James Flowers Jr.
MOUNT VERNON — James R. “Junior” Flowers Jr., 48, of Pleasant Valley Road, Mount Vernon, passed away Friday afternoon, April 21, 2006, at his residence surrounded by his loving family following a courageous battle with cancer.

There will a gathering of family and friends celebrating Junior’s life on Saturday evening, April 22, 2006, at the family home, 10129 Pleasant Valley Road, Mount Vernon.

The completed obituary will appear in the Tuesday edition of the Mount Vernon News.

The Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home, 201 Newark Road, Mount Vernon, is caring for the family with these arrangements. To view this obituary or leave an online condolence to the family, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Virginia T. “Barb” Hoecker
MOUNT VERNON — Virginia T. “Barb” Hoecker, age 96, of East Vine St., Mount Vernon, passed away on Monday evening, April 17, 2006 at the Knox Community Hospital in Mount Vernon.

Virginia was born on August 6, 1909 in Elyria, Ohio, daughter of the late Winthrop and Edith (Whiting) Thatcher. Virginia was a 1930 graduate of Oberlin College and a 1932 graduate of Simmons College. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon for over 50 years. She was very active with the YMCA in Mount Vernon, serving in numerous positions on the Board of Directors from 1953 to 1969. She was also a member of the Old Homestead Club, and of the garden club; she was an accomplished league bowler and a golfer.

Surviving her are her loving children, Don and Doug Hoecker both of Pittsburgh, PA; Carol Maliza of Chicago, IL; and four grandchildren, Amy, Marc, Robin, and Johanes.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her devoted husband Dr. Robert H. Hoecker in 1976; a sister, Elinore Reark; and a brother, Everett Thatcher.

Virginia donated her body to the College of Medicine at the Ohio State University. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home, 619 East High St., Mount Vernon on May 20, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.

To view this obituary or to leave the family an online condolence, please visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Rhonda N. McFadden
FREDERICKTOWN — Rhonda Nadine McFadden, 50, died Saturday, April 15, 2006.

She was born Feb. 8, 1956, in Mansfield to Ashford and Nelfie (Hammonds) McFadden.

She is survived by her mother, Nelfie; children, Trudy, Jason and Stephanie McFadden, and Cameron Ferenbaugh; grandchildren, Breanna McFadden, Devon and Dawn Howland, and Ashton Ferenbaugh; and brothers and sisters, Tonya Goudy, Steve and Rick McFadden, and Sharon Elliott.

A graveside service will be held Monday, April 24, at 1 p.m. in the Workman Cemetery. Terry DeWitt will officiate. The Fischer Funeral Home in Danville is handling the arrangements; www.fischerfuneralhome.com.

The family requests donations be made in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 515, Danville, OH 43014, to help with expenses.

Lois Ann Yates
HOWARD — Lois Ann Yates, 68, of Apple Valley Drive, Howard, passed away Thursday, April 20, 2006, at her home, following an extended illness.

She was born May 30, 1937, in Mount Vernon, the daughter of James and Eleanor (Lyons) Rice. Lois was retired from the Woodland Park School District in Woodland Park, Colo., where she had been employed as a bookkeeper for 22 years. She was a member of the Amity United Methodist Church.

Lois is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Kenneth Yates, whom she married Dec. 18, 1954; two sons, Randall Lee (Jill) Yates of Westerville and Brian Jay (Tracey) Yates of Colorado Springs, Colo.; four grandchildren, Kristin, Eric, Ashley and Jenny Yates; a great-granddaughter, Addylin Nicole Yates; five step-grandchildren, Sarah, David, Rachael, Daniel and Bethany; and a stepgreat-grandson, Isaac.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Kenneth Dean Rice.

A memorial service will be Monday, April 24, at 11 a.m. at the Amity United Methodist Church, with Brother Philip McMurrin officiating. These services are under the care and direction of the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon.

If so desired, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Knox County, 17700 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. To view this obituary and to leave an online condolence, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.