Jeanette Sophie Franzen

Jeanette Sophie Franzen (nee Rust), 83, of Alexandria, passed away on  January 29, 2015 at the River Valley Nursing Home, Butler, KY. She was a member of Saint Mary Seniors, Sts. Peter & Paul Seniors and the Catholic Order of Foresters Council # 1725. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Lois Lauer and a grandson, Matthew Reis.  Jeanette is survived by her loving husband of 59 1/2 years, Norbert Franzen, two sons, Ron (Judy) Franzen, Ted Franzen; daughter, Mary Lee (Chris) Reis;  son-in-law, Ken (Brenda) Lauer; two sisters, Mary Hartman and Agnes Baumann; brother, Charles Rust; 18 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 4, 2015, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Alexandria Funeral Home, Alexandria, KY. Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 AM Thursday, February 5, 2015, at Saint Mary Church, Alexandria, KY. Interment will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Camp Springs, KY. Memorials can be made to Passionist Nuns, 1151 Donaldson Road, Erlanger, KY 41018 or to Hospice of Hope, 909 Kenton Station Road, Maysville, KY 41056 or in the form of Masses.

Arthur L. Shields Jr.

Arthur Louis Shields Jr., 51, formerly of Bellevue, KY, passed away Wednesday, January 7, 2015 in Covington, KY. Arthur was a painter and brick layer and a member of the Bellevue Eagles F.O.E. #964. He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Shields Sr., two sisters, Darlene Shields and Vicki Lynn Shields and a brother James Burkart III. He is survived by his mother, Victoria Burkart of Bellevue, KY; three daughters, Amber Ratcliff, Myla Vance and Stacey Swane; a step-daughter, Brittany Bumgardner; two brothers, Christopher Shields and David Shields both of Bellevue, KY and a sister Michelle Rees of Southgate, KY; also survived by four grandchildren. Memorial Mass 11:00 AM Saturday, January 31, 2015 at Divine Mercy Parish, Bellevue, KY. Interment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate, KY.

Ralph E. Holt

Ralph E. Holt, age 78, of Alexandria, KY passed away on Friday, January 23, 2015 at St. Elizabeth Hospice Center in Edgewood, KY. Mr. Holt retired from P&G after 36yrs of employment. He was a member of the Summit Church of Christ, Cold Spring, KY. He loved music and previously played lead guitar in a band known as the Tristaters. He is survived by his wife, Shirley A. Holt; three children, Kenneth (Janet) Holt, Rebecca (John) Myers and Mark Holt; sister, Patricia Chapin; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and his precious dog Holly. Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2015 from 9:30am – 10:30am with funeral services immediately following at 10:30am at the Summit Church of Christ, 6015 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076. Burial will be in the Alexandria Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to: Summit Church of Christ or Campbell County Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 97, Melbourne, KY 41059. Alexandria Funeral Home is serving the family. 

Thelma V. Vater

Thelma V. Vater (nee Whiles), 90, of Crestview Hills, KY, passed away Sunday, January 25, 2015 at Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, OH. She was a retired florist and former owner/operator of Petri’s Flowers, Bellevue, KY. She was a member of Christ Church, Cold Spring, KY and a Kentucky Colonel. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph L. Vater; two sons, Thomas And Chip Vater. She is survived by a son, Gayle (Marilyn) Vater; three daughters, Nila (Steve) McCarthy, Ginny (Randy) Smith and Becky (Greg) Brunner. Also survived by, 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Visitation 10:00 AM until time of service at 12:00 PM Thursday, January 29, 2015 at the Alexandria Funeral Home, Alexandria, KY. Interment will be in the Alexandria Cemetery, Alexandria, KY.    

Makenzie Lee Hornsby, age 22, of Crestview, KY passed away on Friday, January 23, 2015. She is survived by her daughter, Kinley Madison Hornsby; parents George and Tonya Hornsby; brother, Brennan Hornsby; grandparents George and Pat Hornsby and Len and Charlene Beck. Makenzie also leaves behind a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm at the Alexandria Funeral Home, Alexandria, KY. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 11:00am at the Alexandria Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Alexandria Cemetery. Memorial donations are suggested to the family for the benefit of her daughter, Kinley.

Janice Hamilton

Janice P. Hamilton, age 78, of Cold Spring, KY passed away Saturday, January 24, 2015 at the farm she enjoyed life on for 47yrs. Janice was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Hamilton and her daughter, Claudia Hamilton. She is survived by three children, Regina Partin, Cecil Hamilton and Robert Hamilton; brother, Billy French; three grandchildren, Shaun Hamilton, Robert Hamilton and Christopher Hamilton. Funeral Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial Donations are suggested to The Point/Arc of NKY, 104 West Pike St., Covington, KY 41011. Alexandria Funeral Home is serving the family. 

Eric Stone

Eric Stone, age 39, of Ft. Thomas, KY passed away Thursday, January 22, 2015. Eric was a car salesman for Mike Castrucci Ford in Alexandria. He is survived by his father, Allen Stone; mother, Maureen Wash; step-father, Raymond Wash; grandmother, Octa Jenkins, brothers, Craig and Jeremy Stone; sisters, Michelle Stone and Autumn Wash; niece, Hailie Stone. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 from 10:00am to 1:00pm with the Funeral Service immediately following at the Alexandria Funeral Home, 325 Washington St., Alexandria, KY 41001. Burial will be in the Grandview Cemetery, Mentor, KY. Memorials are suggested to The National Kidney Foundation, 615 Elsinore Place #400, Cincinnati, OH 45202. 

Clifford E. Johnston, Sr.

Clifford E. Johnston, Sr., age 87, of Cold Spring, KY passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2015. He was preceded in death by his late wife, Kathryn Johnston in 2006. Mr. Johnston is survived by his four children, Clifford Johnston, Jr., Cynthia (Mike) Mitchell, Amy (Tim) Hardy and Mark (Angie) Johnston; eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2015 from 9:00am to 10:00am with the Funeral Service immediately following at the Alexandria Funeral Home, 325 Washington St., Alexandria, KY 41001. Interment will be in the Alexandria Cemetery. 

Lorraine A. Dougherty

Lorraine A. Dougherty, 78, of Alexandria, KY, passed away Sunday, January 11, 2015 at Saint Elizabeth Edgewood. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy “Pete” Dougherty, parents Justus and Clara Scharold and a sister, Margaret Reis. Lorraine is survived by her children, Marilyn Carstens of Lexington, KY, Mike Dougherty of Mentor, KY, Mark Dougherty of California, KY, Teri (Mike) Conn of Hooven, OH, Marty Daugherty of California, KY and Doug Dougherty of Butler, KY; siblings, Jay Scharold, Ruth Scharold, Celeste Harrison, William Scharold, Louis Scharold and Judith Ott; 16 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Memorial Mass 2:00 PM Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Sts. Peter & Paul Church, California, KY. Memorials can be made to, The Point Arc, 104 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 or to the Care Mission, 11093 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria, KY 41001. Alexandria Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Online condolences can be given at alexandriafh.com  

Lara Jean Vories

Lara Jean Vories (nee Boivin), 68, of Alexandria, KY passed away Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at her residence. Lara was a graduate of Bellevue High School, she was a beautician, she also worked at the Bellevue Commercial Bank, Bellevue, KY and the Provident Bank, Alexandria, KY. She was preceded in death by her father, Roger Boivin. Lara is survived by her husband of 46 years, Gary Vories; two sons Aaron (Jennifer) Vories and Alex (Erica) Vories; daughter, Adrienne Vories; six grandchildren, Quentin, Sebastian, Caleb, Joshua, Kyler and Korbin; her mother, Ruth Boivin; two sisters, Cathy (Erie) Nigh and Michel Boivin; best friends, Ronnie and LaVerne Powell. Visitation 3:00 – 7:00 PM Sunday, January 11, 2015 at the Alexandria Funeral Home, Alexandria,  KY. Funeral service 11:00 AM Monday at the funeral home. Interment will be in in the Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate, KY. Memorials to charity of donor’s choice.

Harold Hester

Harold Rhea Hester, age 78, of Alexandria, KY passed away on January 6, 2015.  He was retired from Newport Steel after working many years as the superintendent of the pipe mill and later in the sales department. Formerly, he taught English at Campbell County High School.  Harold lived his life with an infectious smile and never knew a stranger.  He was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church, where he enjoyed singing in the choir and many other activities.  He was an avid bowler and also played golf.  He was preceded in death by his parents T.J. and Lucille Starnes Hester of Stanford, KY; his brother, Don Hester; and his son, Scott James Hester.  Harold leaves behind his loving wife of 46 years, Irene; children, Melanie Hester of Villa Hills, KY, Stephen Hester of Erlanger, KY, Carol Schweitzer of California, KY, Dan Brewer of Alexandria, KY and  Donna DeMarino of Marietta, GA; four grandchildren; two brothers, Tom Hester of Lexington, KY and Glenn Hester of Stanford, KY. Visitation will be on Friday, January 9, 2015 from 3pm-6pm with Funeral Services immediately following at the Alexandria Funeral Home, 325 Washington St., Alexandria, KY 41001. Memorials are suggested to Asbury United Methodist Church, 2916 Alexandria Pike, Highland Heights, KY 41076.

Cyril T. "Tom" Grothaus

Cyril T. “Tom” Grothaus, 93, of Alexandria, KY, passed away Monday, January 5, 2015 in Cincinnati, OH. He was a WWII Army Veteran, retired employee of the Ford Motor Company, Batavia, OH, a member of Knights of Columbus Father DeJaco Council #5220, Bishop Flaget General Assembly 4th degree, Campbell County VFW Post #3205 and the Bob White Club. Tom is survived by his wife, Eva "Betty" (nee Holmes) Grothaus; a daughter Maureen (Robert) Reynolds; son, Brian (Carolyn) Grothaus; grandchildren, Grace, Greg, Emily, Patrick, Christina; two brothers, John “Jack” Grothaus and William Grothaus. Visitation 9:30 AM until time of Mass at 11:30 AM Thursday, January 8, 2015 at St. Mary Church, Alexandria, KY. Interment with Military Honors will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Alexandria, KY. Memorials can be made to Hospice of Cincinnati, Inc., P.O. Box 633597, Cincinnati, OH 45263-3597 or to the Campbell County Animal Shelter, 1989 Poplar Ridge Rd.Melbourne, KY 41059 . Alexandria Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Margaret Louise Lauer

Margaret Louise Lauer, age 88, of Alexandria, passed away on January 4, 2015 at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Ft. Thomas. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Alexandria, KY for over 50yrs and was currently a member of St.Therese Catholic Church, Southgate, KY. Margaret was formerly active with St. Mary Seniors, King & Queens and Foresters. She was also a past Officer for the NKY Beekeepers Association. Margaret is survived by her husband, Raymond Lauer; two sons, Larry (Marie) Lauer and  David (Patricia) Lauer; four daughters, Mary Lou Honnigford, Rosanne (Bernie) Rawe, Rita (Carl) Rebholz and Linda (Bob) Wassum; sister, Sister Bernadette Faulhaber, RGS; brother, Anthony Faulhaber; 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren . Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the Alexandria Funeral Home, Alexandria, KY. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 10:00 am at St. Mary Catholic Church, Alexandria, KY. Interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Alexandria, KY. Memorial Donations are suggested to: Fr. Boschert Memorial Endowment Fund, C/O Sts. Peter and Paul School, 2160 California Crossroads, California, KY 41007.

Charles "Chuck" DeWitt

Charles "Chuck" DeWitt, age 82, of Saint Louis, MO, formerly of Tampa, FL passed away on  January 2, 2015 at St. Anthony's Medical Center, St. Louis, MO. Chuck was the son of the late Bryan and Katherine DeWitt and was raised in Melbourne, KY alongside his sister, Ann. He served as a fighter pilot and retired as a Major from the US Air Force. Chuck worked for Saudi Airlines, TWA and American Airlines. He was preceded in death by his late wife, Marion Mueller DeWitt in 1994. He is survived by his significant other, Mary Musich of St. Louis, MO; three children, Michael DeWitt, Mary Jane DeWitt Leist (Jeff) and Sandra Jane DeWitt (fiancée Sam Ochs) all of Tampa, FL; sister, Ann Painter of Melbourne, KY; four grandchildren, Ben DeWitt, Erika Leist Erdelt (Lucas), Ali Leist and Sam DeWitt. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 from 11:00AM-1:00PM with Funeral Services immediately following at the Alexandria Funeral Home, 325 Washington St., Alexandria, KY 41001. Interment will be in the Alexandria Cemetery, Alexandria, KY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.

Ellen B. Lutz

Ellen B. Lutz (nee Cusick), 88, of Alexandria, KY, passed away on Thursday, January 1, 2015 at Saint Elizabeth Hospice, Edgewood, KY. She was a retired nurses aide and a member of Main Street Baptist Church of Alexandria, KY. Ellen is survived by two daughters, Bonnie (John) Sowinsky and Carol Webb; two granddaughters, Lori Zollars and Sally Wyatt; three brothers, Lee, Allen and Glen Cusick; two sisters, Jane (Bob) Eisner and Shirley (Bob) Thirion. Services will be at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in the Crest Haven Memorial Gardens, New Waterford, OH. Alexandria Funeral Home, Alexandria, KY in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to Care Mission, 11093 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria, KY 41001 or to St. Elizabeth Hospice, 1 Medical Village Drive, Edgewood, KY 41017.