Obituaries

Mary LaVerne Evans, 85, of Palmer Township, passed away peacefully after a long illness on Sunday, December 16, 2012 in Kirkland Village.

Born:  April 2, 1927 in Scranton, she was a daughter of the late Harry E. and Ruth (Moses) Jones.

Personal:  Her husband, Ralph Evans died in 1980.  She formerly worked at the Clover Store in the Palmer Mall and the Inn-Trigue restaurant, Palmer Township.  She was a graduate of Moosic High School and served on the Women’s Board of Easton Hospital.

Memberships:  She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wilson Borough and the Deborah Circle.  She was also a member of the Easton Bowling Mother’s, the URW Club and several book clubs.  LaVerne was an accomplished watercolorist and painted regularly with a group in Stockertown.

Survivors:  A son, Ralph Evans of Wilson Borough; three daughters, Gwenn Wells of Bethlehem, Beth Valocchi of Downingtown and Wendy Totani of Bethlehem Township; three brothers, David, Robert and Russell Jones; nine grandchildren and a great grandson.  Two sisters, Beth Hubbs and Jane Jones died earlier.

Services:  A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, December 28 in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2115 Washington Blvd., Wilson Borough.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorials:  In lieu of flowers, it was LaVerne’s wish that you remember her with acts of kindness to others in her memory.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Robert J. Seibel, 85, of Palmer Township died Sunday, December 9, 2012 in New Eastwood Care Center.

Born:  September 12, 1927 in Easton, he was a son of the late Clifford and Ruth (Rodenbach) Seibel.

Personal:  His wife, the former Margaret E. “Peggy” Freer died in 2006.  He was a retired U.C.C. lay minister and was an assistant to Pastor Hanson at the former Memorial United Church of Christ, Wilson Borough.  He was a volunteer clergy at several local nursing homes.  Prior to retirement he was a house parent at the Wiley House, Bethlehem.  He graduated from Easton High School in 1946, served as a Corporal in the Army during WWII and was a radio operator in the Panama Canal Zone.  He was also an avid organ player.

Memberships:  He was a lifelong member of Memorial United Church of Christ, Wilson Borough where he served as an elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher, superintendent and lector.

Survivors:  His daughter, Melissa “Lisa” Palma and her husband, Angelo of Palmer Township; a granddaughter, Tiffany Palma of Palmer Township and two sisters, Dorothy Grube and her husband, Pete of Florida and Helen Sands and her husband, Joe of Phillipsburg.  A brother, Clifford Seibel; two sisters, Evelyn Diehl and Marjorie Curtis and his twin sister, Roberta Lyons died earlier.

Services:  10:00 am Thursday (12/13) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.   Call from 9:00 am until service time Thursday in the funeral home.

Memorial Contributions:  Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Rd., Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

The Honorable Gay Lee Elwell, 54, of Easton died Monday, December 3, 2012 in her home.

Born: May 22, 1958 in Sellersville, PA she was a daughter of Wanda Milligan Elwell and the late Herbert J. Elwell, Jr.  She and her husband Karl Stirner have shared 30 years together.

Personal: A 1976 graduate of Souderton High School, she was a foreign exchange student to Sweden during her senior year; she also attended Moravian College. She was a Magisterial District Judge in Easton since 1996. Prior to that she was employed as a reporter for the Morning Call newspaper.

Memberships: A member of the Special Court Judges Association of PA, she served as President of District Ten. She was also a member of the Pomfret Club, Easton; D.A.R.;  A.C.E. (the Arts Community of Easton); Easton Heritage Alliance; and a local book club. She was very active with the Easton House Tour and the Boy Scout’s career preparation program.

Survivors: Her mother: Wanda; her husband Karl; sisters: Merry E. Markland; Joy Lynne Rank; brothers: Herbert James Elwell, III; William E. Elwell; 5 nieces and nephews; 6 great-nieces and nephews; Karl’s children: Heather Nutting and her husband Mark; Noelle Stirner and her husband Philip Lauer; Jonas Stirner and 6 grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother: Jonathan E. Elwell earlier this year.

Services:  Will be held 1 p.m. Sunday (12/9) in the Bank Street Annex, 316 Northampton St., Easton; with a viewing from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Interment will be private in Easton Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Rd.,  Easton 18042; or the Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042 or the Easton Area Public Library, 515 Church St., Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Helen E. “Betty” Mellwig, 89, formerly of Palmer Township, died Friday, November 30, 2012 in ManorCare, Palmer Township.

Born:  October 11, 1923 in Mill Hall, PA, she was a daughter of the late Horace L. and Helen K. (Cramer) Powers.

Personal:  Her husband, Bernhard J. “Benney” Mellwig died in 1985.  She graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1941 and Rider College.  She then worked as a secretary at Binney and Smith.

Memberships:  She was a member of Arndt’s Lutheran Church, Forks Township and the senior citizen’s swim group at the YMCA.

Survivors:  A son, David M. Mellwig and his wife, Kathryn of Easton; a step-son, Richard A. Mellwig and his wife, Janet of Tatamy; a sister, Miriam “Mimi” English of Williams Township; 2 step-granddaughters, Robin Kostenbader and Karen Mellwig; a step-great grandson, Cody Kostenbader and nieces and nephews.  A sister, Phyllis J. Powers died earlier.

Services:  10:30 am Tuesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.  Call from 7 – 8:30 pm Monday in the funeral home.  Interment in Arndt’s Cemetery.

Memorials:  Arndt’s Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Rd., Easton, PA 18040.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.