April 28, 2008: Obituaries

Juanita Back

Juanita Back, 81, died Friday, April 25, 2008, in Largo, Fla.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Brown Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Eugene B. Hartlage

Eugene B. Hartlage, 79, of Elizabethtown, died Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Marian Home in Louisville.

The Hardin County native was a member of St. James Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council No. 1455 and 4th Degree Monsignor McGee Assembly Knights of Columbus. He was a partner in E’town Laundry.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Thomas Hartlage; his parents, James and Elenora Jansing Hartlage; two brothers, James V. Hartlage Sr. and Ray Hartlage; and two sisters, Christine Marie Clark and Mary Ellen Stiles.

Survivors include four daughters, Janet Hartlage, Carol Hartlage and Jennifer Hartlage, all of Louisville, and Terry Hartlage of Drums, Pa.; four sons, Vince Hartlage and wife, Nancy, of Hodgenville, Steve Hartlage and wife, Ann, of Elizabethtown, John Hartlage of Forney, Texas, and Philip Hartlage of Elizabethtown; a brother, Paul Hartlage and wife, Mildred, of Elizabethtown; a sister, Martha Clark of Elizabethtown; five grandchildren, Emily Peterman, Brian Hartlage and wife, Ashley, Tamra Trumbo and husband, Matt, Julie Mercer and husband, Bradley, and Jason Hartlage; and four great-grandchildren, Meaghan Peterman, Alexia Trumbo, Luke Trumbo and Braxton Ace Mercer.

The funeral Mass is at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. James Catholic Church with the Revs. Roy Stiles and Stanley Osborne officiating. Burial at St. James Cemetery will be private.

Visitation is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday at Brown Funeral Home and at 6 p.m. at the church.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Marian Home, 3105 Lexington Road, Louisville, 40206.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.brownfuneral.com.

Scott Thomas Montgomery Sr.

Scott Thomas Montgomery Sr., 39, of Payneville, died Sunday, April 27, 2008, at home.

Survivors include his wife, Anesa R. Montgomery; and three children, Charlotte Rose Montgomery, Scott Thomas Montgomery Jr., and Kimberly Sue Montgomery.

The funeral is at 1 p.m. Thursday at Bruington-Jenkins-Sturgeon Funeral Home in Brandenburg with burial in Cap Anderson Cemetery in Brandenburg.

Visitation is from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday and continues from noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Opal ‘Tookie’ Skaggs

Opal “Tookie” Skaggs, 77, of Mount Sherman, died Sunday, April 27, 2008, at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown.

Arrangements are incomplete at Bennett-Bertram Funeral Home in Hodgenville.

Mae B. Titus

Mae B. Titus, 88, of Battle Creek, Mich., died peacefully Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Brookdale Sterling House.

She was born June 7, 1919, in Alabama and was raised in Hardin County, where she graduated from Rineyville High School at the age of 15. On Dec. 28, 1945, she married Capt. Andrew P. Titus Jr. at Fort Knox. She followed her husband in his military career to Japan, Virginia, Taiwan and Maryland with their family. After her husband’s retirement from the Army, they moved to Battle Creek in 1962.

Mae will always be remembered by her family for holiday gatherings, birthday parties and gift giving. Her Christmas dinners were a yearly event that brought all the children and grandchildren together. Friends looked forward to her annual Derby parties celebrating her Kentucky heritage.

She was a member of St. Philip Catholic Church, the Women’s Service Organization, Burnham Brook and the ARC. She was a 40-year volunteer with the Battle Creek Health System Auxiliary (formerly Leila Auxiliary). She was a three-time president of the auxiliary, a Leila Follies chairwoman, the monthly bridge chairwoman, and twice Southwest District chairwoman. She was a four-time winner of the Angel of the Year award and a charter member of the Battle Creek Volunteer Hall of Fame.

Mae loved duplicate bridge, managed a weekly bridge club for many years and achieved her Life Master award in 2007. She was an avid golfer and twice aced a hole-in-one. She also enjoyed bowling and was a league secretary. Her other hobbies included sewing and crafts.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1980 and by her four sisters and two brothers.

Survivors include a son, Andrew P. Titus III of Battle Creek; and four daughters, Victoria (John) Renner of Battle Creek, Deborah (Dr. Timothy) Zielinski of Mason, Mich., Lisa (Romeo) Crisanti of Gahanna, Ohio, and Kristina (Mike) Zelasko of Grand Rapids, Mich.; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Charles H. Fischer at St. Philip Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Interment will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, where the Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Battle Creek Health System Auxiliary. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.