On Tuesday, August 22, 2017, longtime Canton resident Ronie Wayne Nelson passed away at Geisinger Medical Center.  
      He was 64, and the husband of Karen (nee Eckersley)  
    Visitation will be Saturday, 2 to 4 PM at Morse and Kleese Funeral home, 94 N. Center St., Canton, with service to follow at 4 PM.  
    A full obituary will appear in next week's edition.  
    Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society.   (www.morseandkleesefuneralhome.com)

  On Tuesday, August 22nd, 2017 longtime Canton resident, Ronie Wayne Nelson passed away quietly at Geisinger Medical Center, surrounded by his family, following a courageous battle with cancer.  He was 64 years of age.    Born March 28th, 1953 in Minot, North Dakota, he was  one of ten children in the family of  Duane and Clarice (Sundbakken) Nelson.  
   After graduating from high school Ron enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving from 1972 to 1976 as a medical corpsman.  While in the Navy Ron met Karen Eckersley, and  on September 10th, 1978 they were married.  Following his service to our country Ron earned a B.S. degree in accounting.  
   Over the years he was employed as an accountant for the former Eastern Best Products in Canton,   the Staiman Company in Williamsport and the former Orthstar Co. in Horseheads NY.  Later he worked as a truck driver.  
​    He was a former member of the Canton Lions Club and the Wheel Inn Club.  Ron was a soft spoken, laid back kind of person who made friends easily and was always there to lend a hand.  He  enjoyed the simple things in life; watching football and being  with his beloved family. 

Richard F. Neff, 68, of Canton, PA passed away Sunday, June 11, 2017 at his home while surrounded by loved ones.
   Richard was born in Palo Alto, CA November 13, 1948.  He was the son of the late Frederick E. and Leah V. (Messimer) Neff.  In early years, Dick attended a one-room school in Larryville, PA where he met the love of his life, the former Betty Edwards.  
   After graduating from Lewisburg, PA High School in 1966, Dick received his Bachelors in Elementary Education at Kutztown University and his Masters at Bloomsburg University.  He then earned a Post-Masters Certificate at Bucknell University. 
    On July 25, 1970, he and Betty were married in Larryville.  Richard began his teaching career with the Muncy Area School District as an Elementary Teacher and their head wrestling coach.  He also was instrumental in starting their elementary wrestling program. 
   In 1981, Richard was named its first “Coach of the Year” by Mid-Penn.  He then served as Elementary Principal at Cameron County School District in Emporium, PA before joining the Canton Area School District as Superintendent of Schools in 1987 until retiring in 2001. He then enjoyed five years of seasonal employment at Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.  Richard also owned and operated the Pennsylvania Quilter from 1999 – 2017, which restored vintage Singer Featherweights sewing machines.  He and Betty were vendors at four national quilt shows. His memberships included the Muncy Lodge #299 F&AM, Canton’s Lion’s Club and numerous professional and academic organizations.  

   John E. Newhart, 63, Troy,  passed away Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at the Bradford County Manor.
    John, “Butch” to family and friends, was born in Troy on March 2, 1953, the oldest of four children of the late John W. and Elizabeth (Watkins) Newhart.  
    He was a member of Troy High School’s graduating class of 1971.  He was employed as a plumber and steamfitter throughout the northeast states for many years until his health failed.
    John loved and cherished his children.  He also enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman.  
    John had many good times at Keuka and Owasco Finger Lakes.  He could spend hours just feeding birds, watching wild geese, kayaking and appreciating nature.  He also cared very much about animals.
     Surviving are children; Brittany Conklin, Canton, Jedidiah New-hart and Chekota Newhart both of Troy; siblings; Patricia “Trish” (Gregg) Gregory, Republic, MO, Valerie (Jay) Crosby, Bonney Lake, WA and Willy Newhart,  Kent, WA;  two “honorary brothers” Chick Debach and Ronnie Yanchuk both of Troy; special aunts; Aunt Joan and Aunt Muriel and many extended family.

     Loving wife and mom, Julie M. Neville, 37, of Little Meadows, Pa., was taken from us too soon on Dec. 6, 2016. Our lives will always be impacted from the light that she was and showing her love to her husband, Chris, and children, Ava and Gavin. Julie was a stay-at-home mom who loved her children more than life itself. She was always their biggest fan, cheering loudly on the sidelines as they played their sports, encouraging them to always do their best in school and giving them every opportunity possible to enrich their lives.
    Julie has been active in 4-H, since she was a Cloverbud. She was on the County Council, and exchange program to Poland. She enjoyed going to camp every year, and has stayed active with her children, helping them with their projects and showing cows.
Julie was active in Outstanding Young Women, Cobblestones, and band in her high school years at Troy. She was always bubbly and loved to hang out with friends. She enjoyed camping with her family and spending time together.

    Raymond “Moose” Nybeck, age 66, of Morris Run, PA died Monday, July 11, 2016 at The Green Home, Wellsboro, PA.  He was born August 28, 1949 in Blossburg, a son of Albert and Alice (Brooks) Nybeck.  Moose was the husband of Sandra (Williams) Nybeck.  He was retired from N.T.S.W.A. and was a U.S. Navy veteran serving during the Vietnam War.  Moose was a lifetime member of American Legion Post 167 in Morris Run where he served as vice-commander for many years, the V.F.W. and Loyal Order of the Moose in Canton, lifetime member of the Hillside Rod and Gun Club in Blossburg.  He loved to play Euchre and enjoyed stocking fish.

     Mitchell S. Norton, 27, of East Canton,  passed away very tragically and unexpected on Saturday, February 13, 2016.
     Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Pepper Funeral Home, 578 Springbrook Dr. in Canton.

     Mitchell S. Norton, 27, of East Canton, PA passed away very tragically and unexpectedly on Saturday, February 13, 2016.
    Mitchell Scott was born on July 12, 1988 in Sayre,  the son of April (Lowry) Swain of Canton and the late John W. Norton.          After attending Canton schools Mitch earned his  GED.   
    He worked as a swamper in the gas industry with Patricks Company in Troy and previously worked for Tri State Gas of Mansfield.
      Special in Mitch’s life were his family, his many friends and the beauty he saw in nature.   He especially enjoyed times spent fishing, hunting, mudd’n up his truck and lots of bonfires. He adored all his pets especially his dog, Puh.

     Minnie Norton, 74,  Shunk, passed away at home Thursday morning, October 8, 2015.
    On June 26, 1941, Minnie Lee was born in Corning, NY.  Her parents were the late Harry and Leona (Starkweather) Dean.  
    She married Max Norton on April 28, 1958 in Tioga and they celebrated 57 years together this year.
     A caring and giving wife, mother and grandmother; family always came first in Minnie’s life.  She was a member of the Endless Winds Vol. Fire Co. in Shunk and Canton’s American Legion Auxiliary 303.  

Gertrude Winslow Purcell Nowlan, 93,  Gillett, PA, died at the home of her daughter, Georgia Schonher, on September 28, 2015.  
    She was born in Spring Hill, PA on August 13, 1922, the oldest daughter of Ernest and Ina Winslow.  She graduated from Camptown High School in 1940 and married George W. Purcell on October 24, 1940.  They had 5 children who survive her and all live in the Gillett area: Sandra (David) Stewart, Georgia Schonher, Frank (Marilyn) Purcell, David (Gwen) Purcell, and Sam (Arline) Purcell.  Also, she is survived by siblings, Betty (Romaine) Salsman of Wyalusing, Robert Winslow of Florida, and Bernard Winslow, Columbia Cross Roads, and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.