Reva T. Hayes
BUTLER — Reva Thelma Hayes, 95, of Cleveland Avenue, Butler, died Wednesday, June 27, 2007, at The Laurels of Mount Vernon. The Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Clyde Parrish Jr.
UTICA — A funeral service for Clyde Parrish Jr., 70, of Utica will be held Thursday, June 28, at noon at Law-Baker Funeral Home with Bruce Hissong officiating. Burial will follow in Owl Creek Cemetery.

Clyde died June 25, 2007, at Heartland of Centerburg. He was born Dec. 19, 1936, in Morgan Township to Clyde L. and Goldie (Allenbaugh) Parrish.

He is survived by brothers and sister-in-law, Carl and Eileen Parrish of Gambier, Dwight Parrish of Utica, and Charles and Scarlett Parrish of Mount Vernon; and sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Reuben Hider of Massillon.

He was preceded in death by brother, Franklin Parrish; and sister, Joy May.

Friends may call Thursday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to noon at Law-Baker Funeral Home, 34 N. Main St., P.O. Box 456, Utica.

Betty E. Ransom
BUTLER — Betty Elaine (Simms) Ransom, 87, a longtime resident of Hildebrant Road, Butler, died Tuesday morning, June 26, 2007, in Winchester Terrace.

She was born Oct. 23, 1919, in Elm Grove, Ohio County, W.Va., to Lewis David and Otie Bell (Welling) Simms. Betty was graduated from Fredericksburg High School. On July 26, 1941, she married Glenn Ivan Ransom.

She is survived by a son, Glenn Lewis (Sandra) Ransom of Ontario; three daughters, Drea Elaine (John) Ferguson of Fredericktown, Kathy Ellen Cleghorn of Ashland and Linda Law of Virginia; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Gwendolyn (Robert) Moffett of De Bary, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and two sisters, Mary Esther Stevens and Edith Elnora Butzer.

The family will receive friends Friday, June 29, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Bellville Snyder Funeral Home, where the funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. The Rev. Ken Kinley will officiate. Burial will follow in Bunkerhill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions to Butler-Clear Fork Adult Center may be made at the funeral home. Condolences may be made to the family online by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Roger D. Thompson
ATHENS, Ohio — Roger Dean Thompson, 67, died Friday evening, June 22, 2007, at his residence following a brief illness. He was a strong supporter of education and athletics, particularly in southeast Ohio. Education and athletics provided Roger opportunities throughout his life, and he worked to ensure that those same opportunities were available to others.

Roger was born on March 28, 1940, in Bladen, Ohio, the youngest son of Clyde and Alta (Johnson) Thompson. He was raised in Wellston and moved to Mount Vernon, where he graduated from Mount Vernon High School. Roger built a reputation as an outstanding athlete and earned honors on the football field, including twice being named to the all-conference team. His senior year, Roger was named to the Columbus Dispatch All-Ohio team.

Roger continued his education and football career at Western State College of Colorado, where he received a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in history. Roger began his teaching/coaching career in Akron, Colo., where he met and married his wife, Nancy. Eventually, Roger returned to his alma mater, Mount Vernon High School, to coach football and teach. Finally, in 1970, Roger moved his family to Athens, where he received his second master’s and began his 30-year career in the Athens City Schools System. There, he served as assistant superintendent, intern superintendent and associate superintendent. While in Athens, Roger also served on the board for the Educational Television of Southeast Ohio.

Soon after moving to Athens, Roger was elected to the South Eastern Ohio Athletic Board SEOAB, where he continued to focus on building scholar-athletes. He served on the SEOAB for 35 years as president, secretary and treasurer and on the Ohio High School Athletic Board of Control for two terms. His other involvement in athletics was as an official. He refereed high school football and basketball and college football and served as the timekeeper and scorer for the Ohio University basketball and football teams. In 2006, his dedication to high school athletics was recognized when he received the Naismith Award from the Ohio High School Athletic Board for his lifelong achievements.

In addition to his athletic commitments, Roger was a member many civic organizations, including the Athens Downtown Kiwanis Club, where he served as its president from 1978 to 1979 and the Mason Lodge.

He was preceded in his death by his parents; sister, Carolyn Layman; and brother, Charles Thompson.

Roger is survived by his wife Nancy; his brother, Graham; his children, Thom and wife, Dodie, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Jim and wife, Pia, of Glencoe, Ill., Susie and husband, Kurt Frank, of Athens, and Andy and wife, Jen, of Upper Arlington; and his grandchildren, Mackenzie, Jean, Soren, Mary Ellen, Wylie and Roger.

Roger will be remembered by his friends and family as a gifted athlete, a funny friendly man who loved meeting his friend at Bob Evans for coffee in the morning, an excellent administrator whose down-to-earth practical approach was always appreciated, a hard working man who provided for his family, a loving son, brother, father, grandfather and husband whose supportive ways gave his family members wings to reach for their dreams. He will be missed.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 30, at 2 p.m. at Richland United Methodist Church, 60 Pomeroy Road, Athens. Calling hours will be Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m., with the memorial following.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that Roger’s memory be honored with contributions to the Roger D. Thompson Scholarship Fund, 20 E. Clearview Drive, Athens, OH 45701.

The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel, 415 E. Washington St., Muncie, IN 47305, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.meeksmortuary.com.

Jamie D. Walker
MOUNT VERNON — Jamie D. LaBrosse Walker, 47, of Mount Vernon, died Tuesday morning, June 26, 2007, at Columbus Colony in Westerville.

She was born Sept. 30, 1959, in Columbus to James E. Walker and Barbara Goodman Walker of Mount Vernon. She was a member of the Bent Tree Bible Fellowship Church in Plano, Texas.

In addition to her mother she is survived by sisters, Debbie (Don) Siewertsen of Clinton Mich., and Kelli (Geoff) Dillon of Worthington; brother, Shawn (Michelle) Walker of Sunbury; nieces and nephews, Chrissy (Shane) Benvenuti, Nick (Amanda) Siewertsen, Mitchell Dillon, Amanda Dillon, Roni Walker and Allie Walker; and great-nieces and great-nephew, Dominic, Nate, Camilla Benvenuti and Kaytlin Siewertsen.

Graveside services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. in the Burnside Cemetery, Galena. Arrangements entrusted to the DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Sunbury.

Memorial contributions can be made to Juvenile Diabetes Association, 2101 S. Hamilton Road, Columbus, OH 43232. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.