Lois E. Coon
TRINITY, N.C. — Lois Eleanor Coon, 93, went home to be with her Lord on Feb. 23, 2007, at Graybrier Nursing Home in Trinity, N.C. She resided in the Mount Vernon/Fredericktown area of Ohio most of her life. Since the death of her beloved husband, Herbert B., in 1999, she lived with her son, Myron E. Coon, and his caring wife, Darlene, of Archdale, N.C. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Marilyn Hagner of Utica, Ohio.

Lois was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, on July 16, 1913, the daughter of Archie and Mary Pealer. She was a homemaker and member of the First Church of God in Mount Vernon, Ohio, before moving to North Carolina. She taught Sunday school classes and worked in the Missionary Society at the church for many years. After moving, she attended the First Church of God in Archdale, N.C., as long as her health allowed. She had three brothers, Gail Pealer (deceased) of Pataskala, Ohio, Arlo Pealer and Donald Pealer of Mount Vernon, Ohio.

She is survived by her son, Myron (Darlene) Coon; four grandchildren, Philip (Ronda) Coon of Danville, Ind., Cheryl (Jay) Brim of High Point, N.C., Christopher (Lorna) Hagner and Christine (Dan) Hamilton of Mount Vernon; 10 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and her two brothers.

Calling hours will be Thursday, March 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home, 619 E. High St., Mount Vernon, and the funeral will be Friday, March 2, at 10:30 a.m. at First Church of God, 10 Pine St., Mount Vernon, Ohio. The Revs. William Fulda and Leon Hartwig will officiate. Burial will follow at the Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the First Church of God. To view this obituary or to leave the family an online condolence, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Robert M. Day
MOUNT VERNON — Robert M. Day, 82, of Upper Fredericktown Road, Mount Vernon, passed away Sunday morning, Feb. 25, 2007, at his residence surrounded by his loving family.

The arrangements are under the care and direction of the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon.

John F. Geyer
SNELLVILLE, Ga. — John F. Geyer, 82, of Snellville, Ga., and formerly of Mount Gilead, died Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, at the Emory East Hospital in Snellville, Ga.

He was born in Mount Gilead on July 23, 1924, the son of the late Henry and Imo (Vaughn) Geyer.

He is survived by his wife, Alice (Randall) Geyer; two sons, Eric “Rick” (Nancy) Geyer and Timothy Geyer; a daughter, Carol Sue Pryor; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and six sisters.

John was preceded in death by two brothers.

The family will greet friends on Friday, March 16, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Craven & Snyder Funeral Home, 67 N. Main St., Mount Gilead. A memorial service celebrating John’s life will be held Saturday, March 17, at 11 a.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church, with the Revs. Bruce Hartley and Steven Brown officiating. Inurnment will follow in Rivercliff Cemetery at Mount Gilead.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church, 75 E. High St., Mount Gilead, OH 43338; or to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 182039, Dept. 013, Columbus, OH 43218.

Chloe W. Kerch
MOUNT VERNON — Chloe Wilma Ruggles Kerch, 85, of Mount Vernon died Feb. 24, 2007, at Knox Community Hospital. The North-Dilley Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Dorothy Mae Ruhl
MOUNT VERNON — Dorothy Mae Ruhl, 66, of Mount Vernon died Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, at the Heartland of Centerburg.

Dorothy was born May 3, 1940, in Ringold, Ohio, to Ira and Caroline (Nelson) Richardson. She was a member of the Pleasant Grove Community Church near Bellville.

Surviving are her daughter, Melissa Ruhl, with whom Dorothy made her home, of Mount Vernon; six stepchildren, Jerry Ruhl and Terry Ruhl, both of Mount Gilead, Gary Michael Ruhl of Tiro, Dora Brown of Johnsville, Pamela Gilchrist of Upper Sandusky and Kathy Carroll of Crestline; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; her brother, Joseph Richardson of Akron; and five sisters, Thelma Smails of Zanesville, Belva Dingey of McConnelsville, Lula Bowman, Beverly Ann Nelson and Joy Riley, all of Malta.

Besides her parents, her husband, Robert D. Ruhl, her brother, Cecil Richardson, and her sister, Carolyn Richardson, preceded Dorothy in death.

There will be no calling hours. Graveside funeral services will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Shauck Cemetery near Johnsville and memorial services will follow at 11 a.m. at the Pleasant Grove Community Church, 5471 Ohio 546, Bellville, Ohio 44813.

Memorial contributions can be made to Pleasant Grove Community Church, 5471 Ohio 546, Bellville, OH 44813. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. To view this obituary or send an online condolence to the family visit, www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Sarah A. Yoakam
CENTERBURG — Sarah Annabelle (Phillips) Yoakam, 98, of Centerburg was transferred to her heavenly home to be with her Lord on Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, in Fort Wayne, Ind. The earth dimmed a bit as heaven rejoiced to welcome Annabelle home.

She was born to the late Arthur and Mary Phillips on Dec. 18, 1908, and lived in the Knox and Delaware County areas most of her life. A longtime member of the Sunbury Baptist Church, she taught Sunday school for many years. Annabelle also taught 32 years in several area schools; Jug Run a one-room schoolhouse near Bladensburg; Homer; Center Village, where she also was a principal; and Hartford-Croton. Her students still remember the jingles she taught them to remember the presidents, etc. She also assisted the Gideons in distributing small Bibles to her students, which she encouraged the students to read.

Annabelle loved her children, grandchildren, and students and they loved her. She was a “special” mom and teacher.

She is survived by daughter, Ruth Anne Yoakam of Fort Wayne, Ind.; son, Wendell A. (Jerrie) Yoakam of Centerburg; grandchildren, Erin and Mark; and nieces and nephews, Esther Jo Bursha, Mary Lou Yost, David, Charles and Arthur Merrin.

She was preceded in death by husband, Lloyd, in 1982; and sisters, Mary Adaline Merrin and Constance Ellen Phillips.

Friends may call Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Ohio 3 at Ohio 61, Sunbury, where services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m., with Don James officiating. Interment will follow in Trenton Cemetery, Condit.

Memorial contributions can be made to Allen County Gideon Bible Society, East, P.O. Box 6514, Fort Wayne, IN 46896-6514; or Parkview North Hospice, 2200 Randallia Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46805. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.