. Janet Ann (Ahlstrom) Sweet, 52, of 14630 Millersburg Road, Danville, died Jan. 4, 2004, at her residence.

Jan was born Sept. 25, 1951, in Wichita, Kan., to Albert and Margaret (Bledsoe) Ahlstrom. She was the pastor of the Millwood and Bladensburg Presbyterian churches. Jan was a member of the Danville United Methodist Church.

Jan is survived by her husband, Doug Sweet, whom she married Aug. 8, 1975. Also surviving are her mother of Wichita, Kan., two brothers, Kerry (Julia Ryan) Ahlstrom of Council Grove, Kan., and Dan (Traci) Ahlstrom of Wichita, Kan.; a sister, Nancy Ahlstrom (Jerry) Stephanz of Sandy, Utah; her mother-in-law, Erma Sweet of Danville; a brother-in-law, David (Irene) Sweet of Wadsworth; nieces and nephews, Shaun, Brian, Aaron and Megan Sweet, and Emily, Sam and Megan Stephanz, and Cameron Ahlstrom; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Jan was preceded in death by her father, Al Ahlstrom; her father-in-law, Ed Sweet; and a brother-in-law, Dan Sweet.

Funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at the Danville United Methodist Church with the Revs. Sondra Willobee, Jim Stuller and Doug Sweet officiating. Burial will be in the Workman Cemetery at Danville. Visitation will be Thursday from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Fischer Funeral Home in Danville and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Danville UMC Choir Fund, Danville; or the Ahlstrom-Sweet Video Collection, METHESCO, Delaware.

Irene Wharton
MOUNT VERNON — In loving memory of Irene (Steele) Anderson Wharton, 87, of Mount Vernon. Irene passed away Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003, in her home after a short illness.

Originally from Marengo, Irene was the daughter of William Allen and Mary Lucille Steele. She was a 1932 graduate of Marengo High School and retired from Edmont-Wilson.

She is survived by her daughters, Dixie (Ralph) Combs of Centerburg, Judy Pratt of Jackson, Mich., and Bonnie (Gene) Weaver of Marengo; two stepdaughters, Elaine (Charlie) Plumb of Florida and Maxine Lorey of New York; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her first husband, Thurman “Andy” Anderson; her second husband, Lloyd Wharton; a daughter, Patty Jean Hite; a son, Harold Anderson; brothers, Claude Allen “Gus,” Bill, Howard and Harold Steele; and sisters, Daisy Steele and Nellie Beck.

Private service and burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery at Chesterville.

In lieu of flowers, if so inclined, the family requests memorial contributions be given to Hospice of Knox County. Arrangements are being handled by the Johnson-Melick-Moreland Funeral Home in Centerburg.