Obituaries

Marjorie E. Parks, 93 formerly of Palmer Twp., PA died May 15, 2017 at the Masonic Home in Elizabethtown. Born September 1, 1923 in Old Town, ME she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Olive ((Lancaster) Gray.  Her husband Howard “Tim” Parks died in 1969. She graduated from high school in Bangor, ME and later from nursing school. She was employed by Easton Hospital for 23 years before retiring in 1994.

Marge was a member of the former Olivet Presbyterian Church and a 55 year member of The Order of the Eastern Star, Easton Chapter #214 where she was a Past-Matron several times.  She was also a 40 plus year member, board member and Past Mother Advisor of Rainbow Girls #38 Easton Assembly. Marjorie was also honored by the Grand Lodge of PA as the “second ever” recipient of the Hodegos award in 2008, for her outstanding service to youth in PA. During her long and distinguished involvement with OES she was appointed as a Grand Representative to both NJ and CA.  However, her most recognized contribution over the years was her continued, overwhelming support, and occasional chairmanship, both at the district and state level, of the Stamp Program which directly supported the OES charities. She will be fondly remembered as “The Stamp Lady”.

She is survived by her son: William R. Parks; and two grandchildren: Ron and Stephanie Parks. She was predeceased by her husband: Tim;  son: Edward Parks; daughter: Gail Herbert and significant other: Herman Gilpin.

The Order of the Eastern Star Service will be held 3 PM Saturday, June 3 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.

Memorial contributions, especially in lieu of flowers, may be made to The Masonic Village Hospice at Elizabethtown — 1 Masonic Dr., Elizabethtown, PA 17022 on behalf of OES 214 and Sister Marjorie E. Parks.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Janice L. Prentice, 88, formerly of Bethlehem Township, died Friday, May 12, 2017 in Abington Manor, Easton.

Born June 2, 1928 in Robertsdale, PA, she was a daughter of the late Rev. Herbert W. and Marietta (Griest) Glassco.  Her husband, Joseph R. Prentice died in 1997.

Janice was a bridal consultant at Bixler’s Jewelers, Easton.  She was also a piano teacher.  She was a member of St. John’s Church on Morgan Hill and a graduate of Oberlin College.

Surviving are her son, Richard J. “Rick” Prentice and his wife, Gayle of Spencer, NC; 2 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren and a great great grandson.

A graveside memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, June 2, 2017 at the Northampton Memorial Shrine, Palmer Township.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Church on Morgan Hill, 2720 Morgan Hill Rd., Easton, PA 18042 or The Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Rd., Easton, PA 18042.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Elaine G. Rutherford, 78, of Palmer Township, died Wednesday, May 10, 2017 in Easton Hospital.

Born April 17, 1939 in Islip, NY, she was a daughter of the late Warren and Ruth Gallagher.  She and her husband, Albert B. Rutherford were married 26 years.

Elaine was a nurse at The Children’s Home of Easton until retiring.  She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Easton; a board member of ProJeCt of Easton; a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Easton where she assisted in the K-Kids program; a camp counselor at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald Camp in Greeley, PA; and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.

Surviving with her husband, Albert, are 3 daughters, Kim Murphy and her husband, Chris of Pottstown; Robyn Steltz and her partner, Greg Mowrey of Phoenixville; and Jodi Fiorenza and her husband, Glen in Germany; a daughter-in-law, Leah; a brother, David Gallagher; 2 sisters, Nancy Creighton and Donna Bassett; 10 grandchildren and a great grandson.  A son, David Laub and a granddaughter died earlier.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm, Sunday, May 21, 2017 in First Presbyterian Church, 333 Spring Garden St., Easton.  There will be a visitation from 1:30 pm until service time on Sunday in the church.  The Ashton Funeral Home Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to ProJeCt of Easton, Philadelphia Ronald McDonald Camp or Kiwanis Club of Easton.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Eleanor M.  James, 93 of Palmer Twp., PA died Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Bethlehem. Born July 4, 1923 in Easton, PA she was the daughter of the late John and Edith (Laufersweiler) MoDavis. She graduated from Easton High School in 1941 and from the Easton Hospital School of Nursing in 1944. Employed by Easton Hospital for several years, she then worked for Dr. Joseph Brau for 26 years and Dr. Elizabeth McNeal for 10 years before retiring in 1988. Eleanor was a lifelong member of First Moravian Church Easton where she had been an Elder, a Sunday School Teacher, a Sacristan, a member of their Women’s Guild and Women’s Fellowship and honored as Member of the Year in 2005. She was also active with Church Women United; the Council of Churches and was a member of the Nurse’s Alumni Association of Easton Hospital and the Brown & Lynch Post #9 Auxiliary.

She is survived by a daughter: Roberta “Bobbi” James of Avenel, NJ; two grandchildren: John and Stacey McCree and four great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband: Robert E. James in 2012, her daughter: Nancy Beckman in 2011 and three brothers: John, Richard and Joseph MoDavis.

Services are 11:00 AM Monday, May 15 in First Moravian Church, 225 N. 10th Street, Easton, PA with visitation 10 to 11 AM in the church. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Moravian, 225 N. 10th St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Lynn Jack Bradt, 89 formerly of Easton, PA lost his courageous battle with vascular dementia Sunday, May 7, 2017. Born April 8, 1928 in St. Louis, MO he was a son of the late Phoebe (Wright) and Horace Bradt. Jack was a very active member of the Lehigh Valley community and was deeply involved with both the business community and with services for children.

After graduating from high school in  Monterrey, Mexico, he served in the US Marine Corps, 1946 – 1948. He continued  to Cornell University where he met his wife, Patricia Thornton, and received a Bachelor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering  in 1953. Patricia and Jack married in 1952 and would have celebrated 65 years of marriage in September. He founded SI Handling Systems (now part of Paragon Technologies) in Easton in 1958 and remained its CEO and president until retirement in 1986. He then focused his energies on teaching as the “Entrepreneur in Residence” at Lehigh University and as “Executive in Residence” at Cornell University.

His concern for the less fortunate continued as Director of Human Services in Northampton County (1994 -1997) and as a founding member and Director of ProJeCT of Easton during the tumultuous late 1960’s. He served as president of the Easton Area Council of Churches and of United Way of Northampton/Warren Counties.  His concern for children involved him with Communities in Schools of the Lehigh Valley. Jack  was a Director of several companies, banks, and non-profits and enjoyed his contacts through the Philadelphia Presidents’ Organization. He was a valued  Trustee of Lafayette College, Easton Hospital and The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He received many awards for his work with businesses and non-profits including the 1985 Pennsylvania Small Businessman of Year from the Small Business Administration and  “2008 Soli Deo Gloria” Award from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He was a devoted member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Easton for over 59 years, serving in many leadership  positions. In his later years Jack not only helped establish the Hamilton Business Center in Allentown, but also the Executive  Service Corps of the Lehigh Valley, where retired executives advise non-profits.

A talented sailor, Jack enjoyed sailing competitions on his beloved Lake Fairview in the Poconos. An enthusiastic biker, he often rode from Easton to Allentown along the Lehigh River bike path. He leaves an outstanding model for community service.

He is survived by: his wife, Dr. Patricia Bradt; two sons: James Bradt of Minneapolis, MN, George Bradt of Merion Station, PA; a brother: James Bradt of Clayton, CA; and 3 grandchildren: Brian and Tara Moriarty and Natalie Bradt. He was predeceased by his daughter: Julia Bradt Hallingse.

A Memorial Service will be held 11 AM Wednesday, May 10 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 330 Ferry St., Easton, PA with a calling period from 9:30 to 11 AM in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 330 Ferry Street, Easton, PA 18042 or ProJeCt of Easton, 320 Ferry St., Easton, PA  18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Ruth Nancy Haley, 78 of Forks Twp., PA died Friday, May 5, 2017 at home. Born July 14, 1938 in Mahanoy City, PA she was a daughter of the late Alice (Snyder) and Edward Haley. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from D’Youville College and her Master’s Degree from St. Louis University. She was employed by the Northampton County Department of Human Services in 1965 and as Administrator of Children and Youth Services from 1968 until retiring in 1996. Nancy was named Social Worker of the year in 1986 by the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. She was a Trustee and past president of the Easton Area Library; officer of the Friends of Easton Area Library; she served on the Board of ProJeCt of Easton; and Project Child of the Lehigh Valley; and she was a member of the Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Easton where she served on the Women’s Council.

She is survived by her sister: Ann Gabrielli of Belmar, NJ; a niece and 2 nephews: Haley St. Denis, Joe Morello and Ned Morello; and 5 grandnieces/nephew: Rachel St. Denis, Trevor, Jordan, Kate and Emma Morello.

Mass will be held 2 PM Friday, May 12 at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, 139 S. 5th Street, Easton with a calling period from 1 to 2 PM in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment will be private in Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem.

Memorial contributions may be made to ProJeCt of Easton, 320 Ferry Street, Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Shirley Ann Seifert, 72, of Forks Twp., PA died Saturday, April 29, 2017 at Easton Hospital. Born January 25, 1945 in Nazareth, PA she was the daughter of the late Roy and Elizabeth (Johnson) Fehnel.  She earned her RN at Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia and was employed by Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia for many years. She was also a private duty nurse on College Hill in Easton for several years and member of Arndts Lutheran Church, Forks Twp. Shirley enjoyed gardening, cooking and traveling with her husband and friends. She was also a talented artist, who loved working on arts and crafts.

She is survived by her husband of 46 years: James B. Seifert; a brother: Charles Fehnel in Atlanta, GA; and two nieces. She was predeceased by a brother George Fehnel.

A Memorial Service will be held 10 AM Wednesday, May 17 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3893 Adler Place, Bethlehem, PA 18017 or the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.