Obituaries, August 8, 2023
Carolyn Joan Branum
Our Dear mother, Carolyn Joan Branum took her final breath on August 4, 2023 at age 84 in Noblesville, IN. She was surrounded by loved ones. She was born February 4, 1939 in Warren, IN to Cecil and Elizabeth (Fornshell) Baird.
Carolyn graduated from Van Buren High School and enjoyed roller skating at pair skating competitions. She became a member of the Eastern Star and worked at Delco Electronics in Kokomo for 30 years. She loved traveling the US in their camper and lived in Florida and Tennessee before returning to Indiana. She was a very vocal fan when watching basketball (especially the Tenn. VOLS women’s team). Some of her fun times were spent square dancing, collecting Longaberger baskets and spending time with her friends and family. She was member of the Southern Baptist Church where she enjoyed worshiping and church dinners. She was truly an amazing and strong woman and we were all blessed to have had her in our lives.
Carolyn is survived by her daughter Cynthia Hogwood (Cyndi Welter); son W. Jeffrey Hogwood (Margaret); daughter Kimberly Derington; stepsons Stanley and Jeff Branum; brother Larry Baird (Carol); five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her beloved husband James Frank Branum; brother DeWayne Baird; sisters Garnet Doyle and Helen Baird; stepson Brian Branum; and grandson Chad Hogwood.
Visitation will be held at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home, 2097 W. Alto Road, Kokomo, IN on Saturday, August 12, 2023, from 11:00 AM until the start of Funeral Services at 1:00 PM. Entombment will follow at Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery. Share a memory with the family at www.sunsetmemorygarden.com.
Mark R. McIver
On Tuesday, August 1, Mark R. McIver, beloved husband, son, father, and grandfather passed away peacefully. Born to JoAnne (Hamilton) McCarthy and Roderick Donald McIver, in Austin, Texas, Mark discovered his love for travel and adventure at an early age. He was an avid outdoor enthusiast and loved hiking, river running, and flying. Mark was the President of the Board of Aviation for Peru Municipal Airport in his later years and a leader of his local Sierra Club. Over the span of his life, Mark had a myriad of jobs which culminated in him owning his own business and working in skilled trades at Chrysler in Kokomo, Indiana. Mark loved to spend time with his family and found joy in being a “pa-paw” to his many grandchildren. His larger-than-life presence will be sorely missed by all who loved him.
He is survived by his wife Stacy (Nielander) McIver; children Heather (Rob) Baber, Ryan (Ashley) McIver, Cassie, and Megan (Christos) Panagoulias; grandchildren, Kira, Ethan, Jack, Lydia, Jude, Marley and Nora; parents JoAnne (Hamilton) McCarthy [mother], Faye (Miller) McIver [step-mother], Jean (Atkins) Johnson [mother-in-law], and Phil Nielander [father-in-law]; siblings Grant, Bren, Alex, and Hawley.
He is preceded in death by his late wife Gerri (Jackson) McIver; children Miles and Audrey; parents R. Donald McIver [father], Sam Johnson [father-in-law], and Betty (Huff) Nielander [mother-in-law].
Mark’s family will hold a memorial service at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 West Lincoln Road, Kokomo, IN 46902, on August 12, 2023, from 2-4pm with a short service to be performed after.
In lieu of flowers please take a moment to visit and donate to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center for abused, unwanted, or neglected felines in Center Point, Indiana. Mark’s love for animals touched the lives of those around him, and through our contributions to EFRC, we can continue spreading that love to protect and cherish the precious wildlife that enriches our world. https://gofund.me/1e4c7adc
Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com