Obituaries — January 2026

January 2, 2026

Delvin W. Nikirk

June 10, 1928 – January 1, 2026

Oolitic – Delvin W. Nikirk, 97, of Oolitic, passed away at 12:45 am on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at Redcrest Hospice House in Bloomington.

Born June 10, 1928, in Lawrence Co., he was the son of John and Lela (Harvey) Nikirk. He married Jeanette Cassidy in 1953, and she preceded him in death on October 3, 2020. He was a truck driver with Jefferson Trucking and had worked at RCA and for several local businesses as a delivery driver. He was very active in the town of Oolitic serving on the fire department and city council. He was a member of Kiwanis Club and Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis.

Survivors include a son, John Mark Nikirk and wife, Dawn, of Oolitic; a daughter, Kathy Shaw and husband, James, of Bedford; grandchildren, Jared Crane, Matthew Nikirk, T.J. Wright and Jessica Rowley; two sisters, Warnetta Kirkman and Bonnie Noblitt. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, siblings, Marshall and Danny Nikirk, Dana O’Neal, Wilma and Margie Henderson, Wanda Roberts, Melvin (his twin who passed at birth), Lois Andis and Beatrice Buher; a daughter, Cynthia Weathers; a grandson, Jonathon Nikirk.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Tuesday, January 6th in the Elmwood Chapel of the Day & Carter Mortuary. Buial will follow in the Hilltop Cemetery in Avoca. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday, January 5th at the Day & Carter Mortuary. Family and friends may express condolences at www.daycarter.com.

Joan Sue Phipps

Joan Sue Phipps, 77 of Bedford passed away on December 31, 2025, at IU Health in Bloomington. She was born in Bedford on August 8, 1948, to Omer and Helen (Spoonmore) Bell. Joan married Doyle L. Phipps on June 27, 1969, at the Bryantsville Church of Christ, he preceded her in death on January 4, 2019. Joan had a caring heart, loved her family, church family, friends, and her dog, Lincoln. She enjoyed quilting, reading, cooking, and baking. When her kids were older, she worked outside the home, as a head cook at Delta Gamma Sorority at IU for ten years from 1992 until 2002, she was a graduate of Mitchell High School Class of 1967 and was a member of the Central Church of Christ.

Survivors include her son, Skippy (Vicki) Phipps, sister, Pauline Sanders, brother, Ralph (Alice) Bell, grandchildren, James Arthur, and Nick Arthur, three great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, very special friend, Tom Braden.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Doyle L. Phipps, son, Doyle W. Phipps, brother, Gene Bell, and Larry Phillips, brother-in-law, Terry Sanders, and parents, Omer and Helen Bell.

Graveside services will be on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 12:00 Noon at Cresthaven Memory Gardens, with Brother Rick Leach officiating, pallbearers will be James and Nick Arthur, Gabe Blanton, Travis Sanders, Justus Breedlove, and Michael Bell, condolences may be made at www.cresthavenfh.com.

January 1, 2026

Ray Edward Slusher


July 12, 1939 – December 30, 2025

Ray Edward Slusher, 86, of Charlestown, Indiana, passed away December 30, 2025, at Traditions at Hunter Station Road in Sellersburg, Indiana. He was born on July 12, 1939, in Rella, Kentucky, to the late Millard and Bertha Slusher. He was one of eight children: Pauline, Ray, Doris, twins Alma Sue and Alta, Randall, Dale, and Larry; two half-sisters, Mabel and Sally Mae; and one half-brother, Bradley “BJ” Slusher.

Graduating in 1958 from Bell County High School, Ray entered the U.S. Army for two years, where he proudly served as a Company Clerk and Tank Commander. He was honorably discharged in 1962.

He moved to Louisville, Kentucky, married Barbara Costello (the mother of his children), and worked at Anaconda Aluminum while attending Ahrens Trade School, training in tool-and-die making and becoming a certified machinist. Places he worked in factory maintenance include International Harvester, Naval Ordnance (twice), Anson Machine & Manufacturing Company in Louisville, Kentucky, and the Chrysler Corporation in Dayton, Ohio. While working there, he married Mary Balmer Stemler of Clarksville, Indiana, who preceded him in death.

On Christmas Eve of 1990, Ray married Patricia Aiken Russell of Seymour, Indiana, moving to Georgetown, Indiana, and later to a home on Barren River Lake in Scottsville, Kentucky. He continued his machinist career at Tower Automotive in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Dana Corporation in Glasgow, Kentucky, retiring as a maintenance supervisor from Federal Mogul in Scottsville in 2001. Ray and Patricia built a home in DeLand, Florida, and moved there in July of 2011. In April of 2016, they returned to southern Indiana, living in Charlestown.

Ray was a 60-plus-year member of George Washington #904 Masonic Lodge, which later merged into Shawnee #830 Masonic Lodge in Louisville. He was, at one time, a 32nd Degree York Rite Mason and a member of the Shriners. He was also a Kentucky Colonel. He was baptized March 5, 2006, at Scottsville Baptist Church in Scottsville, Kentucky, and later transferred his membership to Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, Florida. At the time of his passing, he was a member of Eastern Heights Baptist Church in Jeffersonville.

After retirement, Ray became an avid golfer and served as Assistant Tournament Director and a member of the Board of Directors of the Glen Abbey Men’s Golf Association in DeBary, Florida.

Surviving to cherish Ray’s memory are his wife of 35 years, Patricia Slusher; daughter, Elizabeth Ann (Leonard) Adkins; son, Michael Ray Slusher; grandchildren, Brianna Hall, Christopher Slusher, Shelby Mills, and Leonard Adkins Jr.; great-grandchildren, Madeline and Eric; stepdaughter, Peggy L. (Tony) Culp; stepson, Joey Russell; step-grandchildren, Hillary (Bobby) Ball, Corey Russell, Jeremy Russell, Cassie Russell, and Chance Russell; step-great-grandchildren, Oscar Ball, Caleb Russell, Braden Russell, and Keagan Russell; brothers, Dale Slusher and Randall (Brenda) Slusher; and sisters, Sue (Bruce) Kinnaird and Doris Stobaugh; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding Ray in death are his parents, Millard and Bertha Slusher; sisters, Alta Sadow and Pauline King; half-sisters, Sally Mae McGinty and Mabel Hutton; brothers, Bradley “BJ” Slusher and Larry Slusher; and stepsons, Morey Russell and Barry Russell.

Services will be held Monday, January 5, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the Burkholder Chapel of Thorne Family Funeral Homes, 419 North Chestnut Street, Seymour, Indiana 47274, with a Masonic services being performed by the Masonic Grand Lodge #4681 Louisville, Kentucky followed by the funeral service with Dr. Jerry Smart officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery with military rites being performed by American Legion Post 89 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1925. Visitation will also be held Monday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at 1:00 p.m.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.FergusonLee.com.

Arrangements for Mr. Slusher have been entrusted to Scotty Wessel and Jon Pace at the Burkholder Chapel of Thorne Family Funeral Homes in Seymour.

Memories and condolences may be shared, and flowers ordered, at www.ThorneFunerals.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Dementia Society of America, 188 N. Main St., Doylestown, PA 18901, or P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901.