Obituaries

Pastor John Michael Cross, 67, of Milford passed away on Thursday, November 27, 2025 at Gilman Healthcare Center. He was born on November 11, 1958 in Watseka, a son of George “Bill” and Wanetta (Gossett) Cross. They preceded him in death along with two stillborn sisters; sister-in-law, Jimmie Joy Cross; and great nephew, Levi Cross.

John is survived by his four brothers, Mark (Beverly) Cross of Woodland, Steve (Sue) Cross of Milford, Rodney (Barbara) Cross of Milford, and David (Sandy) Cross of Elkhorn, Wisconsin; along with many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

John was a member of Living Hope Church in Watseka and was active in “Walk to Emmaus.” John earned a Liberal Arts Science Degree with a minor in Theology from the University of Illinois. He later went on to earn a Masters in Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. John had spent many years as a United Methodist Church Minister. He loved to make art with stained glass.

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Daniel Hair, age 78, of Minnesota, passed away on October 8, 2025 at Bethany Life in Story City.

Daniel Carl Hair was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 9, 1947, the son of Frank and Bea (Johnson) Hair. He graduated from Forest Lake High School and later attended Vennard College in University Park, IA. This is where he met his wife to be Gloria (Cottrell) or more fondly known as Glori Jean. They were united in marriage June 8th, 1968. After his graduation from Vennard, they moved to Willmore, Kentucky where he attended Asbury Theological Seminary and received his Masters of Divinity. 10 years later they had a daughter Jennifer Kathleen. He served 5 churches within the United Methodist Conference over 38 years retiring in 2010. His biggest passion was to see church growth.

Daniel enjoyed traveling and some of his favorite places were Israel, England and Honduras. He had several hobbies including hunting and fishing which included leading annual fishing camps in Canada. He also made several trips Deer Hunting in Montana with the Lydia Gang.

He is preceded in death by his parents. Dan is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Gloria of Ames; daughter, Jennifer (Jason) Glotfelty of Ames, and one brother-in-law, David Cottrell of Chariton, Iowa.

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DeeAnne Karen (Friesen) Henke, 73, was taken into the hand of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, October 20, 2025, at her home in Wichita, Kansas. 

She was born on March 12, 1952, in Eugene, Oregon, the daughter of Albert M. and Dorothy (Root) Friesen. DeeAnne was raised in Eugene where she graduated in 1970 from North Eugene High School in Eugene, OR. She later graduated in 1975 from George Fox University in Newberg, OR where she received a B.A. degree in Bible/C.E. Then she served as a short term missionary with OMS International in Tiawan for 1 year. Before she went to Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY where she received in 1982, a Master of Arts and Religion Degree in Old Testament Studies. 

While attending Asbury, DeeAnne met Terry L. Henke. They were married on August 8, 1981, in Eugene, Oregon. 

Over the past 44 years of being married, DeeAnne and Terry traveled across the country while he served as Pastor in Pineville – Lanagan UMC in Pineville, MO and Lanagan, MO; Urbana Charge UMC in Urbana, MO, Preston, MO, and Cross Timbers, MO; Clever – Hurley UMC in Clever, MO and Hurley, MO; and Crandall – Grundy Center UMC in Trenton, MO. Then they transferred to West Virginia Conference where they served Mt. Storm Charge UMC in Mt Storm, WV, Bayard, WV, and Gormania, WV; New Hope UMC in Princeton, WV, and Mt Union UMC in Huntington, WV. Then they moved the credentials to the Free Methodist Church and served in the Alma Free Methodist Church in Alma, NE and Osborne Free Methodist Church in Osborne, KS. DeeAnne was very devoted to her work in the churches as well in many capacities of being a Pastor’s wife and shepherding those around her. 

They moved to Olathe, KS in June of 2007. A couple of years later she was hired to worked at a new Walmart Store in Olathe for four years until moving to Wichita to be closer to their sons and grandchildren. 

Since living in Wichita DeeAnne and Terry were associated with Word Of Life Church and more recently Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. 

A loving wife and mother, DeeAnne is survived by her husband Terry of the home; son, John-Mark Henke and wife Michelle of Towanda, KS. and grandsons Titus and Rowan, and son, Joshua Henke of Valley Center, KS.; and her sisters Roseanne Fulcher of Knightdale, N.C, SueAnne Lloyd and husband Steve of Marseille, France, and Annette Cone and husband Greg of Eugene, OR. She has seven nieces and three nephews. 

DeeAnne is preceded in death by her parents. 

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Tim, aged 63, is survived by parents Johnny & Drudy Jarrell and brother Todd (Karole), wife Sarah, 3 children and 7 grandchildren. Tim passed on Oct 20.

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Rev. Charles “Chuck” Kinsley passed on December 3, 2025. Rev. Kinsley retired from ministry in the UMC in 1999.

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Emma May (Sell) McMannamy, 76, passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at home in Leesville, Ohio, following a brief illness. She was born on September 14, 1949, in Leesville, Ohio to Della Lucille (Easterday) and Clifford Earl Sell who preceded her in death. She was a graduate of Conotton Valley, Ohio University, and Asbury Theological Seminary. Emma was also a retired schoolteacher having taught for Caldwell City Schools, Swanton Christian School and substituted at Conotton Valley. She loved teaching rather it was teaching school, Sunday school, or teaching others how to do genealogy research. She enjoyed working with bible quiz teams at the Free Methodist Church in Caldwell and volunteering at Light and Life Christian Camp during the summers.

Emma married her husband, Jerry A. McMannamy Sr., on September 1, 1979, who preceded her in death on February 4, 2021. Her children survive her, Jerry Jr. (Sharon) McMannamy of West Jefferson, Ohio, Faith McMannamy of Leesville, Ohio, and Hope McMannamy of Charleston, West Virginia. Emma is survived by a grandson, Conner McMannamy of West Jefferson, Ohio, along with a stepdaughter and numerous step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her nephew and nieces David Sell (Rose Gardner), Marcy (Nate) Pounds, Jill (Gary) Milburn, and 2 great nephews, and 2 great nieces. In addition to her parents, husband, two brothers John Lacey Sell and Eugene “Crutch” Sell preceded her in death.

Emma was an accomplished genealogist and was a life member of both Carroll County and Tuscarawas County Genealogy Societies. She served as a past president for Carroll County Genealogy Society and was the current president for the Tuscarawas County Genealogy Society. She had volunteered staffing both societies libraries for more than 30 years. In those 30 years, she compiled and indexed more than 200 scrapbooks to be used for research purposes in the libraries.

Her journey into genealogy began while she was a leader for the Girl Scout troops at Bowerston. She helped her daughter, Faith, complete research to win first place at the Ohio State Fair in a project that was completed for Girl Scouts. Emma was a troop leader for nearly every level of Girl Scouts for around 13 years. In those years, she was the cookie chairwoman for the Harrison County troops in the Black Diamond Girl Scout Council.

She also enjoyed many years of following her children around to band and sporting events including helping her husband transport all of the band instruments for many years. Emma was always one of the biggest supporters of her children and their friends.

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Rev. George Roads passed into the hands of Jesus, his Lord and Savior, on December 18, 2025. He was born on August 5, 1934, to his parents Naomi (Lloyd) Roads and Homer C. Roads, both of whom have preceded him in death.

In January 1963, he was united in marriage to church member Susan Kay Kelley. The second year of this marriage they adopted two young girls, JoAnn and Peggy Jane. The two of them were a great challenge for newlyweds, but they never regretted that decision. In fact, they were greatly blessed beyond words for their commitment to two wonderful children and later adults.

George was a graduate of McClain High School, Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary. He pastored 16 churches (several multi-point charges) during his tenure as a United Methodist minister and two others part-time after his retirement. He also taught junior high school English, worked at Ferno-Washington in Wilmington and had fun driving a school bus for Greenfield Public Schools for a time.

Painfully, George lost Susan to a virus combined with pneumonia just after moving to an assisted living facility in Beavercreek, Ohio, in the fall of 2020. He lived there until his death.

George was also preceded in death by his sisters Kathleen Pope, Shirley Anderson, and Janet Roads and his brothers Lloyd Roads and wife Lois, and Robert Roads and wife Pat. Remaining is his brother, James Roads and his wife, Geri.

He is survived by two daughters, JoAnn Spears of Beavercreek, Ohio; and Peggy Sturdivant and husband Willis of Clarkson, Kentucky; two granddaughters Vanessa (Michael) Trapp and Emilie (Miles) VanderKolk and five great grandchildren Harley, Skylar, Corwin, and Nikolai Trapp and Knox VanderKolk. All were an inspiration, said George as long as he lived.

Finally, we say “He will be missed by all who knew him.”

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Richard Curtis Stapleton was born January 2, 1959 in Brandon, Mississippi to the late Howard Proctor and Lydia Stapleton. He was the ninth child of nine children. He departed this earthly life at the age of 66 on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Richard confessed Christ at an early age . Though we are not sure if Richard was baptized twice but we are sure he received a baptism on June 21, 1980 at the Church God of Prophecy in Butzbach, West Germany. Richard never forgot that he was a child of God almighty. After he graduated from Central High School in Jackson, Mississippi he then enlisted into the United States Army where he served as a medical specialist.

He is preceded in death by is father Howard Proctor, his mother Lydia Patterson, his sister Mary Doris Palmer, his brothers Boss Stapleton Jr and Bobby Joe Stapleton.

He is survived by his brothers Charles Edward Palms (Alama Palms) of Las Vegas, Nevada; Billy Ray Stapleton of Louisville, Kentucky; James Howard Stapleton (Kim Stapleton) of Mine Hill, North Carolina; sisters Shirley Ann Lackey of Cincinnati, Ohio; Deacon Carolyn Stapleton-Hill ( Pastor Willie Bernard Hill) of Radcliff, Kentucky, numerous nephews, nieces, extended family and friends who will cherish his precious memory.

We know that Richard loved to sing and we believe he is now singing in the heavenly choir.

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Clefton D. Vaughan, age 84, died at home surrounded by his loving family, on November 19, 2025 after a brief illness.

Clef was born on July 29, 1941 in McComb, Miss., the youngest child of John Alexander and Virginia Elma Vaughan. He grew up first in McComb and then in Summit, Miss.

He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi, majoring in accounting. It was there that he met the love of his life and wife of 64 years, Mary, at the Wesley Foundation (a Methodist Campus ministry). They were married while still in school, following which he began a 34-year career with Murphy Oil Corporation.

During those years Clef and his family lived in El Dorado, Ark., London, England, and New Orleans, La. After retiring as Vice President from Murphy Oil in the mid 1990s, he began working for Deltic Timber Corporation as their Chief Financial Officer and VP. Clef retired after 10 years of service working closely alongside CEO Ray Dillon.

His outside interests centered primarily around his church-related activities. Clef was actively involved in church wherever they lived, whether that was St. John’s Methodist in Potters Bar, England, the American Church in London, First United Methodist in El Dorado, Rayne Memorial UMC in New Orleans, Asbury UMC and St. James UMC in Little Rock, or Good News Global Methodist Church in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. That involvement came out of a deep love of Jesus Christ and his desire to live his life as a disciple. He especially enjoyed teaching through the Bible in Sunday School or small groups.

He served for many years, leading the Council of Finance and Administration for the Arkansas Conference of the UMC. He also served on many boards, most notably the Methodist Foundation of Arkansas, the Methodist Family Health Foundation, Arkansas Lighthouse for the Blind, and the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army.

Clef led his family well through his love for Christ and his devotion to Mary. They instilled a love of travel in all five of their children, and he passed his faith in Jesus down to each of them. They absolutely loved their 15 years spent in London and had so many wonderful experiences there. They met the Prime Minister, the Queen on two different occasions, and Clef even once had the honor of being invited to pray in the annual American Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

He was an avid Razorback fan, particularly baseball. He enjoyed playing golf, cards, and spending time with his family, especially the “Beach Week” every summer where all the family would gather, now numbering in the 30s!

He and Mary had a close group of friends both in Little Rock and in Destin, and they considered themselves blessed to be around such wonderful people. The well-known phrase, “He never met a stranger,” could have originated with Clef, as he would talk to anybody in any place, from the grocery store to the streets of the neighborhood to an airport lounge to any other random spot!

Clef is preceded in death by his parents; his two brothers, John Alton (Betty) and Glen Vaughan.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Persons Vaughan; their five children, Clayton (Christiane), Allison (Tony), Paul (Sherry), Carness (Ashley), and Clefton (Lindsey); and their 20 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Other survivors include his sister, Linda (Bob); his sister-in-law, Gloria; and many cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.

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John A. Weller, age 80, late of Homewood, IL, passed away on December 7, 2025.

Born on December 4, 1945, in Flint, MI, to Russell A. and Helen Weller, John graduated from Durand High School and earned a master’s degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. He began his career as a minister in the United Methodist Church, serving faithfully for over 25 years.

Never one to sit still, John spent his retirement turning his love of books into a successful online bookstore. He enjoyed searching local thrift stores for treasures, often surprising friends and family with books he knew they’d love.

A lifelong animal lover, John cared for many beloved pets over the years. He valued time with his dear friends and neighbors and was known for his annual Christmas letters, keeping connections strong with those near and far.

He is survived by nieces Daphne, Deidre, and Dianna Weller; nephews Brent and Bryan Chapman; sister-in-law Rose Weller; aunt Ruth Tolson; and uncle Charles Weller. He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell A. and Helen Weller; brother Russell F. Weller; and sister Judith Chapman.

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2 responses to “Obituaries”

1. Efraim Goldstein says:

   January 7, 2026 at 11:37 pm

   The ATS family has remained supportive and uplifting while I am close and afar.

   Reply
2. Michael G. Mwangi says:

   January 8, 2026 at 6:34 am

   May our Dear Brothers and Sisters Rest Easy in Eternity

   Reply