Carolyn Sue Aaron, Earl P. Gilland, Susan Louise Tanner, Betty Jean (Carden) Smith

Carolyn Sue Aaron

Carolyn Sue Aaron, 91, Russiaville, passed away at 6:56 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at her home. She was born in Logansport on February 20, 1934, to the late Benjiman Franklin and Mary Louise (Guge) Yard. On September 17, 1952, she married Thomas R. Aaron, and he preceded her in death on March 15, 2016.

Carolyn worked for Delco Electronics for 16 years before retiring. She enjoyed camping and fishing with family in Minnesota, crocheting, traveling, playing BINGO, bowling, and casino hopping.

Carolyn is survived by her children Thomas (Judy) Aaron, Mary Alger, and William (Joni) Aaron, grandchildren Christopher (Lorye) Aaron, John (Aubrey) Aaron, Amanda (Ryan) Jackson, Andrew, Steven, Carolyn, and Clint (Kristin) Aaron, and Kristin (Noah) Bradley, 28 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and siblings Cheryl Yard, Diana (Ron) Anderson, Charles (Carol) Yard, and William (Bonnie) Yard.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Thomas, siblings Ralph Yard, Robert (Margaret) Yard, Frederick Yard, Jerry Yard Sr., Benjiman F. Jr. Yard, Debra Blakely, and brother-in-law Charles Osborne.

A funeral service celebrating Carolyn’s life will take place at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 16, 2025, at Stout & Son Funeral Homes, 200 E Main St, Russiaville, with Chaplain Allen Rawlins officiating. Burial will follow in New London Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.stoutandson.com.

Earl P. Gilland

Earl P. Gilland, 89, of Kokomo, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, peacefully in his home with family and friends. He was born July 23, 1935, in Montgomery County, Kentucky, to the late Ancel Gilland and Carrie (Jackson) Hampton. He married Peggy (Hutton) Gilland on October 31, 1999, and she survives.

Earl served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1962. He was a member of the VFW Post #1152. Earl retired from Schwann's Company as a delivery driver. He enjoyed playing BINGO at the Senior Center and enjoyed collecting. Earl was a member of the Fairview Baptist Church. He was also a member of the Kokomo Shriner's Club and the Masonic Naphtali Lodge #389.

Earl is survived by his loving wife of 25 years Peggy, two children Karen Leffert and Greg Gilland, three stepchildren Connie Hochgesang, Mary Wilburn, and Mike (E.J.) Haynes, seven grandchildren Andrew Sullivan, Alex Ziesing, Megan Sullivan, Gage Costello, Tanna Hilton, Dakota Gilland, and Joseph Hochgesang, three great-grandchildren, two sisters, and several nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death is his daughter Kendra Wilkinson and brother Harvey (Joyce) Gilland.

There will be a memorial service for Earl on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Ellers Mortuary Webster Chapel, 3400 South Webster Street, Kokomo, IN, with military rites performed by the United States Army and the VFW Post #1152 Military Rites Team. Pastor Steve Allen will be officiating. There will be an hour of visitation prior to the service. A private burial will take place at Crown Point at a later date.

Susan Louise Tanner

Susan Louise Tanner passed away peacefully in her loving home on June 6, 2025, in Kokomo, Indiana, at the age of 70. Born on August 28, 1954, in Reed City, Michigan, to Ralph and Jackie Schulte, Susan grew up to be a woman of immense warmth and generosity, touching many lives.

A proud graduate of Kokomo High School in 1973, Susan's thirst for knowledge and her desire to help others led her to Indiana University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy on June 30, 1987. Her career was a testament to her compassionate spirit, beginning with her work at Bona Vista, where she dedicated herself to the care of children. Susan's journey in healthcare took her to various hospitals and nursing homes, but it was after the tragic events of 9/11 that she found her true calling at the VA hospital in Marion. There, she devoted herself to aiding veterans until her retirement in 2019.

She is survived by her loving husband Richard Tanner and her sons Eric (Claire) Tanner and Craig (Lisa) Tanner. Her grandchildren Mason, Holly, Daisy, Layla, and Presley brought her immeasurable joy, and she cherished every moment with them as their beloved Oma. Susan's legacy of love also lives on through her rescued basset hounds, which were not just pets but members of her family.

Her passion extended beyond her family to her community, where she volunteered with the Guardian Angels of Basset Hound Rescue. Susan's love for life was evident in her hobbies. She was an avid crafter and painter, and she relished the excitement of attending NHRA nationals, Colts and Pacers games, and concerts. She was a steadfast supporter of her children's sports endeavors, cheering on not only her own kids but all their teammates as well.

Susan's enthusiasm for life was matched only by her generosity. She was a constant presence at her grandchildren's sporting events and performances, celebrating their achievements with pride. Her kind and loving nature was a source of comfort and inspiration to many, and her generosity knew no bounds.

Preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Jackie Schulte and her brothers Dennis, John, and Paul Schulte, Susan's memory will be cherished and kept alive by those she loved and those who loved her.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated individuals who supported Susan during her illness, including close friends and family, the staff at Paradigm Health, hospital personnel, and Ashley M., who was an exceptional caregiver. Susan's life was a journey of giving, and her legacy will continue to inspire acts of kindness and love in the hearts of those she touched.

Susan Louise Tanner, a devoted Christian, was the embodiment of faith, love, kindness, and generosity. She loved sharing Bible verses with others and enjoyed listening to her favorite Christian artists. Her godly spirit will be deeply missed but never forgotten. Her life was a beautiful example of how to love unconditionally, support wholeheartedly, and live joyfully. May her soul rest in peace as her memory continues to shine brightly in the lives of those she has left behind.

We will have a celebration of life at Abundant Life Church on June 29; 865 E, CR 400 S., Kokomo, IN 46902 from 1-4 p.m.

Betty Jean (Carden) Smith

Betty Jean (Carden) Smith was born June 16, 1928, and passed away June 8, 2025.

We're here today to celebrate the long, extraordinary life of Betty Smith. Her seven children, her sister Geri, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her extended family have all come together to say thank you to Betty for allowing all of us to be a part of your wonderful journey; a journey that started in the early decades of the 20th century.

A century that brought her through a great depression, a world war, and the loss of her father at an early age. A century that introduced her to the love of her life, and our father, Phil Smith. Both born and raised in Indiana, they decided to follow his dream of living out west, and the Smith family's own saga of the way west was born. There they spent the remainder of their lives together, raising their kids and watching them spread to all corners of the country, raising their own families.

After Phil passed in 1996, Betty spent the rest of her life with her mother, her children, and their families. She lived 97 years and left us all with a remarkable legacy, her love of her family.

Following is a tribute and eulogy from Betty’s granddaughter.

"See you later, alligator."

"After awhile, crocodile."

These words, so simple yet so full of love, really embodied the spirit of who Grandma was. And as I sit here writing this, I'm reminded of the countless times she spoke those words to many of us, especially her grandkids. But what I remember most about those moments was the excitement on her face and the joy in her eyes waiting for someone to say it back!

Grandma Betty was many things to many people – a devoted wife, a loving mother to seven children, and a doting grandmother and great-grandmother. But to me, she was simply Grandma, the woman who always had a smile on her face, love in her heart, and a fun side that illuminated all our lives.

One of the things that always amazed me about Grandma was her incredible memory and thoughtfulness. Every year, without fail, she would send a birthday card to each of her grandkids and great-grandkids. It didn't matter how many of us there were – and trust me, with seven children of her own, that number grew quickly – she never forgot a single birthday. Those cards weren't just pieces of paper; they were little reminders of her love, arriving in our mailboxes year after year.

Grandma's life was centered around her family, but she also had other passions that brought her joy. She loved to cook! Her kitchen was always filled with many different aromas, from her famous snickerdoodles to her homemade chili that is now a dinner staple in my house. I remember as little kids we would sit there and play with her pots and pans, pretending to cook while she made dinner for everyone. I remember her in the garden, picking fresh vegetables that she would later can, preserving the taste of summer for the cold winters to come. And let's not forget her love for card games, especially Phase 10! I think I speak for all the grandkids when I say that we both loved and dreaded playing against Grandma – because she almost always won!

But one of my favorite memories of Grandma involves a simple treat that has now became a tradition. She would make us graham crackers with frosting. It doesn't sound like much, but in Grandma's hands, it was pure magic! And here's the part that always made us giggle: as the frosting squeezed out from between the crackers, Grandma would lick her fingers to clean up the mess. It was such a small thing, but it showed us that even grandmas could be a little mischievous sometimes! Haha!

What we will miss most about Grandma cannot be encapsulated in mere words. From her stories of growing up in Indiana, to the tales of when grandpa went off to war, or the laughter-filled chaos of raising her seven children. But my favorite stories, though, will always be the ones about how she met Grandpa. The way her eyes would light up and how she smiled every time she spoke about him, you knew he was the love of her life. I realized that, through these stories, she didn't just entertain us – she connected us to our family history, helping us understand where we came from and the values that helped shaped all of our families now.

So, as we leave here today, let's not be sad. Instead, let's celebrate Grandma's 96 years of life, love, and laughter. Let's honor her memory by living as she did - with faith, with love, with joy in our hearts. And let's always remember to find the fun in life, to cherish our family, and to never miss an opportunity to say, "See you later, alligator."