Friday, February 12, 2010

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Melissa L. Rainey, entrepreneur
Melissa L. Rainey, 41, of Dover died Sunday, Feb 7, 2010, at Christiana Hospital, Newark.

She was the daughter of Larry W. Rainey of Magnolia and the late Penelope Prahl Rainey. Melissa graduated Caesar Rodney High School and eventually became a self-assertive entrepreneur.
She had a passion for construction and had served as a project manager for T.M. Ward Construction during the constructing of Dover Downs Casino. An energetic person, she was involved in several business ventures throughout her short life. She was a family-oriented person who enjoyed cooking and the time spent with family and friends. A caring and considerate person, Melissa will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Besides her mother, she was predeceased by her son, Dennis Eric Rainey-Troise. Besides her father, Melissa leaves her daughter, Elissa Troise and her fiance, John Greco of Lewes; one grandson, Edward Troise-Greco of Lewes and her fiancé, Stephen Kearney of Wilmington; three sisters, Penelope Corothers of Dover, Laurie Block of Mississippi and Susan Wildrick of Camden; her nephews and nieces, Chase Block, Katie May, Kimberly Corothers, Susan Guettler, Erica Wildrick, Heather Bergold, Ryan Walton, Alex Bergold and Tyler Wildrick.

A visitation will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday Feb. 13, at St. Edmond’s Catholic Church, King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon. Interment will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Pilottown Road, Lewes. At the conclusion of services family and friends are invited to a celebration of Melissa’s life at 156 Winding Ridge Road, Dover. In lieu of flowers family suggests donations to New Lungs for Chuck Foundation at newlungsforchuck.com. Arrangements are by Michael J. Ambruso Funeral Director Inc., Dover.

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Melvin G. Byrum Jr., broker-manager
Melvin G. “Glenn” Byrum Jr., 56, of Milford, was dealt his final hand Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, after surviving pancreatic cancer for over a year.

Glenn was born Aug. 5, 1953, in Baltimore, Md., to Shirley J. Byrum and the late Melvin G. Byrum Sr. Glenn attended Cardinal Gibbons High School in Baltimore, Md., and enlisted as a member of the Maryland Army National Guard in 1972. He served in various positions within Company A, 2nd Battalion, 175th Infantry in Glen Burnie, Md. In 1985, when the 29th Infantry Division (Light) came on line in Maryland, Glenn was selected as first sergeant of Headquarters Company in Chestertown, Md., where he remained until his retirement. He was the noncommissioned officer in charge of a state security mission at the Salisbury Airport shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. He also served as the NCO in charge at Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond, Ky., during Operation Noble Eagle 4. He was honored with several military awards including the National Defense Service Medal, Maryland State Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. He was a dedicated and respected leader by all with whom he served.

Glenn was the broker-manager for ERA Harrington Realty in Milford for the past five years. He earned his Realtor’s license in the 1980s and was a graduate of the Realtor Institute and a certified residential specialist. He was a member of the Sussex County Association of Realtors, Kent County Association of Realtors, Delaware Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors, serving on several committees within those organizations and received many awards within the industry. He spent some of his happiest times at the Mirage in Las Vegas with his wife Laura; it was also in Vegas where they married. Glenn spent one night a month for many years playing poker with a close-knit group of friends. He was a dedicated Baltimore Ravens fan. He loved to cook out and sample new foods. In the summer he could be found searching farmers markets and roadside stands for the perfect tomato and the largest watermelons.

Survivors include his wife of eight years, Laura Jarman Byrum; his children, Melissa Walls and her husband Rhett of Bear, Glenn D. Byrum of Wilmington, and Matthew C. Byrum and his wife Julia of Lincoln; his mother, Shirley J. Byrum; three brothers, Terry A. Byrum and his wife Dorothy, Russell W. Byrum and Jeffrey G. Byrum, all of Baltimore; his in-laws Harry and Carolyn Jarman; brother and sister-in-law Terry and Linda Saccardi, brother and sister-in-law Harry and Jody Jarman; and several nieces and nephews; and the family cat, Cowboy.

A celebration of Glenn’s life was held Tuesday, Feb. 4, at Rogers Funeral Home, Milford. Interment will be private at a later date.

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Raymond E. Marsico, Lewes resident
Raymond Edward Marsico, 46, of Lewes, formerly of Mechanicsburg, Pa., passed away peacefully Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, surrounded by his family and friends, after a short but courageous battle with cancer.

Raymond was born Oct. 20, 1963, in Steelton, Pa. He was the son of Patricia (Pappas) Eichhorn (Richard), of Bainbridge, Pa., and Raymond J. Marsico (Donna) of Shiremanstown, Pa.; also surviving, sister, Diane Lebo and husband Daniel; brother, Douglas Marsico and wife Michele, both of Mechanicsburg; four nephews, Nicolas (godson) and Kyle Lebo, Dougie and Tommy Marsico; a niece, Kelly Lebo; his friend and partner, James R. Long, of Lewes; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Raymond was a wonderful big brother who always enjoyed spending time with his nephews and niece, and they will miss his generous Christmas and birthday gifts, and his famous root beer floats; all will greatly miss his loving nature and quick smile. The last few years since his relocation to Lewes were among the happiest of Raymond’s life. He enjoyed cooking, traveling, bingo, watching football and entertaining. Raymond was a 1981 graduate of Cedar Cliff High School and attended HACC. He was formerly a finance and insurance manager for Faulkner Honda before relocating to Lewes, where he worked in the restaurant industry.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 12, in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 400 E. Simpson St., Mechanicsburg. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1019 Mumma Road, Wormleysburg, PA 17043.

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Joseph B. Gogarty, mold and die maker
Joseph B. Gogarty, 47, of Laurel, passed away Friday, Feb. 5, 2010, at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital Seaford.

Joseph loved cars, repairing automobiles, comedies and Billy Joel. He was an avid M&M memorabilia collector. Above all, he loved his family, and would do anything for anybody. He always kidded and his favorite saying was “You got me in trouble again, Draven.” He was someone you would want as your best friend. Joseph was a mold and die maker.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley Ann Gogarty. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Karen Gogarty; sons, Kevin Joseph and Kenneth John Gogarty, both of Laurel; daughters, Kristen Heck and husband Joshua Heck of Millsboro, and Stormy Grothe of Oklahoma City, Okla.; his father and stepmother, Richard and Florence Gogarty of Millsboro; a brother, Richard Joseph Gogarty and wife Donna of East Rockaway, N.Y.; one grandson, Draven-Spencer A. Heck, and one on the way. He is also survived by his two canine friends, Chico and Princess.

A funeral service was held Thursday, Feb. 11, at Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro. Burial was private. Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro.

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Harry N. Coar, Air Force veteran
Harry N. Coar, 73, of Georgetown, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010, in Christiana Medical Center.

Mr. Coar was born in Philadelphia, Pa., the son of the late Nelson H. and Pearl Warrington Coar. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He began his career with Megee Plumbing & Heating and retired from Coar Plumbing and Heating. He was the owner of standardbred racehorses and raced them locally. He enjoyed bridge and was a life master. He was a lifelong golfer with his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Josephine Megee Coar; three children, Dan and Elise Coar of Dover, Dave and Denise Coar of Georgetown, and Teresa Coar Meyer of Georgetown; two brothers, Tim Coar and his wife Jean of Georgetown, and Nelson Coar Jr. of Beaufort, S.C.; four grandchildren, Kristen Coar, David N. Coar, Jonas Meyer V and Katy Meyer; one great-grandson, Jonas Meyer VI; and one step-granddaughter, Kristen Schaffer.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 12, in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 609 E. Market St., Georgetown, where friends may call after 11 a.m. Interment will be in Union Cemetery, Georgetown. Donations may be made to Horse Lovers United Inc., P.O. Box 2744, Salisbury, MD 21802-2744; or the CHEER Center, 20520 Sand Hill Road, Georgetown, DE 19947.

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Robert ‘Bob’ Slowey, AT&T retiree
Robert Edward “Bob” Slowey, 80, of Bethany Beach, passed away peacefully Friday, Feb. 5, 2010.

Bob was born Feb. 21, 1929, in Scranton, Pa., son of the late Edward J. and Frances Cosgriff Slowey. He actively served two tours as a military policeman during World War II and the Korean conflict. He moved with his family to Rockville, Md., in 1965 where he spent 31 years at AT&T Communications in Washington, D.C. He retired with his wife to Bethany Beach in 2000. He enjoyed woodworking, boating, golfing and time with his family. Bob was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Bethany Beach and a longtime volunteer at the Center for Creative Nonviolence in Washington.

Bob is survived by his wife of 52 years, Joan Kane Slowey; two daughters, Mary Joan Slowey and Patricia Slowey Lynch; two sons, Robert Slowey and Christopher Slowey; six grandchildren, Sullivan and Gillian Lynch, Liam and Aidan Slowey, and Grayson and Carter Slowey; and many relatives and friends.

Bob’s life will be celebrated by family and friends at a memorial service and lunch at Magnolia’s Restaurant, 1 Cedar Neck Road, Ocean View, at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 13. The family suggests memorial donations to Catholic Relief Services, Diocese of Youngstown, Attn./Note: Haitian Earthquake Fund, 144 W. Wood St., Youngstown, OH, 44503. Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Ocean View.