Current Services

Mary Alice Smith, 86, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Sunday, May 23, 2021. at 9:49 a.m. at Court House Manor where she had been residing since September 2020.

Mrs. Smith was born June 3, 1934, in Fayette County, Ohio to Frank and Martha Coulter Seyfang and was a lifelong resident of this community.

She had formerly worked at Visador and later at Wendy’s.

Mrs. Smith was a member of the Heritage Memorial Church of Christ in Christian Union.

On June 2, 1951, she married Harold E. Smith.  He preceded her in death on March 9, 2007.  She was also preceded by a son and daughter-in-law, Rodger E. and Rebecca Smith; three brothers, Walter, Archie Wayne and Frank Leroy Seyfang and two sisters-in-law, Ann Seyfang and Sally Seyfang.

Mrs. Smith is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Randall E. and Mary Smith of Washington Court House; four grandchildren, Cheryl Hagler and her husband, Shane, of Washington Court House, Daryl Smith of Washington Court House, Angela and Danny Barrett of Chillicothe, Bradley Smith and his wife, Bridgette, of Bloomingburg; five great grandchildren; a great great grandson; three brothers, Floyd J. Seyfang of Concord, California, Thurman (Joe) Seyfang and his wife, Frances (Susie), of Washington Court House and William B. Seyfang and his wife, Juanita, of New Martinsburg and a sister-in-law, Linda Seyfang of Morehead, KY.

The funeral will be Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with the Rev. Joe Duvall, former pastor at the Heritage Memorial Church of Christ in Christian Union, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Sugar Creek Methodist Cemetery on the Palmer Road.

Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday, June 2, 2021, from 11 a.m. until time of the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County, 222 West Oakland Avenue, Washington Court House, Ohio  43160.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Helen Marie Moore, 93, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Saturday, May 15, 2021, at 10:15 a.m. at St. Catherine’s Manor of Washington Court House where she had been residing since December 2014.

Mrs. Moore was born March 14, 1928, at Portsmouth in Scioto County, Ohio to William Henry and Amanda Parker Harris.  She lived most of her life in Fayette County and the Staunton community.

She formerly was an operator for the Ohio Bell Telephone Company and had been a beautician.  She also worked in retail sales at the outlet mall and Walmart.

Mrs. Moore was a member of Royal Chapter #29 of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Garden Club.  She was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Earl Moore on March 11, 1986; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary Frances and Elmer Smith and Nona and Cliff Hill and an uncle and aunt, Alonzo (Buddy) and Faye Harris

Mrs. Moore is survived by two sons, Ronald Edward Moore and his wife, Joni, of Jeffersonville and Robert Earl Moore, Jr. and his wife, Kathy, of Hillsboro and four grandchildren, Andrew, Rhonnie, Christopher and Stephanie Moore.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at the Washington Cemetery with the Rev. DeVon Davis, chaplain with Heartland Hospice, officiating.  Burial will be under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fayette County Dog Pound, 1550 Robinson Road-SE, Washington Court House, Ohio  43160.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

William Howard Berry, Jr., 78, of Washington Court House, Ohio passed away Friday, May 7,  2021, at his home.

He was born September 11, 1942, in Dayton, Ohio to William Howard and Mary Louise Tumer Berry.  He was a graduate of Dayton Chaminade High School and the Wright State University.  He lived most of his life in Dayton and Cincinnati before moving to Washington Court House two years ago.

Before his retirement, he was a supervisor at GMC in Dayton.  Following his retirement, he was a substitute teacher and had been teaching the past two years at the Warren County Career Center.

He was an active participant with the Springdale Citizen’s Police Academy.

William was preceded in death by his parents and a son.

He is survived by his wife, the former Jane Ann Curry; two sons; two daughters; two step-daughters and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In keeping with his wishes, cremation will take place.  Burial of the cremains will be at a later date in the Bloomingburg Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Harold Wesley Sizemore, 74, of Atlanta, Ohio died Friday, May 7, 2021 at 4:26 a.m. at his home.  He had been ill the past year.

Harold was born June 9, 1946, in Ironton, Ohio to Orville and Mallissa Mosley Sizemore.  He lived most of his life in the Atlanta community.

Before his retirement in 2012, he had worked 18 years at the Robertson Fence Company in Mount Sterling.

He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings, Bonnie Burchett, Dolly Wolfe, Denny Sizemore and Bob Sizemore.

Harold is survived by his wife, the former Mary Nancy Kingery whom he married May 21, 1977, eight siblings, Calvin Sizemore and his wife, Linda, Paul Sizemore, Phillip Sizemore, Peggy Hamilton and her husband, Donnie, and Phyllis Spielman and her husband, Ronnie, all of Ironton, Ernie Sizemore and his wife, Tammy, of Kitts Hill, OH, Sandy Sizemore of Wheelersburg, OH and Cindy Stevens and her husband, Keith, of Russell, KY.  Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Shawna Kingery and her son, Leeland, and special nephew Wesley David Kingery, all of Clarksburg.

The funeral will be Monday, May 10, 2021, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in New Holland with burial to follow in the New Holland Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in New Holland from 11 a.m. Monday until time of the service.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Vicki Joann Staffan, 72, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Sunday, May 2, 2021, at 1:38 p.m. at her home.

Vicki was born July 15, 1948, in Sabina, Ohio to Emmett Lester and Vivian Jean Snow Baird. In 1966, she was in the first graduating class at East Clinton High School.  She had lived in several states, including 13 years in Kansas City. She returned to Ohio in 1985, and to this community in 1993, from Warren County.

In 1987, Vicki and her husband, Carl, purchased the Lebanon Skating Rink, which they owned until 2003.  In 1992, they purchased the Roller Haven Skating Rink in Washington Court House.  Vicki continued ownership following Carl’s death in 2008, and until her retirement in 2015.  Roller Haven was a love of Vicki’s life and she thoroughly enjoyed the interaction with the many families that participated in the activities at Roller Haven.  She had formerly worked 20 years with AT&T.

Vicki was a member of All Saints Church in Washington Court House.  She was proud of her community service in various civic organizations.  She was a member and past president of Altrusa International of Washington Court House.  She had also been a member of the Washington Court House Business and Professional Women’s Club and had served on the board of directors at The Well.  She was an avid euchre player.

On July 9, 1966, she married Carl Martin Staffan.  He preceded her in death on November 6, 2008.  She was also preceded by her parents.

Vicki is survived by three children, James M. Staffan, Michelle Bennett and Jennifer Smith, all of Washington Court House; three grandchildren, Avery R. Bennett and Caden and Kalana Smith and a sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Jimmy Cassidy of Columbus.

The funeral will be Friday, May 7, 2021, at 1 p.m. at the All Saints Church with the Rev. Father Warren Huestis, rector at the church, officiating.  Cremation will follow the service with the cremains to be interred in the All Saints Memorial Garden at a later date.

Friends may call at the church Thursday from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the All Saints Church, 733 State Route 41-SW, Washington Court House, Ohio  43160.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

                                 www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Forest Cruse, 85, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Thursday, April 22, 2021, at 10:43 p.m. at Signature HealthCARE of Fayette County where he had been residing since December 1, 2020.

Forest was born November 17, 1935, in Boone County, KY to Robert Lee and Carrie Barnett Cruse.  He had lived most of his life in Bloomingburg and Washington Court House.

Before his retirement, he worked at the Columbus Steel Drum Company.

He was preceded in four brothers, James Franklin, Curtis, McKinley and Clarence Cruse; a sister, Dorothy VanDyne; a half-brother, Ben Carpenter and three half-sisters, Frances, Katherine and Irene.

He is survived by three sisters-in-law, Louise Cruse and Florence Cruse, of both of Washington Court House and Marjorie Cruse of Pikes Peak, TX and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In keeping with his wishes, cremation will take place.

A private burial of the cremains will be held at a later date in the Bloomingburg Cemetery under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Denzil L. Leggett, 93, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Thursday, April 22, 2021.

Denzil was born June 29, 1927, in Doddridge County, West Virginia to Ralph H. and Gussie Squires Leggett.

He graduated from Doddridge High School in 1945, and then enlisted into the Air Force.  Following state-side service and training, he flew to France for more training.  He then went to Austria and Berlin for two and a half years.  While in Berlin he served as Chief of the AACS Squadron at Templehoff Air Base, controlling air traffic in and out of the city for most of the airlift.  He was honorably discharged in 1949.  He served 10 years in the Air Force Reserve.

After his service, he entered Salem College in 1949, where he received a bachelor’s degree.  He then went to West Virginia University and obtained a master’s degree in education.  Following college, he accepted a science teaching position with Washington City Schools in August 1953.  During his teaching career he attended Colgate, Syracuse and Antioch Colleges to advance his graduate hours in the science field.  He retired from teaching in 1983.

From his first year of teaching, Denzil was employed by the Fayette County Engineer and Commissioners, both part-time and full-time.  He spent much time in the tax map office, drafting and helping with land surveys. He was the county zoning inspector during the construction of multiple projects. His association with the county lasted 59 years, including townships, city and villages.   He served on the city zoning board of appeals and was Housing Director for Tax Abatement areas for 25 years.  As a private contractor, Denzil was project manager, inspector for roads, bridges, wastewater plants, subdivisions and building both public and private.

Denzil served on the Fayette County Memorial Hospital board of trustees for 18 years; was a member of the Ohio State Board of Education Scholarship Testing Development and, for 20 years, served as Trustee for the Sara DeWitt Crippled Children Fund.

He was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church for over 60 years, where he served as an usher and trustee; was a member of the Red Cross Chapter and was a blood donor of many gallons starting as a freshman in high school.    He was a 60-plus year member and past master of Fayette Lodge F & AM #107; was a member of the Scottish Rite Masons, Valley of Columbus; the Aladdin Temple Shrine; Disabled American Veterans Chapter #58 and a life member of the State Teachers Retirement System.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers and their wives, Randall and Betty Leggett and Duane and Bernadine Leggett; brothers-in-law, Sam Gaston and Harry “Rusty” Ash and son-in-law, John R. Phillips.

He is survived by the love of his life, Barbara Hudkins Leggett whom he married August 5, 1950.  Born to this marriage were three daughters, Sue L. Warner and Jill L. Phillips, both of Washington Court House and Jo L. Leggett of Hilliard, OH.  Also surviving are two grandsons and three great-grandchildren, Justin T. and Trisha Warner of Dublin, OH and their children Luke and  Emery, and Jeffrey L. and Elizabeth Warner of Pittsburgh, PA and their son, Graham; his sister, Carolyn S. Gaston and sister-in-law, Maurine Ash, along with several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family in the Washington Cemetery with Mel Wickensimer, director of visitation at the Grace United Methodist Church, officiating.  Burial will be under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Grace United Methodist Church, 301 East Market Street, Washington Court House, Ohio  43160.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Lillie Mae Redding Self, 78 of Clarksburg, Ohio died Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 5:25 p.m. at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s in Westerville where she had been a patient two days.

Lillie was born June 15, 1942, in Columbus, Ohio to Floyd Woodrow and Betty Mae Boyd Redding. She lived most of her life in the New Holland and Clarksburg communities.

On August 9, 1959, she married Frederick L. Self.  He preceded her in death on November 28, 2008.  She was also preceded by her parents; a daughter, Marsha Clark; a son-in-law, Robert Messer; six siblings, Alberta, Verner, Annabelle and William “Bill” Redding and Carolyn Pence; a sister-in-law, Jean Ann Redding; a brother-in-law, Robert Pence and a nephew and niece, Rocky and Leslie Pence.

Lille is survived by four children, Joyce Messer of Clarksburg, Lois Posey and her husband, Douglas, of Frankfort;  Rhonda Gozy and her husband, Ron, of Chillicothe and Frederick L. Self, Jr. of Clarksburg; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; eight siblings and their spouses, Elizabeth Pence, Floyd (Pete) Redding and Thelma Redding, all of New Holland, Clark and Susan Redding of Atlanta, Sherman and Danna Redding of New Holland, Lucretia Bethel of Frankfort and her friend, Clarence  Lunsford, and Berniece and Larry Perkins of Sedalia; a brother-in-law, Charles Pence of Atlanta; a sister-in-law, Mary Louise Redding of Kentucky and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Saturday, April 24, 2021, at 1 p.m. at the New Holland Church of Christ In Christian Union, with the Rev. Larry Doss, pastor at the church, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Waterloo Cemetery at Pancoastburg, Ohio.

Friends may call at the church Saturday from 11 a.m. until time of the service.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in New Holland.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Sean Michael Sweeney, 38, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Saturday, April 17, 2021, at 8:40 a.m. at the Grant Medical Center in  Columbus where he had been admitted the previous evening.  His death was sudden and unexpected.

Sean was born September 30, 1982, in Columbus, Ohio to Pierre George and Gayle Susan Powers Sweeney.  He was a 2001 graduate of Miami Trace High School; attended Southern State Community College and lived most of his life in this community.

He was an estimator for Lifetime Quality Roofing in Columbus.

Sean’s lifelong passion was soccer.  He played on numerous soccer teams throughout his youth and the Miami Trace soccer team during his high school career.  He was currently assistant soccer coach at Miami Trace High School and program director of the Big Cats Soccer Association.

He is survived by his wife, the former Lisa Marie Goff whom he married October 7, 2017; four daughters, Kenzie, Isabella, Brooklyn and Hunter Vanover; a granddaughter, Emma Blake Fannon; his father and step-mother, Pierre and Marilyn Sweeney of New Holland; his mother and step-father, Gayle and Paul Smith of Chillicothe; a sister and brother-in-law, Erin and Danny Rickman of Washington Court House; a brother and sister-in-law, Lyle and Lindsy Sweeney of Washington Court House; a step brother, Joshua Stump of Columbus, Ohio and five nieces, Maya, Piper, Maizey and Perri Rickman and Tatum Stump.

The funeral will be Friday, April 23, 2021, at 7 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with the Rev. Michael Hodge, pastor at the Walnut Hill Church of Christ in Christian Union, officiating.  Cremation will follow the service.

Friends may call at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House Friday from 1 p.m. until time of the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Miami Trace Boys’ Soccer.  Checks may be made payable to the Miami Trace Local School District with “Soccer Program” written in the memo line and mailed to Miami Trace Local School District, 3818 State Route 41-NW, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Gaynelle June Heath Willis, 90, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Monday, April 12, 2021, at 7:43 p.m. at Court House Manor where she had been residing since January.

Mrs. Willis was born June 11, 1930, in Sedalia, Ohio to Guy Andrew and Dorothy Estelle Badger Heath.

She was active in high school as a cheerleader, member of the band (saxophone) and possessed a beautiful voice. Following graduation from high school she attended The Ohio State University where she was a sorority member and was nominated for the homecoming court and May Queen her freshman year.

She was involved with the Lioness Club; was a volunteer for her children’s Boy Scout and 4-H clubs; was a member of Phi Beta Psi and mentored at the Children’s Home.  Most exciting and memorable was in 1960, when she served as Mrs. Ohio, traveled to Florida and appeared on national TV and was among the final top ten contestants vying for Mrs. America 1960.

Mrs. Willis married Richard Robinson Willis on February 19, 1949.  They celebrated 63 years of marriage before his passing on February 26, 2012.  They loved to travel, entertain and especially enjoyed their time with friends and family at Rocky Fork Lake and the many years they spent the winters in Marco Island, FL.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Dale Heath Willis; a brother, Dr. Norman Heath and her parents.

She is survived by three children, David (Barb) Willis of Chillicothe, Dawn (Trigg) Kuhn of Marco Island, FL and Douglas “Duke” (Kim McCoy) Willis of Washington Court House; nine grandchildren, Jim (Maricay) Willis, Jody (Nick) Vrettos, Amanda (Austin) Dickerson, Ben Willis, Alex Kuhn, Seth Kuhn, Jessica Willis, Dr. Kellie Willis (Cameron) Schwalbach, and Nick Willis and nine great grandchildren, Dora, Lydia and Neva Vrettos, Gus, Max, Noah and Roman Willis, Harper Dickerson and Boden Schwalbach.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 12, 2021, 11 a.m. at the Grace United Methodist Church with Mell Wickensimer, director of visitation at the church, officiating.  A private burial will be held in the Washington Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com