Here are obits for 3/3/03: James Clayton DAVIS, 80, of Alexandria, R.R. 1, Porter Township, died at 7:05 a.m. Sunday March 2, 2003, at his home. Born Oct. 2, 1922, in Gulick Township, Clearfield County, he was a son of the late George L. and Minnie Mary (Reffner) Davis. He was united in marriage to the former Hazel Viola Foster Feb. 4, 1950, at the brides home, Petersburg, R.R. 1. Mrs. Davis preceded him in death Feb. 22, 1993. He is survived by one daughter Mrs. John G. (H. Roseanna) Colbert of Alexandria; two granddaughters, Gretchen Colbert of Pittsburgh and Mrs. Andrew (Kristen) Grove of Huntingdon; two great-granddaughters, Miray and Keaira; and two great-grandsons, Dylan and Ryan. His friend and companion, Blanche McGeary, survives in Petersburg. He was preceded in death by a brother, William Donald Davis; an infant brother, Clifford Davis; and a half brother, Benjamin Traxler. Mr. Davis was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Alexandria, where he had served as an elder and trustee. He also attended the Sinking Valley Presbyterian Church and was active as a helper for projects and a supporter of various other Juniata Valley churches and their activities. He was a member of the Juniata Valley Lions Club from 1985-2003 where he had served as the coveted lion tamer for a long number of years. He was a member of Shavers Creek Grange No. 353. A resident of the Juniata Valley since 1952, he worked at Standard Steel, Burnham from February1952-October 1982. He also farmed in West Township from 1952 until 1979. From 1983, he worked on the Porter Township road crew until his retirement in 1997. Mr. Davis was a "people person" and no matter where he was or what he was doing, he always had time to make friends and make others feel important. He enjoyed plants, flower, gardening and woodworking. He was especially fond of working at the Juniata Valley Lions Club and Alexandria Fire Company chicken barbecues. He also enjoyed hunting and would educate his family members, during their time in the woods, on the names of trees and other significant plants. Funeral services will be held at 11 am. Wednesday, March 5, at the Cutright-Speck Funeral Home- Juniata Valley Chapel, 412 Main St., Alexandria, with the Revs. Pamela S. Szurek and John C. Dean officiating. Interment will be made in Mooresville Cemetery, West Township, Petersburg, R.R. 1. Virginia Grace WISER, 79, a resident of Woodland Retirement Center, Orbisonia, and formerly of Blairs Mills and Mifflintown, died at 7:53 am. Saturday, March 1, 2003, at Lewistown Hospital, Lewistown. Born Feb. 9, 1924, in Salem, Tell Township, Huntingdon County, she was a daughter of the late Harrison Blair and Minnie Gertrude (Yocum) Parson. She was united in marriage to Donald Harvey Wiser, Aug. 30, 1947, in Mount Union. Mr. Wiser preceded her in death March 13, 1976. One son and one daughter survive; Donald Ray Wiser, Albany, Minn., and Mrs. Gregg (Kay) Clugston, East Waterford. There are eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and two step-great-granddaughters. She was preceded in death by one granddaughter, four sisters and six brothers. Mrs. Wiser was a member of the Nossville United Methodist Church, Nossville, where she was a former Sunday School teacher. A homemaker, she enjoyed making quilts for her family and was known for her excellent cooking. Funeral services will be held at 11 am Wednesday, March 5, at the Martin R. Brown Funeral Home, Orbisonia, with the Rev. Virginia "Ginny" Eminhizer officiating. Interment will be made in Nossville Cemetery. Blairs Mills, R.R. William L. STOUT Jr., 56, of Petersburg, R.R. 1, died Saturday, March 1, 2003. at the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. Born Oct. 30, 1946, in New Eagle, he was a son of the late William L. Sr. and Dina A. (Ross) Stout. He married the former Marilynne Ward Sept. 30, 1989. Mrs. Stout survives at home. Two sons survive; William J. Stout, serving with the military overseas and his wife, Jennifer; and James R. Stout of Kitty Hawk, N.C. He is also survived by two brothers; Charles Stout, Clairton; and John Stout, Chesapeake. Va.; and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Stout was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Pine Grove Mills, where he served on the church council and the building committee. He was a member of the Penn State Graduate Faculty, American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, American Forage and Grassland Council, Northeast Pasture and Grazing Consortium, Soil Conservation Society of America, Pennsylvania Plant Food and Protectant Society and the Penn State University Grazing Research and Education Center. He was a certified professional soil scientist in the American Registry of Professionals in Agronomy, Crops and Soils and was a member of Phi Epsilon Phi, Sigma Xi and Gamma Sigma Delta. Mr. Stout earned an associate degree in engineering in 1966, a BS in agronomy in 1969, a MS in agronomy (soil classification) in 1972 and a PhD in agronomy (soil chemistry) in 1976, all from Penn State University. He was a rescarch soil scientist for 27 years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was a technical adviser for Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative and for the Project Grass through the Natural Resource Conservation Service and was an adjunct faculty member at Penn State in the department of crop and soil science. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. A memorial service will be held at the church at noon Tuesday, with the Rev. Carl D. Campbell officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Alfred Adam Bud YARNELL, 85, of Petersburg. R.R. 1, Barree Township, died at 2:50 am. Sunday, March 2, 2003. at The Oaks at Westminster Woods, Huntingdon. Born Feb. 24, 1918. in Mifflinburg, he was a son of the late Thomas Howard and Mamie Ellen (Pick) Yarnell. He married his first wife, the former Rachel M. Edmiston. Aug. 19, 1939, in Cumherland, Md. She preceded him in death Feb. 1, 1996. His second union was to the former Myrtle A. "Marty" (Flasher) Everhart Oct. 1, 1996, in Kissimmee, Fla. Mrs. Yarnell survives at their home. He is also survived by two sons; John A. Jack Yarnell and Charles L. Yarnell, both of Petersburg, and two stepsons and two stepdaughters; Mark T. Everhart, Petersburg; Mrs. Jeffrey (Pamela E.) Forsht, Gilbert, Ark.; and Gloria J. Everhart and Matthew W. Everhart, both of Petersburg. There are three grandchildren, one great-grandchild and three step-grandchildren. Four sisters and one brother survive; Anna Belle Miller and Donna L. Jacob, both of Huntingdon; Phyllis L. Heilig, Duncannon; Madeline Williams, Harrisburg; and Thomas H. Yarnell Jr., Huntingdon. Two sisters, Betty J. Eherhart and Martha E. Black, preceded him in death. Mr. Yarnell was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Petersburg, where he had served on church council, as a Sunday School teacher and in the adult choir. He was past commander and chaplain of American Legion Post No. 150, Petersburg. He was a member of La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux (Forty et Eight) Voyagers of Voiture No. 820; BPOE Lodge No. 976, Huntingdon; and was a past scoutmaster for Boy Scouts of America, Troop 93, Petersburg. He served on the board of directors of Petersburg Area Development Association and helped in bringing Petersburg Transformer Corporation to Petersburg in 1960. In 1976, he was on the Petersburg Bi-centennial Committee and served as parade chairman for one of the largest parades in Petersburg history. He attended the the Petersburg Voctional High School. During World War II, he served with the United States Army from March 17, 1944 to Jan. 5. 1946. He served with Company L, 345th Infantry Regiment, 87th Division and obtained the rank of Technician Fifth Grade. He was awarded a Purple Heart, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Bronze star, the World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. A resident of the Petersburg area since 1920, he enjoyed playing baseball and played for Petersburg in the Huntingdon County League from 1936-1942. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and helped to organize Petersburg Fire Prevention and Game Association (a predecessor to Petersburg Sportsmens Association) in 1949 and served as president, secretary and treasurer. He worked for a number of years as a yard and shipping foreman at Robinson and Clay Refractories (Alfarata) Alexandria, until 1953. He retired as Petersburg postmaster in 1982 after 27 years service with the U.S. Postal Service. While serving as postmaster, he was instrumental in securing the property where a new post office was built and dedicated in 1964. After retirement, his favorite pastime was gardening and he enjoyed sharing his crops with family. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at the Zion Lutheran Church, 501 St. Peters St., Petersburg, with the Revs. Don Costlow and Paul Bowen officiating. Interment will be made in Cedar Grove Cemetery, where full military honors will be accorded. -- Ken Boonie Co-Coordinator, PaGenWeb Project Huntingdon County http://www.rootsweb.com/~pahuntin/ PROVERBS 3:13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding.