Harper Funeral Home

04/27/2026

With sadness, we share the news of the passing of Jerusalem resident, Denelle Bates Kinney, who passed away Friday, April 24, 2026 in WVU Wheeling Hospital. Denelle will be remembered by everyone who knew her as a devoted wife to Chuck, a loving mother to Chad (Jessica) and Whitney, the adoring grandmother of Lilly and Jameson. a dedicated, hard-working nurse.who loved traveling, working with her flowers, and most of all, spending time with her family. Honoring Denelle's wishes, no services will be held. To read her complete obituary, please follow the link below. May her memory be a blessing . . .

Celebrate the life of Denelle Kinney and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

04/22/2026

♥️

When someone dies, people always talk about the first year of grief being the worst.

Sometimes the second year gets mentioned too.

You’ll hear things like… “The first year is the hardest.”
Or… “For me the second year was worse.”

But what about the third year? Or the fourth? Or the eighth?

What about all the years that come after everyone else moved on with their lives?

Grief doesn’t really follow a neat timeline. At least it didn’t for me. In those early years after my loss the grief was so overwhelming that I couldn’t ignore it. Every day felt like learning how to live in a world that changed so much I didn’t even recognize it.

But as time went on, life slowly started to grow around my grief. The pain didn’t disappear, but it started to get woven into the fabric of my everyday life. There were still moments when the loss would totally crush me, but there were also stretches of time when life just carried me forward, and I realized that my grief had taken on a different shape.

Here’s the thing…somewhere along the way…grief changed me.

Not because I wanted it to, and definitely not because I had any choice in the matter. Losing someone you love reshapes you from the inside out, and it changes how you see the world.

Sometimes I still wonder what it would be like if my loved one suddenly walked through the door again. And would they even recognize me? Because this journey through grief has changed my life so much that I’m not really the same person I was before my loss. The things that once were so important to me don’t matter in the same way now, and the way I move through the world feels different too.

That realization felt unsettling at first, but over the years I’ve come to see another side of it.

While grief has for sure taken things away, it’s also given something back. The experience of loss has made me more patient with people’s struggles and more aware that every person we meet may be carrying a burden we can’t see. It’s made me slower to judge, quicker to listen, and more compassionate toward the quiet pain that so many people carry through life.

When I look at it that way, I realize if the person I loved could somehow see the person I’ve become through all of this, I don’t think they would feel like they no longer recognized me. I think they would see someone who’s still carrying their love forward in the world.

And I believe they would be proud of that.

Gary Sturgis
Author: ‘SURVIVING GRIEF – 365 Days A Year’

04/22/2026

Please join friends, family, former students, co-workers, and a grateful community as we honor the memory of Lori Smithberger Wickham on Saturday, April 25 by participating in “Walking for Wickham,” a Memorial 5K Walk/Run beginning at 9am (registration begins at 8am) at the First Christian Church in Beallsville. All race proceeds will be donated to “Rally for Life,” a local charity of which Lori was both an active volunteer as well as a recipient. Lori had been a teacher in the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District for 13 years. The last years of her teaching career were spent at the Beallsville Campus where she taught English and Art. In her daily life she embodied love and compassion, however her greatest attribute of all was her huge heart. Anyone who had ever met her had a story of an act of kindness and/or grace she had bestowed on them. She began each day trying to figure out how she could make the world a better place. Lori passed away July,10, 2024 at the age of 44 following a courageous battle with Esophageal Cancer, however her legacy of love will continue to be carried on in the lives she touched. “Rally for Life’s” mission is to help cancer patients throughout the entire Switzerland of Ohio School District and beyond. Maybe you're thinking, “I could never run 3 miles or even walk a mile.” ‘Not to worry, please come, bring your kids, your grandkids, your neighbor’s kids. In addition to the event there will also be face painting, Balloon Animals by "Jo’s Balloons," "Kids Sensory Play" by Laura Gehrig, Slushies and Cotton Candy will be available. To honor the memory of Lori Smithberger Wickham or maybe the memory of your own “special person,” please come, enjoy the positive energy and the camaraderie, and just maybe, like Lori, you, too will be able to make the world a better place through your donation to "Rally for Life." For more event information, please call or text Emma Turner @ 740-213-5770 or Maggie Turner @ 740-213-5690.

04/17/2026

It is our honor to serve the family, the family-by-heart, and the friends of Barnesville resident, Tanya Sells who passed away Wednesday, April 15 in The Enclave of Barnesville. A member of the East Main Church of Christ in Barnesville, Tanya loved singing hymns, Bible study, and the fellowship of her Christian family. Her faith helped her cope with her cancer diagnosis and she trusted in God to continue her eternal life with Him. Family and friends are invited to Tanya's graveside service Friday, April 17 at 2:00 pm at the Crestview Cemetery, Barnesville. To read Tanya's complete obituary, to offer a condolence, or to learn of an opportunity for a memorial contribution, please follow the link below . . .

Celebrate the life of Tanya Sells and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

04/07/2026

In the following days and weeks to come, please remember the family, the "family-by-heart," and the many friends of Josh Goddard as they continue to navigate their difficult journey through grief. Josh passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 5 at Valley Hospice's "Liza's Place," Wheeling, West Virginia surrounded by his loving family who also cared for, encouraged, and uplifted him through his courageous battle against glioblastoma brain cancer. Honoring Josh's wishes, there will be no visitation. A private Celebration of Life gathering will be held at a time of the family's choosing. To read Josh's complete obituary lovingly and beautifully written by his wife, Carly, to offer a condolence, or to learn of an opportunity for a memorial contribution, please follow the link below . . .

Celebrate the life of Joshua Goddard and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

03/16/2026

With sadness, we share the news of the passing of former Beallsville resident, Dessie Smith Riley who passed away Thursday, March 12 in the Life Care Center of Medina. A devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, a dedicated sister, aunt, and friend Dessie will be remembered by everyone who was blessed to have known her as a woman of faith, kindness, and service to others. Family and friends will be received at the Wilson Funeral Home - Harper Chapel, Beallsville, Wednesday, March 18 from 12 noon until the time of the funeral service at 2pm. To read Dessie's complete obituary, to offer a condolence, share a happy memory with her family, or to learn of an opportunity for a memorial contribution, please follow the link below . . .

Celebrate the life of Dessie Riley and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

03/12/2026

The extended family of 62 year-old Daniel K. Wise, formerly of Belmont, Ohio, is sad to announce Dan's passing on Thursday, March 5, 2026 while residing in Marana, Arizona. The son of Eileen (Hoff) Wise and the late William Wise, Dan was a graduate of Union Local High School and the Belmont County Joint Vocational School. Honoring his wishes, a private family memorial service will be held at a later date. To read Dan's complete obituary, to leave a condolence or share a happy memory with his family, please follow the link below . . .

Celebrate the life of Daniel Wise and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

03/11/2026

Please remember the family and friends of Jeff Gallaher in the days and weeks to come as they navigate their journey through grief. Jeff will be remembered by everyone who was fortunate to know him as a devoted son, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, a loyal brother and friend, and a man of deep faith. To read his complete obituary, to offer a condolence, share a happy memory with his family, or to learn of an opportunity for a memorial contribution, please follow the link below . . . May his memory be a blessing

Celebrate the life of Jeffrey Gallaher and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

01/22/2026

We join with family and friends as together we celebrate the life while mourning the loss of Beallsville resident, Chester Eugene Van Dyne who passed away on Tuesday, January 20 in the home that he loved surrounded by his family. Eugene will be remembered as a loving husband, a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather, a valued community servant, a proud US Air Force Veteran, and a friend to all. Visitation will be held at the Wilson Funeral Home - Harper Chapel on Friday, January 23 from 4pm to 8pm where funeral services will be held Saturday, January 24 at 1pm. Interment will follow in Beallsville Cemetery. Full Military Honors will be presented at the funeral home by American Legion Post 768 just prior to the funeral service. To read Eugene’s complete obituary, to offer a condolence or share a happy memory with his family, please follow the link below . . .

01/21/2026

With sadness we share the news of the passing of Beallsville (New Castle Community) resident, Joan Jenewein who passed away in WVU Wheeling Hospital, on Saturday, January 17. Joan will be remembered by all who knew her as a loving mother, a devoted sister, a loyal friend, a lover of animals and a hard-working lady who dedicated her life to helping and caring for others. We join with her family, her family-by-heart, her friends and neighbors as they mourn her loss while celebrating the beautiful life she lived. Visitation will be held at the Wilson Funeral Home - Harper Chapel on Wednesday, January 21 from 4pm to 6pm and also on Thursday, January 22 from 12 noon until the time of her funeral service at 1pm. Burial will follow in Ebenezer Cemetery, Bethesda. To read Joan’s complete obituary, to offer a condolence, or to learn of an opportunity for a memorial contribution, please follow the link below . . .

01/07/2026

We join with the family, "family-by-heart," friends, and neighbors of former Ozark Community resident, Naomi (Poulson) Marmie as they mourn the passing of this kind, gentle Christian lady. Naomi passed away on New Year's Day in Barnesville Hospital. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great and great-grandmother, and friend who graciously shared her faith and her beautiful smile with everyone she met. Visitation will be held Saturday, January 10 from 1pm to 4pm at Wilson Funeral Home - Harper Chapel, Beallsville and also Sunday, January 11 from 12pm until the time of her funeral service at 1pm. Burial will follow in Ozark Cemetery. To read Naomi's complete obituary, to offer a condolence, to share a happy memory with her family, or to learn of an opportunity for a memorial contribution, please follow the link below . . .

https://www.harperfh.net/obituary/Naomi-Marmie?fbclid=IwY2xjawPLQr9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFFVVZJcHJid0xKRWVGTjB6c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHreb-6wTcGvCZpJ_n8H1YeZ5MaB4EmGu24EfzX_SoFmQu0ujz1tR7ZKYUInv_aem_I5ksgd6URuOkKd84nUci8Q

01/03/2026

It is our honor to serve the family of Lester Howell of Jerusalem who passed away, Tuesday, December 30 at the Arbors of Woodsfield. Born August 16, 1940 near Beallsville, Lester was one of six children of the late John and Bertha Hoskinson Howell. He was a retired employee of the former ORMET Aluminum Corporation near Hannibal and he loved being outdoors. Lester will be remembered as a hard-working, devoted husband and a dedicated father and grandfather. Honoring his wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral services. A "Celebration of Life" will be held later at a time of the family's choosing. To read Lester's complete obituary, to offer a condolence or to share a happy memory with his family, please follow the link below . . .

View Lester Lee Howell's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.