Shirley Marie (Ruth) Jones
Shirley Marie (Ruth) Jones, 88, of Kokomo, passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2023, at IU Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette. She was born in Kokomo, Indiana, on October 11, 1935, the daughter of the late Frank and Verna (King) Ruth. On May 17, 1958, she married Richard “Dick” Jones, and he preceded her in death on July 15, 2019.
Shirley was a 1953 graduate of Kokomo High School. She retired from Indiana Bell, later AT&T, after 41 years as a service representative. She cherished spending time with family and friends, had a passion for food and enjoyed a good filet. She also relished a good toothpick (Doctor’s Brushpick). In addition to finding and collecting new recipes, she famously made recipes that no one could replicate (e.g., her buttermilk cookies and chocolate sheet cake). Shirley was a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.
Shirley is survived by her children, Debbie (Scott) Miethke, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer (Aaron) Akins; grandchildren, Ben, Alex, John, and Alison Miethke, Zachary, Courtney, and Kirstin Jones, Oscar and August Akins; 5 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and siblings, Evelyn (Frank) Kahn, Jefferson “Jay” Ruth, Blaine Ruth, Doris (Bob) Caine.
Friends are invited to visit with the family from 10 am to 11 am Thursday, November 30, 2023, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 West Lincoln Road, Kokomo, IN 46902. Funeral service will begin at 11 am on Thursday at the funeral home, with Pastor Jason Grant officiating. The funeral service will be live-streamed, and a link will be available at the bottom of her obituary page at 11 am on Thursday. Burial will follow in Sunset Memory Garden. Contributions may be made in Shirley’s name to the Kokomo Rescue Mission. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.
Robert Ray Cox
Robert Ray Cox, age 81, of Tipton, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family on Friday, November 24, 2023, at his daughter’s home in Tipton, Indiana. Bobby Ray was born in Frankfort, Indiana on January 24, 1942, to Glen & Dena (Wilson) Cox. Robert married the love of his life, Lynn Hartzog on December 6, 1976, at Tipton Church of the Nazarene. They shared 43 wonderful years of marriage before she passed away in 2020.
Bobby Ray was a graduate of Kempton High School. After high school he proudly served in the United States Army. Once he returned to civilian life, he worked for GM in the fabrication department, from where he retired. He was a member of the local UAW as well as Kokomo Fab Rats.
Bobby Ray enjoyed the outdoors. He loved nothing more than to be in his flower and vegetable gardens watching his hard work come to life. He was known as the family flower identifier, if he didn’t know the type of flower it was, he would get his phone out and use his identifying app to figure it out. Anytime he was outside, he was on the lookout for birds. Bobby Ray loved all kinds of birds and always made certain the feeders were full. When he wasn’t outside, he enjoyed watching old westerns on tv, fixing jewelry, and helping his grandson put furniture together; they made a shelf to hold electrical wires and built jigs out of wood to be useful around the house. Bobby Ray also liked to watch football, crime shows and Curse of Oak Island. His grandson, youngest granddaughter and daughter would watch an episode of one of these shows with him every night.
In their younger years, Bobby Ray & Lynn had an antiquing business where they would buy, fix, and then sell anything and everything antique. At one time, they had a huge barn full of all their finds. He always loved to take his grandkids to his storage unit to look at family heirlooms, crafts, and things from his childhood. Bobby Ray loved to tell stories about when he was in Germany with the Army and about all his life experiences. Those are stories his family will hold on to and cherish in the years to come.
Bobby Ray loved to go for drives with no destination in mind. He would just go where his heart took him and seemed to be able to find his way wherever he went. He loved to go look around Menards and Lowes. Bobby Ray was also an avid train enthusiast.
Those left to carry on Bobby Ray’s legacy of love are his daughter Darcy (Phil) Ward; grandchildren Gabrielle E. (Travis) Hayward, Andrew G. Ward, and Abigaile Ward; great-grandchild Elena C. Hayward, Esme Hayward; cousins, Becky (Jay) Holbrook, Sherry Bagley, Mona (Jim)Rayl, Sandi (Mike) McCorkle, Jerry Cox; nephew, Brian Cox.
Bobby Ray was welcomed into Heaven by his parents Glen & Dena Cox; wife Lynn Cox; Son Jason Stocker; and Brother Mike Cox.
A funeral service celebrating Bobby Ray’s life will be held on Friday, December 1, 2023, at 1:00 PM at Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home, located at 314 N. Main St. in Tipton with Pastor Doug Slack officiating. Visitation for family & friends will take place prior to the service from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Committal will take place at Kempton Cemetery.
Please feel free to leave an online condolence or share a special memory of Bobby Ray with his family on his tribute wall.
Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home is honored to serve the Cox family.
Rosie B. Burton
Rosie B. Burton, age 91, of Kokomo, Indiana passed away on Monday, November 27, 2023.
A public visitation for Rosie will be held Friday, December 1, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Ellers Mortuary & Crematory Center, 3400 S. Webster Street, Kokomo, Indiana 46902, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 PM.
Joan Elizabeth McKillip
Joan Elizabeth McKillip, 93, of Kokomo passed away peacefully with family at her side just before midnight on Saturday, November 25, 2023. She was born in Detroit Michigan to Raymond and Marie (Schmidt) Hirst on September 19, 1930. On December 31, 1950, she married Donald Gene McKillip who preceded her in death in August of 1996.
Joan was a lifelong member of St. Patrick and St. Joan of Arc Parishes. She attended Kokomo High School and graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian, Michigan in 1948. After marrying Don, she devoted her life to being a wife and to raising their four children and did not work outside the home until her children were grown. She was involved in many of her children’s and grandchildren’s school activities, was a parent to numerous children in the Foster Care Program, and a special parent to many kids in the neighborhood. She worked as a respiratory therapist at St. Joseph Hospital and later as a dietary supervisor and consultant with numerous healthcare facilities. She was also a committed volunteer for the Poor Clare Monastery and the American Cancer Society.
Joan is survived by three of her four children, Susan Johnson of Mooresville; Michael (Chris) McKillip of Converse; and Matthew (Heather) McKillip of Kokomo; daughter-in-law, Wanda McKillip; grandchildren, Aaron, Adam, Andres, Andrew, Brandon, Gabriel, Michael, Patrick, Rachel, Sara, Taylor, and Zachary; one niece, Katheryn Ryan, and her family; 29 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild expected in March of 2024; Anna and Jeff Rudolph; and many other special family members and friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, Joan was preceded in death by her son, Mark McKillip; son-in-law, James Johnson; sister, Helen Johnson; niece Candace Orndorff; and one grandchild.
Joan’s family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the many individuals who loved and cared for Joan the last few years especially Becky, Julie, Linda, Marsha, and Sarah as well her dear friend Charlotte who assisted Joan with many tasks for 27 years.
In lieu of flowers, Joan kindly requested that her family and friends make memorial contributions in her honor to the Kokomo Humane Society, https://kokomohumane.org/donate/. Animals and her pets were always an important part of Joan’s life, and she had many including those she welcomed who walked into her life unexpectedly.
Honoring Joan’s wishes, there will be a private Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, December 1st at St. Patrick Parish with His Excellency, The Most Reverend Timothy L. Doherty, presiding and the Very Reverend Theodore C. Dudzinski, Reverend David Hellmann, and Reverend David Huemmer concelebrating. A private burial will follow at Crown Point Cemetery in Kokomo.
Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with Joan’s arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.
Max A. Quirk
Max A. Quirk, 95, of Galveston, passed away Monday, November 27, 2023, at his home. He was born August 23, 1928, in Shideler, Indiana to Edward and Dorthea (Fred) Quirk. He first married Alberta Jacobs in 1952. She preceded in death in 1988. He later married Patricia Thomas in 1993 and she preceded him in death in 2003.
Max graduated high school in 1948 in Sharpsville. He went on to attend Manchester College to earn his teaching credentials in 1957 and then attained his administrative license from I.U. in 1967. He started his career in Macy from 1954 – 1957; then Galveston High School from 1957 – 1963, he served at Southeastern School Corp from 1963 – 1986 and started the P.E. program at Galveston Elementary, taught Social Studies at Lewis Cass and became the principal of Galveston Elementary from 1975 – 1986. Max started the Galveston Little League in 1958 with the help of his family cleaning, mowing, lining the batter’s box and foul lines. He would like to “Thank” Bryan Jackson, Bess Daggett, Fred Zehring for helping him out those 18 years. Max would also like to “Thank” a few people who graciously helped him out along the way in his life. Mom, Dad and Mamaw, Mr. Davison, teacher and coach; Mr. Kindlla, principal of Sharpsville high school; Dean Carter, Bill Browling and Flip Marschand for summer jobs while he was in college; Ned Johnson, Dan Kitchel, Jack Quillen and Roger Sisson for getting him out of the house, and Aunt Della for giving him $50 for college.
He proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict in the 25th Division where he was a field wireman and served in the heavy motor co. He saw action at the Punchbowl and at Heartbreak Ridge during the conflict.
Max was a member of the American Legion, the Indiana State Teachers Assoc., the Cass Co. Retired Teachers group, and the Eagles Club. After retiring, he enjoyed the game of golf with all his past buddies. He was a huge I.U and Notre Dame fan. He loved children and enjoyed passing out candy to everyone. He truly loved life.
Surviving family include his children, Becky Scott; Brain Quirk and Denise (Eric) Morgan. His grandkids, Jeremy Scott, Jason Scott, Jessica and husband Brian Taylor; Kyle and wife Kimberly Quirk; Drew Quirk, Matthew and wife Jali Morgan; Andrew and wife Mackenzie Morgan and Jonathan and wife Ashton Morgan. Surviving great grandkids include, Quentin and Keagan Taylor, Adeline Quirk, Alexis Morgan, Layah Quirk, Haisey and Jaxon Morgan. Surviving siblings include Marty Quirk, Martha Quirk, Louise Glaze, Janet Quirk and Wayne and Pretty Patty Quirk. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Max is preceded in death by his parents, first wife Alberta, second wife Pat, brothers, Edward (Pat) Quirk, John, James, Louie, Michael, P.D Quirk, son-in-law, Max Scott and sister Patty Benje.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Monday, December 4, 2023, at Galveston First Baptist Church, 207 S. Sycamore Street, Galveston, Indiana 46932 with Pastor Sean Cooper officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m. Monday at the church. Burial will follow in Sharpsville Cemetery with military honors graveside.