Obituaries

Ralph L. Bussey, 85, of Portsmouth, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, with his loving daughter by his side. Born on March 14, 1941, in Scioto County, Ohio, Ralph was the son of the late Williard and Virginia (McClintic) Bussey. He dedicated 35 years of service as a design draftsman…

Oscar Lee Lawless, 66, of Portsmouth, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at the SOMC Hospice Center. Born on March 16, 1960, in Portsmouth, Ohio, Oscar was the son of the late Joseph Lee Lawless and Shirley Lorene (Howard) Lawless. Oscar spent much of his life working as a skilled carpenter, a trade…

Jeffrey Lon Brant, age 79, of Sciotoville, passed away peacefully at the Southern Ohio Medical Center on Saturday, May 30, 2026. Born on July 12, 1946, in Portsmouth, he was the beloved son of the late Lon Clayton and Virginia Lee Snyder Brant. Jeff dedicated much of his life to serving others through his work…

Raymond Horsley, 80, formerly of Lucasville, Ohio, and recently of Portsmouth, passed away May 27, 2026, after multiple chronic illnesses, while surrounded by his family. Born May 4, 1946, he loved making “May the fourth be with you” jokes about his birthday. He was born to the late Stanley Horsley and the late Lucille Callihan…

Thomas David Hensley, 62, of South Shore, Kentucky, passed away on Friday, May 29, 2026, at his residence in South Shore, Kentucky. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on 26 September, 1962, to Joan Kay Frankenfield Rohla and the late David Leon Hensley. Thomas was a former Dirt Bike Racer; he was the Arizona State…

Laurence “Larry” Zimmerman, age 71, of Lucasville, Ohio passed away on May 24, 2026. He was born on September 12, 1954, to the late Robert and Helen Zimmerman. Larry had a lifelong passion for music, spending over 35 years sharing his talents as a musician. From 1970 to 2005, he delighted audiences across the Cincinnati…

Bruce L. Myers, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on May 23, 2026, at the age of 45. Bruce was born to his parents Robert and Caroline Myers on February 15, 1981 in Baltimore, Maryland. A longtime resident of Portsmouth, Ohio, Bruce was known for his kind heart, hardworking spirit, and genuine…

Billy Ray Morris, 75, of South Shore, Kentucky, passed away on May 22, 2026. He was born on March 9, 1951, in South Shore, Kentucky, to the late Hubert Morris and Emiline Morris. Billy was born and raised in South Shore and was a true modern-day cowboy. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved riding…

Patricia “Patty” Faye Riley Hilterbrand passed away on May 22, 2026, at the age of 74. Patty was born on October 20, 1951, in Carter City, Kentucky, to her parents, Milford Cooper and Edith Mangus Thomas. Patty was a longtime resident of Wheelersburg and worked for many years as a CNA, serving her community in…

James Michael Barnett, 75, of Portsmouth, passed Saturday, May 30, 2026 at SOMC. He was born March 30, 1951 in Portsmouth, a son of the late Jimmy and Rhoda (Thornsberry) Barnett. James was a dedicated member of several local organizations that reflected his commitment and interests throughout his life. He proudly belonged to Laborer’s Local…