Thelma M. Roe, Carol ‘Diane’ Gibbs, Neva Louise (Burgess) Lawson, Justin Duane Pavese, Joseph Kent Meyers
Thelma M. Roe
Kokomo resident Thelma M. Roe, 96, went to be with the Lord from her home at Wellbrooke of Kokomo, on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 4:30 PM. Thelma was born on March 7, 1930, in Deputy, IN, the daughter of Garlan and Mable Webster. Her family moved from Deputy to Bunker Hill, IN, in 1945 and from there to Kokomo, where she met Richard (Dick) E. Roe.
Thelma graduated from Kokomo High School in 1948. On June 13, 1948, Thelma and Dick were married at Highland Park Church by Reverend Dwight Patterson. Dick preceded her in death on January 21, 2004.
Thelma loved the Lord, her family, and her church family. She has been a standing member of Highland Park Church since 1949 and was the church organist for more than 40 years, retiring from that position in December 2024 at the age of 94.
She was employed at Delco Electronics in Kokomo for 32 years, retiring in 1985.
Thelma is survived by two sons David (Kathy) Roe and Jerel (Tammy) Roe of Kokomo, seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister Doris (Jeff) Freed of LaPorte, IN, five nieces, and two nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 56 years Dick, one sister, two brothers, one granddaughter, four nephews, and one niece.
A funeral service to celebrate Thelma’s life will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home, 2097 West Alto Road, with Pastor Luke Vasicek officiating. Friends may call from 11:00 AM until the time of service on Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to Highland Park Church, P.O. Box 11, Kokomo, IN 46903-0011. Envelopes will be provided at the funeral home.
Carol ‘Diane’ Gibbs
Carol ‘Diane’ Gibbs passed away peacefully at her home in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on April 28, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, to be with her Savior Jesus Christ.
Born in Kokomo, Indiana, on the 23rd of June 1933 to Olive Henry, Diane was a sweet, kind, and talented child. She began taking piano lessons when she was six years old and performed in many piano recitals in her youth. An accomplished pianist, organist, and keyboardist, Diane shared her musical gifts with the world, playing piano and organ for St. Joseph’s and St. Augustine’s (Kalamazoo), St. Mary’s (Paw Paw), and St. Catherine’s (Portage) Catholic Churches for more than 50 years. She continued playing until she could no longer feel her fingers or hear the music. Thanks to her many years on the piano, her children grew up hearing and loving all kinds of music, from classical to Big Band, hymns, Broadway, Boogie-Woogie, light rock, Christian, and church music. She would sit down and play all types of music without having the sheets in front of her.
In addition to music, she enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, ceramics, China painting, and square dancing. Her children would tell you that she made the best homemade spaghetti and meatballs, meatloaf dinners, and lots of yummy cookies and desserts.
Diane married the “boy next door” and love of her life Harry ‘Jack’ Gibbs on March 18, 1951, at the First Baptist Church in Kokomo, Indiana. Two years later, they started what was to be an amazingly large family when they welcomed their first child Ronald Lee. As the years passed, they welcomed Colleen Sue, Robert Edward, and Alan Patrick. The family relocated to Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1961, where Anne Marie, Michael Anthony (Tony), and Stephen Christopher were later born into the fold. Always the doting and caring mother, she lovingly raised her seven children and cherished her 24 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren and the time spent with each one of them. Although they moved to Michigan, she always considered herself a Hoosier and loved going back down to Indiana to visit her mother and all of her cousins whenever she was able to do so. She spoke often about her life growing up in Kokomo and living on the farm with her grandparents.
Her love of family was only surpassed by the love of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She became a Catholic in 1958 and was parishioner at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and later St. Monica’s for more than 60 years. While at St. Joe’s, Diane was member of several prayer groups, including the Good Shepherd Community and the Community of the Lord’s People, where she made many lifelong friends. She joined the Legion of Mary and was certain that they found their first home in Kalamazoo because of the Mother of Perpetual Heart devotions. There was never a day that she did not sit down with the Bible in her lap and her Rosary in her hand.
Diane loved being at home with her seven children, but also found time to sell Tupperware, Avon, and Home Interiors. She loved going to garage sales, flea markets, and finding any good bargain. She truly loved beautiful things: flowers, fine and “country” furniture, and the wonderful Southern style homes that she and her husband Jack visited in Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida.
She was preceded in death by her mother, her husband Harry ‘Jack” Gibbs, her son Ronald Lee Gibbs, and grandsons Kristopher and Ryan Gibbs.
Diane is survived by her two daughters Colleen Stewart and Anne Gibbs and four sons Robert Gibbs, Patrick Kelley, Michael (Tony) Gibbs, and Stephen (Erika) Gibbs.
Family and friends are invited to visit Tuesday, May 5, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Adams-Redmond Funeral Home, 4100 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo. The Rosary, led by Deacon Kurt Lucas, will be recited at 6:30 p.m.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 6, at 11:00 a.m. by Father Daniel Hyman, at St. Monica Catholic Church, 534 W. Kilgore Road, Kalamazoo, with a luncheon after.
Burial will take place at Fort Custer National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Monica Catholic Church or Centrica Care Navigators. The family would like to extend a special “Thank you!” to Zita and Amy for their outstanding care of her this past year.
Neva Louise (Burgess) Lawson
Neva Louise (Burgess) Lawson left this world to meet her Savior in Christ on May 1, 2026. She was born on December 29, 1942, in Kokomo, IN, to the late Dennis A. and Idona (Smith) Burgess. She is survived by her loving husband of 65 five years Daniel Grant Lawson Sr.
Neva’s family includes her children: son Daniel G. Lawson Jr. and Robin, son Russell and Rena (deceased), daughter Denise and Ron Shue, and daughter Neva McFarland; her grandchildren Aaron Lawson, Zachary and Michelle Lawson, Jennifer Bault, Terra and Donnie Hall, Mikey and Carla Pearson, Brittney Sutton, Jennifer Shue, Ronald D. Shue, Jacob and Mendy Bates, Levi and Kelly Bates, Casey and Kylie Shue, Brandi and Christopher Bledsoe, Darren and Bridget Anderson, and Ashley Anderson (deceased); her great-grandchildren, Jakob, FaithLynn and Blake, Zairemy (deceased), Michael and Savannah, Caden, Deacon, Corbin, Lynnly, Kaden, Jaden, Matthew, Kaytlyn, Shylinn, Joey, Jacquelyn, Juliannah, Jillian, Noah, Eli, Cruz, Ashlyn, and Caden; and her great-great-grandchildren Finnley, Bentley, and Hunter.
The family also holds in their hearts the unborn babies playing with the angels Heaven Lee, Sky, George, and Ivy Rose.
A special mention of her beloved fur baby Jewel.
There will be a visitation for Neva on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, from 2:00 PM until the time of service at 5:00 PM at Gospel Light Mission Church, 1407 Belmont Ave., Kokomo, IN. Rev. Terry Russell will be officiating. Burial to follow to Albright Cemetery.
Justin Duane Pavese
Justin Duane Pavese was born on July 6, 1984, in Kokomo, Indiana, and passed away on April 29, 2026.
Born to DeWayne Pavese and Bridget Smith Pavese, Justin came into the world with the kind of energy that made it clear he was not planning to be a background character. Justin was the sort of man who could walk into a room, know nobody, and leave with a story, a handshake, and probably a new friend. He never met a stranger.
Justin attended Taylor High School and carried himself through life with the same practical determination he brought to everything else. He was self-employed in construction, and that fit him well because he liked things that were real, useful, and preferably in need of fixing. If something was broken, Justin did not see a problem. He saw a challenge, a project, and a chance to prove that patience, skill, and a little stubbornness could solve just about anything. He loved working on cars and homes, and he had a way of figuring out how things operated that made him seem part mechanic, part detective, and part magician with a toolbox.
He was a hard worker with a heart of gold. Justin was passionate, creative, and adventurous, and those traits showed up in the way he lived every day. He enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting, and any and all outdoor activities, which meant he was happiest when he had fresh air, a purpose, and maybe a little dirt on his boots.
He lived with generosity and a willingness to help anyone, whether the task was big or small. If somebody needed a hand, Justin was there. If somebody needed something fixed, Justin was there.
He is survived by his loving companion Nikki Marine; his mother Bridget Pavese (Waine); his father DeWayne Pavese (Tina); his siblings Greta Shock (Troy), Tara Connolly (Shawn), Tonia Schmidt, Savannah Murphy (Kinser), and Blade Newton (Destiny); several nieces and nephews; and his loving dog and best friend Kardi, whom he rescued. He was preceded in death by his grandparents.
Justin’s family and friends will remember not only what he did, but how he made people feel. He had a big heart, and a sharp mind, and will be missed by all who knew him.
City of Firsts Cremation and Funeral Services by Rose and Geiger was entrusted with the arrangements. www.cityoffirstscremations.com
Joseph Kent Meyers
Joseph Kent Meyers was born May 22, 1936, in Kokomo, IN, to Mercedes (Benham) and Lunda Meyers. He spent his entire childhood in Kokomo and was a proud Wildkat. After serving four years in the Navy, he returned to Kokomo, where he met Kay Camp. They married in 1962. Joe got his Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in 1966. Then, he and Kay moved to Kansas City, where they had their two daughters Cindy and Ali. They moved to Fulton, NY, before settling in Terre Haute, IN, in 1973. In 1981, Joe married Cora Lee Derringer Huntsman. They lived in Greenwood, IN, Indianapolis, Ft. Myers, and Santa Fe before moving back to Indiana in 2015.
Joe received his MBA from University of Missouri-Kansas City and spent his career in management at several companies, including Hallmark, General Housewares, Kawneer, and Cook Industries. Later in life, he taught at IU’s Kelley School of Business.
Joe enjoyed acting in plays and musicals in community theater as well as singing in the church choir. He bled cream and crimson for his Indiana Hoosiers and had season tickets to men’s basketball back in the Bobby Knight era. He was thrilled to see the football team win a national championship in January. Joe also cheered for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts. He was amazing with directions (he was a cartographer in the Navy) and was a master packer; traits he passed on to his girls.
Joe died April 18, 2026, in Lafayette, IN, and was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife; his brother Steve (Chiquita) Meyers; daughters Cindy (David) Plate and Ali (Sean) Harapko; stepsons Brent (Stacy) Huntsman, Jerry Huntsman, and Scott Huntsman; grandchildren John Plate and Arianna and Natalie Harapko; step-grandchildren Chris Huntsman, David Huntsman, Isabel Huntsman, and Dustin Huntsman; and several nieces and nephews.