Obituaries

John Oakley, 75, of Portsmouth, died Saturday, January 18, 2026, after a short illness. He was born March 9, 1950 to parents, Rass and Frances Oakley. John worked for 22 years as Superintendent of Scioto County Board of Development Disabilities, retiring in 2005. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by brothers…

Delmus Reubin Smith, 91, of Portsmouth, passed away on January 25, 2026, at the SOMC Hospice Center. He was born on December 12, 1934, in Portsmouth, to the late Olla Mae Smith Cook. Delmus was a member of Pleasant Green Baptist Church, and he had worked as a meter reader for AEP for 35 years.…

Michael Joseph Carty, 70, of Portsmouth, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at his home.  He was born on April 3, 1955, in Huntington, WV, to the late Robert Joseph and Floreine Mae Massie Carty. Mike was a welder, having worked in Columbus, and he was a 1973 graduate of Portsmouth High School and…

Suree` Nicole Burns, 40, of Portsmouth, passed away on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at SOMC. She was born on December 14, 1985, in Portsmouth, the daughter of Lisa Marie Burns Gentry-Newton, who survives, and the late Eugene Leonard Johnson. Suree` attended Portsmouth High School and she was a Christian. She was very active in the…

Claude Allen Sammons, 91, of Minford, passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at SOMC Hospice. Born February 4, 1934 in Access, Kentucky, a son of the late William T. and Beadie (Walker) Sammons, he was a 1952 graduate of Raceland High School in Raceland, Kentucky. Claude was a lifetime member of Fairview Missionary Baptist Church,…

Stephen Edward McClaskey, 60, of Clarktown, passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at SOMC ER.  He was born May 26, 1965 in Portsmouth, a son of the late Albert Curtiss, Sr. and Roberta Louise McClaskey, and was a 1983 graduate of Valley High School. He is survived by his wife, Bethann (Larck) McClaskey; one daughter,…

Ronald Earl Anderson, Sr., a beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother passed away peacefully at his home on January 23, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Ronnie was 75 years old. Ronnie was married to Linda L. Anderson on December 8, 1972, sharing a devoted partnership that lasted over five decades. Together, they built a…

James August Smith, 70, of Lucasville, passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at Southern Ohio Medical.  He was born on September 21, 1955 in Portsmouth to the late Charles S Smith and Martha Augusta Langley Smith.  On September 18, 1977 he was united in marriage to Billie Jo Wooten Smith of Lucasville.  In addition…

Rocky Kyle Wittkugle, 69, of Waverly, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at his residence.  He was born on August 18, 1956 in Chillicothe to the late Joseph A Wittkugle and Margaret Mae Willis Wittkugle.  On December 31, 1991 he was united in marriage to Donna Legg Wittkugle of Waverly.  In addition to his…

Shirley Mae Hobbs, 71, of McDermott, Ohio  went to be with the love of her life, Michael, Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Ohio. She was born May 26, 1954 in Hillsboro, Ohio to the late William and Vivian Throckmorton Mosley.  On March 11, 1975 she was united in marriage…