The Derrick, March 18, 2009: Blaine C. Griffin, Seneca Janean Hoffman, 1504 Liberty St., Franklin James R. Lee, Shippenville Francis J. Nesta, Knox Donald Archibald Pierce, Knox Marie Laverne Speelman, South Fourth Avenue, Clarion Benjamin Adams service slated Blaine C. Griffin, 72, of Seneca, died at 5:10 a.m. Monday, March 16, 2009, in the intensive care unit of UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Born Jan. 17, 1937, in Franklin, he was the son of the late Blaine C. and Mary Sickels Griffin. He was married May 17, 2000, at Dillion Marriage Chapel in South Carolina to the former Bonita J. Graham Krawiec, who survives. Mr. Griffin attended services with his wife at St. Stephen Church in Oil City. He enjoyed traveling, woodworking projects, and the company of his beloved pets, Hershey, Shilo and Britney. Mr. Griffin was employed for 30 years as an electrician for Joy Manufacturing in Franklin. In addition to his wife, Mr. Griffin is survived by two children, William Griffin and his wife, Janice, of Cooperstown, and Clarissa Whitling of North Carolina; two stepsons, Randy Holtz and his wife, Nannette, of Florida, and Jody Krawiec and his wife, Tara, of Florida; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Norma Graham and Jean Marino, both of Oil City; a special niece, Elaine Ray of Franklin; and special friends James and Twila Karns of Cooperstown. In addition to his parents, Mr. Griffin was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers. At Mr. Griffin's request, there will be no visitation or public services held. Memorial contributions may be made to the Venango County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1045, Oil City, 16301. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hile-Best Funeral Home Inc., Tyler J. Best, Supervisor, 2781 Route 257 in Seneca, Cranberry Township. Condolences may be made to the family online by visiting www.hilebest.com Janean Hoffman, 85, of 1504 Liberty St., Franklin, died at 9:37 p.m. Sunday, March 15, 2009, at her residence. Born April 9, 1923, in Oil City, she was a daughter of Millard and Maude Barcroft Smith. Mrs. Hoffman was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. She also belonged to the Monday Club and the Order of Eastern Star. Prior to her marriage, she had worked at Penelec doing electrical drawings. On May 1, 1954, she married Allan V. Hoffman, who preceded her in death April 23, 1999. Mrs. Hoffman is survived by a daughter, Carol Merritt of Dallas, Texas; two grandchildren, Robert Merritt of Arlington, Texas, and Genevieve Parikh of Grand Prairie, Texas; and two great-grandchildren. Friends may call from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Morrison Funeral Home in Oil City. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home with the Rev. Samuel T. Gibb, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Franklin, officiating. Interment will be in Rynd Farm Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, it is suggested memorial contributions be made to the Venango County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1045, Oil City, 16301. James R. Lee, 81, of Shippenville, died Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at his residence after a short battle with cancer. Born Jan. 2, 1928, in Bower, W.Va., he was the son of the late Arthur D. Lee and Alice Mowery Lee. He was married Oct. 3, 1962, to the former Bonnie J. Beary, who survives. Mr. Lee was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was employed by Keen Transport until his retirement in 1985. He then worked for several companies in the area, the most recent being Clarion Cycles. He was also a member of the Knox Rod and Gun Club. Mr. Lee was known as "Pap" to his family and friends. He enjoyed hunting, boating in Lake Erie, riding his motorcycle and going for coffee with his friend, Bill Showers. In addition to his wife, Mr. Lee is survived by two daughters, Kimberly Thompson and her husband, Rod, of Lake Mary, Fla., and Kelly O'Neil of Knox; four grandsons, Chase Lee and his wife Ashley, Corey Lee, Colt O'Neil and Quinnten Thompson; a sister, Leoda Croyle of Kane; a brother, Ernest Lee and his wife, Peg, of Lake Placid, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Cheryl; an infant granddaughter, Tia; and a brother, Donald Lee. Funeral arrangements will be private, and the Goble Funeral Home & Crematory in Clarion is in charge of arrangements. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Clarion Forest VNA or the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be sent to www.goblefh.net. Francis J. Nesta, 84, of Knox, died Tuesday morning, March 17, 2009, at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh following a brief hospitalization. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the William N. Rupert Mortuary Inc. of Knox and also from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at Grace Evangelical Congregational Church in Ninevah. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. A complete obituary will be published Thursday in The Derrick. Donald Archibald Pierce, 84, a lifelong resident of Knox, died Monday, March 16, 2009, at the Clarion-Forest VNA Hospice House in Shippenville. He was surrounded by his family after an illness of several months. Born Oct. 13, 1924, in Knox, he was a son of the late Wade Eugene and Susen Edwards Pierce. Don was a 1942 graduate of White Memorial High School in Knox and entered the U.S. Army in 1943. He fought through Europe with the Fighting 69th Infantry Division, setting up command posts and communication cables for the advancing U.S. Army. He married the former Lois Virginia McElhattan on Oct. 20, 1945. They were married in Knox United Methodist Church by the Rev. H.H. Thompson, and the two were married for 63 years. Following his discharge from the Army in 1946, Don joined the family business, Pierce Motor Co. of Knox, serving first as a mechanic and then as a salesman. In 1956, he joined Electrolux Corp. as a salesman for the Clarion and Venango county areas. He continued in that capacity until his illness. Don was an active member of Knox United Methodist Church, where he taught several Sunday School classes and served on and chaired a variety of administrative committees. In the 1950s he served on the capital campaign responsible for adding the education and social wing to the church. He sang tenor in the church and community choirs. In 2006, Don and Lois performed with the Keystone Alumni Choir, the oldest graduates to participate. Guitars were another musical passion for Don. He took lessons from the late Bill Huber of Rouseville for many years and enjoyed performing at area nursing homes. Following the war, Don was an active member of the American Legion, where he served as post commander and also with the Knox Volunteer Fire Department. He enjoyed spending time with his family, numerous hobbies, traveling and attending reunions of the Fighting 69th. He particularly enjoyed a 2007 trip to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., with other local veterans. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Gregory Wade Pierce and his wife, Lynn, of Lititz; one daughter, Donna Sue Close and her husband, John McClay Close, of Pittsburgh; five grandchildren, Mark Pierce and his wife, Denise, of Yardley, Erin Pierce and her husband, Jeffrey Ruder, of Pittsburgh, and Heather, Ashley and Christa Close, all of Pittsburgh; and five great-grandchildren, Kristen, Rachel and Jacob Pierce, all of Yardley, and Madeline Pierce Ruder and Norman Pierce Ruder, both of Pittsburgh. He is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Shirley Pierce Boorech of Knox, Lucille Lineman of Franklin and Marilyn Greer and her husband, John "Bud", of Seneca; two brothers-in-law, Kenton McElhattan and his wife, Florence, of Pittsburgh, and Glenn "Dick" McElhattan and his wife, Mary, of Franklin; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Douglas Glenn Pierce in 1949; a brother, Eugene Pierce in 1959; and a sister, Mrs. Ellen Jane Allen in 2008. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the William N. Rupert Mortuary Inc. of Knox. Friends will also be received from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at Knox United Methodist Church on West Railroad Street, Knox. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Knox United Methodist Church with the Rev. Don Poole, church pastor, and the Rev. Randy Evans, Clarion-Forest VNA Hospice chaplain, co-officiating. Interment will follow at Knox Union Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Building Fund of Knox United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 307, Knox, 16232; or the Clarion-Forest VNA Hospice House, P.O. Box 668, Knox, 16232. Online condolences may be sent to Don's family at www.rupertfuneralhomes.com Marie Laverne Speelman, 67, of South Fourth Avenue, Clarion, died Monday, March 16, 2009, at Clarion Hospital. Born Feb. 15, 1942, in Waynesburg, she was the daughter of Charles F. Speelman and Barbara Chelena Speelman. Marie graduated in 1960 from Jefferson Morgan High School in Jefferson. After graduation she worked as a surgery secretary at Marymount Hospital in Garfield Heights, Ohio, before moving to Clarion in 2002. She worked at Laurelbrooke Landing until her retirement in June 2008. Marie was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Clarion and the Ladies Guild of the Church. She was also a member of the Clarion County Historical Society. She was dearly beloved by her family and friends. Marie is survived by her mother, Barbara Speelman of Clarion; one sister, Barbara Edwards and her husband, George, of Bend, Ore.; one niece, Elizabeth Edwards of Peoria, Ariz.; one nephew, Stephen Edwards and his wife, Kathrine, of Bend, Ore.; and one great-nephew, Pinnegan Edwards of Bend, Ore. She was preceded in death by her father, Charles F. Speelman, who died Jan. 11, 1997. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Goble Funeral Home and Crematory, 330 Wood St., Clarion. A Christian wake service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Church, Clarion, with the Rev. Monty Sayers officiating. Interment will be in Green County Memorial Park, Waynesburg. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Clarion. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.goblefh.net. Benjamin Adams service slated A memorial service for Benjamin H. Adams, who died Feb. 27, 2009, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Big Bend United Methodist Church, Highlands Road, Emlenton. The Rev. James Kimmell will officiate at the services. Interment was in Big Bend Cemetery. The Hile Funeral Home Inc. of Emlenton is in charge of arrangements.