Portage County obituaries for Nov. 3-5

Ruth E. Gillett Stanley

Age 92 years, born 8/6/31 in Salem, Ohio and died on 10/18/23 at PRISMA Baptist Easley Hospital, Ealsey, SC after lingering health concerns. She lived and grew in faith to serve God following the example of her parents Hazel (Burt) & Howard Gillett. She was sister to Joyce Gillett, Elaine (George) Bergman and Connie (Ken) Tolson, all of Salem, OH and preceded her in death. In her words, “Once you start something you can’t quit till it’s done.”

Ruth, was married to Rev. Dwaine Stanley for 72 years, a farmer, a traveling salesman, businessman, then a pastor. They lived in Salem, Brimfield, Suffield, and Nelson, Ohio. In 1987 they served at Nelson UMC in OH for 12 years then retired to SC. In retirement in SC, they served at Lebanon UMC, and Liberty Hill UMC. Up to her death, together they were still serving weekly Sunday worship services and Bible studies at the retirement center where they lived in Easley, SC. Ruth offered weekly lessons of “Stories Behind the Hymns”. She would say: “Every marriage is a mixed marriage, and marriage is an ongoing work in progress”. “Each person has to give more than 100% to have a 50/50 marriage.”

Ruth, a business women was the first person; many in Portage County met when she and Dwaine owned Brimfield’s; Crest Photo, Crest Trophy, and serviced the Brimfield Branch of Kent Post Office. Housed in front of Brimfield Elementary School. Her quote was, “Treat others as you wish they would treat you, no matter what they say or do.”

She is survived by her children; Rev. Karen (Rev. Don) Upson, Suffield, OH, Joyce (Bob) Kiepura, Pingree Grove, IL., daughter-in-law, Robin Stanley Fairhurst, Brimfield, OH, Randy (Denise) Stanley, Little River, SC, and Barbara Nichols, Easley, SC. During life’s struggles she would remind them, “the older you get, the bigger your problems and the more my prayer life is improved”.

Ruth raised her children by example, discipline, actively serving God in attending the Brimfield and Salem Methodist Churches. She was a great teacher and storyteller in sharing Bible and life stories. She would capture your attention with her lessons, no matter your age, if you were a young child or an older adult. She’d say, “Bring it down to a 3rd grade level and all can understand it better.”

Ruth is survived by 14 grandchildren, “her sweet peas”, 30 great-grandchildren and 1 Great-great grandchild, nieces, nephews, and many friends. She was so interested in their lives she would journal all her phone calls and keep a written treasured family history. She offered to all an example to value faith, serve God and serve food. Always inviting others she would say. “There is always room around our table for more!”

Those in heaven who greeted her as she entered her eternal home are her growing-up family members, her son Richard Stanley, grandson Robert Kiepura, son-in-law Dan Nichols and many, many friends. Service of memory and her life’s celebration will be held at Brimfield Methodist Church on November 18, 2023, at 2:00 pm, Brimfield, OH. Services were held on October 21, 2023, at St. Andrew Methodist Church, Easley, SC. Interment of ashes will be at the Liberty Hill UMC, Greer, SC, with Rev. Ron Hoeksema.

Teresa Lynn (Sniadach) Kortyna

Teresa Lynn Kortyna, age 54, of Kent, OH, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at David Simpson Hospice House.

Read more

Judith A. (Stone) Shafer

Judith (Judi) A. Shafer, 81, of Rootstown, passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at UH Portage Medical Center in Ravenna, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on April 10, 1942, in Sharon, PA, to the late William F. and Lillian (Cicconetti) Stone.

Read more

+ posts