Nancy Custer
Nancy Custer, 83, Greentown, passed away at 2:03 a.m. Friday, May 24, 2024, at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital-86th Street in Indianapolis. She was born February 23, 1941, in Kokomo, the daughter of the late Charles F. and Opal M. (Crousore) Rees. On September 10, 1960, she married Jesse “Arnold” Custer Jr., and he survives.
Nancy was a 1959 graduate of Eastern High School. In her younger years, she worked at Hudson’s Grocery Store, but was a homemaker most of her life. Nancy was a member of New Salem Friends Church, Greentown Order of Eastern Star Chapter #195 where she was past deputy and past grand star point. She enjoyed sewing, word finds, and playing the piano. Nancy cherished her family time and enjoyed spending time with her family at the lake.
In addition to her husband Arnold, Nancy is survived by her daughter, Stacy Custer; grandchildren, Chaney (Mike) Walthour, Dustin Custer, Joshua Custer, Ashley (Toby) Thompson, Lauren (Matthew Kuehn) Maines, and Rees Maines; 9 great-grandchildren, Ivy Garcia, Blake Singer, Isis Dillman, Jayma Hayes, Emmelia Walthour, Jaxon Walthour, Lillian Thompson, Alison Thompson, and Tannah Custer; 2 great-great grandchildren, Bentley and Wynter; daughter-in-law, Debra Custer; and honorary son Craig Henry.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents; sons, Mark & Jim Custer; grandson, Dusty Dillman, and brothers, Jack (Judy) Rees, and Dwayne Rees.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 30, 2024, at Hasler & Stout Funeral Home, 112 E. Main St., Greentown, with Pastor Ann Carter officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the funeral home, with an Eastern Star service taking place at 7 p.m., hosted by Greentown Order of Eastern Star Chapter #195. Memorial contributions may be made to the Indiana Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star Cancer Fund in Nancy’s memory. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.hasler-stout.com.
Matthew Riley Willits
Matthew Riley Willits, 15, of Greentown, passed away at 9:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at Riley Hospital for Children. He was born November 29, 2008, in Kokomo, to Brad and Andrea (Hall) Willits.
Matthew was a freshman at Eastern High School where he enjoyed playing saxophone in the band and had played baseball during middle school. He worked for his dad’s lawncare business, Brad’s Lawn Care and was learning to be a mechanic. He was very hands-on and could fix almost anything, but his greatest passion in life was for RC cars. He loved building, fixing, and racing them and had participated in the events Beat the Creek and Rocktoberfest. Matthew thoroughly enjoyed helping people, and even after his death, he continued to help by being a donor. His liver, kidneys, and lungs went to four different people and ensured that his “rottenness” lives on.
Survivors include his parents; sister, Cora Willits; uncle, Joshua (Faith) Willits; aunt, Whitney (Mike) Steltenkamp; grandparents, Bob & Donna Hall and Cindie Crull; and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Tom Crull.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at Kendall Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at Hasler & Stout Funeral Home, 112 E. Main St., Greentown. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Matthew’s memory to Don’t Be a Monster, www.dontbeamonster.org/donate. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.hasler-stout.com.
Patricia Ann Beatty
Patricia Ann Beatty, age 81, of Kokomo, Indiana, passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at Wellbrooke of Kokomo. She was born on November 18, 1942, in Providence, RI, to the late Charles and Doris (Wrightington) Evans. Patricia married George C. Beatty on June 16, 1962, and he passed away on May 7, 2009.
Patricia worked as a teacher's aide and bus monitor for Kokomo Center Schools for many years. She was also the bookkeeper for the Kokomo Perspective from the time they opened until the time they closed. Patricia enjoyed camping, bowling, and traveling, including going to casinos and dinner theater shows. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren. She was a member of Main Street UMC and Delta Theta Tau Sorority. Being a member of the sorority, Patricia was very involved in We Care and making of the famous We Care cheese balls.
Surviving is her son, Michael (Sandra) Beatty; four daughters, April Beatty, Tina (Jeff) Beatty-Smith, Debra (Dan) Edwards, and Valerie Partlow; twelve grandchildren, Stacy (Craig), Jeff (Brianne), Kallahan, Elleree, Elisha, Jessica (Joel), Max Jr. (Brooke), Jackson, Austen, Audrey, Wyatt, and Hope; nine great-grandchildren; three brothers, Charles Evans, Robert Evans, and Donald (Danielle) Evans; two brothers-in-law, Donald Beatty and Billy Beatty; two sisters-in-laws, Laura Mae Lane and Teresa Fallon-Kersten; life-long best friend, Dorothy Surface; and several nieces and nephews
Preceded in death are her parents; husband, George C. Beatty; sister, Janet Dutra; brother-in-law, Richard Kersten; and two sisters-in-law, Janice Evans and Connie Beatty.
There will be a visitation for Patricia on Monday, June 3, 2024, at Ellers Mortuary Main Chapel, 725 South Main Street, Kokomo, from 11:00 AM until the time of service at 1:00 PM. Entombment will follow to Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Patricia's memory to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, envelopes will be provided at the funeral home.