Tributes 2009-12-23

Cora Irene Brown, 86

YOUNGSTOWN – Services will be Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, at noon at the Third Baptist Church for Mrs. Cora Irene Brown, 86, who entered eternal rest on Friday, Dec. 18, 2009.

Mrs. Brown was born March 30, 1923 in Forest Home, Ala., a daughter of Cleveland and Anna Lee Carter Waters.

On May 10, 1941, Cora married Rogers W. Brown, who went home to be with the Lord Feb. 11, 1978. This union was blessed with three daughters, who will cherish her precious memory, Ms. Ann Mayer of Los Angeles, Ms. Myrtle Brown-Freeman of Cleveland and Ms. Sarah Brown-Clark of Youngstown

Mrs. Brown was a loving mother, who embraced her daughter’s friends as well as any other children or young people with whom she came into contact. She extended this same love and compassion to her grandchildren and their friends.

She was a member of the Third Baptist Church, where she was a member of The Crusaders Sunday School Class. Mrs. Brown also served on the Usher Board for more than 50 years, was a member of the Ladies Aide Society, the Women’s Work Committee, the Trustee’s Wives and Missionary Circle No. 3. She was a member of Covenant Chapter No. 48 O.E.S., the Vogue Bridge Club and the NAACP.

She was employed by the Mahoning County Children Service Board and Gateways to Better Living prior to her retirement.

She also leaves to treasure her memory five grandchildren, Rajah Abdullah of Youngstown, Lester Clark of Cleveland, Lesli (Jeremy) Brower of Westchester, Stephani Clark of Atlanta and Ebonie (Vaughn) Charles of Miami; nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren will miss her loving touch. She leaves two sisters, Mrs. Mary Ella Lewis, Forest Home, Ala. and Mrs. Maude Louise Carter of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; four brothers, Claude (Ernestine) Waters of Youngstown, Joe Louis Waters of Niagara Falls, Jordan (Sarah) Waters of Forest Home and Conrad Waters of Philadelphia.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Cleveland Jr. and Henry and Booker T. Waters; and four sisters, Mrs. Helen Adams, Mrs. Evelyn Jackson, Miss Carrie Waters and Mrs. Anna Wilson.

Friends may call Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the L. E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home, where memorial services will be held by the Order of Eastern Star at 6:30 p.m.

Friends may also call from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, Dec. 28, at the Third Baptist Church.

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Walton Shively, 94

AUSTINTOWN - A funeral Service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009, at 10 a.m. at the Ohltown United Methodist Church, with Pastor Vern Shepherd officiating, for Walton Shively, 94, who passed away on Monday, Dec. 21, 2009, at 2 p.m. at his home.

Walt was born Nov. 18, 1915 in Ohltown, the son of the late Walton John and Sarah (Miles) Shively, and was a graduate of Austintown Fitch High School in 1934.

Walt furthered his education from Youngstown College with a bachelor’s degree in 1939 and from Westminster College with a master’s degree in 1954 in education.

Walt served his country in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II in the South Pacific, reaching the rank of Captain with the 13th Air Force 868th Bomb Squadron and was part of the “Snoopers.”

Walt began his teaching career at Austintown local schools in 1940, and then served as Principal at Lloyd Elementary School from 1955 until his retirement in the summer of 1979.

Walt was a member of the Ohltown United Methodist Church, where he was treasurer for the trustees and also treasurer for the Sunday School Program. Walt was a member of the Austintown Retired Teachers and served on the Board of the AES Credit Union. He enjoyed stamp collecting and gardening.

Walt will be missed by his wife of 57 years, the former Genevieve Taylor, whom he married on Dec. 29, 1951; two children, Merabeth (Robert) Steffen of Rogers and William W. “Guy” (Kary) Shively of Austintown; and two grandchildren, Miles Steffen and Linsy T. Shively.

Besides his parents, Walt was preceded in death by a brother, Willis Shively.

The family will receive friends today, Dec. 23, 2009, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lane Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel and again on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009, from 9 a.m. until the hour of service at the church.

The family suggests that memorial contributions take the form of donations to the Ohltown United Methodist Church, 2001 Ohltown Road, Mineral Ridge, OH 44440.

Family and friends may visit www.lanefuneralhomes.com to view this obituary and send condolences.

Dorothy Takach, 95

DERBY, KAN. – Dorothy Takach, 95, homemaker, peacefully passed into the arms of our loving Lord on Dec. 20, 2009.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Takach and brother, John Martin.

She is survived by her daughters, Pat Stratford of Derby and Deborah Takach of Los Angeles; brothers, Earl, Marl and Roy Martin, all of Ohio; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren. She will be dearly missed.

Private services have been held.

Please visit watsonfuneral.com to share memories of Dorothy.

Cheryl J. Thomas, 54

VIENNA – Cheryl J. Thomas, 54, of 1780 Sodom-Hutchings Road, went home early to be with her son, Brent for Christmas, at 12:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 21, 2009, at Hospice House in Poland.

Cheryl was born in Warren on Oct. 10, 1955, a daughter to C. Allen and H. Pauline (Thompson) McElrath.

A 1974 graduate of Mathews High School in Vienna, she and her family were proud to own and operate Something Special Blooms & Gifts Floral Shop in Austintown, for over 16 years. She also worked as a bartender at Papa Louie’s Italian Kitchen and Motocross Café in Brookfield, and most recently in the call center for Alltel in Boardman.

She attended the Victory Christian Center in Coitsville Campus, was a member to the Brookfield Saddle Club and Inter-County Horse Association, group leader for the Trumbull County 4H, worked with the homeless at the Mahoning Valley Rescue Mission and helped care for pregnant teens at the New Life Maternity Home in Vienna. In her spare time, she enjoyed riding her horses, Cody and Tess, and playing with her dogs.

Survivors include her mother, Pauline of Vienna; her daughter, Michelle L. Sherman and her husband, Dylan, Pinellas Park, Fla.; her sister, Karen Kazear and her husband, Doug of Vienna; her brother, Teddy Bryant of Weathersfield Township; her grandson, Gavin Majecic; her granddaughter, Emma Grace Sherman; her niece and nephew, Leandra and Jeremy Kazear; plus her extended family and countless friends.

She was preceded in death by her father; her son, Brent Majecic; her paternal grandparents, Clint and Ruth (Denny) McElrath; and her stepfather, Richard Grossman.

Calling hours for Cheryl will be Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Blackstone Funeral Home, 672 Churchill Road in Girard.

A service will follow immediately at 7 p.m. with family friend, Deanna Hosey, presiding.

The family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to the Outreach Ministries, 9025 49^th St., Pinellas Park, FL, 33782 or to the Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland, OH 44514.

Coordination of this tribute for Cheryl will be presented by the Daniel Briceland of Briceland Funeral Service LLC. (330)509-3135.