Obituaries

Ruth S. Gafford, 95, formerly of Easton, PA died Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at her residence at Westminster Village, Allentown, PA. Born December 30, 1924 in Palmer Twp., PA she was a daughter of the late Emily Mae (Paul) and Howard D. Siegfried, Sr. She graduated from Easton High School in 1943, Easton Hospital School of Nursing in 1947 and received her bachelor’s degree from East Stroudsburg State College. She was a School Nurse for the Easton Area School District for 25 years before retiring in 1987. Prior to that she was employed by Easton Hospital and as a private duty nurse. 

Ruth was a member of the former Olivet Presbyterian Church, Easton where she served as an Elder, Trustee, in Mary’s circle and Church Women United. She was member of the Cadet Nursing Corps at Easton Hospital; the PA Assoc. of State Retirees;  and she volunteered at The Easton Home and Food Bank. She was also very active at Westminster Village where she served on the Resident Council and in the Kazoo Band.

She is survived by sons: Scott H. Gafford (wife Irene) of Bath, PA, Neal A. Gafford (wife Sue) of Bethlehem, PA; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren She was predeceased by her husband T. Harold Gafford in 2010, her son Roger H. Gafford in 1992 and 5 brothers and sisters.

Services will be held at a later date due to COVID restrictions. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment is in Arndts Cemetery, Forks Twp., PA. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Joseph M. Lane, 70, Easton, PA, died peacefully on November 22, 2020. Born in Boston, MA, he was the son of the late Joseph H. and Julia (Flaherty) Lane. Joe was also lovingly raised throughout his teen and young adult years by a second set of parents, the late Sam and Ellie Meyer of Plymouth, MA, becoming part of a family with seven children whom he considered his brothers and sisters. Joe was a graduate of North Quincy High School where he played football as an outstanding “strong safety”. He went on to play defensive back for Lafayette College from 1969 – 1973. Joe received a BA in economics from Lafayette College and an MBA from Lehigh University. In the early part of his career he negotiated contracts worldwide for the Turbo Division of Ingersoll Rand. He then served as Vice President for Enterprise Development at Ben Franklin Technology Partners, retiring in 2016. While there, he also mentored many Lafayette College students interested in entrepreneurship. Joe will be remembered for his love for telling stories, his sense of humor, an obsession for being current with news events, and as a friend to neighbors on College Hill where he resided. He maintained a passion for all things Lafayette College and football. You may have seen him cycling up and down the hills training for his overseas biking excursions, or walking through the neighborhood, a dog always by his side.

Joe was preceded in death by his brother Tom Lane of Montgomery, TX. He is survived by a niece, Courtney Lane Grube of Montgomery, TX, and a nephew, Ryan Lane of Houston, TX. 

Memorials may be directed to Safe Harbor, Lafayette College Friends of Football Annual Scholarship Fund, or the Easton Area Neighborhood Center.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

William Harry Fifield, 95 of Palmer Twp., PA died Saturday, November 21, 2020 at home. Born February 14, 1925 in Denton, MD he was the son of the late Charles and Hilda (Ritchie) Fifield. He was a graduate of Nazareth High School and Temple University where he was a past-president and active member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He was a WWII Army veteran, 3^rd Division and recipient of two purple hearts. Bill joined the Easton Publishing newspaper, now the Express-Times, in 1951, retiring as the advertising manager after 39 years of employment. He was a member of Palmer Moravian Church, Pomfret Club, Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, VFW, past-president of Kiwanis Club of Easton and a Meals on Wheels volunteer. He loved to travel and played golf in most of the places he visited. He’s likely now playing with Jim, Harry, Clate, Wally, and Bernie.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Nancy (Preisig) Fifield; sons: Scott Fifield of Greenbelt, MD, Mark Fifield of Palmer Twp.; sisters: Lorraine Sevi of Nazareth, PA, Mildred Keck of Bath, PA; and grandchildren: Cayden, Sam and Kobe. A sister: Barbara died earlier.

Graveside services with military honors are 11:30 AM Friday (Nov. 27) at Greenwich Cemetery, 15 Greenwich Church Rd., Stewartsville, NJ. A viewing will be held 9 to 10 AM Friday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kiwanis Foundation of Easton, c/o J. Cappellano, 130 Locke Heights Rd., Bangor, PA 18013-9618.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

The family would like to extend a special Thank You to Bayada Hospice and Stephanie Barkley of Home Instead for their compassionate care during his illness.

Fay L. “Cookie” Smith, 77, of Easton, died Wednesday, November 18, 2020 in her home. Born October 28, 1943 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late Louis A. and Mary (Geiger) Kummer. She and her husband, A. Richard Smith were married 57 years.
Cookie worked at the Tatamy Fire Social Club for 15 years and also Laneco, Palmer Township for 15 years. She was a Past Worthy Matron of William Parsons Chapter, O.E.S.

Surviving with her husband, Richard, are her children, Deirdre Allen and her husband, Chuck and Jeff Smith; two brothers, Ronald Kummer, Sr. and Louis Kummer, Jr.; two grandsons, Brian and Cory; four great grandchildren, Logan, Charlee, Raven and Deacon; and her lifelong friend, Darlene Kranich. Her brother, William Kummer, Sr., died earlier.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 in Northampton Memorial Shrine, Palmer Township. A visitation will be held from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm on Monday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org or Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Charity Akua Yeboah, 85 of Bethlehem, PA died Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at ManorCare, Bethlehem. Born December 25, 1934 in Ghana, she was a daughter of the late Opanin Yaw Yeboah and Yaa Adomakoa.  She was of the Pentecostal faith.

She is survived by 4 children: John Sagoe-Brock of Somerset, NJ, Joanna Sagoe-Brock in Germany, Joyce Danquah-Aminu of Bethlehem, Joshua Danquah in Ghana; 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Services for the family will be held at the Ashton Funeral Home in Easton. Interment is in Forks Cemetery.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

James Richard Halvorsen, 74 of Bethlehem Twp., PA formerly of Connecticut died Monday, November 16, 2020 at home. Born May 28, 1946 in Madison, WI he was a son of the late John and Mary (Peterson) Halvorsen. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater and served in the Army Reserves. He had been employed by the IBM and Lexmark Companies for many years before retiring. A member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, he was an avid golfer, sports enthusiast and skier. Jim also loved time spent with his family, especially his grandson.

He is survived by his children: Peder Halvorsen (wife Elizabeth) of Palmer Twp., PA, Annie Copperthwaite (husband Jay) of Bethlehem, PA; sisters: Carol Pechauer, Jane Hinkel, Julie Keesey and his grandson: Jackson. A sister, Mary Jo Parker died earlier.

Services will be held at a later date. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Devonte Javon Harvey was born sleeping on November 11,2020. He was the son of Elaine Lorraine Harvey (Counterman) and DeShawn Harvey Sr.  He was the grandson of Trevor L. Moyer and the late Sally Moyer (Counterman) and Darick Manzano and the late Denise Harvey.  He was the brother of Rasheen Beston, Daquan Harvey, Dontay Harvey, DeShawn Harvey Jr., Daniel Harvey, Dashawna Beston, Aaliyah Harvey,  April Harvey and  Brianna  Harvey.

He was the nephew of Rebecca Counterman, Patricia Chapman (Paul),  Leeann Nuttall (Danny), Raylene Nuttall (Joseph), Wassy Harvey, Brandy Teabo, Boyd Teabo, Jr. (Carrie), Edward Teabo, Jr. (Amber), Carl Dunbar (Kayley), Lawrence Harvey, Nyeem Harvey and Nyreel Manzano. 

Devonte was preceded in death by a sister: April Harvey; grandmothers: Sally Moyer (Counterman-Teabo) and Denise Harvey; uncles: Nyeem Harvey and Nyreel Manzano; grandfathers: Edward Teabo, Sr. and Boyd Teabo, Sr. and great-grandmothers: Elise Counterman (Labar), Frances Manzano, Maryjane Moyer and  Shirley Durand; great-grandfathers: William Counterman, Edmond Durand and Richard Moyer; great -great  grandmother: Maggie Carter; aunt Rachel Counterman;  great-uncles: Martin and Marvin and Paul Counterman; and great -aunts: Viola Mcammon and Janet Crown.

He is also survived by many cousins, a few nieces and nephews and by many great aunts and uncles.

Charles David Updegrove, 95, of Bethlehem, PA, formerly of Easton, PA, passed away Wednesday, November 4, 2020. He was the husband of the late June (Wesley) Updegrove who passed away in 2018. Born December 22, 1924 in Easton, he was the son of the late Dr. Harvey Updegrove and Gladys (Collins) Updegrove. David was in the March School Class of 1939 and the Easton High School Class of 1942. He entered Lafayette College in September 1942, enlisted in the United States Navy in December 1942 in their Aviation Program and was called to active duty in August 1943. He graduated from the Naval Midshipman School in Ft. Schuyler, NY and was commissioned an Ensign USNR. After 37 months he returned to Lafayette College and graduated in June 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of the Easton High School and Lafayette College tennis teams and a member of Hillcrest Tennis Club. He was also an avid bowler, golfer and fisherman.

David was employed by Warren Webster & Co., Camden, NJ, a manufacturer of Heating & Cooling Equipment as a Sales Engineer. After 16 years, he joined S.I. Handling Systems of Easton, PA in 1965 as an Assistant Sales Manager. During the next 21 years he held positions as General Sales Manager, Contract Administrator and Product Manager. After his position was eliminated in May 1986, he sold cellular car phones for Palmer Audio and worked as a consultant for Easton Area Industrial Land Development Company. He was a member of College Hill Presbyterian Church, Easton where he served as a deacon and he was a former member of the Northampton Country Club, Harker’s Hollow Golf Club and the Pomfret Club of Easton.

He is survived by a daughter: Kim Wagner and her husband David of Allentown; a son: Kevin Updegrove and his wife Diane of Carson City, NV; five grandchildren: Alex, Daniel, Adam, Nicole, Andrew; and two great-granddaughters: Hannah and Mae. In addition to his wife of 62 years, June Updegrove, he was preceded in death by his sister: Elizabeth Maguire and his brother: Dr. John Updegrove.

Services are private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.