Obituaries

Margaret P. Kelly, 85, of Palmer Township, passed away peacefully at her home with her family and caregivers by her side on Friday, April 10, 2015.

Born April 15, 1929 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late Edward H. and Elizabeth I. (Graver) Lesher.

Her husband, Charles E. Kelly, Jr. died in 2006.  She worked at the former Dixie Cup, Wilson Borough for several years.  She was a member of Arndt’s Lutheran Church, Forks Township.  She was the treasurer for the Women’s Group, sang in the choir, served as a sexton, and was a member of the Open Arms Senior Connections.  Margaret played the trumpet in the Lehigh Valley Variety Band and the Earl Held All Girl Band.  She was also a member of the Wilden Acres Women’s Group.

Surviving are her son, John E. Kelly and his wife, Mary Beth of Phoenixville; two daughters, Carol Ann Hage and her husband, Frank of Ft. Lauderdale and Joan M. Kocher and her husband, Kevin of Palmer Township; three brothers, Raymond G. Lesher and his wife, Barbara of Palmer Township, Robert W. Lesher and his wife, Marion of Plainfield Township, and John R. Lesher of Wilson Borough; two sisters, Elizabeth M. Stokes of Palmer Township and Dolores A. Wilson of Shickshinny; twin grandsons, Senior Airman Austin Kocher of Missouri and Specialist Dalton Kocher of Texas; a grandson, Logan Kocher of Palmer Township; and many nieces and nephews.  Two brothers, Fred G. Lesher and Edwin C. Lesher and a sister, Marion Rider died earlier.  The family expresses a special thanks to Margaret’s caregivers, Jilmarie Ramos and Dora Almo.

Services will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, April 16, 2015 in Arndt’s Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Rd., Forks Township.  A visitation will be held from 6 to 7:30 pm on Wednesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.  Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to Arndt’s Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Rd., Easton, PA 18040 or St. Luke’s Hospice, 801 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, PA 18015.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Jane S. Moyer, 103, of Forks Twp., PA died Thursday, April 9, 2015 at Weston Senior Living Center in Forks Twp. Born February 3, 1912 in Easton, PA she was a daughter of the late Andrew Jackson and Margaret (Lott) Shaneberger.

She graduated from: Easton High School in 1930; Kutztown State College in 1934, with a B.S. in Library Science and History and a minor in English; and received her Master’s Degree in 1941 from the Columbia University School of Library Science.

She was employed as a Cataloger at the Easton Public Library for 20 years and was Executive Director of the Library for 23 years. She and her husband Roland also owned and operated High Acre Kennels where they bred and showed Irish Setters and Great Pyrenees for 30 years.

She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Easton and the following Historical Societies: Kutztown Historical Society, Jacobsburg Historical Society, Williams Township Historical Society, Fork’s Township Historical Society, the PA Historical Society and Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society. She has served as a volunteer Librarian at the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society since 1935 and established the Mary Illick Library now known as the Jane S. Moyer Library.

She was also a member of the PA Library Association, a life member of the YR Club of Easton and former member of the Women’s Club of Easton, the Easton Soroptimist Club and the Easton Exchangettes.  Jane has been honored for her commitment and service with an Exchange Club Golden Deeds Award in 1983, an Easton Sertoma Service to Mankind Award in 1993, a Morning Call Community Spirit Award in 2002, Northampton County Outstanding Seniors Award in 2008, and several citations recognizing her 100^th birthday

She is survived by nieces, nephews, and caregivers: Ronald Schlegel and Earl “Skip” Halt. Her husband Roland Scott Moyer died August 11, 1989. Three brothers: Robley, Clair and Charles and one sister Mary predeceased her.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday (Apr. 14) in St. John’s Lutheran Church, 330 Ferry Street, Easton, PA with visitation from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA.  Interment will be in Easton Heights Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society (NCH&GS), 342 Northampton St., Easton, PA or the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Beatrice L. Ferency, 99, of Palmer Twp., PA died Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at Gracedale. Born August 31, 1915 in Bangor, PA she was a daughter of the late Norman and Virginia (Golden) Reichard.

She was a 1934 graduate of Easton High School and is survived by 2 daughters: Jean L. Hartranft and her husband Rich, of Palmer Twp., with whom she had resided, Evelyn M. Siegfried and her husband Ron of Easton, PA; 3 grandchildren: Rick Hartranft, Jr., Kelly Sullivan, Ron Siegfried and 5 great-grandchildren: Sarah, Brooke, Travis, Devon and Calista. She was predeceased by her husband: Louis Ferency, Jr. in 1990; a brother: Raymond Reichard; sister: Evelyn Murphy and a grandson: Randy Hartranft.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday (Apr. 9) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton with visitation from 10 -10:30 a.m. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Rd., Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Janice M. “Mickey” Cooper, 83, formerly of Palmer Township, died Monday, April 6, 2015 in Gracedale.

Born November 29, 1931 in Augusta, Maine, she was a daughter of the late Prosper Frank and Margaret L. (Harmon) Durand.  Her husband, Edward V. Montrim died in 1977.

Mickey worked at Magnetic Windings, WAEB, The Express-Times, and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.  She also founded the Angler’s Newspaper in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.  She graduated from Easton High School in 1949 where she played basketball and baseball.

She wrote “The Big J – Matriarch of the Seas” and received the Freedom Foundation Award.  She was a member of the Battleship New Jersey Society and was an avid Yankees fan.

Surviving are her daughter, Terry A. Cooper and her partner Wayne T. Titus, Jr. of Palmer Township; two sisters, Jean Miller of Palmer Township and Sharon Shovelin of Allentown; three grandchildren, Morgan Barker and her husband, David of Wilson borough, Casey Hummer and his wife, Marisa of Nazareth, and Patrick Titus of Palmer Township; and a great grandson, Ethan Kushida.  Her sister, Marjorie died in infancy.

Private graveside services will be held at the Northampton Memorial Shrine.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton, PA 18042.  The family would like to thank the Gracedale family for the compassionate care of their mom and sister. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Beulah C. Shook, 96, a lifelong resident of Wilson Borough, died Saturday, April 4, 2015 in Alexandria Manor, Nazareth.

Born August 7, 1918 in Wilson Borough, she was the daughter of the late Samuel R. and Mabel (Herman) Clewell.

Her husband, James M. Shook died in 1997.

Beulah was a member of First Moravian Church, Easton where she was the church organist and choir director for 73 years until retiring at the age of 90.  She also served as a church elder.  She graduated from Wilson High School in 1936.

Surviving are her daughter, Janet Morrow and her husband, John of Phillipsburg; a son, James A. Shook of Darlington, South Carolina; four grandchildren, Brian and Brad Shook, Ryan Morrow and Jenna Harry; and a great granddaughter, Lauren Shook.

Services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 in First Moravian Church, 225 N. Tenth St., Easton. A visitation will be held from 10:00 am until service time on Wednesday in the church.  Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.  Memorial contributions may be made to First Moravian Church, 225 N. 10th St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

John Richard Schoeneck, 77 of Palmer Twp., PA passed away unexpectedly Sunday, March 29, 2015 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Bethlehem. Born August 3, 1937 in Easton, PA he was a son of the late John and Marion (Kreitz) Schoeneck.

A 1955 graduate of Easton High School, he attended Lafayette College and proudly served in the US Air Force. He and his brother Enoch owned Keystone Packaging Service, Inc. in Phillipsburg, NJ.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years: Mary Ann (Pintande) Schoeneck; 4 children: John Gregory Schoeneck of Christiansburg, VA, Julia Licari and her husband Louis A. of Easton, PA, Tricia Lambert and her husband David of Hopkinton, NH, Elizabeth Funseth and her husband Karl of Pipersville, PA; his brother Enoch Schoeneck and his wife Jane of Forks Twp., PA; and 9 grandchildren: John and David Licari, Shea, Ava and Reed Lambert, Grant, Caroline, Cece and Evelyn Funseth.

His funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday (April 2)  in St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, 4049 Hartley Ave., Easton, PA. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment will be in Gethsemane Cemetery, Palmer Twp., PA.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.