Mary L. (Soli) Theakston;64;of Brownstown;Fayette City R.D.1;died Tuesday;Jan.24;1978 at 5:45 p.m.in the Charleroi Division of the Mon Valley Hospital. Mrs.Theakston was born Dec.22;1913 in Federal;Pa.;a daughter of the late John and Sarah Yardly Solts. She was employed in the cafeteria at the Belle Vernon Area Elementary School and was a member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Brownstown. Survivors include her husband;Deems Theakston;two sons;Harry Theakston of Fayette City R.D.and Russell Theakston of Belle Vernon;one daughter;Mrs.Wayne (Janice) LaBlancz of Fayette City R.D.1;one brother;Russell Jones of Fayette City R.D.1;two sisters;Mrs.Margaret Gregor of Fayette City R.D.1 and Mrs.Fury (Florence) Issi of Mapleview;Charleroi;16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A son;Sheridan Theakston;preceded her in death in 1968. Friends will be received in the Howard W.McCrory Funeral Home in Fayette City after 7 p.m.Thursday and until the time of the service Friday at 10:30 a.m.;with the Rev.George McNeal;pastor of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of Brownstown;officiating. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Howard W.McCrory;funeral director in charge.

Rev.Charles K. (Chaso) Sowden;77;went to be eith the Lord on Friday;March 24;2000;at 8:25 a.m. in Mon Valley hospital. Rev.Sowden resided on Jane Anenue in Speers. A son of the late Robert R.and Lena Rohland Sowden;he was born in Boston;Pa.;on March 23;1923. He was a retired member of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. His charge conference affiliation was with the Speers United Methodist Church. He was Minister Emeritus of the Fredericktown St.Paul’s Denbo United Methodist churches. Rev. Sowden began
his ministry as a lay leader of
Allenport United Methodist
Church and served as pastor of
Edwards Chapel of Monongahela; Speers/Coal Center;
Speers; Fredericktown/Denbo
and the South Brownsville
United Methodist churches prior to his retirement in 1990.
Since retirement; he had
served several area churches
as an interim minister. He
also worked part-time as an
attendant for Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a member
of Gummert Lodge #252;
F&AM; the Lodge of Perfection
of Uniontown; California Rotary Club and was on the
board of Jumonville Training
Center. He was a former
member of the Fredericktown
Rotary Club and had served as
a scoutmaster in Allenport for
many years. He was a U.S.
Navy veteran of World War II.
From 1949 to 1970; he worked
for Sealtest Dairy of Charleroi
and Pittsburgh. Survivors include his wife of 57 years;
Mary Lou Haywood Sowden; a
son and daughter-in-law; C.
Kenneth and Jaci Sowden of
Hilo; Hawaii; three daughters
and two sons-in-law; Jane and
James Sykes of Ookmont;
Beth and Gary Tuck of Bowling Green; Kentucky; and Amy
Kennedy of Oakmont; and
seven grandchildren; Jamie
and Chase Sykes; Jennifer and
Stefanie Ontai; Lisa and Chris
Tuck; and Kendal Kennedy. In
addition to his parents; he was
preceded in death by two sisters;Rita Sowden and LaVerne Hubert;and three brothers;James;Robert and Willis (Mike) Sowden. Friends will be received Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m.and Sunday from noon to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.;700 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon. A memorial service will be held Monday at 11 a.m.in Speers United Methodist Church with the Rev.Jeff St.Clair and the Rev.Oden R.Warman;District Superintendent of the Washington District;Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church;co-officiating. In Lieu of flowers;the family suggests memorial contributions to Jumonville Education Center. Gummert Lodge #252 will hold services Sunday at 8 p.m.in the funeral home.

Peter Salotti;81;of Monessen died Tuesday;Dec.12;2000;in the Adult Assisted Living;Inc.in Dunlevy. He was born Oct.2;1919;in Monessen;a son of the late Joseph and Francesca (Luti) Salotti. He spent most of his life as a resident of Monessen. He retired in 1981 from USX;Irvin Works in Dravosburg as a floorman. He was a member of Epiphany of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church;the American Legion Post 28 and the Hilltop Fireman’s Club. He was a corporal in World War II;receiving two Purple Hearts in the 1st Armored Infantry Division. Survivors include his daughter and son-in-lw;Donna and Michael Apostolakis of Monessen;his brother;Daniel Boots Salotti of Monessen;his sister and brother-in-law;Ann and James Hepple of Hobart;Ind.;his sister-in-law Edith Guidici Salotti of Monessen;and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents;he was preceded in death by his wife;Lena Cherocci Salotti;who died Oct.12;1972;four brothers;twin brother;Ben;Dominic;Victor and Guido;who died on Oct.10;2000;and a sister;Jenny Cerolini. Friends will be received on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.in the ROBERT A.BILLICK FUNERAL HOME;Grand Boulevard and Marion Avenue;Monessen;where a Blessing service will be held at 9:30 a.m.on Friday;followed by Funeral Mass at 10 a.m.in Epiphany of Our Lord Church. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Harry C.Sethman Jr.;77;of 123 Elks Place;Belle Vernon (Rostraver Township);died Thursday;Nov.23;2000;at 3:15 p.m.at Vencor Hospital;Oakdale. He was born Sept.9;1923;in Yukon;a son of the late Harry C.and Elizabeth Turnbull Sethman Sr. Mr.Sethman was a lifelong resident of Belle Vernon and was Protestant by faith. Mr.Sethman was retired from Gratts Bakery;W.Va.;where he worked as a truck driver;having previously worked as a tressel foreman for Donora Southern Railroad. He was a veteran of World War II;serving in the U.S.Army. He was a member of the Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659 and Teamsters Local Union. He is survived by his wife;Mary Ann Rainey Sethman;two sons and daughters-in-law;Richard G.and Holly Sethman of Scenery Hill and Timothy F.and Darla Sethman of Rostraver Township;two daughters and sons-in-law;Donna and Daniel Bennett of Rostraver Township and Diana and Richard Burger of Rostraver Township;four sisters;Martha and husband George Warner of Independence;Mo.;Ethel Verneri of Belle Vernon;Emma and husband Mark Bennett of Belle Vernon and Florence Calametti of Belle Vernon;10 grandchildren;and three great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents;he was preceded in death by two brothers;Richard Sethman and Howard Sethman;and three sisters;Dorothy Rainey;Norma Jean Siebert and Margaret Carr. Visitation will be held Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.at the Leonard J.Parzynski Funeral Home;Family Owned and Operated;626 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon. Services will be held Monday at 10 a.m.in the funeral home. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659 will conduct services Sunday at 7 p.m.in the funeral home.

Michael Shimchick;94;of Brownsville Personal Care Home;formerly of North Belle Vernon;died Friday;Oct.6;2000;at 9:10 p.m.in Brownsville General Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility.  Born Nov.16;1905;in Osceola Mills;Pa.;he was the son of the late Vasily and Anastasia Sudia Shimchick.  He had been a resident of the personal care home for the past year;having previously resided in North Belle Vernon.  He was a member of St.Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church of Monessen and the Rosary Society of the parish.  He had retired from U.S.Steel Irvin Works;where he was employed as a pulpit operator for 40 years.  He was an avid hunter and fisherman.  His hobby was fly tying;and he was a member of the Fly Fishermen’s Federation.  Survivors include his wife;Anna Panzo Shimchick;with whom he was married 72 years;;a son and daughter-in-law;Michael and Loretta Shimchick of Belle View;Wash.;one sister;Anna Kurtak of Pleasant Hills;two grandsons;Michael and his wife;Mary Shimchick;and Paul and his wife;Laura Shimchick;three great-grandchildren;Miles Shimchick;Marcus Shimchick and Lori Shimchick.  In addition to his parents;he was preceded in death by three sisters;Mary Martin;Nell Skurkay and Kathryn Crumlish;and two brothers;John Shimchick and William Shimchick.  Friends will be received Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.in the LEONARD J.PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME;family owned and operated;626 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon;where a Prayer service will be held Wednesday at 9:15 a.m.;followed by Funeral Mass at 10 a.m.in St.Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church;Monessen;with Monsignor Andrew D.Parvensky;pastor;as celebrant.  Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery.  Parish Rosary will be recited Tuesday at 2 p.m.and Service for the Dead will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m.;both in the funeral home.