James “Jim” Perry Stewart, Rhonda Joann Anderson, Bessie Eleanor Thomas, Rev. Dr. Clayton Zane Miller, Larry Eugene Crow, Henry “Butch” Lavon Hall
James “Jim” Perry Stewart
James “Jim” Perry Stewart, 79, of Kokomo, passed away at 11:33 p.m. on Monday, February 9, 2026, at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital 86th Street in Indianapolis. He was born January 22, 1947, in St. Mary’s, West Virginia, to Gale and Dessie (Morris) Stewart. On September 14, 1968, he married Constance “Connie” Rautenbusch at Faith United Methodist Church in Kokomo, and she survives.
Jim graduated from Lost Creek High School in West Virginia in 1964. Following graduation, he proudly served in the United States Army from 1964 to 1967, including service in Vietnam, and attained the rank of SP4. After returning home, Jim started a career with General Motors as a job setter, where he worked for more than 30 years before retiring. He went on to work part-time at Meijer for an additional 11 years before retiring a second time. Jim was a talented woodcarver and an active member of the Eastern Woodland Carvers Club in Converse. He was also a dedicated member of the VFW.
In addition to his wife Connie Stewart, survivors include his son Brian (Melanie) Stewart; grandchildren Alli Sharp, A.J. Stewart, David Stewart, and Stephen Stewart; great-grandchildren Will Sharp, Abbi Sharp, and Liam Stewart; and nieces Nila Myers and Tammy Yoakum.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Marjorie Armstrong.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Albright Cemetery. A celebration of life will follow at the Eastern Woodland Carvers Club, 101 S. Jefferson St., Converse, IN 46919, with Pastor Jeff Newton officiating. Contributions may be made in Jim’s memory to the Eastern Woodland Carver’s Club or the VFW. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Shirley & Stout Funeral Home, Kokomo.
Rhonda Joann Anderson
Rhonda Joann Anderson, 76, passed away on April 14, 2026, at her home in Kokomo, IN, surrounded by her family. She was born on September 2, 1949, in Elwood, IN, the daughter of James and Jean (McKinney) Kendall. On July 10, 1976, she married Rick Anderson, who survives.
She graduated from Tipton High School. Rhonda retired from Delco Electronics after 32 years of service. She enjoyed painting, making jewelry, sewing and making quilts. Rhonda enjoyed vacations in Williamsburg, VA, house boating on Dale Hollow Lake, and riding motorcycles with her husband Rick. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She especially enjoyed spending time with her five grandchildren.
Surviving relatives include her husband Rick Anderson; daughters Angie (Derrick) Hansen and Shannon Anderson; brother Michael Kendall (Debra); five grandchildren Charlotte Anderson, Drew Hansen, Cami (Logan) Hambrock, Brandon Hansen, and Abby Hansen.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation will be from 12:00 - 2:00 PM on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Ellers Mortuary and Cremation Center, 3400 South Webster Street, Kokomo, IN. Funeral service will be at 2:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Albright Cemetery. www.ellersmortuary.com
Bessie Eleanor Thomas
Bessie Eleanor Thomas, 98, passed away at 4:44 a.m., Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at St. Vincent Kokomo. She was born on January 22, 1928, in Quaker City, OH, the daughter of Harry Carper and L.B. Alberta (Havens) Burcher. In 1949, she married William Hugh Thomas, who preceded her in death on November 9, 1993.
Bessie was a graduate of Quaker City High School in Ohio. She worked as a receptionist. Bessie loved to dance, doing word searches, playing cards, and traveling to see family, friends, and the scenery. She also enjoyed making memories with her friends and family and loved the mountains, chocolate, and music. Her favorite entertainers were Mickey Gilley, Jeff Dunham, Bill Engvall, and Dean Martin. She was also crafty and enjoyed ceramics and painting.
She is survived by her children Roger Thomas, Kitty Creason, and Julie Hewitt; grandchildren Randy (Rhonda) Thomas, Josh Thomas, Melinda Baker, Angie Nutter, Stefanie Nutter, Jenn Woosley, Whitney (Geryt) Jackson; great-grandchildren Brandi McKinney, Mason Thomas, Madison Thomas, Austin (Hannah) Baker, James Baker, Kiley Nutter, Jaylyn Nutter, Aurora McKinney, Trenton McKinney, Jessie Gates, Brooklyn Baker, Cadence David, Abbie Woosley, Jacen Woosley, Wayde Jackson, Eastyn Jackson, and Brody Jackson; great-great-grandchildren Hudson Baker, Reed Baker, and Kelly Baker; siblings Becky Burcher, Butch Burcher, Bob (Pat) Burcher; and several nieces and nephews.
Bessie was preceded in death by her parents; husband; children Grant William Thomas and Jeannie Cooper; and siblings Earle Burcher, Margaret Burcher, Dan Burcher, Jack Burcher, Harvey Burcher, Latty Burcher, and Anah Burcher-Barnett.
A funeral service celebrating Bessie’s life will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, April 20, 2026, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home, 1315 W. Lincoln Road, Kokomo. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4 p.m. until the time of the service on Monday. Messages of condolence may be made at www.shirleyandstout.com.
Rev. Dr. Clayton Zane Miller
The Rev. Dr. Clayton Zane Miller— “Pastor Miller,” “P.M.,” “Clayton”—joined the saints of light on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the age of 92.
Clayton was born on August 26, 1933, to Winnie and Gladys Miller in Converse, Indiana. Raised on a farm, he did chores, including milking cows by hand each morning and evening, until he left for college. As a young child, he contracted a life-threatening illness. Doctors told his mother that if he survived the night, it would be a miracle. Her prayer—surrendering her son to God’s service in the words, “Thy will be done”—became a spiritual touchstone for Clayton throughout his life. He later spoke of that experience as his “call” story.
He was president of the Converse High School Class of 1952 and received his license to preach from the North Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church in 1951. He graduated from DePauw University in 1956, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Following graduation, he and his fraternity brother Glen Davidson traveled to Morocco as guests of the king and then spent a month in Europe—marking the beginning of Clayton’s lifelong love of international travel.
Clayton entered Drew Theological Seminary in 1956 and received his Master of Divinity degree in 1959. He was ordained Deacon in 1957 and served as Associate Pastor at First Methodist Church in Flushing, New York, from 1957 to 1959. In 1960, he was ordained Elder and received into full membership in the New York East Conference.
In 1959, he was appointed pastor of Union Methodist Church in East Northport, Long Island, where he served for 18 years. During this time, the congregation grew from 150 to 1,000 members, with average Sunday attendance of 300 to 400 across two services and a vibrant youth ministry of 40 to 50 teenagers each week. It was a season marked by many baptisms and weddings and the construction of a new church building. During his time there, Clayton also completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at Drew, using the “case conference” method to address local church challenges, and participated in a three-month sabbatical at the Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland.
In 1977, Clayton was appointed Senior Pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Crestwood, Tuckahoe, New York, where he served for 16 years. His ministry there was marked by inspiring preaching, vibrant worship and music, a strong youth program in which he was personally involved, and an active counseling ministry. He was deeply engaged in the wider community through ecumenical leadership, Rotary International, and the establishment of Asbury Summer Theatre. While at Asbury, he also undertook a three-month sabbatical in India.
In 1993, Clayton was appointed Council Director of the New York Conference of the United Methodist Church, the conference’s primary program agency. He brought to this role a rare combination of imagination, steadiness, and deep belief in the gifts of others. He initiated the Parish Consultant Network, training clergy and laity to guide congregations through pastoral transitions and times of conflict. He also helped launch the “ministry fair” model, transforming Annual Conference sessions into interactive, collaborative spaces for sharing ministry. Clayton continued to empower others, expanding the capacity of leaders across the conference. He also formed a “young clergy” group that became formative for many and remained a mentor and trusted friend to countless pastors.
During this time, he also served as a delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences of the United Methodist Church, the international legislative body of the denomination.
Throughout his ministry, Clayton maintained a deep and enduring relationship with Drew Theological Seminary. In addition to earning his degrees there, he served for 20 years as Adjunct Faculty in the Supervised Ministry program, was elected by the alumni to the Board of Trustees and established an endowed scholarship for seminary students. He understood this work as an essential part of his calling.
Clayton retired in 2001 but continued to travel—especially to Florida—and to mentor clergy until very recently. Throughout his life, his recreational pursuits included basketball and tennis—one more sign of his well-balanced life.
His deep faith in God and his lifelong service to the Church, his communities, and his colleagues in the name of Jesus Christ have left a lasting mark on all who knew him. He loved deeply and unconditionally. His life bore witness to the grace of Jesus Christ in both word and deed. His wisdom shaped generations, his leadership strengthened the Church, and his compassion touched countless lives.
“Well done, good and faithful servant … enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:23)
Clayton is survived by his brother Donal B. Miller of St. Petersburg, Florida. He is also lovingly remembered by nieces and nephews, as well as many grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, great-grandnephews, and cousins, who mourn his passing and give thanks to God for his life, his ministry, and his enduring legacy.
Friends are invited to visit with the family from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Kokomo Zion Church, 5051 E. 400 N., Kokomo, IN 46901. A funeral service celebrating Clayton’s life will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the church, with Rev. Dr. William Shillady officiating. A link will be available at the bottom of Clayton’s obituary page to view the funeral live. Burial will follow in Kokomo Zion Cemetery. A Memorial Service celebrating his faithful ministry in the New York area will be held at Asbury Crestwood United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Hasler & Stout Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.hasler-stout.com.
Larry Eugene Crow
Larry Eugene Crow, 86, Greentown, passed away at 11:20 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Community Howard Regional Health in Kokomo. He was born June 27, 1939, in Kokomo, the son of the late Lauren & Alma (Whitehead) Crow. On August 5, 1962, he married Helen Louise McCain, who preceded him in death on September 1, 2025.
Larry was a graduate of Eastern High School. He did his undergrad at Marion College, now IWU, and went on to earn his master’s in education from Ball State University. He taught for Eastern School Corporation and retired after 35 years. While at Eastern, he taught, coached football and track and was a scorekeeper for the basketball team. He was a sports fanatic, especially football, and looked forward to watching the Indianapolis Colts and the Indiana University Hoosiers play. Larry was well-known around the Eastern community. He learned golf and attended band contests and sporting events. He was a member of a retired teacher group at Eastern called “ROMEO.”
Larry worked for Pioneer Seed in summers where he inspected fields. He enjoyed going to Bible studies and led them in both Indiana and Florida, where he was a member of both Naples Christian Church and Crossroads Community Church. Larry was very family-oriented, stubborn, witty, smart, wise, kind, generous, and had a dry sense of humor. His sarcasm was his love language, and he was very supportive of his daughters and his grandchildren. Larry raised cows, pigs, and chickens and loved camping, fishing, Jesus, and his family. He spent 25 years in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Larry is survived by his daughters Lynelle (Brian) Williams, Laura (Todd) Christlieb, and Laveena (Jonathan) Gibson; grandchildren Madeline Williams, Mariah Williams, Tiffany (Joshua) Carr, Jonas Gibson, and Lauren Gibson; sister-in-law Sondra Crow; along with several cousins.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents; wife Helen; brother Lowell Crow; and several cousins.
Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Hasler & Stout Funeral Home, 112 E. Main Street, Greentown. Memorial contributions may be made in Larry’s memory to Crossroads Community Church. Hasler & Stout Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.hasler-stout.com.
Henry “Butch” Lavon Hall
Henry “Butch” Lavon Hall, 80, of Sharpsville, Indiana, passed away on Monday, April 13, 2026, at his home. He was born on December 15, 1945, in Kokomo, the son of Henry and Louella (Simpson) Hall. On March 6, 1965, he married JoAnn (Webster).
Henry graduated from Sharpsville High School and then received his degree in electrical engineering from Indiana University Kokomo. He retired from his position as Plant Engineering Manager at Chrysler after 30 years. Henry loved spending his time with his family and friends. His hobbies included golfing, shooting, fishing, and hunting. He was a member of Crossroads Community Church, where he served on the Finance Committee, security team, and volunteered as a greeter. He was also the project manager over the current building that is there today.
Along with his wife Jo Ann, Henry is survived by his children Derrick (Elizabeth) Hall and Brett (Sarah) Hall; grandchildren Ainsley, Ava, and Alaina; and sister Janet Moulder.
Henry was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Louella Hall; and sisters Ruby Hollingsworth and Marjorie Welper.
A funeral service celebrating Henry’s life will be at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in Henry’s name to Teen Blast. Stout & Son Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.stoutandson.com.