Obituaries
Donna Sue Montgomery
Jul 8, 2024
Donna Sue Montgomery (née Stacey), 79, passed away peacefully on July 8, 2024, in Portsmouth, Ohio. Born on February 11, 1945, in Staffordsville, Kentucky and raised by Estill and Lorene Stacey. Donna grew up to embody the virtues of kindness and humor, which endeared her to many throughout her life.
Donna graduated from Portsmouth East High School and went on to...
Connie A. Lowder
Jul 1, 2024
Connie A. Lowder, 91, died on Monday, July 1, 2024, at the Southern Ohio Medical Center. Born on April 4, 1933, in Morehead, KY, she was a daughter of the late Harrison and Lillie Rakes Click.
Connie was a 1951 Graduate of Morehead High School and attended the Central Church of Christ.
She was also preceded in death by her husbands, Elton...
Jason Patrick Sparks
Jun 24, 2024
Jason Patrick Sparks, 43, of Portsmouth, died Monday, June 24, 2024, at his home after an extended illness. Born on August 27, 1980, he was a son of Teresa (Jeff) and Brian (Johnnie) Sparks.
Also surviving are his son, Dylan John Sparks, a sister, Brianna (Chris)Sparks, a brother, Devin Sparks, nephews, Bryson and Gage, along with many loving family and friends.
Jason...
Michael Elbert Cummings
Jun 18, 2024
Michael E. Cummings, 73, of West Portsmouth, died Tuesday evening with his family by his bedside at the SOMC Hospice Center. Born on April 23, 1951, in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Lloyd and Lilly Flake Cummings and was a self-employed flooring contractor.
Mike enjoyed watching his Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Browns and those westerns that everyone watches....
Katherine Marie Stapleton
Jun 17, 2024
Katherine Marie Stapleton passed away on June 17, 2024, at The Ohio State Medical Center, surrounded by her devoted family and friends. Born on November 3, 1980, in Portsmouth, she was a daughter of Darrell Lee Stapleton and Kimberly McCann Stapleton, who survive.
Preceding her in death were her grandparents, Robert and Betty McCann and Jack and Janet Stapleton.
Kat is also...
Larry Ray Neal
Jun 15, 2024
Larry Ray Neal, 77, died Saturday, June 15, 2024. Born on October 17, 1946, in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Harold Neal, Sr. and Belvia Gibson Neal. Ray was a 1965 graduate of East High School and served in the Army during the Viet Nam War.
Also preceding him in death was his wife of 56 years, Sharon...
Elizabeth Irene Crum
Jun 13, 2024
Elizabeth Crum, 85, of Portsmouth, died Thursday morning, June 13, 2024, at SOMC Hospice Center. Born on September 13, 1938, in Sciotoville, she was a daughter of the late Jefferson and Irene Womack Crum.
Elizabeth was of the Nazarene faith and a former secretary for Owens Illinois in Columbus.
Also preceding her in death were two brothers, Asbury Crum and Jack Crum...
Jim "Snuffy" Smith
Jun 11, 2024
James H. Smith, of Sciotoville, known to most as “Snuffy”, died unexpectantly on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Born in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Arthur Marion Smith and Helen Templeman Smith and was a retired teacher.
A 1959 graduate of East High School, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in 1963 and master’s degree in 1967, both from Ohio...
Michael C. Slack
May 21, 2024
Michael C. Slack I, 69, went to be with his Savior from his home while sitting in his rocker on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Born on June 10, 1954, he was a son of Arva and Sara Floyd Slack and was a lifetime member of Union Free Will Baptist Church where he was a trustee.
A...
Jill Ann Armstrong
May 19, 2024
Jill Armstrong, 53, formerly of Rosemount, died Sunday, May 19, 2024, at home. Born on February 15, 1971, in Portsmouth, she was a daughter of the late Donald and Lillian Hunter Armstrong and was a home health aide.
Jill graduated from East High School.
Surviving is her daughter, Kaitlyn (Luke Wright) Carver of Bradenton, Florida; a brother, Tom (Tammy Bostic) Armstrong of...
James F. Myers
May 16, 2024
James F. Myers, 53, of Portsmouth, died peacefully at his home on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Born on October 7, 1970, he was a son of Steven Myers and the late Bonnie Bayless Myers.
Jim was a locksmith and a graduate of Clay High School and Scioto County Vo-Tech.
Also preceding him in death was his “mom”, Joyce Myers.
Surviving is his father,...
Wayne Robert Workman
May 16, 2024
Wayne Robert Workman, 81, went to be with his Savior on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Southern Ohio Medical Center. Born on May 11, 1943, in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late James Bascom Workman and Thelma Watts Workman and was a retired supervisor for the New Boston Coke Plant.
A 1963 graduate of East High School, Bob...
Redanna Lynn Blevins
May 13, 2024
Redanna Lynn Blevins, 52, of Portsmouth, died on Monday, May 13, 2024, at the Edgewood Manor of Lucasville. Born on March 13, 1972, in Portsmouth, she was a daughter of the late Russell James and Deborah Johnson Stone.
Surviving are a son, Dwayne Blevins of Wheelersburg; a daughter, Sarah Stone of Portsmouth; a brother, Bryan Stone of Newark and six grandchildren,...
Ernest Lee McGraw
May 12, 2024
Ernest Lee McGraw, 81, of Portsmouth, died peacefully in his home on Sunday, May 12, 2024, with his daughter, Sherry Stevens, and son, Ricky McGraw by his side. Born on February 21, 1943, in Scioto County, he was a son of the late Jake and Delia Shover McGraw and was a former roofer for Pyles Roofing.
Also, preceding Lee in death...
Rhonda Jacqueline Bescoe
Apr 27, 2024
Rhonda Jacqueline Bescoe, 68, of Wheelersburg, died on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at the Hill View Healthcare Center. She was born on August 30, 1955, in Madison, WV.
Preceding Jackie in death were her mother, Texas Corenia Mickles, a daughter, Tabitha Bescoe and her stepfather, Melvin Joe Dingess.
Surviving are her husband, Karl M. Bescoe; three sons, Ricky Bescoe of Wheelersburg, Mark...
Ruth Ann Smith
Apr 23, 2024
Ruth Ann Smith, 81, of Sciotoville, died Tuesday, April 23, 2024, quietly at her home.Born on May 25, 1942, in Washington Township, she was a daughter of the late Paul William and Helen Mary Wilbert Weber and a graduate of Notre Dame.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, James Emert Smith and a son, Kenneth James Smith.
Surviving are...
Larry Eugene Hammond
Apr 15, 2024
Larry E. Hammond, 77, of Portsmouth, died Monday, April 15, 2024, in the emergency room at the Southern Ohio Medical Center. Born on April 29, 1946, in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Charles Newton and Mary Frances Damron Hammond and formerly employed with the Carpenter’s Union #437.
Brother Larry was affiliated with the Church of God in Cleveland,...
Rodney Joe Osborne
Apr 9, 2024
Rodney Joe Osborne, 43, of Sciotodale, died Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Mount Carmel Grove City, the result of a tragic accident. Born on March 13, 1981, in Portsmouth, he was a s13-year correction officer at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.
Lt. “Ozzy” was a member of the Honor Guard, the ODRC STAR (Special Tactics and Response) statewide, and just last...
Marilyn Jean Taylor
Mar 24, 2024
Marilyn Jean Taylor, 77, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, March 24, 2024, from the Southern Ohio Medical Center. Born on March 12, 1947, in Portsmouth, she was a daughter of the late C. Rodney Millhuff and Una Caudill Millhuff and was a member of Lucasville Church of God.
A 1965 graduate of East High School, she...
Max Richard Kinker
Mar 20, 2024
Max Richard Kinker, 88, of Wheelersburg, died Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Abbyshire Convalescent Center in Bidwell. Born on August 13, 1935, in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Harry Waldo Kinker and Mildred Lozier Kinker and was a former bank manager.
Max was of the Baptist faith, and was an avid fisherman, bowler, and golfer.
He was an...
