obituaries

RARDEN - Lorena Copas, 91, of Rarden, passed away on Friday, December 2, 2022. Arrangements are in the care of Botkin Hornback Funeral Home in Otway, OH.

LUCASVILLE - Lon “Joe” E. Spradlin, 78, of Lucasville, passed away Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at his residence.

WHEELERSBURG - Linda Harr Wallace, 75 of Wheelersburg, Ohio passed away December 1, 2022 in KDMC in Ashland, Kentucky. She was born in Greenup County, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Anna Brown Harr and Anthony “Dick” Harr. She was a 1965 graduate of the McKell High School, worked at the Williams Shoe Factory and later retired from Big Lots in Wheelersburg.

LUCASVILLE - Luther Harry Coburn, Jr., 82 of Lucasville, a former Rubyville area resident, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2022 at SOMC Hospice. He was born July 29, 1940 in Ashland, Kentucky, a son of the late Harry and Mildred Mae Canter Coburn. He was a retired school teacher from Wheelersburg Local Schools, owner and operator of Red Feather Kennels in Rubyville and attended Christ’s Brethren Church in Rubyville.

FRANKLIN FURNACE-Kenneth Donavon Burton, 79, of Franklin Furnace passed away Sunday, November 20, 2022 at KDMC in Ashland, KY. Kenneth was born June 9, 1943 in Portsmouth, Ohio to the late Norman Burton and Dolly Montgomery. Kenneth was a truck driver for Burton Trucking and was a member of Franklin Furnace United Methodist Church. He was a Marine Veteran serving during the Vietnam era. In addition to his parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by a son, Donavon Burton, also Donavon’s mom, Kay Beasler Burton also died at the same time in childbirth; three brothers, Robert, Walter and Jerry and three sisters, Rose Strickland, Juanita Johnson and Norma Runyon. He is survived by his wife, Dallas Blevins Burton whom he married March 7, 1986 in Greenup, KY. He is also survived by three sons, Robert Burton, Chad Burton and Ian Blake; two daughters, Shelly Collier and Tina Burton; a brother, David Burton; three sisters, Connie Burton, Sue Burton and Patricia Burton; ten grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

MCDERMOTT - Barbara Sue Crabtree, 73, of McDermott, passed away Thursday, November 24, 2022, at Kings Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, KY.

PORTSMOUTH - Timothy Wayne Bowling, 56 of Portsmouth, died Saturday November 19, 2022 at SOMC Hospice. Arrangements are pending at the Roger W. Davis Funeral Home in West Portsmouth.

PORTSMOUTH - Chad “Cowboy” Messer, 47, of Portsmouth passed away November 13, 2022. Arrangements are under the direction of the D.W. Swick Funeral Home in Wheelersburg.

XENIA-Laura Dawn (Scherer) Bailey, 54, of Xenia, Ohio passed away, Sunday, November 13, 2022 at her home. Laura was born August 10, 1968 in Portsmouth, Ohio to the late Robert L. Scherer and Anna Lee (Elliott) Scherer. After graduation from high school, Laura attended Moeller Barber College and Paramount Beauty Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio. She opened Laura’s Barber Shop on Gallia Street and was there for several years before moving to 6th street Barber Shop on 6th and Offnere for several more years before retiring. May 8, 2017, Laura married Michael Bailey, a long-haul trucker, and one of her favorite things was going with him to destinations all over United States. She had always wanted to travel and see other parts of the US and this gave her that opportunity. She loved visiting other states and experiencing their different cuisines. She would call her sisters and brother with her wonderful adventures and stories about where they were and what they were doing. To all her family and friends who knew her, she shared her love of cooking and her favorite recipes. In addition to her parents, Laura was preceded in death by a brother, Lawrence Scherer and a sister, Rachel Lee Howe. In addition to her husband, Michael Bailey, Laura is survived by daughters, Jenny Throckmorton, Katie (Simeon) Throckmorton, Hannah Bailey, and Heidi Bailey; a brother, John R. Scherer, of Portsmouth and her sisters, Mary Ann (Gene) Angel, of Xenia, Gloria (Roger) Timberlake, of Cincinnati, Theresa R. (Kevin) Metzler, of Lucasville and Donna L. (Bruce) Malone of Portsmouth.

PORTSMOUTH - H. David Scott, 87, of Portsmouth, passed away Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at the SOMC Hospice Center. Arrangements are pending at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth.