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Bessie Thomas, extolled the Golden Rule
For more than 112 years, Bessie Thomas lived by a simple code: Work hard, save money and above all, treat people well.
She died Saturday, closing a life marked by strenuous labor and simple pleasures. Hers was also a life filled with strong personal relationships, winning her praise from family, friends and he r adopted hometown of Cincinnati.
"I took care of myself," she said in an interview with The Post last year. "If you're good, you don't have no trouble."
Her nephew, James Thomas, added that visitors were accustomed to hearing his aunt extolling the Golden Rule. It was a simple plan that carried her across three centuries, linking the South's Reconstruction with the Computer Age.
"That was the general rule she went by: If you treat everybody right, then you will be blessed," he said. "It wasn't hard to figure out what she was saying."
A native of Macon, Ga., Ms. Thomas grew up as the daughter of slaves and learned about hard work by picking cotton, churning butter and tending to farm chores. After following two brothers north to Cincinnati in 1923 she held various jobs serving others.
She worked as an orderly at Good Samaritan Hospital for more than 20 years and as a cook at the University of Cincinnati for 18 years. She retired at age 77 from a Xavier University cafeteria job in 1965.
Ms. Thomas never married and did not have any children.
Despite more than three decades of retirement, she had saved enough money to afford a relatively expensive private nursing home the last seven years of her life, her nephew said. Eve n making little money, she saved most of her earnings.
Family and friends gathered each year at the Amber Park Retirement Community in Deer Park to celebrate Ms. Thomas' birthday. In 1998, Cincinnati officials declared her birthday as Bessie Thomas day.
Visitation: Thursday noon to 1 p.m. at Thompson, Hall & Jordan Funeral Home, 2625 Gilbert Ave. Services: 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment: Beech Grove Cemetery.
Date of announcement: 04-17-2000
PETER HOLLITT, 50, of Vevay, Ind., died Thursday. He was an elementary school teacher with Jeff-Craig Elementary School, Vevay, and a youth baseball coach. Services: 1 p.m. EST Tuesday at Switzerland County High School, Vevay. Visitation: 4 to 8 tonight at Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, Vevay. Memorials: Peter Hollitt Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Date of announcement: 04-17-2000
Jean Nassano, grocer and kind neighbor
A basket of flowers that came to Jean C. Nassano's hospital room last week said a lot a bout the Bellevue, Ky., woman.
They came from a new neighbor, a young woman who was pregnant.
Norman Nassano said his wife had been "wanting to reach out to them. . .so she picked up a little outfit for the baby."
"She was accepting of everyone and any kind of situation," said her daughter, Julie Lawson, of Tipp City, Ohio.
Mrs. Nassano, 66, died Sunday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas.
She and her husband had owned the Deluxe Food Market in Bellevue until a few years ago.
Mrs. Nassano also had worked for the Campbell County Department of Human Resources and was the Bellevue Vets' first volleyball coach.
A mass is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony Church, Bellevue.
BESSIE L. EASTMAN, 73, of Mount Airy, died April 18. Ms. Eastman was a pantry worker for University of Cincinnati. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Christ Temple Apostolic Faith Church, 325 N. Wayne Ave., Lockland. Visitation: 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Date of announcement: 04-21-2000
Griffin Carlisle, built construction firm
R. Griffin Carlisle was the personification of the American Dream.
He founded a small business in 1937, starting with little more than a pickup truck and a strong work ethic.
Now, his company, Carlisle Construction Co. in Wilder, is worth well over $100 million.
Yet Mr. Carlisle will be remembered not on ly as a prominent businessman, but as a good man, says state Rep. Jim Callahan.
Callahan worked for Carlisle for 27 years before becoming a state representative.
"Griffin Carlisle was a kind and compassionate individual. He never met a stranger.
"He would never ask anyone to do anything he himself would not do even though he was the boss."
Mr. Carlisle, 84, of Highland Heights, died Friday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas.
Mr. Carlisle "started a business from nothing," his son, Wayne Carlisle said. While the business was in its infancy Mr. Carlisle went to work at Interlake Steel, which would later beco me Newport Steel. He left the steel mill in 1954 to tend to his business full-time.
Wayne Carlisle joined his father in the business after graduating from high school.
"He and I have worked side by side from 1960 on, through all these years," Wayne Carlisle said.
The Carlisles started a river division with tug boats and barges in 1966.
Despite suffering from cancer, the senior Carlisle never retired from the firm.
"He had worked every day, six or seven days a week, until the last month or six weeks," Wayne Carlisle said. Even then, he worked by phone, dispatching boats and running river operations. He worked until last week, his son said.
Mr. Carlisle was a former director of Boone State Bank and a member of St. Joseph Church, Cold Spring. His wife, Anna Funaro Carlisle, preceded him in death.
In addition to his son, of Fort Thomas, survivors include a daughter, Beverly Carlisle of Highland Heights; six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
A mass will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington. Visitation will begin there at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to Wellness Community, 1717 Dixie Highway, Fort Wright, Ky. 4101 1; or The Point, 104 Pike St., Covington, Ky. 41011. Dobbling Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, is handlin g arrangements.
Date of announcement: 04-24-2000
MYRTLE M. FEUSTAL, 95, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., died Saturday. She was a homemaker. Graveside services: 3 p.m. EDT today at Greendale Cemetery, Lawrenceburg. Fitch-Denney Funeral Home, Lawrenceburg, is handling arrangements. Memorials: To the family.
Date of announcement: 04-24-2000
ALBERT CLIFTON "CLIFF" KELSO SR., 75, of Florence, Ind., died Saturday. He was a retired construction worker and master mechanic, and an Army veteran of World War II. Services: 1 p.m. E ST Wednesday at Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, Vevay, Ind. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials: Vevay American Legion Relief Fund.
Date of announcement: 04-24-2000
MARY WILGENBSUCH, 84, of New Alsace, Ind., died Friday. She was a homemaker. Mass: 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday at St. Paul Church, New Alsace. Visitation: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday at Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home, Dover, Ind. Memorials: St. Paul Church, the charity of the donor 's choice, or in the form of Masses.
Date of announcement: 04-24-2000
William Holohan, Xavier U. activist
William "Bill" Holohan, an active alumnus of Xavier University and fund-raiser for an Over-the-Rhine soup kitchen, died Saturday. He was 59.
Mr. Holohan was a past president of the Xavier University Alumni Association, a member of the Musketeer Club and a founding member of the school's "All For One Club."
In recent years, he also served on the board of Our Daily Bread, an Over-the-Rhine soup kitchen, and was named its president within the last two years.
Working for the soup kitchen, he was equally comfortable serving the diners or hosting high-profile events to raise money, said Cookie Vogelpohl, director.
"He was pretty passionate about everything," she said. "If he didn't like what he was doing, he would find something else."
Mr. Holohan, president and general manager of S.E. Lab Group, was a member of the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science.
He leaves his wife, Mary Jo Shouvlin Holohan; a brother, Jack Holohan of Pittsburgh; and seven nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian burial: 11 a.m. Wednesday, St. Rose Church, 2501 Eastern Ave. Visitation: 5 to 8:30 p.m. today at Harry Meyer & Geiser Funeral Home, 4989 Glenway Ave.
Memorials: Our Daily Bread, P.O. Box 14862, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250 or Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45207.
Date of announcement: 04-25-2000
ANNA BOONE, 70, of Georgetown, died Sunday. She was a homemaker, cook and waitress, and a member of Georgetown Church of the Nazarene. Services: 2 p.m. Wednesday at Cahall Funeral Home, Georgetown. Visitation: 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials: Shriners Hospitals.
Date of announcement: 04-25-2000
GLADYS DORN, 86, of Fairfield, died April 22. She was a waitress for the former Pogue's and the Maisonette. Services: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, 11400 Winton Road, Forest Park. Visitation: 6 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement: 04-25-2000
DAVID MICHAEL "PENNER" ENDRESS, 49, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., died Sunday. He was a disabled Army veteran of the Vietnam War. Services: 1 p.m. EDT Thursday at Fitch-Denney Funeral Home, Lawrenceburg. Visitation: 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials: Veterans Memorial Fund.
Date of announcement: 04-25-2000
CLIFFORD DONALD JOHNSON, 70, of Colerain Township, died Sunday. He was a construction worker. Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church, Elsmere, Ky. Visitation: 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, Forest Park, is handling arrangements.
Date of announcement: 04-25-2000
HARVEY N. MATTHEWS, 84, of Lockland, died April 20. He was a retired jet engine assembler for General Electric Company. Services: Noon Wednesday at Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, 400 N. Wayne Ave., Lockland. Visitation: 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement: 04-25-2000
LACEY MAE CRAWFORD SMITH, 77, of Cincinnati, died April 19. Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday at James Temple Church of God in Christ, 1116 Lincoln Ave., Walnut Hills. Visitation: 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Jamison & Jamison Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Date of announcement: 04-25-2000
Irene L. Cable set high standards
Cincinnati native Irene L. Cable was a mother and homemaker who set a high standard for her four daughters.
"She just always put her kids first, and that's why I as a mother do the same thing," said daughter Terrene Dillon of Florence, Ky.
Mrs. Cable, of Burlington, Ky., died Monday at Woodspoint Nursing Home in Florence. She was 75.
Mrs. Cable grew up in North Col lege Hill. When she married and set up housekeeping, "she just had to have everything perfect and spotlessly clean in her home," Mrs. Dillon said.
She said her mother lavished the same kind of attention on her daughters.
Mass: 10 a.m. Friday at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Burlington. Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Stith Funeral Home in Florence. Burial: Hopeful Lutheran Cemetery in Florence.
Memorials: Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 5876 Veterans Way, Burlington, Ky. 41005.
Date of announcement: 04-26-2000
ONEY O. ANDERSON, 63, of Avondale, died Sunday. Services: Noon today at Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, Silverton. Visitation: 11 a.m. today at the funeral home.
Date of announcement: 04-26-2000
DORA LEE COGGINS, 72, of Lincoln Heights, died Saturday. She was a homemaker. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at Lincoln Heights Baptist Church. Visitation: 6 p.m. Friday at the church. Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, Lockland, is handling arrangements.
Date of announcement: 04-26-2000
BERTHA IROLA DUBOSE, 90, of Avondale, died Sunday. She was a retired domestic for private families. Services: 1 p.m. Friday at New Unity Baptist Church, 2124 Burnet Ave. Visitation: 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Arrangements: Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home.
Date of announcement: 04-26-2000
GARY DALE HUCKER, 19, of Mount Orab, died Sunday. He was an electrician with P. K. Electric Co. Services: 1 p.m. Thursday at Thompson-Stevens Funeral Home, Mount Orab. Visitation: 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials: Teen Challenge, U.S. Route 50, Milford, Ohio 45150.
Date of announcement: 04-26-2000
