John F. Boyle
MOUNT VERNON — John F. Boyle, 85, of Parrott Street, Mount Vernon, died Feb. 20, 2004, at Knox Community Hospital.

He was born June 10, 1918, in Mount Vernon to John F. and Ollie (Dial) Boyle Sr. He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and was a U.S. Coast Guard veteran of World War II.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Margene (Chadwick) Boyle; a daughter, Mariea Francis of Lexington; a sister, Monica Chadwick of Mount Vernon; three nieces; and one nephew.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a son, John F. Boyle III, in 1993.
There will be no calling hours. The funeral will be Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. The Rev. Ted Thomas will officiate. Burial with military honors by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will be in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens. The North-Dilley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Knox County Humane Society, 400 Columbus Road, Mount Vernon 43050.

Josephine M. Dager
UTICA — Josephine M. Dager, 89, of Utica died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Feb. 19, 2004.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Mary Farage; her husband, Charles; four sisters, Selma Katter, Hazel Sowma, Frances Etoll and Amelia Olmsted; and a brother, Fred Farage.

She is survived by her daughter, Maureen Dager Frysinger; son, Joseph (Tatla) Dager; son, Michael Dager and Harvey Shapiro; a sister-in-law, Hanna Dager; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Growing up in Indianapolis, Ind., she graduated from St. Mary’s Academy. Soon after, she married Charles Dager, president of Velvet Ice Cream, Utica. After his death at age 42, she continued as a driving force in the business, working daily with her sons and daughter until 2001.

She actively supported her community and church and was involved in the Utica Historical Society, Newark Soroptimist and Church of the Nativity. Known widely as a proud, hospitable and gentle woman, she was also an astute businessperson and world traveler. Yet, the focus of her life always remained the family.

In her final days, she continued to display strength and dignity, passing peacefully surrounded by her family.

A funeral liturgy will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of the Nativity, 126 N. Main St., Utica, with the Rev. Stephen Metzger and Paul Faroh officiating. Burial will follow in South Lawn Cemetery.

Friends may call Sunday from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Law-Baker Funeral Home, 34 N. Main St., Utica.

Memorial contributions may be made to Utica Historical Society, 45 N. Main St., Utica 43080; or Hospice of Central Ohio, 1984-A Coffman Road, Newark 43055.

Connie S. Hand
MOUNT VERNON — Connie S. Hand, 51, died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004, at Knox Community Hospital.

She was a reading teacher for Northridge School District and a member of the Columbus Mennonite Church.

She is survived by her husband, Richard E. Hand of Mount Vernon; stepsons, Eric and Matthew Hand; her mother, Esther Smith of Centerburg; and her mother-in-law, Ruth E. Hand of Columbus.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Heather Hand; her father, Glen Smith; and a sister, Cathy Smith.

Family will receive friends Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Long Funeral Home, 5528 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, one block south of Ohio 161. Funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at the Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 E. Oakland Park Ave., Columbus. The Rev. Joyce Wise will officiate. Interment will be in Union Cemetery.

Jane Hurlow
MOUNT VERNON — Jane Hurlow, 79, of Murray Road, Mount Vernon, passed away Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, at Country Court Nursing Center.

Friends may call Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home, where funeral service will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.
A full obituary will be published in Monday’s edition of the News. This obituary and guest registry can be viewed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

John E. Nesbit Jr.
DAVENPORT, Fla. — John E. Nesbit Jr., 74, of Davenport, Fla., died at his home Jan. 31, 2004.

He was born Aug. 21, 1929, in West Union, Ohio. He resided in Mount Vernon and Newark, before retiring to Florida. He was a veteran of the Korean War. He was a past commander of the American Legion in Mount Vernon and a member of the VFW in Mount Vernon. He was a member of the Citrus Ridge Neighborhood Association board of directors in Davenport, Fla.

Mr. Nesbit is survived by his wife, Martha J. Nesbit; daughters, Pam Lichtenauer of Heath, Connie (Loni) Ring of Convoy; daughter-in-law, Beth Nesbit of Mount Vernon; stepson, Steve (Bonnie) Cooksey of Heath; stepdaughter, Brenda (Tom) Walker of Newark; sisters, Martha (Don) Fogg of Phoenix, Ariz., Rose (Jack) Clem of Johnstown; brother, Herald Nesbit of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Maude Nesbit; and a son, John E. Nesbit III.

A memorial service will be Sunday, Feb. 22, at 3 p.m. at the Utica Presbyterian Church, Main Street, Utica.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Reese Adult Day Center, 123 S. Third St., Newark.

Mary L. Smith
SUNBURY — Mary L. Smith, 69, of Sunbury died Feb. 19, 2004, at St. Ann’s Hospital, Westerville.

She was born May 17, 1934, in Olive Hill, Ky.., to Earl and Bertha (Kegley) Porter. Mary had been a Sunbury-Condit area resident for over 50 years. She had worked as a bus driver for Hickory Knoll Schools, was a care provider to anyone in need, and had also worked at the North/South Truck Stop.

She is survived by children, Tricia Smith of Delaware, Shirley Smith, Lois Smith, Michael Smith, Brenda Smith, and James Smith, all of Sunbury, Paulette Squires of Chesterville; special grandchildren including Terri Franklin, Devon, Malissa Crawford, Rusty, Tony Krinn, Jarrod Morgan, Natasha, Kyle Squires, April, Samantha, Jerimia, B.J. Smith, Hillary Marhover, Randy McGowan; 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by sons, Johnny E. Smith, Billy J. Smith; and brother, Virgil Porter.

Friends may call Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Ohio 3 at 61, Sunbury, where funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. Chaplain David Loynachan will officiate. Burial will follow in Trengon Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Ruth A. Stricker
SEBRING, Fla. — Ruth A. (McKenzie) Stricker, 80, passed away Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004, in Sebring, Fla.

She was an executive secretary in banking, of the Methodist faith and had been a resident of Avon Park, Fla. since 1994 coming from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

She is survived by her son, David Charles (Betty N.) Cornell of Avon Park, Fla.; a sister, Betty Little of Mount Vernon; a brother, Frederick McKenzie of Ryssells Point; grandchildren, Christopher Cornell and Connie Cornell, both of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and great-grandchildren, Travis and Brian.

Cremation arrangements were handled by the Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home in Avon Park, Fla.