Obituaries

Iris Ruth (Watkins) McTague, 97, of Palmer Township, died on September 9, 2025, after an extended illness. She was the wife of the late Robert Emmett McTague who served in the South Pacific for the U.S. Navy in WW II and was an agent for the Internal Revenue Service and died in 1984. Born in 1927 in Wilkes-Barre, she was the daughter of the late Gilbert and Ruth (Ross) Watkins of Dallas, PA.

She grew up in the close-knit borough of Laurel Run outside Wilkes Barre and in her younger days sang regularly on radio shows with her brother Ross. A graduate of Coughlin High School in 1945, she worked at the Boston Store in Wilkes-Barre and Pomeroy’s and the Surprise Store in Easton.

She was a long-standing member of St. Paul’s Third Lutheran Church in Palmer Township where over the years she sang in the choir, served on church council, taught Sunday School and was of member of the church’s Ambassador Club. She was a prior member of the Easton and Pocono Singles Dance Clubs.

Iris will be lovingly remembered by her sister Ruth Ann Weeks and her husband Tom of Montrose, PA, sons, Robert of Easton, Richard and his companion Terry of Palmer Township, Roger and his wife Janet of Bethlehem, daughter, Ruth Campbell and her husband Keith of Ft. Myers, Florida, grandchildren Collin and his wife Heather of Lancaster, Evan and his wife Elizabeth of Bethlehem, Robert Campbell and his wife Sara of Lincoln, Nebraska and Robyn Delsing and her husband Josh of Ft. Myers, Florida, and five great grandchildren with a sixth on the way.  She was predeceased by her brother Ross Watkins and his wife Dorothy of Sebring, Florida, previously of Easton.

The family will receive guests on Saturday, September 13 from 10:00 to 10:30 am at St Paul’s Third Lutheran Church, 2561 Newburg Road, Easton with a service to follow in the church. Interment will be in the Northampton Memorial Shrine. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the church in memory of Iris. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Edward W. Wackermann, Sr. 78 of Saylorsburg, PA died Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at home. Born February 19, 1947 in Phillipsburg, NJ he was a son of the late Edward and Helen (Vayda) Wackermann. Ed was an Army Veteran who served during the Vietnam War and was an iron worker for most of his life. He was a mighty hunter and a great fisherman who loved his pets.

Ed is survived by his wife: Debby (Wheeler) Wackermann; his son: Edward Wackermann, Jr.; stepchildren: Felcia Tomino, Georgia Weber, Albert Dilts, Wendy Dilts; brothers: James and George “Bill” Wackermann and Arnold Wheeler; sister-in-law: Henrietta; 4 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and the Wheeler family. He was predeceased by a brother: Carl Gercie.

Graveside services with military honors will be held 2 PM Tuesday (Sept. 9) in the Stewartsville Lutheran Cemetery, Richline Road at Washington St., Stewartsville, NJ. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton, PA is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the family c/o the funeral home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Ellen “Judy” Brown, 89 of Bethlehem Twp., PA died Sunday, August 31, 2025 at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg. Born May 4, 1936 in Easton, PA, she was a daughter of the late Kenneth Slutter and Mary Catherine (Hendershot) Slutter. She was a 1954 graduate of Easton High School and employed by Dixie Cup, Singer Sewing Machine Co., Betty Lee Dress and as a private house cleaner over the years.

She is survived by her children: Catherine Ball (husband Anthony) of Key Largo, FL, William Brown, Jr. (wife Donna) of Bethlehem Twp., PA, Terry Nitchkey (husband Robert) of Forks Twp., PA and Dawn Wagner (husband John) of Easton, PA; a sister: Shirley Guzzo (husband Edward) of Easton; 6 grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband: William Brown, Sr. in 2002; and siblings: Kenneth Slutter, Jr. and Kathleen Clause.

Visitation is 4 to 5:30 PM Sunday (Sept. 7) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, with a funeral service 10:30 AM Monday (Sept. 8) in the funeral home. Interment is in Farmersville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Lehigh Valley Humane Society or LVHN Heart and Vascular Institute, Muhlenberg. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Barbara A. Scheirer, 92, of Wilson Borough, died Saturday, August 30, 2025 in her home. Born February 24, 1933 in Easton, she was the daughter of the late Harry Stem, Sr. and Henrietta (Muller) Stem Wohlbach. Her husband, Frederick G. Scheirer died in 2009. Barbara was a graduate of Wilson High School.

Surviving are two sons, Robert W. Scheirer and his wife, Karen of Bethlehem Township and Bradley K. Scheirer and his wife, Kathleen of Coatesville; a daughter, Victoria A. Farrell and her husband, Michael of Williams Township; two grandchildren, Laura and Andrew; and two great granddaughters, Evelyn and Alina. She was predeceased by her brother, Harry Stem, Jr. and her sister, Joan Garis.

Services will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, September 4, 2025 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A visitation will be held from 9:30 am until service time on Thursday in the funeral home. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.