Obituaries

Apr 3, 2025

Pamela Best, age 69, a resident of Portland, passed away on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at IU Health Ball Hospital in Muncie.

Pam was born November 20, 1955, in Portland, Indiana, the daughter of Reginald and Lois (Craig) Gillum.  She worked at Walmart in Portland for 17 years.

Survivors include:

Her children:  Phillip...

Apr 3, 2025

Thomas M. Harriett, age 84, a resident of Bloomington, IN, passed away on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Bloomington. He was a former long-time resident of Pennville.

Tom was born on March 16, 1941, the son of Donald and Maxine (Polley) Harriett. He attended school in Pennville and graduated from Pennville High School in 1959. He later...

Apr 1, 2025

Dennis “Mudd” Emery, age 47, a resident of Portland, passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at IU Health Jay in Portland.

Dennis was born August 13, 1977, in Portland, Indiana, the son of Harry and Erma (Gilbert) Emery.  He was a graduate of Jay County High School and worked at Tyson Foods in Portland.  He loved...

Mar 26, 2025

Lois J. Beck, age 95, a former resident of Portland, passed away on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at IU Health Ball Hospital in Muncie.

Lois was born January 14, 1930, in Portland, Indiana, the daughter of Floyd and Treva (Arnold) Hutchens.  Lois retired from Jay School Corporation and was a Portland Optimist Club member and Red Hatter. ...

Mar 24, 2025

Thomas Eley, age 78, a resident of Portland, passed away on Monday, March 24, 2025 at his home.

Thomas was born March 2, 1947, in Portland, Indiana, the son of Martin and Ruth (Evans) Eley.  Thomas was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne from 1966-1968.  While in the Army he...

Mar 23, 2025

Marilyn J. Smith, age 93, a resident of Portland, passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at IU Health Jay in Portland.

Marilyn was born April 20, 1931, in rural Ridgeville, the daughter of Virgil and Ina (Bourke) Platt.  She was a member of the Ladies of the Moose in Portland and enjoyed playing bingo.  Marilyn married...

Mar 20, 2025

Carolyn Reynard age 69, a resident of Redkey, passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at her home.  Carolyn was born on August 13, 1955 in Winchester, Indiana the daughter of John D Garringer and Hazel (Caylor) Pitman.

Carolyn worked for Mobile Medical in Decatur for several years, and enjoyed playing Bingo.  Carolyn married Geoffrey Reynard on...

Mar 13, 2025

Mary Lou Hammond, age 70, a resident of rural Dunkirk, passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie.

Mary Lou was born February 28, 1955, the daughter of Jack Ford and Ruth (Merchant) Prouty.  She was raised by Harold and Ruth Prouty.  Mary Lou devoted her life to her family...

Mar 9, 2025

Ida Berniece Wayman, age 89, a resident of Portland, passed away on Sunday, March 9, 2025 at IU Health Ball Hospital in Muncie.  She was a former resident of Pennville.

Ida was born June 9, 1935, in Lebanon, Missouri, the daughter of Emmit and Pearl May (Eilestine) Rippy.  She married Hubert Wayman, Jr. on November 25, 1955...

Mar 1, 2025

Becky Howell, age 73, a resident of Portland, passed away on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at Reid Hospital in Richmond.

Becky was born on January 20, 1952, in Portland, Indiana, the daughter of Walter and Patricia (Stewart) Howell.  Becky worked in home care for JRDS, and was a member of Winchester Church of Christ.

Survivors...

Feb 27, 2025

Donna Imel, age 93, a resident of Portland, passed away Thursday, February 27, 2025 at her home in Portland.

Donna was born August 27, 1931 in Adams County, Indiana the daughter of Orlando and Rose Marie (Fairchild) Brunner. She worked for Jay Garment for 9 years and then was a homemaker.

Donna married Carl Imel...

Feb 23, 2025

Jereldene Fuller, age 79, a resident of Portland, passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at IU Health Jay Hospital in Portland.

Jereldene was born September 16, 1945 in Portland, Indiana, the daughter of Louis and Lela (Bollenbacher) Myers.  She worked at Burger Chef and Ft. Recovery Industries for many years. Jereldene was a member of the...

Feb 22, 2025

Hunter Lairson, age 23, a resident of Portland, passed away on Saturday, February 22, 2025 following an automobile accident.

Hunter was born October 4, 2001, in Muncie, Indiana, the son of Aaron Lairson and Jennifer (Shawver) Dalrymple.  Hunter worked at Velco in Coldwater, Ohio.  Hunter enjoyed watching Duke’s of Hazard, taking walks and spending time with family. ...

Feb 20, 2025

Debbie Wilhelm, age 60, a resident of Portland, passed away on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Debbie was born March 19, 1964, in Rensselaer, Indiana, the daughter of Richard and Earlene (Rowe) Lovely.  She earned her Master’s Degree in teaching and taught locally for several grades.   Debbie married Joseph Rushing on July...

Feb 19, 2025

Ruth Kemp “Little Grandma”, age 103, a resident of Portland, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at IU Health Jay Hospital.

Ruth was born February 16, 1922, in Darke County, Ohio, the daughter of Noah and Evelyn (Brining) Nisonger.  Ruth married William Kenneth Kemp on April 9, 1938 and he passed away on September 6, 2002....

Feb 14, 2025

Mary R. Denney, age 98, a resident of Ridgeville, passed away Friday, February 14, 2025 at The Woodlands Nursing Home in Muncie, Indiana.

Mary was born on June 22, 1926 in Redkey, Indiana the daughter of Ervin and Grace (Berry) Cummings. Mary worked for Jay County Hospital in Portland, and Karr Canning Company in Redkey. She was...

Feb 13, 2025

Gregory “Porky” Bergman, age 71, a resident of Portland, passed away Thursday, February 13, 2025 at his home.

Porky was born December 18, 1953 in Celina, Ohio the son of Walter and Kathryn (Vonderhyde) Bergman. Porky retired as a truck driver at Cooper Farms. Throughout Porky’s life he enjoyed hauling livestock, raising and training horses, wheeling and...

Feb 12, 2025

Larry Jackson, age 86, a former resident of Portland, passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at Albany Health and Rehabilitation in Albany, Indiana.

Larry was born July 1, 1938 the son of Lester and Mabel Kaderly. Larry retired from Teledyne Portland Forge in Portland after 30 years of service. He was a member of the Portland Moose,...

Feb 11, 2025

Eugene “Gene” Henizer, age 60, a resident of Pennville, passed away on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at IU Health Ball Hospital in Muncie.

Gene was born January 1, 1965, in Portland, Indiana, the son of Ralph Henizer and Patty (Boyd) Newton.  He graduated from Jay County High School and worked for Coca-Cola in Portland.  He married Georgia...

Feb 6, 2025

Ruth Gillett, age 104, a resident of Portland, passed away on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at IU Health Jay Hospital in Portland.

Ruth was born April 1, 1920, in Portland, Indiana, the daughter of Albert and Birdie (Mangus) Degler.  She graduated from Portland High School and married Harold Gillett on February 16, 1940.  They were married 68...