Marjorie May Fitch

Marjorie May Fitch, age 90, of Camby, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, October 31, 2024.

A time of visitation for Marjorie will be held Monday, November 4, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Ellers Mortuary & Crematory Center, 3400 S. Webster Street, Kokomo, Indiana 46902. Following the time of visitation will be a graveside service at 12:00 PM at Albright Cemetery, 3910 Albright Rd, Kokomo, Indiana 46902.

Ellora W. (DeNoon) Butler

Ellora W. (DeNoon) Butler, 91, passed away October 31, 2024, at her home in Kokomo. She was born October 12, 1933, near Harrisville, Michigan, the only child of the late Forrest C. and Letha (Deer) DeNoon. Ellora graduated from Lebanon High School in 1951, and it was there that she met the “love of her life”, Charles W. “Bill” Butler. They were married February 4, 1951, and celebrated 50 years of marriage before his death on June 30, 2001.

She enjoyed listening to all kinds of music, reading the newspaper cover to cover every day and traveling. She had volunteered at Saint Joseph Hospital for 27 years.

Ellora is survived by a daughter, Sue Kathryn Shay, and her husband, Neil F. Shay PhD of Monroe, Oregon and her son, David W. Butler of Kokomo. Her only grandchild, Cory M. Mote, and his wife Ashley, Lafayette, Indiana, also survive. She also leaves beloved cousins, Beverly Norman and family in Sierra Vista, Arizona, Sally Lindenmayer and family and Dorothy Bishop and family both of Sheridan, Indiana. Also surviving are her beloved stepfamily, descendants of Henry Zimmerman, Lebanon, Indiana.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 11 a.m. to Noon Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 W. Lincoln Rd., Kokomo, IN 46902. Funeral service will begin at Noon on Wednesday at the funeral home. Officiating will be her dear friend, the Rev. LuAnn Young. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon, IN. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Ellora’s name to the St. Vincent Kokomo Foundation at 1907 W. Sycamore St. Kokomo, IN 46901.

Nancy Jean (McQuiston) Buckley

Nancy Jean (McQuiston) Buckley, 81, of Greentown, passed away 1:24 a.m. Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at her home. She was born in Howard County, IN, on December 8, 1942, the daughter of the late Raymond and Freida (Rosenheimer) McQuiston. On August 12, 1961, she married Joseph Buckley, and he preceded her in death on September 26, 2013.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Hasler-Stout Funeral Home, 112 E. Main St., Greentown, IN 46936. Funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday November 9, 2024, at the funeral home, with Pastor Paul Nicholson officiating. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery in Greentown. Contributions may be made in Nancy’s memory to the Kokomo Humane Society.

Carolyn Sue Humphrey

Carolyn Sue Humphrey, 72, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away October 27, 2024. She was born on September 6, 1952, in Kokomo, Indiana, the daughter of Charles Wooldridge and Rose (Bender) Mason. In 1973, she married the late Tim Humphrey.

Carolyn was a 1970 graduate of Haworth High School and retired from St. Joseph Hospital after 40 years of employment. She was a member of the First EPC in Kokomo and enjoyed singing in the choir. Carolyn loved music and singing, was an avid reader, and enjoyed writing short stories and poetry.

Left to cherish her memory are her grandchildren, Greta (Nathan) Compton, Anneliese Compton; sister-in-law, Karla Humphrey; brothers-in-law, Fred (Susan) Humphrey, Mark (Sue) Humphrey.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents; and her loving husband of 42 years, Tim Humphrey.

A Memorial Gathering will take place at First Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 2000 West Jefferson Street, Kokomo on Monday, November 11, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. until the start of services at 1:00 p.m. Inurnment will follow at Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery. Share a memory with the family at www.sunsetmemorygarden.com.

Frances Jean (Helton) Pickell

Frances Jean (Helton) Pickell, age 79, of Tipton, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, with her loving family by her side. She was born on March 10, 1945, in Benham, Kentucky, to her parents, Dorlene Helton and Ruby (Hobbs) Helton. On August 29, 1964, Frances married the love of her life, Robert Pickell, and the two were fortunate to spend over 60 years together.

Frances graduated from Loyall High School in Benham, Kentucky, in the class of 1963. She proudly served in the United States Army from July of 1963 to December of 1964. Soon after, Frances married and dedicated herself to her family. She loved being a wife and mother, priding herself on making her home a safe, comfortable, loving space. Later in life, Frances felt the honor of being a grandmother, a role she instantly fell in love with. She was beyond proud of each of her grandchildren.

Through the years, Frances worked for Elwood and Tipton School Corporations in the cafeterias. She was a great cook at school and at home. In Frances’ free time you would have found her at home. One of her favorite things to do was tending to her garden and flowers; she loved being outdoors. Frances was a natural caregiver to everyone who was fortunate enough to be part of her life. She will be greatly missed for her very loving and kind heart.

Those left to carry on Frances’s legacy of love are her husband, Robert Pickell; sons, Robert Wayne Pickell, Danny (Melissa) Pickell, Donny Pickell; daughter-in-law, Amy Nguyen; grandchildren, Katelynn Pickell, Kaylee Pickell, Chloe Pickell, Peyton Pickell; siblings, Elmer (Amy) Helton, Margaret “Sue” Rains (Alvin Trosper), Dorlene (Eleanor) Helton Jr.; brother-in-law, Mike (Kathy) Pickell; sister-in-law, Jean Helton; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, Dorlene & Ruby Helton; in-laws, Robert “Bill” & Jesse Mae Pickell; siblings, Jackie Helton, John Helton, Lillie Mae Cottrell, and Bill Helton.

Out of respect for Frances’s wishes, no formal services will be held.

Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home is honored to serve the Pickell family in their time of need.

Richard Lee Robinson Jr.

Richard Lee Robinson Jr., a man whose laughter was as infectious as his knack for fixing just about anything with a motor or a cue, left this world for the grand pool hall in the sky on October 29, 2024. Born on January 16, 1972, in Fort Worth, Texas, Richard's journey took him from the Lone Star State to his final pit stop in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he played his last frame surrounded by the love of his family.

Richard, known for his quick wit and even quicker hands, was a maestro of the mechanical. He could coax life into the most stubborn of engines and turn a dilapidated pool table into a smooth, felted battlefield. His career at Beck’s Pool Company was less of a job and more of a daily comedy show, where pool repairs were punctuated with laughter and the occasional splash.

Surviving Richard is a troupe of characters worthy of their own sitcom: his steadfast father, Richard Sr.; his loving wife of 28 years, who was his perfect doubles partner in life; his daughter Samantha Robinson, who inherited his humor and his sidekick Max; his granddaughter Eryn, who was the apple of his eye and likely the inheritor of his mischief; his siblings Terry Torres (partner-in-crime Chilo) and a whole ensemble cast of in-laws including Michelle and Jerry Brown, Chuck (and Dorothy) Ellis, Jami and Johnny Johnson, and Sharon and Brian Scott. His nieces and nephews will miss their fun-loving uncle, who was always ready with a joke or a magic trick under his sleeve.

Preceding him in the great giggle-fest in the sky was his mother, Carolyn, who no doubt has been saving him a seat at the celestial comedy club.

Richard's life was a series of adventures on two wheels and four, with a cue stick in hand and a toolbox never far from reach. He loved to ride motorcycles, feeling the wind as an accomplice to his freedom. His hands, ever so skilled, found joy in repairing cars, ensuring that not only his ride but everyone else's was roaring to perfection.

A pool shark with a heart of gold, Richard was always ready for a game of nine-ball, and his laughter echoed through the halls of every pool joint he graced. He was the life of every party, a man who could find humor in the mundane and turn a regular gathering into a festival of joy.

Richard was a man of many talents, but if you asked him, he'd simply say he was just "keeping busy and having fun." His intelligence was wrapped in a layer of humor, his love delivered with a punchline, and his legacy is a tapestry of funny anecdotes and heartfelt memories.

To know Richard was to know laughter. He was the embodiment of the phrase "live life to the fullest," and he did so with a loving heart and a brilliant mind. His absence leaves a void that will be filled with stories of his escapades, his jokes, and the warmth of his love.

As the curtain falls on Richard's final act, we imagine him riding off into the sunset, cue stick in hand, ready to challenge the angels to a game of heavenly pool. His laughter is the echo we'll chase in our quiet moments, and his spirit is the nudge we'll feel when life calls for a little humor. Richard Lee Robinson Jr., the man, the myth, the legend, will be dearly missed but never forgotten. Curtain call, Richard, take your bow.

Crystal "Chris" Denise Dyar

Crystal "Chris" Denise Dyar, age 62, from Kokomo passed away on October 24, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. She was born on June 3, 1962, to Jimmy Wayne and Rebecca Kay Bitner.

She was the 11th woman hired on at the Chrysler Casting Plant in Kokomo, Indiana, and eventually retired at the age of 42. She was a very active, supportive, and proud member of the UAW.

She always enjoyed traveling to any place warm and after retirement she got to enjoy that a lot more often. When she wasn't spending time with her grandkids, family, and friends here in Kokomo. She mostly traveled to Arizona and Florida, where she also had a lot of friends and family. She never met a stranger, and she was always there if you needed someone to talk to or a friend to be there for you in any way that she could. She was a straight shooter with a heart like no other. She was all about her family and friends; they meant the world to her. She especially loved her grandkids, Aaron "AJ" Cam'ron Smith, Aaron "Cam'Marie" Smith. Chris actually came up with her granddaughter's middle name, and that is something they hold very special.

She loved to laugh, make people laugh, and have a good time with good people. She had many hobbies and interests, including but not limited to, traveling and arts and crafts. The pool, beach, and ocean were her second language but usually her preferred one.

She is survived by her mother, Becky; daughter, Morgan Smith; grandchildren, Cam'Marie and AJ Smith; brother, Douglas Bitner; niece, Katie (Joe) Rafferty; great-nieces, Amelia and Paige Rafferty; aunts, Mona Harrison, Mary Reed; Joy Siegler; Marsha Grant; many several cousins, family and friends.

She has now joined her father, Jimmy Wayne Bitner, Aunt Janet Farmer, and one of her best friends Terry Rush; along with several other family members and friends.

All services will remain private. Memorial contributions may be made to the care of the family.

Thomas Morehead

Thomas Morehead was born on Jan. 31, 1968, and passed away Sept. 30, 2024.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Thomas Wayne Morehead, known affectionately to some as The Moose, Uncle Buck, and William; a beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, colleague, and dear friend to many. Thomas left us unexpectedly on Sept. 30, 2024, in Christiansted, Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He was 56 years young.

The family wishes to acknowledge he would hate all of this — especially the being dead part - but also the pomp and circumstance of all that follows.

However, since he "Irish goodbye-ed" us, we have no other course of action than to proceed, noting his general protest for such displays of adoration, affection, and the love we all feel for him, including the vast void of awesomeness his absence leaves behind.

Born on Jan. 31, 1968, in Kokomo, Indiana, Thomas grew up in a close-knit family and spent his childhood "up to no good" or "having the time of his life," depending on who you ask. He was the proud son of Katherine "Kitty" Frances Morehead and Kenneth Michael "Daddy O" Morehead, and the brother of Steven "Albert" Michael Morehead and Dana Kay "Madge" Morehead. From a young age, Thomas had a passion for life and personal connection, building an epically vast and cherished circle of friends. An Honor Society member at Haworth High School and general smart-ass, he was known for his wit, sense of humor, and uncanny ability to light up any room he walked into. He was a passionate genealogy enthusiast, particularly focused on the Learner lineage, and proudly held the title of Learner Family Historian.

Thomas pursued higher education at Harlaxton College in England and the University of Evansville, where he pledged and became a Phi Kappa Tau brother while studying Social-Cultural Networking and Epicurean and Libation Studies. His academic journey wasn't linear, but it was authentic - much like the man himself. These formative years laid the foundation for a life marked by exploration, learning and the pursuit of meaningful experiences with those he held in high regard.

In 2002, Thomas took a leap of faith and relocated to the U.S. Virgin Islands, initially working at Room with a View Restaurant in St. Thomas. It was in the islands that he found his true home, later settling in Christiansted, St. Croix in 2007. His career as a Media Consultant for the Virgin Islands Daily News spanned almost two decades, during which he became a trusted advisor, talented organizer, and colleague.

Described as "reliable as clockwork" and effortlessly professional, Thomas's influence extended beyond his role - offering wisdom, humor and friendship to everyone he encountered; Thomas was committed to and revered by the community.

Beyond his career, Thomas was a brilliant mind - a true genius - especially when it came to music. He was particularly fond of 1980s punk and new wave music, though his tastes covered just about every genre. His vinyl collection alone could rival the Library of Congress in D.C. Thomas was more than just smart, though; he was a true gentleman, the life of the party, and someone who went out of his way to ensure everyone around him was having the time of their lives. With hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of lifelong friendships to his name, Thomas wasn't just a friend, he was family to many and the Party Patriarch we never knew we needed.

Whether sharing a laugh over cocktails or reminiscing about shared epic adventures along life's path with some fine tunes playing in the background, Thomas lived life on his own terms, and encouraged others to do the same:

"In 20 years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than the ones you did. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain.

Thomas leaves behind his father, K. Michael Morehead; his brother, Steven Michael Morehead; sister, Dana Kay Morehead; and beloved nieces and nephew, Karalena Fern Morehead (mother, Alexandria Baker), Sylvie Blanche Till (mother, Caitlin Till), and Link Learner Morehead (mother, Maureen (Wilkinson) Maple). He is also survived by his grandmother, Barbara Rose Morehead; Aunt Marcia and Uncle Dighty, Uncle Marty and Aunt Evie, Uncle Mark; cousins, Chris Morehead, Katie Davenport, Tim Switzer, Joe Switzer, Markita Morehead; and countless friends, including Randy Graf, Joe Smith, Colleen Quinn, Beth (Blondie) Webb, Gina Traylor, Matt (Happy) Holaday, Sabrina Schorm, Mike Grant and Chris Sprinkle. Thomas immensely enjoyed hosting all family, friends, and fraternity brothers that were able to visit Saint Croix. The family expresses their gratitude also to Thomas' neighbors.

Thomas is predeceased by his mother, Katherine Frances Morehead; paternal grandfather, Kenneth Eugene Morehead; maternal grandfather, Karl Osburn Learner; and maternal grandmother, Mary Lee (Reed) Learner.

In honor of Thomas, give back to your community and lend a hand to someone in need. Be there for your friends, just as he always was. Share a shot of Wild Turkey at Thanksgiving, and spin your favorite Christmas tunes — or put on some Sinatra, The Doors, The Clash, or Hank Williams Jr. If you find yourself in St. Croix, visit Sylvie's Place or Calvin's Spratnet Beach Bar, and be sure to raise a glass in his memory.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.