Obituaries

Name: Lucell C. Wadsworth, 76 of Wilson Borough died Tuesday, March 13, 2012 in her home.

Born: November 26, 1935 in Jamaica, West Indies, she was a daughter of the late Vivian and Gladys Baxter Arscott.

Personal: She had been a legal secretary for law firms in the New York area for many years.

Memberships: She was a member of the Faith Community Assembly of God, Palmer Twp.

Survivors:  Son: Dexter Wadsworth; daughter: Rosanne Johnson and 4 grandchildren.

Services: Were held in the church; the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton was in charge of the arrangements.

Name: Richard H. Fortner, 58, of Celebration, FL formerly of Hillendale passed away peacefully Sunday, March 11, 2012 at his son Ross’ home in Easton surrounded by family and friends.

Born: September 11, 1953 in Easton he was a son of Jeanne Fortner Gumm of Upper Mt. Bethel Twp. and the late Reuben Fortner.

Personal: A graduate of Easton High School, he had been self-employed as an hydraulics consultant to the steel industry for many years.

Survivors:  His mother; his wife of 31 years: the former Cheryl Mendall; 2 sons: Kiel of Easton; Ross and his wife Kelly of Easton; a brother: Tim of Lower Mt. Bethel Twp., PA and a sister: Kim Bowers of Walnutport, PA.

Services: A Celebration of His Life will be held 4:00 p.m., Saturday, July 14th at the Fortner River House: 2971 Hutchison River Road, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865.  Following a brief ceremony of mixing his ashes with cement to create an anchor for the property, everyone is invited to stay for an epic party in his honor. (Please bring a side dish and be sure to dress casual.)

A Celebration of His Life was also held in Celebration, Florida.

Arrangements: Ashton Funeral Home, Easton.

Memorials: May be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Dorothy Jewett Stitt, 97, long time resident of Easton, PA died March 7, 2012 at Moravian Village of Bethlehem.

Born: September 4, 1914 in Houston, TX she was the daughter of Harry B. and Gladys N. Jewett. Her husband of 69 years, James W. Stitt died in 2010.

Personal: She graduated from Rice University in 1937 and from Columbia University’s School of Journalism in 1938 with a Master of Science degree, after which she was a reporter for the Houston Post in Houston, TX. She married in 1939 and spent the next 60 years using her professional writing skills doing volunteer publicity work for and serving on the boards of many charities and organizations in Easton. Among these were the United Way, the YWCA, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. She edited and published an annual yearbook for 25 years for the Jewett Family of America. An avid traveler, she regularly drove to Texas, Missouri and Florida to visit her family and relatives and, with her husband, took 6 world cruises and visited 35 different countries. Her avocations were golf, swimming, antiques and genealogy. She was listed in several different editions of Marquis’ Who’s Who.

Memberships: She was President of the Easton Women’s Club. She served 4 terms as the Regent of the George Taylor Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was President of its Northeastern District Regents Club. She helped restore the Little Stone House, an historic house in Easton. She was a 50 year member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Easton and a 50 year member of Northampton Country Club. She was a charter member of the Montgomery County Girl Scouts of America.

Survivors: her son, Thomas P. Stitt, Sr., an Easton native who now resides in Bethlehem with his wife, Donna, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, James H. Stitt of Columbia, Missouri.

Services: Private at the  convenience of the family. The Ashton Funeral Home, 14th & Northampton St., Easton is handling the arrangements. Interment will be in Easton Cemetery.

Memorials: may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3893 Adler Place, Bethlehem, PA 18017.

Thomas C. Flanagan, 84, of Bethlehem Township, formerly of Palmer Township, died Wednesday, March 7, 2012 in Alexandria Manor, Bath.

Born: July 3, 1927 in Newark, NJ, he was a son of the late William and Minnie (Schick) Flanagan.

Personal: His wife, the former Arlene Ross died in 2006.  He served in the Army during WWII and worked for Atlantic Spring Co., Flemington, NJ.

Memberships: He was a member of Shepherd of the Valley Church, Milford, NJ and attended Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church, Bethlehem Township.

Survivors: Four sons, Thomas, Jr., Patrick, Robert and Dennis; eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

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.

Memorials: Shepherd of the Valley Church, 45 Spring Mills Rd., Milford, NJ 08848 or Compassionate Care Hospice, 363 S. Route 100, Allentown, PA 18106.

Irene D. Merritt, 100, of Forks Township died Wednesday, March 7, 2012 in her home.

Born: November 18, 1911 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, she was a daughter of the late Thomas and Ame Belle (Howard) Demers.

Personal: She was a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and was a Registered Nurse and ER Supervisor.

Memberships: Irene was a life member of the American Legion, Brown and Lynch, Post 9, Auxiliary and a member of the Red Cross.

Survivors: Her son, Frank Merritt and his wife Susan with whom she resided and a granddaughter, Catherine Elisabeth.  Her husband, Frank C. L. Merritt died earlier.

Services: Services will be private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorials: American Legion, Post 9, Auxiliary, 2260 Corriere Dr., Easton, Pa 18045.