Grant E. Hankins
MOUNT VERNON — Grant Ellis Hankins, 76, of Mount Vernon died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005, at The Laurels of Mount Vernon.

Mr. Hankins retired from PPG in Mount Vernon. He was also a retired farmer and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.

He is survived by his wife, Doris (Campbell) Hankins; children, Ronnie (Louise) Hankins of Mount Gilead, Jerry (special friend, Kyle Adams) Hankins of Sparta, Brenda (Roger) Hankins of Delaware and Grace (Andy) Conger of Sparta; grandchildren, Randy Hite, Rick Hankins, Joshua Walker, Jamie McKinley, Katie Hankins, Tyler Hankins, Caleb, Ciera, Ryanna, Carrington and Zane Conger; great-grandchildren, Devyn McKinley, Caleb Hite, Billy Hankins, Adam Hankins and Elizabeth Hankins; brothers, Carl Hankins, Blaine Hankins and Hubert Hankins, all of Mount Vernon; sisters, Sylvia Baldwin and Ella Brown, both of Mount Vernon, and Ada Hack of Cardington; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Alta (Davis) Hankins; a brother, George Hankins; grandson, Ronnie Hankins Jr.; and a daughter-in-law, Laurie Hankins.

Friends may call Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at God’s Acres, 675 N. Cedar St., Newark, where service will follow at 1 p.m. Pastor Roger Decker will officiate. Private interment will be in Bloomfield Cemetery, Centerburg. Arrangements are by the Johnson-Melick-Moreland Funeral Home, 49 W. Church St., Centerburg.

Friends, if they wish, may contribute to Hospice of Knox County, 302 E. High St., Mount Vernon OH 43050.

Ned C. Biggs
DALTON — Ned C. Biggs, 75, died Jan. 19, 2005, at Dunlap Memorial Hospital, Orrville.

Ned C. Biggs was born May 28, 1929, in Millwood to James and Coreta (Cullison) Biggs. He married Kathleen “Katy” Tarrh on June 17, 1951. A resident of Dalton since 1955, he was a member of Dalton Presbyterian Church and a life member of Dalton VFW Post 5534. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean conflict. He was a graduate of Howard High School and Defiance College where he played college basketball, he earned a master’s degree in guidance counseling from Kent State University. He retired as a guidance counselor from Northwestern Local Schools, he had also been a counselor at Wayne County Career Center and Dalton Local Schools. After retirement he joined the sales staff at G.G. Grim in Dalton. He was a former Dalton basketball coach and former golf coach at Northwestern. He served as a past board member for Orrville United Way, and Wayne County Visitors and Convention Bureau. He also served his community as a former Dalton Village mayor, former Dalton Village councilman and had served on the Dalton Cemetery Board. Ned was an avid sports fan and enjoyed golf, bowling, gardening and spending time at his log home in Knox County, tending his fruit orchard there.

He is survived by wife, Kathleen “Katy” Biggs of Dalton; son, Jeff (Cindy) Biggs of Wooster; grandchildren, Michael Pete and Brian Pete, both of Brandon, Fla.; son-in-law, Phil Pete of Brandon, Fla.; sister, Karen Sue (Bill) Haley of Orrville, and their children, Jon, Jason, Jim and Doug Haley; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Don (Pat) Cornelius of Utica, and their children, Don and Dan Cornelius; sister-in-law, Annie Biggs of Germany, her children, Steven, Frankie and Annette; and feline companion, Will.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Sandy Pete; and brother, Dean Biggs.

Funeral service will be Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Dalton Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Mike McFarren and Barbara Bartholomew officiating. Burial will be in Dalton Cemetery, military honors will be conducted. Friends may call today from 4 to 8 p.m. at Zak-Monbarren Funeral Home in Dalton and Saturday at the church from 1 p.m. until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Dalton Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 306, Dalton OH 44618; or to an animal shelter of one’s choice.

Eugene Davisson
GAMBIER — Eugene Davisson, 58, of Gambier died Jan. 11, 2005, at the Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, N.M. A Masonic service will be conducted Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at the North-Dilley Funeral Home, followed by a memorial service with Pastor Rodney Davis officiating. Friends may call Sunday from 2 p.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio Lodge 199, F&AM, Endowment Fund, 507D E. Gambier St., Mount Vernon OH 43050.

Ramona R. Naylor
MOUNT VERNON — Ramona R. Naylor, 72, of North Mulberry Street, Mount Vernon, went to be with her Lord and Savior during her sleep in the night hours of Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005.

She was born on June 16, 1932, in Millwood to Joshua and Blanche (Lonsinger) Styers. Ramona was a member of the Mount Vernon Baptist Temple where she was well known for her generous hospitality of baking cookies for all new members. She had a zest for life and was so much the dedicated wife, mother and friend to all.

She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Kenneth Naylor; a granddaughter, Amy Crumm; sister, Ethel Drake; sister-in-law, Alberta Styers; nephew, Lewis Styers; and good friends, Mike and Jeanne Crall.

Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her daughter, Karen Crumm; brother, Charles Styers; and a sister, Pauline Mc Cutchen.

Friends may call Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home, where a funeral service will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. The Rev. Bill Finnell will officiate. Burial will follow in Mound View Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Knox County, 302 E. High St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050; or to the Mount Vernon Baptist Temple, 1481 Yauger Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. This obituary and guest registry may be viewed online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Mattie L. Pruett
GAMBIER — Mattie Lou Pruett, 71, of Chase Avenue, Gambier, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005, at Country Court Nursing Center in Mount Vernon.

She was born on Feb. 20, 1933, in Puttman, Va., to Jack and Annie (Gross) Vance.

She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Ray Pruett; a son, Michael (Cindy) Pruett of Mount Vernon; two daughters, Polly (Dave) Spangler of South Amherst and Mildred Brammer of Vermilion; 11 grandchildren; five brothers, Russell Vance, James Vance, Ray Vance, Jackie Vance and Freddie Vance, all of Maryland; and two sisters, Nancy (Richard) Mallnor of Maryland and Edith Mahan of Mount Vernon.

Besides her parents she was preceded in death by two brothers, Buck Vance and Robert Vance; and two sisters, Marie Elkins and Mary Ray.

Friends may call today from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home, where a funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Rob Muscik will officiate and burial will follow in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to Country Court Nursing Center and can be left at the funeral home. This obituary and guest registry may be viewed online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.