Masonic Lodge

Louis T. Spears, 86 FEB. 28, 1923-APRIL 16, 2009 CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- Louis T. "Lou" Spears, 86, of Charles Town, died Thursday, April 16, 2009, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Ranson, W.Va. Born Feb. 28, 1923, in Conway, Ark., he was the son of the late Steve and Lona Mobbs Spears. Mr. Spears retired as an owner and trainer of thoroughbred horses. He was a Protestant. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Capitol Heights, Md., Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association and Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 948 of Charles Town.

-SEPT. 21, 2009 WINTERVILLE, N.C. - Mr. Gene W. Spears, 73, died Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. A memorial service will be held Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Church of Christ of Winterville, and a memorial service will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Church of Christ, Berkeley Springs, W.Va. The burial of remains will be in Rosedale Cemetery in Martinsburg, W.Va. Mr. Spears, a native of Chambersburg, Pa., lived in Winterville for the past five years. He was formerly of Berkeley Springs.

AUG. 5, 1951-DEC. 26, 2009 Gary L. Turney, 58, of Hagerstown, Md., passed away Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009, at the University of Maryland Medical Center after battling a long illness. Born Aug. 5, 1951, in Lincoln, Neb., he was the son of Eugene and the late May Turney. He was a 1969 graduate of Brazosport High School in Freeport, Texas, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was employed by Verizon FNS. Gary was a member and past Master Mason of the Clute, Texas, Masonic Lodge 1334 F. & A.M. and a member of the Lyons Club of Clute.

AUG. 13, 1925-DEC. 29, 2008 CRESSON, Pa. - James E. Tice, 83, of Country Lane Assisted Living, and formerly of Shade Gap, Pa., died Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at Penn Knoll Nursing Home in Everett, Pa. Born Aug. 13, 1925, in Harrisonville, Pa., he was the son of the late Charles and Leona Schooley Tice. His wife, Margaret H. Flood Tice, died in 1999. They were married March 13, 1948. He was a carpenter and farmer. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army.

Nick J. Salamone Jr., 92, of Keedysville, Md., passed peacefully from this life early Thursday morning, Dec. 8, 2011. Born Sept. 13, 1919, in Marlowe, W.Va., he was the son of the late Nick and Congetta A. (Fontaine) Salamone. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth (Sug) Salamone, in 1974. Nick was a 1939 graduate of Martinsburg High School in Martinsburg, W.Va. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In Nick's early career, he worked for Fairchild Aircraft in Hagerstown, Md. Afterward, he worked for Mack Trucks in Hagerstown, retiring in 1982.

AUG. 8, 1923-DEC. 18, 2009 LANCASTER, Pa. - John K. Shoemaker, age 86, of 76 River Bend Park, Lancaster, and formerly of Chantilly Court, Hagerstown, died at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, at Lancaster General Hospital. Born Aug. 8, 1923, in Chambersburg, Pa., he was the son of the late Harvey and Viola (Wingert) Shoemaker. He retired from Amtrak as vice president of operations of the Northeast Corridor. John was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Sharpsburg, Md. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Consistory and Zembo Shrine.

JAN. 26, 1920-FEB. 2, 2009 FREDERICK, Md. - Preston H. Lawson, 89, of Frederick, died Monday, Feb. 2, 2009, at his home. Born Jan. 26, 1920, in Ijamsville, Md., he was the son of the late Dorsey and Nellie Watkins Lawson. He worked as an agent for Peoples Life Insurance Co. until his retirement in 1985. He received many adwards for his outstanding service. He was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church in Frederick. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Frederick and the Supreme Lodge of the Masons in Washington, D.C. He was a former member of the Frederick Moose Lodge.

JAN. 3, 1937-JULY 27, 2007 WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. - Shirley Ann Startzman Perry, 70, of Winter Springs, Fla., died at her home on July 27, 2007. Born in Hagerstown, Md., on Jan. 3, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Max William Startzman and Malissa Jane Startzman Kees. A graduate with the class of "54" of Hagerstown High School, she later graduated in 1957 from the Washington County Hospital School of Nursing. She retired as a nurse from the American Red Cross.

Jason Alan Long, 36, of 12835 Broadfording Road, Clear Spring, Md., passed away Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, at the Cancer Treatment Center of America, Eastern Regional Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pa. He was born Sunday, Sept. 19, 1976, in Clear Spring. He graduated from Clear Spring High School in 1995. He was the manager of Bragunier Farms Inc., a job that he was very dedicated to and loved. He was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Temple and Masonic Lodge 140 of Williamsport, Md. Jason enjoyed hunting and just spending time enjoying the outdoors.

Harry “Haddie” Armand Northcraft, 92, of Cumberland, Md., passed away Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at his home. Born June 5, 1920, in Cumberland, he was the son of the late Harry P. Northcraft and Olive I. (Sturtz) Northcraft. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Mae G. Northcraft, Dec. 6, 1995; and a sister, Dorothy Northcraft. A U.S. Air Force veteran of World War II, Harry was the first convoy to leave San Francisco after Pearl Harbor headed to Australia, 10 miles from Java when it fell to the Japanese, then to India (New Delhi)

Harry “Haddie” Armand Northcraft, 92, of Cumberland, Md., passed away Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at his home. Born June 5, 1920, in Cumberland, he was the son of the late Harry P. Northcraft and Olive I. (Sturtz) Northcraft. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Mae G. Northcraft, Dec. 6, 1995; and a sister, Dorothy Northcraft. A U.S. Air Force veteran of World War II, Harry was the first convoy to leave San Francisco after Pearl Harbor headed to Australia, 10 miles from Java when it fell to the Japanese, then to India (New Delhi)

Jason Alan Long, 36, of 12835 Broadfording Road, Clear Spring, Md., passed away Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, at the Cancer Treatment Center of America, Eastern Regional Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pa. He was born Sunday, Sept. 19, 1976, in Clear Spring. He graduated from Clear Spring High School in 1995. He was the manager of Bragunier Farms Inc., a job that he was very dedicated to and loved. He was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Temple and Masonic Lodge 140 of Williamsport, Md. Jason enjoyed hunting and just spending time enjoying the outdoors.

Officers of Hagerstown Masonic Lodge 217 were installed Jan. 11 by the Grand Line of Maryland.

The master, wardens and brethren of Antietam Lodge 197 invite all masons, family, friends and interested parties to attend our Open Installation of Officers for 2012 on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lodge at 7 S. Main St., Keedysville. This is a rare occasion for the general public to view masonic ritual, which is afforded by special dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Maryland and the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Mason's, Stephen J. Ponzillo III. Visitors may learn the secrets of the brotherhood and what really happens behind the closed doors of a Masonic Lodge.

Nick J. Salamone Jr., 92, of Keedysville, Md., passed peacefully from this life early Thursday morning, Dec. 8, 2011. Born Sept. 13, 1919, in Marlowe, W.Va., he was the son of the late Nick and Congetta A. (Fontaine) Salamone. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth (Sug) Salamone, in 1974. Nick was a 1939 graduate of Martinsburg High School in Martinsburg, W.Va. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In Nick's early career, he worked for Fairchild Aircraft in Hagerstown, Md. Afterward, he worked for Mack Trucks in Hagerstown, retiring in 1982.

FEB. 16, 1922-FEB. 23, 2011 James William Hardy, 89, of 20434 Jefferson Blvd., Hagerstown, Md., died on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011, at his home. Born Feb. 16, 1922, in Pleasantville, Md., he was the son of the late Rudolph and Anna Belle Marshall Hardy. During World War II, James served in the U.S. Army Eighth Air Force's 20th Fighter Squadron in England. He was employed by Lone Star Cement Co., retiring in January 1987. He was preceded in death by brothers, George Wesley Hardy, Henry Franklin Hardy, Charles Edward Hardy, and a sister, Mary Catherine Holmes.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- The Masons lodge in Chambersburg survived the town's burning in 1864, a few hurricanes and changes made all around it, but the events of 187 years can wear on a structure. The community's nearly 700 Masons are facing a building renovation and rehabilitation project estimated to cost $1 million. The most pressing need -- a structurally unsound, sagging roof -- was fixed in recent months. The roof issue originated within the 1899 addition to the original structure from 1823.

o Read more Anne Weatherholt columns at washingtoncountyliving.com Hanging baskets getting a little care It's been pretty dry this month and I wondered what would happen to the lovely hanging flower baskets in downtown Hancock and along the Rail Trail. Not to worry, however, as several times a week while I am on my morning walks with Sammi (our new puppy), I see a town truck and workers faithfully watering them. It's a little extra work for the summer crew, which also provides some summer jobs for local youth, but it's a really nice touch.

AUG. 5, 1951-DEC. 26, 2009 Gary L. Turney, 58, of Hagerstown, Md., passed away Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009, at the University of Maryland Medical Center after battling a long illness. Born Aug. 5, 1951, in Lincoln, Neb., he was the son of Eugene and the late May Turney. He was a 1969 graduate of Brazosport High School in Freeport, Texas, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was employed by Verizon FNS. Gary was a member and past Master Mason of the Clute, Texas, Masonic Lodge 1334 F. & A.M. and a member of the Lyons Club of Clute.

AUG. 8, 1923-DEC. 18, 2009 LANCASTER, Pa. - John K. Shoemaker, age 86, of 76 River Bend Park, Lancaster, and formerly of Chantilly Court, Hagerstown, died at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, at Lancaster General Hospital. Born Aug. 8, 1923, in Chambersburg, Pa., he was the son of the late Harvey and Viola (Wingert) Shoemaker. He retired from Amtrak as vice president of operations of the Northeast Corridor. John was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Sharpsburg, Md. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Consistory and Zembo Shrine.