Archive - Nov 19, 2011 - Obituary
Melvin Q. “Bart” McFarland, 99, Sykesville and Laurelbrooke since 1986, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, at the DuBois Nursing Home.
He was born May 19, 1912, in Rochester Mills, Indiana County, a son of the late John and Bessie (Gaston) McFarland.
Dec. 11, 1944, he married Margaret “Peg” (Cooper) McFarland, who survives.
 Mr. McFarland was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army, and he was employed as a punch press operator with H-H Robertson Steel Fabricating Company.
William F. McCracken Jr., 88, Brookville, died Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, at home.
He was born May 26, 1923, in Brookville, a son of the late William Floyd and Harriet Edna (Ballentine) McCracken Sr.
June 11, 1949, in Corsica, he married Mary R. Temchulla, who survives.
Mr. McCracken was a veteran of World War II, having served with the U.S. Marines in the Pacific Theater, 2nd Division, with campaigns in Saipan and Okinawa.
He worked as an engineer for the Pittsburgh & Shawmut Railroad in Brookville.
Dr. Richard “Dick” Franklin Hoover Sr., 76, formerly of DuBois, died Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, in Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada.
He was born July 6, 1935, in DuBois, the son of the late Marion (Harold) and Josephine (Saunders) Hoover.
July 6, 1956, he married Dannalene Gearhart, who survives, of Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada.
In 1999, Dr. Hoover retired from Shopost Ironworks of Winnipeg, Canada. He was the president of the company.
He served as pastor for churches in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Canada.
Elsie Baker, 64, Punxsutawney, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, at the VNA Inpatient Hospice, Butler.
She was born Sept. 20, 1947, in Pittsburgh, a daughter of the late John Boyd Geer and Elsie (Bradshaw) Baker.
Ms. Baker was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Punxsutawney.
Surviving relatives include a son, Clyde Edward Baker of Punxsutawney; three brothers, Athur Evans and John Geer, both of Punxsutawney, and James Evans of Pittsburgh; a sister, Rachel Heckman of Punxsutawney; and a grandchild, Joshua Snaiir.
George Samuel Sawyer, 73, Hilton Head, S.C., passed away peacefully Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, with his wife of 50 years by his side.
Born and raised in Punxsutawney, he graduated from Grove City University in 1959.
He then married the former Carol McCullough, and they began their teaching in the Pittsburgh area, where they resided until retiring and moving to Sun City, S.C.
Sam (as he was known to family and friends) enjoyed living in S.C., the weekly breakfast club with the guys, his cats — Tico and Fiona and collecting books.
