Obituaries

Marvin L. Boyer, 76, of Palmer Township, died Friday, March 13, 2026 in St. Luke’s Hospice House. Born June 12, 1949 in Easton, he was the son of the late Marvin L. and Clarine V. (Myles) Boyer. He and his wife, Valerie J. (Sampson) Boyer were married 47 years. Marvin retired from the corporate offices of Walgreens and was actively involved in the Easton community. At an early age, he showed signs of leadership. He was an Eagle Scout, an altar boy, and he played baseball, basketball and football. He was a star running back at his alma mater, Notre Dame where he graduated in 1967. Marvin had big shoes to fill, as he emulated his mother, Clarine, who was a lifelong activist in the community. Marvin graduated from Moravian College in 1972 with a degree in political science and was a long-time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church parish. He started his career as a paralegal at Legal Aid where he developed the handbook, Tenant/Renting Rights. He had a deep commitment to his family and community and served on many boards and committees: founding member, chairman, vice president and treasurer of Easton Area Neighborhood Center; Political Action Committee chairman of Easton Branch NAACP; Northampton County Prison Advisory Commission; Lehigh Valley Justice Institute chairman; ProJeCt; Color of Justice forum on criminal justice reform; leader and communicator of Toastmasters International; Pennsylvania State Law Enforcement Advisory Commission; Lafayette College Planning Committee. Marvin received various awards, including Boy’s and Girl’s Club Community Service Award, NAACP Image Award, certified member of PTCB emerging leaders program, certificate of recognition from Northampton County Area Agency on Aging for outstanding senior volunteer service, Pennsylvania State Law Enforcement Advisory Commission’s Citizen’s Advisory Community Contributor Award. Marvin appeared multiple times on CNN, made many TV and movie appearances and has an installment at the Sigal Museum.

Surviving with his wife, Valerie, are his children, Alisha, Todd and Reya; siblings, Marie, Ella, Joseph and Theresa; grandkids, Johnny, Max, Aiden and Alydia; and extended family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 10:30 am in St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, 4049 Hartley Ave., Easton. A visitation will be held on Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Please wear something blue in honor of his favorite color. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Memorial contributions may be made to Easton Area Neighborhood Center, www.EastonAreaNeighborhoodCenter.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Richard “Rich” Brown, 69, of Palmer Twp., PA died Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anderson Campus. Born January 21, 1957 in Easton, PA he was son of the late Theresa (Gabrielli) and Howard Brown. A graduate of Easton High School, he had been employed by Keystone Food Products for more than 40 years before retiring in 2024. Rich was a huge NY Giants and NY Mets fan and enjoyed attending Easton High School football games. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Melanie (Bartha) Brown; his son: Steven L. Brown; a brother: Craig Brown; sisters: Brenda and Terry Brown, Nancy Grayewski and her husband, Ed, Janice “Sissy” Gilliland; brother-in-law: Barry Bartha; and sister-in-law: Kathy Rice (Larry).

Services are at the convenience of the family. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Florence (Unruh) Dearing, 97, peacefully passed away on March 8th, 2026, at the Harbor House in Hingham Massachusetts. She was born April 10th, 1928 in Galva Kansas, the daughter of Elias T. and Susie (Schultz) Unruh. Florence was one of 17 children. Florence was married to Leslie E. Dearing who passed away February 8th, 2017.  She worked for Southwestern Bell, AT&T before retiring in 1986 and lived in Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Myrtle Beach SC, and Hingham MA. Florence was very active in churches in these locations. She was a longtime member of Ballwin Baptist Church, Madison Baptist Church, and Fellowship Baptist Church in Easton Pennsylvania.

Florence was a great wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Not enough can be said about her tireless effort and work to ensure everyone was cared for and had everything they needed.

She is survived by her daughter Linda (Peter) Longley of Cohasset, MA, her son Daniel (Sherri) Dearing of Little River, SC, and her daughter Barbara (the late Larry) Friedman of Moorestown, NJ; 9 grandchildren, 13 greatgrandchildren, many nieces and nephews and her brother Derald (Shirley) Unruh. Florence was predeceased by eleven sisters: Anna Jones, Nina Becker, Dora Unruh, Mulvena “Molly” Unruh, Velma Deppe, Marie Unruh, Maurine Christensen, Thelma Gibson, Betty Jean Wiseman, Winnie Mae Wiseman, and Melissa Sue Unruh; and by four brothers: Edwin “Pete” Unruh, Joseph Unruh, Sgt. Walter Unruh, and Arvin Unruh.

Services will be held 11 AM Friday, March 13, 2026 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA with visitation from 10 to 11 AM. Interment in Northampton Memorial Shrine. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to Fellowship Baptist Church, 8065 William Penn Hwy, Easton, PA, 18045 or Beacon Hospice Care, 32 Resnik Rd #3, Plymouth, MA 02360 or to Harbor House Rehab & Nursing Center, 11 Condito Road, Hingham, MA 02043. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Charles Thomas Mitchell, 76, of Palmer Twp., PA died Monday, February 23, 2026 at home. Born July 26, 1949 in Bethlehem, PA, he was a son of the late Mary A. (Ruth) and George W. Mitchell, Sr. He was an army veteran serving his country for 22 years during Vietnam and Desert Storm and in the National Guard. He enjoyed the casino, bingo, and playing pinochle with friends at the Chrin Center. Charles also enjoyed making crafts with his wife and spending time with his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife: Corine (Vetter) Mitchell; his son: Charles Mitchell, Jr.; stepdaughter: Dorrine Kalinchock & fiancé Larry, step-grandsons: Kyle and Jake Kalinchock. Charles was one of nine children, including: brother George Mitchell, sister Jennifer Roth & husband Larry.

A graveside service with military honors will be held 1 PM Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at the Bethlehem Memorial Park Cemetery, 1851 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Contributions in his memory may be made to any veteran’s organization. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Kristine Elizabeth Hunt, 67, of Forks Township, Pennsylvania, died bravely in St. Luke’s Anderson Hospital on February 21, 2026. Kris was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Lawrence Hunt and Margaret (Daley).

A graduate of Easton Area High School in 1976 Kris would then earn a BA in Art at Penn State University in 1980. Kris had a successful career at Crayola LLC, formerly Binney and Smith, and after 36 1/2 years. She would end her career as a Demand Product Manager.

Kris’s volunteer work included representing Binney and Smith at Musikfest, Brownie troop assistant, scorekeeper for the Forks Phillies little league baseball team, and even taking on child care for the grand niece and nephews during the pandemic. Kris loved to cook, entertain family, and crochet. Vacationing with the family was a tradition at Long Beach Island, New Jersey, Stowe, Vermont, Williamsburg, Virginia along with many numerous cruises.

Kris is survived by her mother, Margeret, sister Susanne Hornbake (William), brother Thomas Hunt (Polly), nieces and nephews: Brandon Hunt, William Hornbake (Alice), Elizabeth Hunt, Caroline Brewer (Jason), Margaret Hornbake (fiance John Palermo), grand nieces and nephews: Eleanor Hornbake, Jack, Nora and Maclin Brewer, and her well loved cats Big Boy and Little Boy.

She is preceded in death by her father Lawrence Hunt.

A memorial service will be held at Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton Street, Easton, PA on Monday March 2, 2026. Visitation with the family will be from 10:00 -11:30 am with memorial service to follow at 11:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org and The Center for Animal Health & Welfare, www.healthyanimalcenter.org.

Shirley M. Datesman, 94, of Bethlehem Township, died Saturday, February 21, 2026 in Sacred Heart Senior Living. Born April 22, 1931 in Upper Mt. Bethel Township, she was the daughter of the late Herbert and Eva (Correll) Keiser. Her husband, Dyle L. Datesman died in 2002. Shirley graduated from Bangor High School in 1949 and earned her nursing degree from Easton Hospital School of Nursing. She was a pediatric nurse and an orthopedic nurse at Easton Hospital. Shirley was a member of the former First Evangelical Congregational Church, Easton and attended the Bethlehem Township Community Center.

Surviving are three daughters, Becky Houser, Sherry Walker, and Deana Sewald; a sister, Madge Ackerman; nine grandchildren; and thirteen great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her stepmother, Ruth Keiser; a brother, Paul Keiser; and a sister, Brenda Sue Rice.

Services will be held at 11:30 am on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A visitation will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 am on Tuesday in the funeral home. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Jerry Ralph Baker, 81 of Palmer Twp., PA died Thursday, February 19, 2026 at the St. Luke’s Hospice House, Bethlehem, PA. Born April 25, 1944 in Phillipsburg, NJ he was a son of the late Estella (Woodring) and Joseph A. Baker. He was a graduate of Phillipsburg High School and served in the Navy Reserve. He was employed by Witco Corp. in Harmony, NJ for 28 years before retiring. Jerry was a member of the Conchordia Maennerchor, Easton and a member of several quoit leagues and Bel-Pike Lane’s bowling leagues.  

He is survived by his wife of almost 39 years: Janice M. (Cosper) Baker; his sons: Dana Baker (Lisa Compton) of Phillipsburg, NJ, Terry Baker (Claudia) of Palmer Twp., PA; stepdaughters: Denise Diehl (Randy), Bath, PA, Tammy Haas of Easton, PA; a brother: Joseph Baker (Michelle) of Las Vegas, NV; 5 grandchildren; 4 step-grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren and 3 step-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother: David Baker (Marie).

Services are private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.