Skook News Obituaries: November 19th, 2025
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Following high school, she married John Pepper and lived in Pottsville, where she worked in a box factory. “Bets” later married John Belusko and moved to Spring City, where she worked as a seamstress at the Valley Forge Flag Company. She was very proud to have sewn the U.S. flag and often said hers may be the one on the moon.
Betty was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Pottsville. She was also active with the Mechanicsville Ladies Auxiliary, the Mechanicsville Beneficial Association, and the Walter Griffiths Amvets #180 Ladies Auxiliary.
Betty enjoyed writing her life stories, poems, and prayers. She deeply respected the American flag and the United States. She enjoyed karaoke, coffee (later in life, tea), chocolate ice cream, and painting any surface that could be painted. Bets loved to dance and was always the first person on the dance floor, often outlasting people half her age. Her favorite dance songs were Wipeout and New York, New York. If you ever saw her kicking up her heels, you witnessed something special.
In her youth, she was known as the “Dancing Dolly,” modestly dancing to raise money for a fire truck at Greenwood Hill Fire Co. She cherished spending time with her family at her mother’s house in Mechanicsville and at her own home.
In addition to her parents, Betty is preceded in death by her first husband, John Pepper (1983); her second husband, John Belusko (2000); a daughter, Donna Davis (2021); and seven siblings: Gladys (Glad) Carroll, John Keefer, Anna Keefer, Jane (Jabe) McAnanney, Harry (Hit) Keefer, Donald (Don) Keefer, and Sue Moyer.
She is survived by a daughter, Jane Ann Pepper of Port Carbon; grandchildren Janel Hirsch and husband Matthew Hirsch, Anthony Chiccini, Liza Pepper, and Clint and Kevin Bracey (all of Pottsville); and a great-grandson, Xander Hirsch (currently attending Kutztown University).
Out of nine children, Betty leaves just one surviving sibling, her brother Dennis G. Keefer Sr. of Friedensburg.
Donations can be sent to SACF (Donna and Ellsworth Davis Scholarship).
At Betty’s request, there will be no services. The family will scatter her ashes so she can “be like the wind” at three locations of her choosing, including “the backyard where all of my brothers’ and sisters’ footprints are.”
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David G. Smith, 73, of Port Carbon passed away Monday morning November 17, 2025 at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Allentown.
Born in Reading on August 15, 1952 he was the son of the late Dorothy (Rehnert) Smith.
David graduated from West Reading High School in 1969. After high school he served in the Army.
He was of the Protestant faith.
David formerly worked for Western Berks Ambulance as an EMT. He was most recently employed a technician in the plumbing and heating industry.
He enjoyed playing golf. David also owned and raced his own stock car in the local racing circuit.
David is survived by sister Anne Deiterich, Kutztown; sister Susan Rowley (Michael), Reading; several nieces & nephews.
A Gathering Remembrance will be held on Saturday November 22, 2025 at 11:30 AM at Mount Carmel Cemetery Chapel, 2320 Locust Gap Highway, Mount Carmel PA 17851. Interment will follow services at the Mount Carmel Cemetery.
For more information or to extend online condolences, visit www.kullfuneral.com. Kull-Heizenroth Funeral Home Inc, 901 Centre St, Ashland PA has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Betsy” A. (Rehnert) Yordy, to whom he was married for 57 years.
Michael was a member of the former Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, St. Clair, and was currently a member of St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, St. Clair. He was a 1963 graduate of St. Clair High School. He served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and belonged to the Marine Corps League. He was employed at Lehigh Valley Dairy in Schuylkill Haven.
Michael is preceded in death by his brother, Harry Yordy.
In addition to his wife, Michael is survived by his son, Michael H. Yordy, husband of Lynda, of Cumbola; his son, Edward M. Yordy, husband of Michele, of Lansdale, PA; his grandson, Jeffrey Yordy, husband of Madison, of Temple, PA; his granddaughter, Emily Yourey, wife of Luciano, of Minersville; his granddaughter, Chloe Yordy, of Lansdale, PA; his granddaughter, Hallie Yordy, of Cumbola; his granddaughter, Ashley Yordy, of Lansdale; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, November 24, 2025, at St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, St. Clair, at 11 AM with Monsignor William Glosser officiating. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 5 PM to 7 PM Sunday evening and from 9 AM to 10:30 AM Monday morning at the James H. Evans Funeral Home, Inc., St. Clair.
Interment with Military Honors will follow at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Cemetery, St. Clair.
James H. Evans Funeral Home, Inc., St. Clair, is entrusted with arrangements.
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George was born in Pottsville on February 18, 1961, a son of the late George and Phyllis (Mohl) Soellner. He was a 1979 graduate of the Pottsville High School, and was a life long truck driver until his retirement.
A man who enjoyed tinkering around and someone who could fix anything, he enjoyed riding his Harley and had an interest in astronomy spending countless hours gazing at the stars. He shot pool in several different leagues over the years and he "rocked the block' every year with his 4th of July party and fireworks displays.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his niece and god daughter, Brittany Wrigley.
George is survive by his wife, Gloria (Foster) Soellner; a daughter to who he was the best dad ever, Kelsie Soellner and her fiancee Gary Perez; and his grandson, Brandon Rupp, who was his best buddy who enjoyed spending hours with his Pop.
He is survived by three sisters, Delsa, wife of Mark Wrigley; Darlene, wife of Tom Kolar and Denise, wife of Doug Mullin, along with many nieces and nephews. An extended family of friends also survive, and George was always someone they knew who would be there for them.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral service on Saturday, November 22nd, 2025 at 11 AM at the Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home, 515 West Market Street, Pottsville.
A Viewing will be held from 9-11 AM prior to the service, and George will be laid to rest immediatley following the funeral services.
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Born in Gilberton, he was a son of the late Raymond Sr. and Elizabeth (Harding) Blackwell. He worked as a master welder for 40 years at DANA Corp. until his retirement. Raymond and his wife, Jeanne, enjoyed many wonderful years in retirement together in Lakeland, Florida, where they made lasting memories and cherished their time in the sunshine.
Raymond was a veteran of the United States Army.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne (Yeager) Blackwell; his son, Randy S. Blackwell; his daughter-in-law, Leslye Blackwell and a granddaughter, Tracey Amber Blackwell.
Raymond is survived by his son, Raymond C. Blackwell III, and his wife, Elaine, of Longview, Texas; his sister, Betty Lutz; and his grandchildren, Bethany, Nicole, Joshua, and Aaron Blackwell. He is also survived by five great-grandchildren—Leah, Jacob, Ryan, Chase, and Taylor—as well as several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 26th from the Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, Frackville. Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing at the funeral home on Tuesday, November 25th from 6 to 8 p.m. and again on Wednesday morning from 9 a.m. until the time of service.
Interment with military honors will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Frackville.
Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, Frackville, is in charge of arrangements.
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These obituaries are being brought to by Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Frackville
