News Staff

Evelyn Rebecca Cherry, 93 of Kokomo, Indiana passed away on Friday, June 30, 2023. She was born in Gallatin, Tennessee on April 26, 1930 to William A. Kendall and Flora B. (Clancy) Kendall. She married Delbert C. Cherry on February 21, 1948. They were married for 63 years when Delbert passed away on October 31, 2011. Evelyn was a member of Kemp United Methodist Church in Tipton, Indiana for 30 years and a member of First United Methodist Church in Okeechobee, Florida for 25 years. Evelyn and her husband were very active in their church, serving as greeters on Sunday. She was a member of Ruth Circle FUMC in Okeechobee and served as Treasurer. Evelyn retired from Delco Electronics in Kokomo in 1983 after 30 years. They built a new home in Okeechobee, Florida where they retired and lived for 25 years before health issues caused them to move back to Indiana. Evelyn was a wonderful cook. She cooked and served all sorts of vegetables grown in the family garden. While living in Florida she liked to cook up crappie and bluegill for friends and family that Delbert had caught in Lake Okeechobee. She was an expert seamstress, making many things over the years for her and her daughters to wear. Evelyn grew up as a child of the Great Depression, making her thrifty and a very hard worker. She took great pride in everything she did. She was the best daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-greatgrandmother, aunt and friend you could ask for. She was kind and generous with herself and her time. Evelyn is survived by daughters, Wanda Abney and husband Butch (Wayne) of Russiaville, Indiana, Loraine Swope of Kokomo; a son, Dewaine and wife Roseanne Cherry of Arcadia, Indiana; a sister, JoEdna Bardonner of Arcadia, Indiana; a sister-in-law Margaret Ann Kendall of Elwood, Indiana; grandchildren, Tom Abney and wife Andrea of Kokomo, Bob Lancette of West Palm Beach, Florida, Chris Lancette and Elesia Ricke of Perrysburg, Ohio, Amity (Cherry) and husband Joel O

Helen T. Matthews, 83 of Tipton passed away on Thursday, June 29, 2023at IU Health Tipton Hospital. She was born in Tipton on May 19, 1940 to A.G. & Berniece (Powell) Tebbe. On October 23, 1958 she married John E. “Smiley” Matthews and he preceded her in death on June 5, 1989. The couple enjoyed 30 years of marriage and raising eight children. Helen worked at for several years at Pioneer in Tipton in the Wheat Lab then later on in life she worked at Miller’s Merry Manor. She was a 1958 graduate of St. Joseph Academy and a lifelong member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Helen also was a member of Daughters of Isabella and an auxiliary member of American Legion Post #46. She never forgot her farming heritage and worked many tractor pulls with her husband Smiley. She is survived by eight children, Theresa Johnson and husband Scott of Jerusalem, William “Willy” Matthews and wife Tabitha of Tipton, Mary Cook and husband Robin of Florida, Dorothy Fakes and husband Del of Tipton, Deborah Bond of Tipton, John Matthews and wife Karen of Millstadt, Illinois, Duane “Sam” Matthews and wife Dee of Pendleton, Indiana, Kyle Matthews and wife Beth of Indianapolis, Indiana; siblings, Robert Tebbe and wife Zonda, Alice Gray, Leona Stout and husband John, Leonard Tebbe and George Tebbe. She was also blessed with 21 grandchildren, Jessica Kirby, Delilah Freeman, Chris Johnson, Craig Johnson, Amber Fryar, Nick Matthews, Megan Matthews, Johnathan Buster, Rebecca Cook, Nathan Cook, Amberly Laird, Isaac McLearran, Brian Matthews, Kade Matthews, Sahmantha Guffey, Gretchen Garst, Delaney Busby, Gavin Busby, Andrew Matthews, Madelyn Matthews, and Kyra Matthews; along with several great and great-great grandchildren. Helen was preceded in death by a grandson, Zack Bond; sisters, Julie Plake and Virginia Baker; a son-in-law, Denny Bond. A mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 8 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Tipton with Rev. Dennis G