Gaynell Elliott

Gaynell Elliott, 61, of Wabash, Indiana passed away at 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born to Douglas Dillon of Wabash, Indiana and the late, Linda (Wintrode) Dillon on March 29, 1954 in Wabash, Indiana.

Gaynell was a graduate of Wabash High School. She married Kenneth Elliott, he survives in Wabash, Indiana. Gaynell retired from Container Corporation of American in Wabash, Indiana. She was a member of the Moose Lodge 1195 of Wabash, Indiana and American Legion Post 15 Auxiliary of Wabash, Indiana.

She is also survived by step son, Michael Elliott (Theresa) of Wabash, Indiana; step daughters, Mrs. Lisa (Jeff) Cook of Marion, Indiana and Mrs. Lori (Bryan) Stewart of Chattanooga, Tennessee; sister, Elizabeth Foust of North Manchester, Indiana; nephew, Brian Foust (Meghann); and 6 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by niece, Stacey Ann Foust.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, 2015 at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992, with Pastor Brad Wright officiating. Burial will follow in the Memorial Lawns Cemetery in Wabash, Indiana.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Zilla Zoe Welsh

Zilla Zoe Welsh, 86, of LaFontaine, Indiana passed away at 6:17 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at Marion General Hospital in Marion, Indiana. She was born to the late Milo and Lucy (White) Gruwell in LaFontaine, Indiana on November 21, 1928.

Zilla married Clifford Welsh, he passed away in 1978. She retired from United Tech.  Zilla cherished the “White” cousin get togethers and helping with the grandchildren. She was a member of the LaFontaine United Methodist Church and an alumnus of the LaFontaine High School. Zilla was a longtime member of the LaFontaine Order of Eastern Star, Liberty Bells extension homemaker club and Francis Slocum Home extension club. Zilla often spoke of the happy times she had riding horses and swimming in the waterhole on the farm with her best friend. She loved horses and always looked forward to mushroom hunting in the spring.

Zilla is survived by two sons, Bruce Eugene Welsh of Warsaw, Indiana and Sam Gruwell Welsh of LaFontaine, Indiana; granddaughter, Mrs. Tonya Adele (Phil) Douglas of Warsaw, Indiana; daughter-in-law, Karen Welsh of LaFontaine, Indiana. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Milo Vincent Welsh.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at McDonald Funeral Home, LaFontaine Chapel, 104 S. Main Street, LaFontaine, Indiana 46940, with Pastor Crystal Jacobson officiating.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Monday, May 25, 2015 at the funeral home with an Eastern Star service being held at 5:30 p.m.. Preferred memorials are directed to LaFontaine Eastern Star or LaFontaine United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Alma "Pat" Mahan

Alma “Pat” Mahan, 91, a Wabash, Indiana resident for most of her life, passed away at 9:20 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at Millers Merry Manor East of Wabash, Indiana. She was born to the late Edward and Ethel (Keim) Wallace on September 2, 1923 in Somerset, Indiana.

She was a 1942 graduated from New Salem High School. Pat married Robert B. Mahan on January 11, 1946 at the Parsonage in Kansas City, Kansas, he passed away on November 24, 1993. Pat worked as a part-time cook for Honeywell Center in Wabash, Indiana. She was a member of Women’s Indiana Bowling League of Wabash and Marion, Indiana. Pat enjoyed Daytona Beach, she liked going to the casino, and mushroom hunting. She especially loved being with her grandchildren.

She is survived by two sons, Michael Mahan (Stephanie) of Florida and Jay Mahan (Tammie) of Wabash, Indiana; daughter, Darlene Chambers (Dennis) of Bowling Green, Ohio; 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by 4 brothers and 4 sisters.

Funeral service will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2015 at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992, with Pastor Brad Wright officiating. A private family burial will be held at Economy Cemetery in Modoc, Indiana.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Preferred memorials are directed to Wabash County DCS Foster Children Program, 89 W. Canal Street, Wabash, Indiana 46992. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Gregory D. Starnes

Gregory D. Starnes passed away at 12:58 p.m. on April 26th, 2015, at Parkview Wabash Hospital. He was born July 31st, 1957 to James A. Starnes and Wanda (Beasley) Starnes in Illinois. Gregory married to Maria E. Perdue on March 3rd, 2006, she survives. He was employed at Bulldog Battery in Wabash, Indiana.
Along with his wife, Maria; he is survived by two brothers, Bill Starnes and Gordon Starnes, both of Illinois, two sisters, Rhonda Starnes and Gayla Craig.
No services will be held. McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992 was entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Christopher Lee Johnson

Christopher Lee Johnson, 48, of Wabash, Indiana died at his home at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 24th 2015. He was born on June 30th, 1966 in Wabash, Indiana to the late Gillen Ding Johnson Jr. and Virginia Gayle (Jacobs) Johnson.

Chris graduated in 1984 from Northfield High School, he also attended Vocational School. He was a farmer most of his life and worked for Pic Energy. He enjoyed spending time with his brother and loved the outdoors, gardening, boating, fishing, and his happy place was the family cabin in Michigan. Chris cherished each memory made with Adrena and Carlee, family and friends. He had a true servant’s heart always doing what he could to help others and touched many lives through his continuous acts of kindness and selfless generosity.

Chris is survived by one brother, John Johnson of Wabash, Indiana and two sisters. Also surviving are his special loves Adrena Shelton and her daughter, Carlee Crace.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2015 at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana, with Todd Masters officiating. Burial will follow in the Lagro Cemetery in Lagro, Indiana.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Preferred memorials are directed to American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, Illinois 60674. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Thomas E. Ross Jr.

Thomas E. Ross Jr., 87, of Wabash, Indiana passed away at 12:25 a.m. on Friday, April 24, 2015 at Peabody Healthcare Center in North Manchester, Indiana. He was born to the late Thomas E. Ross Sr. and Louise (Hardin) Ross on May 6, 1927 in Cairo, Illinois.

Tom served his country in the United States Merchant Marines, then in the Marine Corp during the Korean War. He married Janet Creps on February 11, 1955, she survives. He was an owner and operator of Ross-McKee Associates Construction of Wabash, Indiana, after retirement he then worked for Shamrock Development of South Bend, Indiana as a consultant; then most recent at Wabash True Value during his retirement. Tom was a life member for over 50 years with the Hanna Masonic Lodge 61 of Wabash, Indiana. He was also a faithful member of Christ United Methodist Church of Wabash, Indiana.

Along with his wife, Janet; he is also survived by a son, Richard Hawley (Rebecca) of Huntington, Indiana; grandson, Aaron Hawley of Huntington, Indiana; two granddaughters, Mrs. Amy (Donald) Pyatt of Yoder, Indiana and Anna Hawley of Allendale, Michigan; two great granddaughters, Madison and Chloe Pyatt; and a half-brother, Lewis Row (Dorothy) of St. Petersburg, Florida. He is preceded in death by a son and sister.

A graveside service will take place at a later date at Matlock Cemetery in Wabash County, Indiana. Preferred memorials are directed to Christ United Methodist Church, 477 N. Wabash Street, Wabash, Indiana 46992. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Tom was an avid fisherman, enjoyed making silver jewelry, and wooden bowls. Tom loved life to the fullest every day, right up to the end.

McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992 is entrusted with arrangements. 

Muriel E. "Mert" Tyson

Muirel E. “Mert” Tyson, 78, of Wabash passed away at 4:06 a.m. on Saturday April 18, 2015 at Parkview Dupont Hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana.  She was born December 17, 1936 in Urbana, Indiana to the late Jacob L. Bower and Marion J. (Gaston) Bower.
She was a 1954 graduate of Urbana High School.  She married Charles E. Tyson on December 4, 1955, he survives.  She was employed by Peterson Realty and she was a secretary for the Board of Realtors of Wabash, Indiana.  She also worked at Sears and Roebuck, Wabash.  She retired in 2000.  She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Urbana, Indiana, and Women of the Moose, Lodge 1195,  Wabash, Indiana.  She enjoyed fishing and camping.
She is also survived by two sons, Charles Leon Tyson (Barbara), John “Jack” Tyson, both of Wabash, Indiana; one daughter Kristi Reynolds, Wabash, Indiana; seven grandchildren, Tonya Poor, Dawn Webb (Josh), Tommy Poor (Amanda), Andy Tyson (Erica), Samantha Fiers (Adam), Jonathon Tyson (Meghan), Joey Tyson; and 12 great grandchildren; brother, John (Judy) Bower of Wabash, Indiana; and sister, Beatrice Reed of Kokomo, Indiana.  She was preceded in death by one son, Timothy, one brother, Arden Bower, and two sisters, Doris Bever and EvaJean Rouch.
Visitation for family and friends will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. with a Moose Twilight Service at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992.  Funeral will take place at 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at McDonald Funeral Home burial will be at Memorial Lawns, Wabash, Indiana.  Preferred memorial are to Wabash Moose Lodge Auxiliary 1195 or Riley Children’s Hospital.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com