The Versailles Republican Obituaries

PAGE UPDATED BY MARIA SIEVERDING MARCH 9, 2017 1 P.M.

Dorothy J. Pettit

Dorothy J. Pettit, 87, passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, March 3, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Dorothy was born on October 29, 1929, to the late Steve and Laura Shorten, in Milan.

Dorothy worked as a teacher and as a nurse in Madison and Grant counties for over six decades. She couldn’t go anywhere without seeing one of her students. She was a real go-getter and loved to serve people. She earned her LPN license in her 60’s and she volunteered for the Red Cross in Puerto Rico, Baton Rouge, and Grant County. Dorothy was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Sweetser. She enjoyed sewing and painting.

Dorothy is survived by her four children, Stephen (Nita) Pettit, Calastoga, CA, William “Chip” (Pam) Pettit, Jonesboro, IN, Douglas (Vickie) Pettit, Santa Rosa, CA, and Judy Pettit, Fairmount, IN; eight grandchildren, Tinuviel, Laura, Seth, Karissa, Cristy, Lisa, Michael, and Zachery; 10 great grandchildren; her sister-in-law and best friend, Betty Shorten, Marion; and her faithful companion, her Boston Terrier, Pepper. Kathi Tucker-Pettit was dear to her and instrumental in helping her rehabilitation from her stroke. The family would like to extend a huge thank you to the staff at Heart to Heart Hospice for the incredible care, with a special thank you to Jackie, Becky, Katelynn, and Fred Meuter, Chaplain. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Steve and Laura Shorten, and her brother, Charlie Shorten.

Arrangements for Dorothy have been entrusted to the Fairmount Chapel of Armes-Hunt Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 415 S. Main St., Fairmount, Indiana, where a visitation will be held on Thursday, March 9, from 2-6 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 10, at 9 a.m. with Pastor Terry Bishir officiating. Burial will follow the service at New Craven Cemetery, Milan.

Contributions made in memory of Dorothy can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or to the Marion-Grant County Humane Society in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com.

Douglas Foster “Doug” Allen

Douglas Foster “Doug” Allen, 55, of Milan, passed away Tuesday, March 7 2017. Services will be at a later date. Laws-Carr-Moore is entrusted with arrangements. Go to www.lawscarrmoore.com to leave an online condolence message for the family.

Wayne A. Sibley

Wayne A. Sibley, 65, of Milan, passed away Wednesday March 1, 2017. Graveside service were held Wednesday March 8 at Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Madison. Memorials may be made to the family. Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home, Milan, was entrusted with arrangements. Go to www.lawscarrmoore.com to leave an online condolence message for the family.

Jacqueline Mary Meyer

Jacqueline Mary Meyer, age 74, passed away Monday, March 6, 2017. Visitation will be Friday, March 10 from 9-11 a.m. at Meyers Funeral Home, Batesville. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, 12 noon at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Brookville. Burial will follow mass in Maple Grove Cemetery. Meyers Funeral Home, Batesville, is in charge of arrangements.

Merrill E. Bruce

Versailles lost a much loved and highly respected man. Merrill E. Bruce, age 73, left this world Monday afternoon, March 6, 2017. He was born October 3, 1943 in North Vernon, to the late Willard Edgar and Georgia Welch Bruce. Merrill married the love of his life, Linda Lohrum, on February 1, 1964 in Olean, and she still survives at home.

He was a deeply devoted and dedicated 43-year member of the Versailles First Baptist Church. There for many years, he had sung in the church choir and had also served as past moderator, adult Sunday school teacher, and assistant treasurer. Other memberships included the Versailles Lions Club and the Butlerville Masonic F. & A.M. Lodge #219 of which he was a 50-year member. From 1971 through 1984, he worked at Ohio Rod in Versailles. Then in 1984, he started his own business “Multiple Components Sales,” which he ran and operated for 25 years. His favorite hobby of all was “bass fishing”! He was a member of Bassmasters of Jefferson County. He competed in the Bassmasters Open at Lake Sam Rayburn, TX numerous times and the Indiana Bass Federation/ top eight state team and the Hoosier Open Tournament. He loved his church and community, but most of all his family. He will be sadly missed by his wife, Linda, son Shannon Bruce of Ohio, and brother Darrel (Margaret) Bruce of Westport.

Services will be held all in one day, Friday, March 10, at the Versailles First Baptist Church with visitation being from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral at 12 noon. Burial will be at Greendale Cemetery of Osgood. Memorials may go to the Versailles Baptist Church, Osgood Kiwanis, or Rescue 69.
Our funeral home has been blessed with having Linda work for us for several years, giving emotional support and spiritual strength to the many families we have served. Our prayers, love and peaceful wishes are with you at this time.Neal’s Funeral Home, Osgood, is in charge of arrangements. www.nealsfuneralhome.net.

Virginia Meyers Ziegler

Virginia Meyers Ziegler, age 87, of Carmel, passed away Sunday, March 5, 2017. Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 8 at 11 a.m. at Meyers Funeral Home, Batesville. Burial was at St. John United Church of Christ Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to AFTD (Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration) c/o Meyers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 202, Batesville.