OBITUARIES

James A. McKee dies at 73
Former Yellow Springs Police Chief James A. McKee died on Saturday, Jan. 18, in his residence. He was 73.
Born March 23, 1929, in London, Ky., he was the son of Russell and Alberta (Nelson) McKee.
The end of his 36-year career with the Village Police Department was celebrated at a banquet where Mike DeWine, then Ohio’s lieutenant governor, read a proclamation from George Voinovich, then the
governor of Ohio. Attendees included representatives from the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, Fraternal Order of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcements and local community leaders.
A plaque commemorating McKee’s leadership and humane philosophies was placed in the lobby of the Bryan Community Center.
Chief McKee’s many accomplishments included: first black chief of police of a majority community in the United States; first black instructor at the Greene County Law Enforcement Academy; ordained deacon of the First Baptist Church of Yellow Springs and former trustee and church clerk; member of First Baptist Church Men’s Chorus; charter member of the Jaycees of Yellow Springs; trustee of the Yellow Springs Senior Citizens board; member of the Fraternal Order of Police; past president of the Greene County Law Enforcement Association; member of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police; member of International Association of Chiefs of Police; member of National Organization of Black Law Enforcements; district representative of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police to the Ohio Police Officers Training Academy. He was also a member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC), director of the Buckeye Chapter 23 INC of the NAWCC from 1993 to 1995, qualified shoe cobbler, Counselor Explorer Scouts and founder of Yellow Springs Men’s Group.
His hobbies included antique clock and watch collecting, coin collecting, bowling and computers. He was a member of the Yellow Springs Community Foundation, the Village Cable Advisory Panel and the Yellow Springs Investment Club. He was also a board member of the Leadership Institute of Yellow Springs.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather, Tip Mays, and two brothers, Edwin Herman and Allen Hunter Mays.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 55 years, Naomi McKee; four daughters, Bari McKee-Teamor of Cleveland Heights, Karen S. McKee of Alexandria, Va., Jean McKee of Loveland and Sandra McKee-Smith of Yellow Springs; one son, James L. McKee of Xenia; five grandchildren, Victoria Parks Thornton, Toussaint Peter Teamor, Julian Cabral Teamor, Rhyan Ashleigh Smith and Ricardo Benjamin Teamor II; one great-grandson, Triston Toussaint Teamor; four sisters, Janet M. Mays, Shirley Gladney, Beverly Ann Norfleet and her husband, Larry, and Sheila D. Mays, all of Springfield; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Fredrick Leroy and Marcia Mays and Clarence Douglas and Emma Mays, all of Dayton; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services were held this morning (Thusday) at the First Baptist Church, with the Rev. James Nooks officiating.
Donations in Chief McKee’s memory may be made to the James A. McKee Scholarship Fund of the Yellow Springs Men’s Group, P.O. Box 263, Yellow Springs, Ohio, 45387-0263.
The final tribute is a service of the Porter-Qualls Funeral Home.

Oscar L. Stewart
Oscar L. Stewart of Springfield died on Friday, Jan. 17, in Community Hospital in Springfield. He was 73.
Born Nov. 25, 1929, in Florence Ala., he was the son of William and Eula Mae (Ford) Stewart.
He was employed by Vernay Laboratories. He was a lodge member of Knights of Pythias, member of Sultan Temple No. 5, vice president of Union Local 771 and a member of the Elks.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Walta Momen, and one brother, Robert Parker.
He is survived by his wife, Cinda A. Stewart; daughters and son-in-law, Linda S. Saddlewhite of Pittsburgh, Bettie A. Stewart of Dayton and Melissa L. and Brett Kelley of Springfield; and son, Kevin D. Jackson of Yellow Springs; sister Lillian Thompson of Pittsburgh; nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, two nephews, Barry Thompson and Garry Thompson, both of Detroit; cousin, Lillie Wilson, of Indianapolis; and a host of cousins and friends.
A funeral service was held on Tuesday, Jan. 21, with burial following in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.

Lester Sidenstick
Lester R. Sidenstick of Xenia died Sunday, Jan. 19, in his residence. He was 91.
Born in Beavercreek on Jan. 24, 1911, he was the son of George and Lillian (Mays) Sidenstick.
He worked for Dewine Hamma Seed Company until 1954. He and his wife, Frances, owned and operated Homemakers Garden Center in Yellow Springs from 1956 to 1973.
He was a member of First Church of Christ in Fairborn.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances (Brannum) Sidenstick, on July 23, 2001.
He is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Esther and Gene Pierson of Xenia; grandchildren, Heather and John Hochstettler, Kimberly and John; great-grandchildren, Richard, Toran Shon, Madalynn Grace, Geneva Mae, Raegan Celeste Hochstettler and Christopher Salmons.
Private services will be held with burial in Byron Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Clinton County, 61 East Main Street, Wilmington, OH 45177.

Melissa Kay Mossbarger
Melissa Kay Mossbarger of Xenia died unexpectedly on Saturday, Jan. 18, in Springfield. She was 34.
Born July 2, 1968, in Xenia, she was the daughter of Sherman and Blanche (Davis) Horsley of Jamestown.
She worked at The Antioch Company.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Ricky Horsley in 1991 and Floyd Allen Horsley in 2002.
She is survived by her husband, James W. Mossbarger, whom she married Feb. 2, 1992; her parents; son, Nathan E. Spurgeon Jr. of Jamestown; daughter, Jessica Mossbarger of Xenia; sisters and brothers-in-law, Jeanette and Roy Meadows of Reesville, Anna and William Shoemaker of Xenia, Kristi Horsley of Jamestown; brothers and sisters-in-law, Chris and Lori Horsley of Wilmington, Larry and Gina Horsley, Phillip and Patty Horsley, Sherman and Heather Horsley Jr., all of Xenia; mother-in-law, Evelyn Marshall of Xenia; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, John and Debbie Mossbarger of Fairborn, Jamie and Ronnie Pitzer of Xenia, Bill and Debbie Slone of Indiana; other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the McColaugh Funeral Home in Xenia with burial in the Silvercreek (New) Cemetery in Jamestown.

Donna J. Kleman
Donna J. (Fassett) Kleman of Yellow Springs died Tuesday, Jan. 14, in Friends Care Community. She was 69.
Born Oct. 24, 1933, in Johnstown, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Robert and Kathryn A. (Goodman) Fassett.
She was a member of the Church of Christ in Woodburn, Ind.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Thomas Dewey Adams.
She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Wendy L. and Daniel Allen of Fairborn, Kathleen and Ron Williams of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Roberta Kleman of Alaska; two sons and daughter-in-law, Charles Kleman Jr. and Carin Cole, and Bruce Kleman, all of Fort Wayne, Ind.; 12 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and other family members and friends.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Belton Funeral Home in Fairborn.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or to the Friends Care Community.

Clarence Kelley
Clarence M. Kelley of Springfield died Friday, Jan. 17, in Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. He was 72.
Born Oct. 17, 1930, in Springfield, he was the twin son of William A. Kelley and Lucinda (Morgan) Kelley.
A member of New North Street A.M.E. Church, he formerly served on the trustee board of Ronez Manor and the executive board of the Center Street YMCA. He was the former president of the NAACP, a member of the Colored Men’s Council and helped organize the Springfield Youth Club. He was an associate member of the Bluefield State College Alumni Association.
Kelley and his twin brother, Charles, were the first black drivers and salesmen for Donahue and Hankel Distributors, where he was employed for 25 years.
He was a former employee of Eagle Beverage, Fisher Beverage, Lee Coy Distributing Company and the first black district salesman for Falstaff Brewery. He managed a beverage dock in Yellow Springs and Springfield. His last place of employment was Elderly United.
An avid sports fan, he enjoyed football and baseball. He also participated on several softball teams.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Paul, James and Rick, and sister May Baker.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Carmen V. and Robert Corlew of Springfield; two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles P. and Christine Kelley of Algonquin, Ill., and Bruce M. and Cyndie Kelley of Springfield; a loyal, devoted friend and mother of his children, Constance M. Kelley of Springfield; 17 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three sisters, Anna E. Browning and Betty L. Johnson of Springfield and Dorothy J. Martin of Dayton; two brothers and sister-in-law, the Rev. Robert W. Kelley of Cleveland and Charles P. and Dorothy Kelley of Springfield; and a host of other family members.
Visitation will be held today (Thursday), Jan. 23, 1–8 p.m., with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., in the Porter-Qualls Funeral Home, Springfield Chapel. Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 24, 1 p.m., in the New North Street A.M.E. Church, 901 South Center Street, with burial following in Ferncliff Cemetery.

Hercules Hensley
Hercules Hensley of Xenia died Wednesday, Jan. 15, at Greene Oaks Health Center. He was 93.
Born on Nov. 15, 1909, in Kentucky, he was the son of Noah and Myrtle (Phoenix) Hensley.
He was a member of United A.M.E. Church in Xenia and an avid sports fan. He was a mechanic foreman at Central State University.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Juanita V. (Moore) Hensley in 1989; sisters, Ella Hensley and Ruth Watson; nephew Marvin Booker Sr.; and great-niece Debra Ann Booker.
He is survived by his son, Cyrus Cordell Hensley of Xenia; friend Melva Stills; nieces and nephew, Sue Booker of Xenia and Frances and Joe Lewis of Yellow Springs; great-niece Gwen Booker of Xenia; nephew Troy Marks of Xenia; great-nephew, Marvin Booker Jr.; great-great-nieces and nephews and several other extended family members and friends.
Funeral services were held Friday, Jan. 17, at United A.M.E. Church in Xenia. Burial was at Valley View Memorial Gardens in Xenia.

Margaret Goodson
Margaret Goodson of Yellow Springs died Friday, Jan. 17, in Community Hospital in Springfield. She was 96.
Born Dec. 8, 1906, in Yellow Springs, she was the daughter of James and Pearl Benning Gudgel.
She received her education at the Dayton Street School. She was baptized in April 1923 at First Baptist Church.
She retired from Vernay Laboratories after 19 years of service. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, where she was a member of the church choir, culture club and senior citizens center.
Goodson married Louis Goodson on Aug. 24, 1929, in Dayton.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three sisters and three brothers.
She is survived by her daughter, Marguerite Joyce Goodson, and stepdaughter Constance Steward and her husband, James, of Hillsboro; one niece, two nephews, grandnieces and nephews, great- grandnieces and nephews and a host of cousins and friends.
A funeral service was held Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the First Baptist Church, with burial following in Glen Forest Cemetery.

Georgia Givens
Georgia L. Givens of New Carlisle died Wednesday, Jan. 15, in Friends Care Community. She was 87.
Born Jan. 8, 1916, in Belington, W.Va., she was the daughter of Charles and Francis (Good) Champ.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Grant, in 1979; her son Larry in 1987; four brothers and four sisters.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law William and Martha of Enon; sister Helen Mercer of Anacortes, Wash.; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 25, 2 p.m., at Christ Chapel in Springfield. Her remains will be cremated.