Obituaries

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.

Nils A. Johansson, 85, of Easton died Wednesday, November 28, 2012 in ManorCare, Palmer Twp.

Born: March 26, 1927 in Falkenberg, Sweden he was a son of the late John and Olga Osterberg Johansson. He and his wife the former Carolyn Mickel have been married for 52 years.

Personal: He served in the Swedish Royal Navy and graduated with a degree in Dairy Engineering from the Arlnop Institute in Lund, Sweden. He emigrated to Easton in 1957 to work as a dairy engineer for R.A. Auerbach and then Alfa Laval in Sweden. He also owned the former Scandinavian Inn in Palmer Twp. and was an account executive for Thompson, McKinnon Securities in Bethlehem before retiring.

Memberships: He was a member of College Hill Presbyterian Church, Easton and instrumental in organizing the Vasa Lodge in Hanover Twp.

Survivors: His wife: Carolyn; son: Robert A. Johansson and his wife Mihaela Cozmi of Gilroy, CA; daughter: Christina M. Gemond and her husband Alain of Vienna, VA; his twin brother: Lars Johansson in Goteborg, Sweden; and 4 grandchildren: Nils and Alma Johansson, Genevieve and Alexander Gemond.

Services: A Memorial Service will be held 12:30 p.m. Tuesday (12/4) in College Hill Presbyterian Church, 501 Brodhead St., Easton with a calling period from noon to 12:30; the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Interment will be in Easton Heights Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to the Church, 501 Brodhead St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Dorothy Merwarth, 90, of Palmer Twp. died Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at home.

Born: October 11, 1922 in Williams Twp. she was a daughter of the late Albert, Sr. and Daisey Kline Merwarth.

Personal: A graduate of Easton High School, she was the owner and operator of Merwarth’s Floral Shop in the Easton area for more than 50 years.

Memberships: She had been a member of numerous civic organizations prior to her retirement.

Survivors: A brother: Carl Merwarth of Palmer Twp.; a sister: Martha Merwarth of Forks Twp.; many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by 4 siblings: Gertrude Werkheiser, Ruth Willever, Albert Merwarth, Jr., and Grace Brotzman.

Services: Will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday (12/3) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 14th and Northampton Sts., Easton with visitation from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. Interment will be in Easton Heights Cemetery. Offer online condolences at www.ashtonfuneralhome.com.

Evelyn M. Lilly, 91, of Phillipsburg died Monday, November 26, 2012 in Easton Hospital.

Born: December 19, 1920 in Phillipsburg, NJ she was a daughter of the late Louis M. and Elizabeth Giddens James. Her husband Paul J. Lilly died in 1953.

Personal: She had been employed by the Easton Area Public Library from 1970 until retiring in 1985; prior to that she worked at Orr’s Dept. Store for several years. She graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1938 and Churchman’s Business School in 1942. She also volunteered as a nurse’s aide during WWII.

Memberships: She was a member of the catholic church.

Survivors: 2 sons: John J. of Easton; William L. with whom she resided; 5 grandchildren: Deric, Traci, Ashli, Corey, Chadd; and 4 great-grandchildren: Zane, Avani, Nicholas and Max. She was predeceased by her husband Paul and siblings: John James and Dorothy Thatcher.

Services: Will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday (11/30) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 14th and Northampton Sts., Easton with a calling period from 1:30 to 2 p.m.  Interment will be in Easton Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to the family for William’s care. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.