John and
Vermell Fitchett, Sept-Oct. 2008 Announcements
Birth
Noble Jeremiah Martinez,
July 15, first child of Jon and Susie (Day) Martinez of Antelope Valley, CA.Anniversaries
John and
Vermell Fitchett,
Hubert and Lou Ellen Hall, of Pikeville, KY, celebrated 50 years of marriage on August 6. They have two children and three grandchildren.
Duane and
Sharon Skrove, of Princeton, MN, celebrated their 50th anniversary on
Father’s Day, June 7. They were married on Father’s Day, June 7, 1958. They are
long- time members of Living Hope Christian Fellowship (Minneapolis North) in
Champlin, MN. They have three sons: Jeff, Glen and Wayne, and seven
grandchildren.
Raul and Paula Sifuentes reached their 50th wedding anniversary on June 3. They celebrated the occasion by renewing their vows, accompanied by their daughters Diana, Nancy and Susana, as well as, the congregation. The ceremony was held after worship services on June 29. Pastor Mark Mounts presided. Following the ceremony in which new rings were exchanged, guests joined them for a lovely sumptuous lunch buffet catered by Debbie and Becky Glover. Chicken and Italian sandwiches were served along with Texas Caviar, herb and cheese dip, bagel crisps, ice cream punch and sparkling water with fruit. A beautiful tiered cake, made by Sheri Bounds was enjoyed by all.
Raul and Paula agree that the secrets to a successful and happy marriage are to have total respect for each other and putting your spouse needs ahead of your own. They are long time members of the church and serve on missionary trips into poverty-stricken areas of Mexico. Their mission trips offer free medical and dental care to all who have a need. This labor of love allows them to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to the multitudes who come to receive the much-needed free care.
|
|
|
Jim and Grace Stokes |
60th Anniversary
“There’s a new girl in class and when I grow up I’m going to marry her,” 7-year-old Jimmie told his mother. Twelve years later, he kept his promise. And on the 24th of July, Jim and Grace Stokes celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. In 1974, they both became members, and a few years later were ordained deacon and deaconess. In 1980, Jim was ordained a local elder and in the spring of ’84 they moved to Pasadena so Jim could attend Ambassador College.
After graduation in ’87, Jim served in the Pasadena Auditorium PM congregation as associate pastor. One of his main functions was ministering to the widows and the handicapped. In 1995 Jim & Grace were transferred to Illinois, where Jim was pastor of the Belleville, Alton and Mt. Vernon churches. Retiring from the full-time ministry in 2005, they moved to Delaware to be closer to their two daughters, 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. They now serve in the Newark and Seaford, Delaware congregations.
Obituaries
Iris E. Ashcraft,
71, of Natchez, MS, died on May 28 after a long battle with cancer. She was a homemaker, and had been a member since 1974. She is survived by one son: Billy Morgan, and his wife Angie, of McComb, MS. She was preceded in death by her husband Orville Ashcraft. She was a faithful servant and church member until the end. She will be missed.
Helen Maxine
(Taylor) Auernheimer, 86, died on July 13 at Newton Medical Center in
Newton. She was 86. Mrs. Auernheimer was born Nov. 12,
1921, in Augusta to Thomas William and Una May (Patterson) Taylor. She was a
graduate of Augusta High School. On June 8, 1941, she
married Edgar “Ed” Willis Auernheimer in Augusta. He survives.
She also is survived by here sister, Ella Bell Miller,
and five children: Lynn Auernheimer (and Maxine
O’Neill) of Canton, Cheryl Hoffman of Carlsbad, Calif., Carol Gibbens of
Halstead, Joan Jacobsen of Newton and Anthony “Tony” (and Audrey) Auernheimer of
Salina; two granddaughters, Terri Schyrock of Wichita and Vickie Hiebert of
Goessel; four grandsons, Scot Gibbens of Newton, Jason Gibbens of Apex, N.C.,
Allan Gibbens of Newton and Adam Auernheimer of Salina; one step-grandson,
Jack Lyon of Goessel; three step-granddaughters,
Kellie Holland of Derby, Jamie Remsberg of Newton and Jadlyn O’Neill of Canton;
three great-grandchildren, Brian, Ashley and Kendall Hiebert of Goessel; and
three step-great-grandchildren, Kadin, Maggie and
Jonah Remsberg of Newton.
James W. Evans, 81, of Summersville, WV, died April 10. He was born on June 11, 1926 in Anchorage, AK to Charles and Myrtle Evans. He was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy, and a brother, Charles. He is survived by his wife, Tete E. Evans; children Gail Shuster of San Francisco, CA, and James C. Evans, of Mt. Pleasant, SC; grandchildren Daniel, David and Tyler; and a sister, Jeanette De Reise, of Castro Valley, CA. He was a member since 1962 and served as a deacon in the Summersville congregation for many years.
.jpg)
Ronald
Edward Prather, 81, died on May 20, in Bangor, ME. He was born Oct. 5, 1926,
in St. Cloud, FL, the son of Gripp and Annie (Vincent) Prather. Ron served in
the Korean War and worked for about 25 years as an assistant coroner for the
city of Cleveland. Ron was a deeply compassionate, caring and loving person, who
intimately touched the lives of all those who knew him. He is survived by his
only daughter, Elanore Vaughan, of Middleburg, FL, and her children, George,
Yvonne, Rick and Timothy; two brothers, Ralph and Frank Prather; and close
friends John Steffes of Caribou, ME, and Nathan Kidd of Cleveland, OH. He was
predeceased by an infant daughter, Marta Elizabeth; and five siblings, Chester,
Maxine, Lois, Carl and Lorene.
Tom Ramsey, 93, of Waco, TX, died
June 28 from complications of pulmonary fibrosis and congestive heart
failure. His wife, Nelda, was his loving caretaker, and Tom died at home after
a long, productive life. Tom has been a member since 1956 in Houston and
Waco, Texas. Tom’s father was a Presbyterian minister, so Tom grew up in
several Texas towns where his father pastored. After gaining a university
degree in Mechanical Engineering, Tom joined the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the
U.S. Air Force) in 1939. He was one of the “greatest generation”—a true
American hero—as he served throughout World War II. Tom was a B-26 bomber pilot
and was commander of the 554th Squadron of the 386th
Bomber Group. He led 70 missions over Europe, including four on June 6, 1944,
the famed D-Day Invasion. Tom married Helen Newton in 1945 and had two
daughters, Cynthia and Carol, who were in attendance at his funeral. He worked
as a mechanical engineer and retired in 1983. In 1975, Tom married Nelda Boone
and they attended the Houston, TX church until 1994 when they moved to the
Waco, TX church area. Tom was an amazingly intelligent and dedicated man, with
a wide range of talents and interests. He commented many times in the final
years of his life about the joy, peace and freedom he had re-discovered in his
personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ. An African proverb is said to
say, “The death of an old person is like the loss of a library,” and this is
true with the life of Tom Ramsey.
Howard Leroy Reed, 84, of Orland, CA, died April 13 after an extended period of failing health and a short battle with pancreatic cancer. A member of the Chico church since the early 1990s, he is survived by his wife of seven years, Jane (Ruby) Reed, and three sons by his first wife June, who preceded him in death of the same malady.
Omar P. Whitesell, 89, of Prairie Village, KS, died April 8. He was a member in Kansas City for 36 years. Omar was a World War II veteran and earned the Bronze Star for bravery under fire as a forward artillery observer. Omar was a quiet, friendly man and a good husband and father. He faithfully served in the church and was a helper of those less fortunate. He is survived by a daughter, Marjean Lindquist, and a son, Larry Whitesell. He was loved by his church family and will be greatly missed.
Correction
The previous issue of Together reported the ordination of Cody Lindberg, of Jenners, PA. The correct name is Cody Pfister.
Copyright 2008 Grace Communion International
