All Obituaries

GREENVILLE - Esther Ethelle “Becky” Gardner, 96, formerly of Hermitage passed away on March 12, 2020 in her home at St. Paul’s Community in Greenville. Becky was born on March 11, 1924 in Quitaque, Texas the daughter of Marvin and Carrie Wise.  Following her graduation from high school, she met and married the love of her life J.C. Gardner on May 22, 1943. During J.C.’s Coast Guard service, Becky followed him when she was able and worked to provide a home until...

HUBBARD-Iris Y. Smith, 66, passed away unexpectedly on Friday March 6, 2020 in her home following a brief illness. She was born in Sharon on March 7, 1953 the only daughter Paul and Bettylee (Young) Smith.  Iris was an Alumna of Brookfield High School Class of 1971 and furthered her education at Youngstown State University. Following her graduation, she went on to work for the former Packard Electric Company in Warren.  She retired in 2017 as a General ledger Specialist with forty...

HERMITAGE-James Andrew Murcko, 76, of Hermitage, PA, passed away on February 21, 2020 at home with his family by his side.  Jim was born June 9, 1943 in Hermitage to John and Lena Murcko and was a graduate of Hickory High School. Captain James Murcko retired as Chief Pilot from Dad’s Dog Food in 2013. He was passionate about flying, fishing, boating, hunting, riding his Harley with his friends and most of all his family and grandchildren.  He is survived by Carol...

MERCER-Judy A. Cox, 77, passed away on Sunday morning February 9, 2020 at the Grove in New Wilmington with her family by her side following a brief illness. She was born in Farrell on November 11, 1942 a daughter of Claire and Maude (Powell) Winner.  Judy was a 1960 Alumna of Hickory High School and would go on to marry her sweetheart John W. Cox on April 14, 1961. Besides being a devoted wife and mother, Judy in earlier years had worked for several area diners as a cook but most...

HERMITAGE- Francis Leo Ryan 91, formerly of Hermitage, passed away on Saturday morning January 18, 2020 at O'Neill Healthcare in Bay Village, Ohio. He was born in Sharon, PA on June 8, 1928 and was raised by his mother Grace and her husband Charles Otte. Leo was alumni of Sharon High School and Youngstown State University. He was a Professional Engineer by trade and had owned and operated his own company F.L.R. Engineering.  Leo also operated F. Leo Ryan Insurance Company with...

BROOKFIELD-John B. Schell Sr. of Brookfield, formerly of Hermitage passed away from natural causes on Thursday, January 16th, 2020 in the Sharon Regional Medical Center. He was 97. Born October 3rd, 1922 in Sandy Lake, PA he was the eldest son of the late Daniel and Nellie Schell. John served as a Staff Sgt. in 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army during World War II serving in the European Theater of Operations.  He participated in the campaigns in Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes, and...

HERMITAGE-Betty Jane Iliff, 90, passed away on Monday afternoon December 30, 2019 in her home while under the care of hospice with her family by her side following a brief illness. She was born in Sharon on September 27, 1929 a daughter of Ivon and Mary (Rowe) McGaffic.  Betty was a 1947 Alumna of Sharon High School and received her L.P.N. in 1973 from the Mercer County Vocational Technical Institute. Betty worked at Westinghouse prior her marriage to Charles L. Iliff on December...

Harold P. Zachrich Sr., 83, of Fredonia passed away on Monday morning December 2, 2019 in the Sharon Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. He was born in Leipsic, OH on January 16, 1936 a son of Gilbert and Maud (Leatherman) Zachrich. Harold served Our Country in the United States Army with the 11th Airborne Division as a Paratrooper enlisting in 1954. He received his honorable discharge on February 7, 1957 having attained the rank of Specialist Grade 3. He enjoyed...

Cory Robert Hughey, 37, of Parma, OH formerly of Brookfield, chose to end his life as he lived it on his own terms on Tuesday November 5th, 2019. He was born in Youngstown, OH on May 4th, 1982. Cory graduated from Brookfield High School in 2000 where he was Class President, and continued on to Youngstown State University where he attained his Bachelor of Arts Degree for Telecommunications in 2008. Cory currently was working as a sales representative for AT&T and before that he...

WARREN - Nichelle Renee Merat, 50, passed away with her family by her side on Thursday October 24th, 2019 at Trumbull Regional Medical Center.  She was born March 2, 1969 in Lorain, OH a daughter of Fredrick and Margaret (Hether) Merat.  She was a longtime area resident living in Sharpsville as well as being in Florida for some time. Nichelle loved doing anything and everything with her girls. This included helping them with their after-school activities, Girl Scouts, band, and...