Obituaries

SYLINDA KAY RISSOT

age 80, of Plainfield, passed away on June 8, 2021.

She was born on May 5, 1941 in Blair, Oklahoma to the late Louis and Velma Roberts Elliott. She married Robert “Bob” Rissot on January 28, 1961; he survives.

Sylinda was a homemaker. She was an active member of the Hazelwood Christian Church, Tri-Kappa Mill Creek, Eastern Star and the Hazelwood Christian Church Women’s Ministry.

A Celebration of Life took place Sunday June 13, at the Hazelwood Christian Church. Private burial was in Center Valley Cemetery.

Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Bob; children, Jeff Rissot (Jan), Michele Bayse (John), and Scott Rissot (Rachel); grandchildren, Robert Bayse (Sarah) Jacob Rissot, Jordan Rissot, Sean Bayse, Carson Rissot and Ted Rissot.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hazelwood Christian Church Women’s Ministry, 9947 South County Road 0 Clayton, IN 46118 or to Tri-Kappa Mill Creek, PO Box 38, Clayton IN 46118. Please visit www.bakerfuneralservice.com to leave the family a condolence.

MARY LOUISA SMITH

age 92, of Plainfield, passed away on June 8, 2021 in I.U. West Hospital.

She was born on May 29, 1929 in New Castle, Indiana to the late James and Georgia Cleek Lunsford. She was the widow of Floyd Randall Smith.

She was a secretary in the accounting and insurance industry for several years before retirement.

Mary Lou enjoyed crafts, needlework and was a former owner of a craft store.

Survivors include her children, Judith Jones and Douglas Smith; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her children, Anita Smith, Randy Smith and Rhonda Branstetter; brothers, Dallas, Marvin, and Jimmy Lunsford; sister, Margie Groves.

Private family inurnment will take in Southmound Cemetery in New Castle, Indiana. Hall-Baker Funeral Home, Plainfield is handling the arrangements. Please visit www.bakerfuneralservice.com to leave the family a condolence.

RONALD L. WILLIAMS

70, of Williams, Ind., passed away on June 12, 2021.

He was born in Indianapolis on March 26, 1951 to the late Delbert and Martha Williams. Ronald worked for Williams Brothers TV Appliances and then went on to become the co-owner of ARE Surveying.

He was a member of the Plainfield Masonic Lodge #653 and was a past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star #414. Ronald belonged to the Sahara Grotto Drum Corps as well. He enjoyed golfing, hunting, riding his motorcycle and coaching Jim when he was little.

Ronald was preceded in death by a sister, Kathy Lucas.

Funeral services took place Wednesday, June 16, in Hampton-Gentry Funeral Home, Plainfield. Burial followed in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Survivors include his loving wife, Mary Williams; son, Jim (Tracy) Williams; daughter, Amanda “Amy” (Eric) Browning; sister, Pat (Steven) Manning; grandchild, Kayla Williams.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children (2900 Rocky Point Drive Tampa, FL 33607).

CHARLES “CHARLIE” JONES

passed away June 8, 2021.

“Charlie” Jones was an Indiana boy whose heart was pure positive attitude!

Born February 13, 1925, his roots go back to Bourbon, Indiana, where he graduated from Marshall County High School and was working on the family farm, when a neighbor boy said he was going to Purdue and asked Charlie to join him. So, off the two boys went to Purdue with their partially filled suitcases and dreams of their life ahead.

He found himself studying Science and worked his way through school as a lab assistant and dining hall captain. Later, he utilized his outstanding penmanship by printing the dewy decimal numbers on books for the Purdue Library. Summer jobs, such as house painting and replacing window screens, served as the foundation for his entrepreneurial spirit and taught him how to leverage his time and talents. Before he knew it, he had a team of over 40 people working for him and following his leadership.

These life lessons and the many other selling skills Charlie learned throughout college led him to his first job in New York selling pots and pans door-to-door. Although, not the glamorous life he’d hoped to find upon college graduation in 1949, it was an opportunity that expanded his world and exposed him to other parts of the country. This love of exploration led to a lifetime of global travel to scores of countries by being a founding member of Voyager 1000 and also the Ambassadair Travel Club.

He later worked at the Frankfort Co-op, then, moved to Lebanon, Indiana, and morphed his career into real estate related pursuits, by founding Royal Title Services, which provides residential and commercial title insurance and closings for local and national customers.

During his life, he collected thousands of tapes and CD’s, using his car as a classroom for perpetual learning. Additionally, he always found time to serve in leadership during his 70+ years in the Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, Elks, Moose, Kiwanis, Rotary (Danville and Plainfield), Board of Realtors, Builders Association, Town Board of Ulen, York Rite, Scottish Rite, Shriners, Indiana Land Title Association (Life Emeritus) and the American Land Title Association.

He and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth (Libby) Jones, spent untold years connecting others to Purdue through membership in the Indianapolis, Clinton County, and Boone County Alumni Associations, Presidents Council (Charter Members), Friends of Convocations, and John Purdue Club. Through their two daughters, Susan (Matt Huffine) and Jennifer (Gary Katona), they endowed two Women’s Golf Scholarships. Along with supporting Purdue Crew, they have been season ticket holders for decades of Football, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, and Women’s Volleyball. Charlie and Libby were awarded the prestigious Black Coat Award for their continuous support and Charlie was inducted into the inaugural Business Hall of Fame class by the Boiler Business Exchange. Being the consummate Purdue Ambassador, you could always find Charlie with a pocket full of Gold “P” pins that he continually handed out on any occasion to anyone who might be a Purdue prospect (no matter their age!).

A positive attitude and a thirst for life-long learning is what invigorated Charlie. He was always happy to play a role in mentoring others and paying it forward. He spent his life working on his “dash” (the time from birth to death) and challenged others to ask “How are you spending your dash to make a difference with your life?”

His life spent “living the dash” is a great story! Please join us and share your memories on Wednesday, June 16th anytime between 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Strawmyer and Drury Lebanon, 22400 N. Lebanon St. Ind In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your favorite charity in Charlie’s honor, as you pay it forward.

ROY ROBERT “BOB” HAYES

of Avon, passed away on June 11, 2021.

He was born in Morristown, Tennessee on July 4, 1945 to the late Charles and Lucy Ann Hayes.

Bob was a natural born salesman. He started with the Kirby vacuum business as a salesman under his brother Jack Hayes. He eventually grew that into his own Kirby distributorship on the west side of Indianapolis. He won multiple Top Sales awards locally and regionally. Leaving the vacuum business, he moved over to Allied Construction where he learned about construction and again broke records and achieved numerous sales awards.

Bob was also an excellent teacher and mentor. He would identify people’s unrecognized skills and help them reach their own goals and success.

Working for somebody else wasn’t in his blood so he started his own construction company, B&E Construction, with his partner, friend, and coworker Elwood Simmons. After learning the ins and outs of running a construction business and building relationships with suppliers, contractors, and clients, Bob and Elwood decided to pursue their own ventures.

He then achieved his lifelong goal of starting Bob Hayes Construction. As the sole owner of Bob Hayes Construction he continued to build relationships within the construction community. After nearly two decades of owning his own business, Bob was able to retire with the dream of spending time with his family and travelling.

Bob was an avid outdoorsman, who loved golfing, hunting, and fishing. He took the time to instill his love of nature into his children and grandchildren. Bob also enjoyed auto racing. Whether it was watching Nascar on television, attending a race in person, or working on his own race car team, he always had a love for “good ole boy” competition. Even in his hobbies, he always strived to be the best.

Bob was a devout Christian who shared God’s message with his children, grandchildren, and anybody he felt needed to hear it. Bob was a member of Light and Life Free Methodist Church in Avon. He shared his gift of generosity to support the ministry and mission of Light and Life Church.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents and children Bobby Hayes, Lucy Hayes and Pamela Mills.

He is survived by his loving wife Deana Hayes of 39 years; siblings Ron (Pearl) Hayes, Bill (Jan) Hayes and Jack (Pat) Hayes; children Terrie (Steve) Baker, Mandie (Nate) Cafouras and Joshua (Rachel) Hayes; grandchildren Kristin, James, Christian, Ashley, Cody, Levi, Justin, Porter, and great-grandchild Nalia.

Services took place Wednesday, June 16, at Conkle Funeral- Home - Avon Chapel.

BEVERLY ANN RIDENOUR

76, of Pittsboro, passed away June 4, 2021.

She was born October 9, 1944 to Everett and Mary Hendricks.

Bev met the love of her life, Dick Ridenour, when they were teenagers. They were married 57 years and raised three children. She babysat out of their home for 37 years. She loved the children in her care, her cats, and working in their yard.

Bev is survived by her daughters, Sherry (Mike) Bailey and Tracie (Billy Ray) Alexander; her son, Joe Ridenour; 7 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Janet Lovell and Linda Clark.

Bev is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother, Randy Hendricks.

In lieu of flowers, Bev’s children ask that memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Indiana Chapter, 50 East 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240.

A celebration of life will be held at the Legion building in the Pittsboro Town Park, 100 Legion Lane in Pittsboro, IN, on Saturday, July 31. Friends and family will gather beginning at 2 p.m. with the service beginning at 4 p.m.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home. All are encouraged to share thoughts, prayers, and memories with Bev’s family on her memorial page found on the funeral home’s website, www.ericmdbellfuneralhome.com.

VIRGINIA A. ROLLER

84, of Danville, passed away on June 12, 2021.

She was born in Indianapolis on December 18, 1936 to the late Ira and Helen Burdine. Virginia was the owner of Virginia’s Gifts and retired in 2008. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, garage sales, flea markets and antiquing.

Virginia was preceded in death by her loving husband, Mason Roller; sister, Betty Derbyshire.

Graveside services took place Tuesday, June 15, in West Ridge Park Cemetery.

Survivors include her children, Michael (Bonita) Roller, Diane (Jeff Foster) Perdue and Wayne (Jennifer Yeager) Roller; sisters, Barbara Lone and Frances Cox; 4 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild.

MORRIS LEROY KERN

81, of Brownsburg, , peacefully passed away on June 15, 2021. Arrangements are currently pending in the care of Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home. All are encouraged to keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

KATHRYN SUE (Lynch) TURNER

75, passed away June 11, 2021.

Kathy was born November 30, 1945 to Hubert Lynch and Mary Weliver (both of Darlington, Ind.) After graduation from High School, Kathy married Carl Turner. They adopted a niece, Kristine, and then Kathy gave birth to a daughter, Stephanie. Life was good and Kathy was a normal young adult who enjoyed the outdoors and life in general.

One afternoon all that changed. Kathy was visiting her grandfather with her mom and dad when on their trip back home, they were T-boned by distracted driver only blocks from home. Kathy suffered a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She was 27 years old at the time of her devastating injury. She was hospitalized for over a year and went through many surgeries and physical therapy, learning how to transfer to and from a wheelchair. She resumed her married life and was learning how to do things from a totally different perspective as wife and mother. It wasn’t long before the stresses caused marital problems and the marriage ended.

Some years after her accident, Kathy embarked on a new venture as a volunteer with the Chaplaincy Department at Methodist Hospital. Her focus was in the Neuro-Surgery area and spinal-cord-injury patients in particular. She could readily relate to what patients were facing and enduring in their recovery. Her warm smile and friendly manner soon helped her broaden her responsibilities to coordinate a peer-volunteer program which she started at Methodist and later at Indiana Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana. She worked with spinal cord injury patients to teach them how to visit and encourage others in their recovery from this traumatic injury, both quad and paraplegics. She was embraced by both staff and patients on the unit and was an invaluable resource to the Staff Chaplains in understanding the ups and downs of men and women who were injured and going through the milieu of therapies in their recovery.

Kathy had the gift of lighting up the room with her endearing smile and her readiness to be involved in the care of patients and families. She at times could be a little testy when needed and was part of the overall team evaluating the needs of handicapped people coming to Methodist. Once she noticed that the carpet leading to and from the parking garage to the hospital was placed in such a way that it tended to pull a person in a wheel chair to the right or left. This made it difficult to go up or down easily without assistance. She wrote a letter to key persons about the need to replace the carpet and it was done not long afterward.

She was also a key advocate in her community of Plainfield and tenacious in following up on recommendations she made that would help improve whatever she noticed made difficult for handicapped people to get around in the community, whether it was shopping, eating at particular restaurants or going to theaters or sporting events.

She was honored by the Professional Chaplains Association for her work with patients and staff and received the Service to Mankind Award at their annual meeting. She presented a workshop at a PCA meeting in San Diego, Calif., on “Aging with a Disability,” with her daughter, Stephanie, who was “grilled” by the participants on what it was like growing up with a parent who was handicapped. Of course, Stephanie, never saw her mother as handicapped. She was just “mom.”

Kathy continued to be active in her church and has been a good resource in evaluating the needs of the handicapped. The church also embraced Kathy and held an annual “golf’ outing dedicating the income to assist Kathy with on-going financial concerns. The men’s club held an annual Pancake Breakfast in Kathy’s behalf as well. This was also a way for Plainfield United Methodist Church to fulfill their Outreach Ministry programs and Kathy was very appreciative of their support and efforts.

Ken Reed, Director of Pastoral Care at Methodist Hospital and Bill Clayton, Pastor of Plainfield United Methodist Church, spearheaded a drive to obtain funds to amplify the money made from the sale of the house Kathy lived in for many years following her injury. A new accessible home was built under Kathy’s direct supervision that has made it easier for her to manage her independence.

One of Kathy’s special joys in life has been her daughter, Stephanie’s children, Kaiden and Jesika. Kathy had the pleasure of taking care of them for about five years while Stephanie worked. A strong and lasting bond has developed between them as a result. Kathy’s declining health made it impossible for her to continue to provide this service.

Life did not get any easier as Kathy pushed on toward the “Golden Years” but she knows she was blessed to have so many friends who stood by her and supported her throughout her life.

God is good and now Kathy rests in his loving arms. All praise to God.

Survivors include her children: Stephanie Suiter (Jamie) and Kristine Lovas (Matt). Grandchildren: Kaiden Suiter, Jesika Suiter and Sheena Turner. Step granddaughter: Ashley Suiter. Great Grandchildren: Reece Chappell, Khloe, Chappell and Brayden Chappell.

Calling hours will be on Friday, June 18, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Plainfield United Methodist Church 600 Simmons Street. Memorial services will follow at 6 p.m. with Pastor Ken Loudenback officiating

Hall-Baker Funeral Home, Plainfield, is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.bakerfuneralservice.com

Our Obituary Policy

The Republican does not charge for publishing obituaries (including photographs) in its newspaper. This is a service to the residents and former residents of Hendricks County, who are to be remembered for the contributions to their communities.