The Derrick, May 9, 2009: Franklin Eugene Hayes Jr., 211 Washington Ave., Oil City John E. Lewis, Greenville Avenue, Clarion Hugh A. Murrin, Shippenville Kathryn Elizabeth Bell Reighard, Clearfield, formerly of Ninevah Mildred N. Shofestall, Shofestall Road, Corsica Paul James Weaver, Tionesta Getting it right - Jay Elias Wenner Franklin Eugene Hayes Jr., 48, of 211 Washington Ave., Oil City, departed to be with the Lord at 10:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, 2009, at Titusville Area Hospital, surrounded by his loving mother and sisters. Born Aug. 23, 1960, in Oil City, he was the son of Jeanette Owens Hayes of Oil City and the late Franklin Eugene Hayes Sr. He was a 1978 graduate of Oil City High School. After graduation he proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1978 to 1981. Franklin was a life-long resident of Oil City and had worked at the Senior Center and Telereach and was last employed at Reese Brothers until an illness forced him to retire. Franklin was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Oil City. His hobbies included drawing and painting, and he enjoyed catering weddings and banquets. Franklin is survived by his mother, Jeanette Hayes, with whom he made his home in Oil City; two sisters, Daphne L. Nealy and her husband, Lenward, of Chambersburg, and Jennifer R. Hayes of Virginia; three nephews, Joshua E. Hayes, Akeem Robinson and Isaiah Nealy; two nieces, Jasmine Robinson and Jenea Nealy; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the Hutchinson Funeral Home, 201 Bissell Ave., Oil City. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Trinity United Methodist Church, 2 Center St., Oil City, with the Rev. Tom Phillips, pastor, officiating. Mr. Hayes will be laid to rest in Grove Hill Cemetery in Oil City. Memorial contributions can be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 2 Center St., Oil City, 16301. John E. Lewis, 71, of Greenville Avenue, Clarion, died Thursday, May 7, 2009, in the emergency room at Brookville Hospital, after a sudden illness. Born Nov. 13, 1937, in Rimersburg, he was the son of Russell and Geneva Frampton Lewis, both of whom preceded him in death. He was married Sept. 27, 1963, to Donna Kline, who survives. Mr Lewis was a carpenter for PennDOT for 34 years until his retirement in 2000. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Clarion. He enjoyed woodworking, making furniture, taking his dog, Smudge, for rides in the car, reading and studying the Bible. He loved dogs and used to show them in competitions. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, John E. Lewis II of Clarion; a daughter, Cris Serich and her husband, Michael, of Ann Arbor, Mich.; a grandson, Andrew "Drew" Serich of Ann Arbor; and two brothers, Allen Lewis and his wife, Glenna, of Knox and Donald Lewis of Ford City. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, James Lewis; and a sister, Betty Hodge. There will be no visitation. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Goble Funeral Home & Crematory, 330 Wood St., Clarion, with the Rev. Dr. Deryl Larsen of First United Methodist Church in Clarion officiating. Online condolences may be sent to www.goblefh.net. Hugh A. Murrin, 92, of Shippenville, died Friday afternoon, May 8, 2009, at Golden Living Center in Shippenville. Arrangements are being handled by the William N. Rupert Mortuary in Knox. A complete obituary will be published Monday in The Derrick. Kathryn Elizabeth Bell Reighard, 93, of Clearfield, formerly of Ninevah, passed away Friday, May 8, 2009, at Mt. Laurel Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Clearfield. Born Oct. 19, 1915, in St. Francisville, Ill., she was a daughter of Frank and Carrie Bell. When she was a few months old, her family moved back to Ninevah, Clarion County, where her ancestors had settled in 1800. Kathryn grew up in the Evangelical Congregation Church in Ninevah where she was an active and faithful member until her marriage. She married Edward B. Reighard on Sept. 2, 1939, in her home church. Her uncle, the Rev. Earl Weaver, performed the ceremony along with Rev. Wilson, her pastor. Kathryn graduated from Clarion State Teachers College and then taught school for six years before she was married. In later years, she was a substitute teacher in the Clearfield schools. She had been a faithful member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Clearfield since 1958. She was an active member of the Together Class, a member of the United Methodist Women, and she taught the Langford Class for 26 years. She also taught elementary level Sunday school classes at the church. For many years, Kathryn was a member and officer of the Eastern Star at Coalport. She was also a member and secretary in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her granddaughters, Carrie Alexis and Katelyn Reighard, have succeeded their grandmother as current members of DAR, the Adam Holiday chapter, in Hollidaysburg. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, James F. Reighard and wife Bunny Reighard of Albion, Robert L. Reighard and wife Deborah of Hollidaysburg and Gail Giddings (husband Larry) of New Milford, Conn.; seven grandchildren, Tammy Fischer (husband Justin) and Thomas Reighard (wife Silvia) of Warren Conn., James E. Reighard (wife Autumn) of Marysville, Ohio, Shari Sell of Albion, Carrie Alexis Reighard of Leland, N.C., Katelyn Reighard, currently studying in Rehovot, Israel, and Matthew Giddings (wife Jenn) of New Fairfield, Conn; five great-grandchildren; and her devoted friend, companion and caregiver, Beth Michael of Clearfield. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 69 years, Edward B. Reighard, who passed away in June 2008; a son, Thomas E. Reighard; and her siblings, F. Dean Bell, Dorothy Cotherman and Jackie Beck. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Bennett and Houser Funeral Home Inc., Clearfield, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday in Trinity United Methodist Church in Clearfield. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in Trinity United Methodist Church, Clearfield. The Rev. Robert L. Rupp will officiate. Interment will be in Crown Crest Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Trinity United Methodist Church, Clearfield. Online tributes may be shared at mem.com. Mildred N. Shofestall, 66, of Shofestall Road, Corsica, died unexpectedly Thursday morning, May 7, 2009, at Brookville Hospital. Born July 7, 1942, in Clarion, she was the daughter of Scott and Estella Tuttle Dolby. Mrs. Shofestall attended the Miola School and graduated from Clarion Area High School in 1960. She was married Feb. 22, 1963, to John D. Shofestall, and he preceded her in death Feb. 28, 1984. Mrs. Shofestall had been the Clarion Township tax collector for the past 28 years. She also was a dietician assistant at Brookville Hospital for 15 years and was part owner of M.D.J. Catering for the past several years. Mrs. Shofestall was a member of Eastern Star Chapter 267 of Clarion. She also was a member of Pisgah Presbyterian Church in Corsica. Mrs. Shofestall devoted her life to helping her family and friends. She enjoyed spending time will her family, especially her grandchildren. Surviving are two daughters, Lisa A. Gunning and her husband, John, of Fisher, and Debra D. Hoffman and her husband, Jason, of Venus; one son, John D. Shofestall of Corsica; grandchildren James Gunning of Fisher, Jacob and Julia Hoffman of Venus and Will and Sadie Shofestall of Summerville; and step-grandchildren Eric and Nathan Gunning of Brookville. She is also survived by one sister, B. Carolyn Dolby of Clarion; three brothers-in-law, Jim Shofestall and his wife, Beulah "Tootie." Ed Shofestall and his wife, Pat, and Max Shofestall and his wife, Anita, all of Corsica; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by an infant sister, Nancy Dolby; and a sister-in-law, Noreen Beers. The family will receive friends from 1 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Robert V. Burns Funeral Home in Clarion. Viewing also will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at Pisgah Presbyterian Church in Corsica. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in Pisgah Presbyterian Church in Corsica with the Rev. James Dietrich, pastor, as presider. Interment will be in Pisgah Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The family requests memorials and donations be made to Brookville Hospital. Those wishing to submit condolences may do so by visiting www.rvburnsfuneralhome.com. Paul James Weaver, 88, of Tionesta, died Thursday, May 7, 2009, at UPMC Northwest in Seneca. Born Nov. 17, 1920, in Tionesta, he was the son of the late Charles Andrew and Julia Ginkel Weaver. Paul lived in Tionesta most of his life, growing up in the Peters Run area which is now the location of the Tionesta Dam spillway. He graduated from Tionesta High School in 1940. After training in Davisville, R.I., he served in the Navy Seabees in the South Pacific Theater as a motor machinist's mate first class during World War II. He returned to Tionesta after the war, and upon the building of the Tionesta Dam his family moved their farm to the former Lawrence property just outside Tionesta. Paul helped his family with the farm and later became a self-employed excavating contractor for most of his life. He was a member of St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church of Tionesta, where he served on parish council and as an usher. He was a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus, the Tionesta Lions Club and the Forest County Historical Society. On Feb. 13, 1961, in Titusville, he married Psakye G. Stanford Wharton, who died Dec. 24, 1985. Survivors include his companion and friend of 21 years, Mary Spieler of Tionesta, who he resided with for the past four years. The couple traveled extensively to Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, Panama and across the U.S., including Alaska. Mary's grandchildren, Ben and Landon, regard Paul as a grandfather. Also surviving are a stepdaughter, Judy Homsher and her husband, Paul, of Virginia Beach, Va.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sisters and their husbands, Mary and Frederick Wolbert and Emma and Wayne Cook; and a brother and his wife, Leo and Lucille Weaver. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Norman J. Wimer Funeral Home of Tionesta. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church in Tionesta with the Rev. David Foradori as celebrant. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Tionesta with full military rites accorded. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Forest County Historical Society, Box 546, Tionesta Lions Club, 201 Elm St., Sarah Stewart Bovard Memorial Library, Box 127, all of Tionesta, 16353; or St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church, 25 First St., Tidioute, 16351. Condolences may be sent by e-mail to condolences@wimerfuneralhome.com Getting it right - Jay Elias Wenner Jay Elias Wenner, 78, of Oil City, who died Wednesday, May 6, 2009, was preceded in death by six brothers, Gerald, Romain, D.O., Richard, Harry and Tom Wenner; and two sisters, Irene Wenner and Ellen Sweet.