John Forrest Nelson, 51, of Washington, W.Va.,
passed away Oct. 19, 2008, at the Arbors of
Marietta.
He was born Aug. 29, 1957, at Barberton, Ohio,
a son of Ruth E. Smith Nelson of Washington
and the late Forrest C. Nelson Jr.
John was a 1976 graduate of PSHS, was a self-
employed handyman and had served in the United
States Army from 1980-1987.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by
his brother, Herbert Nelson of Washington;
children, Victor, Eric Scott, Wendy, John Jr.,
Megan and Morgan; and nieces, Jessica and
Sarah Nelson.
There will be no services or visitation.
Cremation services are being provided by Kimes
Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 521 Fifth
St., Parkersburg.
Dorothy Jean Modesitt
Parkersburg, WV
Dorothy Jean Modesitt, 68, of Parkersburg
passed away Oct. 15, 2008, at Camden-Clark
Memorial Hospital.
She was born in Wood County, a daughter of the
late Lawrence and Eva Ellen Bell. She had
formerly worked for Winans Janitorial Services.
Survivors include two sons, Richard W.
Modesitt of Parkersburg and David Lee Modesitt
of Harrisville; four daughters, Libby Parker,
Barbara Terrell, Donna Bailey and Vicky
McNemar, all of Parkersburg; a sister, Wanda
Mullen of Davisville; 21 grandchildren;
several great- and great-great-grandchildren;
and her companion, Ralph Blessing.
She was preceded in death by a son, Ricky
Modesitt; a brother, Roger Bell; and a sister,
Rose Sprouse.
The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday
at Kimes Funeral Home, 521 Fifth St.,
Parkersburg, with Pastor Michael Seebaugh
officiating. There will be a visitation and
viewing from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral
home.
Edna Alice Lowers Hewitt
Parkersburg, WV
Edna Alice Lowers Hewitt, 97, of Parkersburg
and Lubeck passed away peacefully on Oct. 10,
2008, at the Ohio Valley Health Care Center
where she was surrounded by her loving family.
She had been a resident at Ohio Valley for the
past 10 months. She was born Sept. 1, 1911, in
Lubeck, a daughter of the late William David
and Mary Ann Davis Lowers. Edna was a long
time and the oldest living member of the
Lauckport United Methodist Church where she
served as a pianist for many years, was a
member of the United Methodist Women and had
taught Sunday school. She was a former
employee of American Viscose Corp. and had
worked the election polls for several years.
Surviving are three sons, Richard C. (Donna)
Hewitt of Lubeck, C. Ronald (Lu) Hewitt of
Parkersburg and Jim (Mary Lou) Hewitt of
Belpre; three daughters, Ina Vee (Butch)
Ellison of Parkersburg, Nancy (David) Menges
of Washington, W.Va. and Jenny (Bill) Lowers
of Lubeck; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-
grandchildren; three great-great-
grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy
R. Hewitt in 1969; a son-in-law, Ray Morelock;
three brothers, Ora B. Lowers, Rensy Lowers
and Chester Lowers; her sister, Goldie Sams;
and two great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be 2 p.m. Monday at
the Lauckport United Methodist Church on
Camden Avenue. Reverends Ken Nolan and Norman
Butler will officiate and burial will follow
at Sunset Memory Gardens. The visitation will
be from 2-8 p.m. today at Kimes Funeral Home,
521 Fifth St. Parkersburg and one hour prior
to service Monday at the church.
The family would like to thank the Ohio Valley
Health Care Center for the love and care shown
to our mother during her residence there.
Ruth Ann Burgy Hale
Parkersburg, WV
Ruth Ann Burgy Hale, 81, of Parkersburg passed
away Oct. 9, 2008, following a brief illness.
Ruth Ann was born in Parkersburg on Aug. 3,
1927, to Clark and Ethel Lounette (Swartz)
Burgy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her
husband, Dorr E. "Bill" Hale Sr. in 1989;
children, Marsha June (1948) and Kenneth Lee
(1956); granddaughters, Michelle Leigh
Wilcoxen (1979) and Laura Maureen Wilcoxen
(1985); brothers, Harold and Bud Burgy; and
sister, Mary A. Biddle.
Surviving are her children, Gloria Giering
(John) of Kettering, Ohio, Dorr "Bill" Hale
Jr. (Jennifer) of Wagener, S.C., Ronald Hale
(Jill) of Lisbon, Ohio, Dr. Michael Hale
(Cathy) of Parkersburg and Janet Wilcoxen
(Mark) of Parkersburg; grandchildren,
Ron "Chip" Saunders (Angi), Lori Saunders, Dr.
William "Bill" Hale, Marcia Wilcoxen Carter
(Clint), Melissa Hale, Ronnie Hale, Becky Hale
and Sarah Hale Schott (Tyler); great-
grandchildren, Adrienne, Aaron and Summer
Saunders, Tyler Brailey, Logan Mardis, Alexis
Elliott, Ethan and Madison Carter; sister,
Janet Burgy Eppert (Stanley Sr.); several
nieces and nephews; and friend, Charles
Landsettle.
Ruth Ann graduated from Parkersburg High
School with the class of 1945.
"Our Mom" was a proud mother and grandmother,
an excellent cook and baker, loved animals and
gardening and enjoyed bowling, painting,
playing dominoes, watching PGA Golf and
Jeopardy. A mother's love can never be
replaced and she will be sadly missed.
There will be a graveside service at 1 p.m.
Saturday at Evergreen South Cemetery with the
Rev. Dr. William Thomas officiating. There
will be a visitation from 4-6 p.m. Friday at
Kimes Funeral Home, 521 Fifth St., Parkersburg.
Betty Jo Davis Life
Parkersburg, WV
Betty Jo Davis Life, beloved grandmother of
Joshua Scott and Jillian Emmalee Poe, and
precious mother, parent and friend to Emma and
Scott Poe and Dianna Life, went to be with the
Lord on Sept. 29, 2008.
She was the wife of the late Elmer Life Jr.
and the daughter of the late Sheldon Davis Sr.
and Emma Mae Reed Davis. She is also joined
again in Heaven with her brothers, Sheldon
Davis Jr. and Harold Davis; many aunts and
uncles; a special aunt, Thelma Reed Davis; and
two very special nieces, Donna Sue Wright and
Betsy Davis.
She is survived by a brother, Lawrence Davis;
and many nieces, nephews, extended family and
friends.
An avid fan of all her grandchildren's
activities, she loved watching them in soccer,
baseball, OVA cheerleading and dance. She
cherished them...she lived for them. Though
often harassed by her family, especially
by "her Josh" she loved Ohio State Buckeye
football and the Atlanta Braves. But all knew
she held a spot in her heart for the
Mountaineers. After becoming a Dale Jr. fan,
she enjoyed attending NASCAR races with her
family. She bowled for many years at Ren Dor
Lanes and bowled in many bowling tournaments.
She was a Bingo Queen, loving to play with her
friends at Sunbridge most recently and even
more when "her girl" Jillian would join her in
a game. She enjoyed building dollhouses, her
buddy Jasper and living life to the fullest.
Over the past nine years, she had resided in
Greenville, N.C., with her daughter Dianna,
having returned to her home of Parkersburg in
January. Though she will be sadly missed, the
family wishes for all who knew her to remember
her not in sickness and death, but to honor
her with the memory of the last laugh, hug,
phone call or visit you may have shared.
There will be a graveside service at 1 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 4, at Pond Creek Baptist
Cemetery in Rockport, with Pastor Kevin Lantz
officiating. Cremation services have been
entrusted to Kimes Funeral Home, Parkersburg.
The family requests that donations be made in
her memory to the Humane Society of
Parkersburg or your local shelter.
Heartfelt thanks to the many doctors and
nurses who went above and beyond for our Mom
and Grandma. We appreciate you all for caring
so deeply, the hugs and tears you shared and
the hard work you do. God bless you all
