Jerald 'Jerry' Francis Tifft

January 02, 2007


Jerald "Jerry" Francis Tifft, 63, Newell, died Thursday Dec. 28, 2006 at his residence following a courageous battle with Lou Gehrig's disease.
Funeral services were held Tuesday Jan. 2, 2007 at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Mr. Jim Chafee officiating. Burial follows at the Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.
Memorials have been established to the Hospice of the Northern Hills and to the Ronald McDonald House in Honor of his Grandson, Conner, who is battling Leukemia.
Jerry was born Dec. 13, 1943 at Rapid City, to Glenn Lathrop and Inez (Chafee) Tifft. He was raised at Union Center, S.D. where he developed his loved of ranching. On Oct. 2, 1965, Jerry married Janet Miller at Newell. Together they ranched for 20 years at Stoneville, S.D. To this marriage four children were born.
In 1985 he sold his ranch and went to work for the Meade County Highway Department as the bridge foreman. He worked until his retirement in 2005.
His infectious humor and love for life attracted numerous friends. His honesty and abundant willingness to always be there to help his family, neighbors and friends is a legacy that will be forever remembered by all who knew him.
Survivors include his wife Janet, Newell; two sons, Vince (Collette) Tifft, Newell, Verl Tifft, Newell; two daughters, Velvaleah (John) Clauser, Spearfish, Vonda (Mike) Clausen, Newell; one sister, Twyla (Larry) Schraeder, Sturgis; one brother, Tom (Brenda) Tifft, Union Center; seven grandchildren, Chelsey, Kyle, Katelyn, Jacindah, John, Matt and Conner.
He was preceded in death by his parents.



©The Black Hills Pioneer, Newspapers, South Dakota, SD 2007
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Body of missing woman found
MARCIE YOUNG
myoung@charlotteobserver.com
Authorities in Burke County on Thursday found the body of a 75-year-old Morganton woman in a wooded area behind her mobile home -- two days after her family last spoke with her.

Veronica Hallyburton, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a pacemaker and was partially blind, hadn't been seen since Tuesday morning, according to a Burke County Sheriff's Office press release.

She was last seen when she wished her great-grandson goodbye as he headed to school after spending the night at her home, the release said.

Authorities said they found Hallyburton's body in the woods near her home Thursday afternoon and, because of her poor health, do not suspect foul play.

The family told authorities that Hallyburton had spoken with a daughter-in-law at about 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the release.

The next afternoon, a neighbor found Hallyburton's dog, which generally stays inside the mobile home, with leaves and mud caked in its fur, authorities said.

The family told investigators that they found the door unlocked and slightly open when they brought the dog to Hallyburton's home but that her purse and cane were inside the house.

Wife of Clinton’s Gordon Graham dies

Native of England became deeply involved as parent, volunteer while in town

By Karen Nugent TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF






CLINTON— Most Clintonians know of the Rev. Gordon Graham, and many who knew him also recall the charming British woman who became his wife.

Sadly, Barbara Graham last week lost a long struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

She died Thursday in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, where the couple moved several years ago.


Mrs. Graham, 72, lived with Rev. Graham in his hometown of Clinton from 1970 through 1986, according to her daughter, Rachel Evans, who lives in Somerville.

During that time, Rev. Graham, who became an Anglican priest in the Church of Ireland in 1997, worked as an environmental regulator for the state Department of Environmental Management, and for the Metropolitan District Commission.

He was also a teacher, served on the School Committee, and founded Clinton High School’s first Irish student exchange program.

A few years later, in 1985, Rev. Graham established the Lillian and George Graham Trust in honor of his parents. The trust funds the popular exchange program.

The program was Rev. Graham’s endeavor to bring together students from British Northern Ireland, where his father’s roots were, and the Republic of Ireland, his mother’s home country.

His mother took the path of many other new Clintonians, leaving County Mayo in the west of Ireland for her new home.

The exchange program stipulates that students from both countries come to town.

Narrowing the divide between England and Ireland was already demonstrated in his own life, when he married Mrs. Graham — who started life as Barbara Sutton in Southampton, England.

Leading as colorful a life as her husband — perhaps more so — she served in Vienna with the British high commissioner, Lord Harold Caccia, and then accompanied him as his personal secretary in his next post as British ambassador to the U.S., Ms. Evans said.

Ms. Evans said her parents met at an Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.

After marrying Rev. Graham and moving to Clinton, Mrs. Graham, according to her daughter, raised three children here and participated in church and civic activities.

She was a trustee of the Weeks Fund, an educational foundation that brings lectures and music to town, and was in the choir and vestry of the Church of the Good Shepherd.

She continued to work, and retired from Harvard Medical School, where she was an administrator in the social medicine department and an editor of an international journal on medical anthropology.

After moving to Northern Ireland, she remained active and served on the Boards of Age Concern (similar to Councils on Aging in the U.S.) and with a group called Protestants and Catholics Encounter, and sang in three chorale groups.

Mrs. Graham had a degree in languages from Royal Holloway College in London, her daughter said.

Nancy J. Gerlach of Clinton, who worked with Rev. Graham on the exchange program, described Mrs. Graham as a “lovely, lovely woman.”

Mrs. Graham’s funeral will be held Jan. 13 in St. John’s Church in Newcastle.

Contact Karen Nugent by e-mail at knugent@telegram.com.

Martha Graeber
Article Launched: 01/03/2007 02:29:31 PM PST


Martha V. Graeber, a 57-year resident of Redlands, died of Lou Gehrig's disease Dec. 30 at her home in Redlands. She was 82.
She was born Nov. 23, 1924, in Tempe, Ariz., and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Los Angeles.

She earned in art from the University of Southern California and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

In 1947 she married Charles C. Graeber at Christ the King in North Hollywood.

She was involved in many organizations, and served as a docent at Kimberly Crest House and Gardens in Redlands.

Survivors include her husband, Charles C. Graeber of Redlands; sons Charles C. Graeber Jr. of Fallbrook and Arthur Graeber of Yucaipa; daughters Ann King of Yucaipa and Erin Graeber Bougie of Highland; and six grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 115 W. Olive Ave., Redlands. A reception will follow at 3 p.m. at Redlands Country Club, 1749 Garden St., Redlands. Emmerson-Bartlett Memorial Chapel in Redlands is handling arrangements.

Memorial donations may be made to ALS Foundation, Redlands Hospice or Redlands Community Hospital.

Robert M. Hearin

Funeral services for Robert M. Hearin, 48, of Cullman, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at the First United Methodist Church, the Rev. Bob Alford and the Rev. Bob Murray officiating, with burial in the Cullman City Cemetery.

Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Hearin died Wednesday, Jan. 3, following a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was born on March 1, 1958, to the Rev. Gerry and June Hearin in Montgomery.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, G.M. and Alma Hearin, and Robert and Matilda Fitzpatrick.

Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Marsha Brock Hearin of Cullman; two sons, Robert Tyler and Preston Brock of Cullman; a daughter, Carissa Michelle of Cullman; parents Rev. Gerry and June Hearin; a sister, Lisa (Steve) Alexander; his mother-in-law, Genneli (Jim) Barrs; his father-in-law, Moody (Margie) Brock; a sister-in-law, Sherry (Pete) Moore; a brother-in-law, Jimmy (Heather) Brock; nieces and nephews, Kyle, Keith and Kirk Wingard, Christopher Moore, Hunter and Clay Brock, Blaire and Reese Alexander, and Duck, the family’s special dog.

Mr. Hearin came to Cullman in 1973 when his father was named minister at First United Methodist Church. He was president of his senior class in 1976 and graduated from Cullman High School where he was a basketball star, earning most valuable player honors in the Tennessee Valley Conference tournament and establishing a scoring record for tournament play. He earned a scholarship to Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

He was a successful entrepreneur, helping start Computer Network Inc., Computer Network Link Inc., Cullman Logistics Inc., Cullman Bonded Inc. and Cullman Oil Inc. after working for the Blount County and purchasing Ben Prickett’s China and Gift Store.

Mr. Hearin was actively involved in local sports programs. He coached boys and girls youth AYSO and AYSA soccer teams, basketball teams, softball teams and baseball teams.

While president of the Cullman Quarterback Club in 2003, the football field was resurfaced. During his tenure as president of the Cullman Tip-Off Boosters Club in 2001, the gymnasium floor was resurfaced for the first time in 20 years and a court divider curtain for Cullman Middle School’s gymnasium was purchased. And as vice president of the Cullman High School Baseball Boosters in 2002, he organized and oversaw the construction of the baseball field house at Cullman High School.

Three times as a Republican candidate, he ran for positions in the state Senate and the state House of Representatives.

Mr. Hearin was named Kiwanian of the Year in 1991-92 and was a past officer of the Cullman Historical Society.

First United Methodist’s fellowship hall was named Hearin Hall in honor of contributions by Mr. Hearin and his family. He served as chairman of the Board of Stewards and chairman of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee. He was a Sunday School teacher for both the senior high class and the adult Enthusiasts’ class, drove the church bus, served as an usher and was a frequent volunteer in virtually all aspects of church life.

For the past six months, he wrote a weekly column in The Cullman Times.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund or the Cullman High School Athletic Department.

Pallbearers will be Phil Anderson, Mike Arnold, Tim Binkowski, Wilson Blaylock, Rusty Buster, Neal Culpepper, Tim Culpepper, Ed Darling, J.J. Guthrie, Doug Harris, Clayton Ingram, Mike McConatha, Joe McElroy, Mike Roden, Fess St. John, Keith Scott, Bill Shields, Allen Stricklin, Steve Sweat, Cody Sweetland, Craig Villar, Rodney Whittle and Stan Wood.

Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Chandler and Cody Green.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today in Hearin Hall at First United Methodist Church.

Richard “****” Reiling





June 10, 1942 — Dec. 27, 2006

On Dec. 27, 2006, Richard “****” Reiling lost his long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in Gresham.

Richard was born June 10, 1942, in Klamath Falls to Wilbur and Charlene Reiling. He was raised on a dairy farm in South Poe Valley, where he was a member of the Olene Dairy club for 10 years and attended Henley schools for 12 years, graduating in 1960.

He went on to attend school at Southern Oregon University on a football scholarship, graduating with a bachelor of science in secondary education in 1965. This is where he met his beloved wife of 43 years, Yvonne Bailie (Klamath Union, class of 1960). They married in June of 1963. **** went on to receive his master’s degree from Texas A&M in 1969 on a National Science Foundation grant. In 1984 he attended the University of Oregon and earned his administrative degree.

****’s 34 year career in teaching and coaching included: Vandenberg Air Base Junior High in Lompoc, Calif.; Klamath Union High School and Mazama High School in Klamath Falls; Lost River High School in Merrill, and Henley High School, also in Klamath Falls.

In 1980 **** moved into administration and became vice principal at Henley High School. In 1984 he moved to Scio to accept the position as principal of Scio High School.

In 1986 **** became principal at Lebanon High School, retiring from there in 1997. His coaching throughout the years included football, basketball (boys and girls), baseball, wrestling and golf.

**** loved coaching and found great joy in many of his teams achievements some of the highlights were winning the baseball state championship in 1973 while coaching at Lost River High School and the girls basketball state championship in 1980 while coaching at Henley High School.

In 1980, **** was named high school coach of the year for the state of Oregon. That same year he was named girls basketball coach of the Year. In 1973, **** was named baseball coach of the year. All of these accomplishments meant so much to **** as did each of the players he had the privilege of coaching.

He was an avid golfer and loved running. He ran in the Hood to Coast Relay two consecutive years. He spent many enjoyable years as an assistant 4-H leader for the Olene Buckaroos. He had a passion for fishing, hunting, camping and traveling, but his greatest joy in life was for his wife and family.

Survivors include wife Yvonne of Gresham; daughter and son-in-law Chuck and Rhonda Fletcher, Boring; son Scott Reiling, Gresham; grandchildren Rick and Cheri Fletcher and Rob and Jeff Reiling; father Wilbur Reiling, North Bend; brother and sister-in-law Steve and Jeanine Reiling of Maine; sister and brother-in-law Diane and Don Boyer, North Bend; sister and brother-in-law Joe and Linda Corbin of Oakland; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and cherished friends Mary Thomas and Bobbe Jones.

A celebration of ****’s life will be held in both Lebanon and Klamath Falls. The Lebanon service will be at 2 p.m. Jan. 20 in the Lebanon High School auditorium. The Klamath Falls service will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 3 in the Henley High School gymnasium.

The family has requested memorial donations be made to any Key Bank branch to the Richard Reiling Memorial Fund. These donations will be used to build memorial benches at both Lebanon and Henley high schools and the remaining funds will be donated to the ALS Research Foundation.

Family members may be reached at: Reiling5360@comcast.net

Investor-Developer Zimet Dies at 68
By Tony Davis, Arizona Daily Star

OBITUARY

Michael Zimet, an investor and developer who helped make peace between Tucson's development and conservation communities, died Tuesday.

Zimet, a property-rights activist whose views moved closer to those of environmentalists over time, died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, at a Northwest Side hospice. He was 68.

He had been active in the Tucson area from the late 1970s until he was stricken with the disease in spring 2006.

Over the years, Zimet and his Vanguard Companies, where he was a principal partner and investor, worked on projects across Arizona: in Marana and the Sahuarita area near Tucson, in the town of Quartzsite near the California line and in Pomerene in Cochise County.

A New York City native, he worked as a developer and investor in Southern California before moving here in 1978.

His most recent project, Ocotillo Ranch in the Santa Rita Mountains foothills, was the first development to seek approval under Pima County's conservation subdivision ordinance. The law tries to regulate the layouts of developments so the maximum number of homes allowed by their zoning can be built with the least possible effects on the desert.

Zimet sat on the county advisory committee that drafted that ordinance. He spent nine years securing a wide range of government approvals for his project of 42 four-acre lots on 174 acres at the extreme south end of South Houghton Road. Vanguard hopes to start formal land-clearing next year.

He was most publicly visible as one of a handful of property- rights activists who sat on a county advisory committee on the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, the proposed land preservation plan spanning more than 500,000 acres of environmentally valuable land.

He started as a strong skeptic if not outright opponent of the plan. Later, he negotiated closely with his philosophical opposites at the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection and became a strong although still skeptical supporter of Pima County's land-saving efforts.

"He was a hard-driving businessman but he knew that you had to look at it from all sides," said Dennis Melin, one of his two partners at Vanguard.

Zimet grew and wasn't afraid to learn something new, said Christina McVie, a Northwest Side environmental activist.

"Michael wasn't your average-looking enviro. People listened to him when he spoke to the property-rights groups. He was very helpful in building a sense of trust and consensus in the community," McVie said.

Zimet is survived by his wife, Mona Hart of Tucson; his mother, Charlotte Zimet, and a sister, Beverly Sachs, both of Beverly Hills, Calif.; four sons: Jeffrey and Kenny, both of Tucson, Marc of Miami Beach, Fla., and Lynne of Miami, Fla.; and four grandchildren.

Services are at 11 a.m. Friday at East Lawn Palms Cemetery, 5801 E. Grant Road.

* Contact reporter Tony Davis at 806-7746 or tdavis@azstarnet.com.

Former Angleton ISD leader dies

By Jason Smith
The Facts

Published January 9, 2007

ANGLETON — Lynne Perryman is considered a prime example of what an educator is supposed to be.

Perryman, who rose from a classroom teacher to superintendent in her 29 years with Angleton ISD, died early Monday after a 31?2-year battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. She was 55.

“She was the ultimate example of an educator,” said Pat Montgomery, executive director of instruction at Angleton ISD. “She was involved in everything and loved helping everyone.”

Montgomery remembered Perryman helping a teacher who was in need of money to pay her bills while waiting for her first paycheck. It was going to be several weeks before she would get a paycheck, so Perryman gave her money out of her own pocket, Montgomery said.

Montgomery also credits Perryman with helping her get her doctorate.

“One of the best things she did was mentor to other people,” Montgomery said. “There is not an administrator in the district who didn’t receive support from her.”

Perryman grew up in Angleton and graduated from Angleton High School in 1969, the same year she helped the girls basketball team go to the state finals, Montgomery said. She went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas. She also received master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Houston.

She began her teaching career in 1973 with Brazosport ISD, but went back to her roots twoyears later and taught seventh-grade science at Angleton ISD. She would go on to be the director of gifted and talented education, then assistant superintendent in 1993 under Superintendent Herman Smith.

When Smith retired in 2002, she took his place, guiding the district through the transition from the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills to the tougher Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, on which the third-graders achieved exemplary status. She also helped balance the district’s budget in 2002 when state funding was cut by $1.1 million.

“She was very well respected in AISD,” said Linda Winder, a former teacher of Perryman and now an Angleton ISD trustee. “Lynne was a wonderful person.”

Perryman stepped down from her position as superintendent in 2004 for medical reasons.

“People in education have an incredible opportunity to teach people and that is what she was about,” said Dr. Mark Bonnen, a close friend.

Perryman taught Bonnen in her seventh-grade science class and also was a close friend to his wife, Bonnen said.

“It was difficult to go places with her where she didn’t run into someone she knew,” Bonnen said.

Funeral services will be at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, 227 S. Chenango in Angleton. Perryman asked that memorial donations be made to the A-Team Scholarship, in memory of Lynne B. Perryman, 1900 N Downing Road, Angleton, TX 77515.

Fort Lauderdale Firefighter Led Battle Against Disease To The End
January 10, 2007


Florida - During 14 years as a Fort Lauderdale firefighter, John W. Bruce always collected donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, a charity supported by firefighters nationwide. He never thought he would call on the organization for help.
But three years ago, Bruce was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, a degenerative muscular condition. What started as a numbness in his hand eventually left him unable to walk or speak.

Still, Bruce continued to raise money for the MDA, inspiring firefighters around Florida to do the same.

Bruce died of the disease Friday. He was 42.

"John touched so many lives, fighting fires and fighting the disease," said Assistant Chief Stephen McInerny. "He was an amazing man."

Bruce had two great loves in life: his wife, Michelle, and the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department.

The son of a Fort Lauderdale police officer who was killed in the line of duty, he began fighting fires in January 1992.

"John wasn't afraid of anything," said Battalion Chief Bob Simac, who worked with Bruce for more than a decade. "He was always the first to respond to any emergency."

Bruce's colleagues still talk about a blaze that ripped through a home in February 2000. That morning, Bruce and Lt. Josef Majer rescued an 82-year-old disabled man from the kitchen. They escaped moments before the concrete roof collapsed.

Off duty, Bruce enjoyed preparing pulled pork and barbecue chicken sandwiches at department events, friends said. And each Labor Day, he helped the department collect for the Muscular Dystrophy Association -- a tradition among firefighters nationwide.

"He was our unsung hero," said Kim Van Sant, a firefighter and close friend. "He never wanted to take any of the credit. He just served others."

Three years ago, Bruce was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the condition known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The disorder is in the same family as muscular dystrophy.

He began to rely on the MDA, which provided him with clinical care, therapy and support, friends said.

As his body withered, Bruce visited firehouses across the country to raise awareness about the disease. He urged firefighters nationwide to participate in the Labor Day drive.

Last summer, he set a lofty goal for his own department: He wanted Fort Lauderdale to raise more money for the MDA than any other department in country.

In years past, the department had raised between $10,000 and $20,000. This summer, Fort Lauderdale firefighters raised about $102,000, Van Sant said.

It was enough to win them the top honor.

After almost two years on disability leave, Bruce retired on Nov. 8, 2006. By then, the disease had rendered him unable to walk or speak.

During his final months, firefighters went to Bruce's Oakland Park home for regular visits. The firefighters kept him company and told him what was going on in the department.

Most of the time, Bruce already knew. He kept a fire department radio at his house so he could listen to calls.

"People thought we visited John to make him feel better," Simac said. "But truth is, we visited John to benefit ourselves, too. We were lucky to know him."

The funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Amaturo Theatre at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Written by The Miami Herald
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Andrew C. Olson
RINDGE, N.H. — Andrew C. Olson, 45, of Butternut Lane, Rindge, N.H., died January 2, 2007, after a long and courageous battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease).

He was born on May 18, 1961, in Winchendon Mass., a son of Michael and Elaine (Seppala) Olson. He attended Conant High School and lived in Rindge all of his life.

A self-employed construction worker, he operated heavy equipment.

Members of his family include his wife of 27 years, Sandra (Holombo) Olson; two sons, Bryce and Chaz Olson of Rindge; three daughters, Rochelle and Joel Blanton of South Carolina, Heidi and Josiah Blanton of Washington, and Cheyanne Olson of Rindge; three brothers; seven sisters; a grandson, Liam Blanton; and his mother, Elaine Olson.

Services were held January 7, 2007, in New Hampshire.
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EDWARD ELSENER

Edward J. Elsener, 79, died Jan. 8. He was a sheet metal worker.

He was a Marine Corps veteran.

Survived by wife Joan Elsener; children Marilyn Stemann, Marsha Martini, Mark Elsener, Mary Kay Sunderhaus; grandchildren Curt, Sandy, Michelle, Scott, Thea, Seth, Ben, Abby, Alex; Charles Elsener, Bert Schamer; siblings seven great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by brother Gus Elsener.

Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at St. Teresa of Avila. Arrangements by B.J. Meyer Sons Funeral Home. Memorials to: St. Vincent de Paul Pantry, 1125 Bank St., Cincinnati, OH 45214 or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Western Ohio Chapter, 1810 MacKenzie Drive, Suite 120, Columbus, OH 43220.

Local teacher 'free at last'
Click-2-Listen
By By Rick McCrabb

Staff Writer

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

WEST CHESTER TWP. — Her obituary wasn't the final chapter in Lois "Tot" Schultz Ashworth's life.

Ashworth, 12 days shy of her 62nd birthday, died Saturday after a 31/2-year battle against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease.


During her Monday afternoon memorial service — fittingly called "My Life In Song" – her contributions to Middletown, where she lived, and West Chester Twp., where she worked, were celebrated through music, memories and an emotional slide show.

The pews at West Chester Church of the Nazarene were packed with family, friends and former students.

One person said after the service: "I'm going to put the program with my will. I want something like this when I die."

Music filled the church before the service, and, nearly an hour later, as pallbearers wheeled Ashworth's casket up the aisle, her family members continued to sing.

The Rev. Virgil Applegate, who called himself Ashworth's "spiritual daddy," said she always helped others, and through her fight against the incurable ALS, showed "courage and inspiration."

Later, he referred to Ashworth as "a shining star that will never quit shining."

Ann Mincey, one of Ashworth's three sisters, carried a basket of stones to the podium. Each stone, she said, represented a part of her sister's life: faith, family and fun. But when paying tribute to Ashworth, there was no way to separate the three.

That's when Mincey displayed one large rock.

"She is very much alive," Mincey said. "She has taken her first heavenly breath."

And once in heaven, Mincey knew the first person her sister would seek.

"She's up there right now talking to Dr. Martin Luther King," Mincey said. "She's saying, 'Free at last. Free at last.'"

Ashworth taught in the Lakota Local School District for 30 years, retiring in 2000. Paul Carpenter, now an adult, represented all of Ashworth's former students.

He said Ashworth was his second-grade teacher at Adena Elementary School. He remembered a day when a bully threatened to beat him up — at the red monkey bars — but before the confrontation, he was comforted by Ashworth.

She hugged Paul and assured him of his safety.

"My confidence started that day," he said.

As Sam Ashworth, Lois' companion for 21 years and her husband for 10 years, stepped to the podium, he asked the overflow crowd to "take a deep breath, please."

He pulled out a tissue, and said his wife promised to give him strength at her memorial service.

"She's not helping me at all," Ashworth said.

He broke down again, then before walking away, said, "She will never stop singing."

He was greeted with a standing ovation. Lois Virginia "Tot" Schultz Ashworth, the woman with a personality to match her many names, probably put down her heavenly hymn book, and joined the congregation.


Contact this

columnist

at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.

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Eugene Nelson


ARVADA, Colo. — Eugene Nelson, 86, formerly of Anderson, died Jan. 16, 2007 of Lou Gehrig’s disease.

He worked at Delco Remy and served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. He worked for Kiebler Bakery in Denver until he retired.

Survivors include his wife, Benarda; son, Dan; two daughters, Barbara and Carla; and his sister, Virginia Thomason.

Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Visitation will be Monday at Olinger Crown Hill, 7777 W. 29th Ave., Wheat Ridge, Colo.

Brel's muse Madeleine dies
22/01/2007 15:47 - (SA)



Paris - A former model who inspired one of Belgian singer Jacques Brel's best-loved songs, Madeleine, has died by assisted suicide to escape the ravages of a neurological disease, French newspapers reported on Monday.

The 69 year-old woman - whose name was only given a Madeleine Z - swallowed a cocktail of drugs on January 12 at her home in Alicante, Spain, after taking advice from the Spanish association Right to Die with Dignity (DMD), newspapers said.

Brel wrote his classic song in 1962 about waiting with a bunch of lilies for a cinema date with a girl who fails to turn up.

Half-Jewish, Madeleine Z narrowly escaped deportation during World War II and afterwards frequented Paris's thriving jazz-club scene, where she met Brel and sang with him when he performed in prisons and hospitals.

She later said that an occasion when she stood him up for a date was the inspiration for his song.