ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Births
• Engagements
• Weddings
• Anniversaries
• Obituaries

Births

Brooklyn Carreiro Brandt was born Aug. 3, 2005, to Tracy and Jason Brandt in Columbus, Ohio. Brooklyn was 6 pounds 2 ounces and 181/2 inches long. Grandparents Tony and Edie Carreiro of the West Palm Beach, Florida, congregation and Carl and Yvonne Brandt of the Columbus, Ohio, congregation are thrilled with the new blessing.

Andrew and Chantelle Teague of West Monroe, Louisiana, are the proud parents of Christopher Mason Teague. Mason was born July 20, 2005, weighing 6 pounds 14 ounces, and was welcomed into the family by his sister Camellia, age 3. The Teagues are members of the Ruston, Louisiana, congregation. Grandparents are Chris and LaDonna Teague, also members of the Ruston congregation, and Michael and Michelle Grovak, members of the Church in Lafayette, Indiana. Great-grandparents are Charles and Victoria Morton and great-great-grandmother is Irene O'Neil, all of West Monroe. Mrs. Morton and Mrs. O'Neil also are members of the Ruston congregation.

Thad and Kimberly (Hemsley) Roemer of Seattle, Washington, are happy to announce the birth of their first child, Nathaniel Montgomery. Nathaniel was born Sept. 19, 2005, weighing 7 pounds 3 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. Earl and Carol Roemer of Boise, Idaho, and Dave and Pat Hemsley of Dayton, Ohio, are each thrilled to have their third grandchild.

Bryndan Li Taite, born Li Si Qi on Jan. 16, 2003, in Tuanfeng, Hubei Province, China, joined her forever family on Sept. 5, 2005, when her mom, Karen Bradley traveled to China, along with big sister Micah, to bring her home. Bryndan now has two big brothers, Kevin and Clay, and two older sisters, Micah and Daryn, all of the Phoenix East, Arizona, congregation. Bryndan's grandparents are Tim and Mary Ann Hazelip, of Port Richey, Florida.

Hansel and Rachelle New of the Eugene, Oregon, congregation are very happy to announce the birth of their second child, Evan Daniel, born on July 14, 2005. Evan weighed 8 pounds 14 ounces and measured 201/2 inches long. Big sister Emily Rose; grandparents Daniel and Gracie Miller of the Salem, Oregon, congregation; and grandma Rose Long of Ontario, Oregon, are happy to welcome this new little one to our family.

Philip and Tammy (Johns) Charles are happy to announce the birth of their third child, Justin Daniel James. He was born July 7, 2005. He weighed 10 pounds 6 ounces and was 223/4 inches long. He was welcomed home by big brother Nathan (5) and big sister Leah (17 months), as well as proud grandparents Dan and Jeanette Charles, of the York, Pennsylvania, congregation, and Jim and Sue Johns.

E.B. and Sherry Haney of Chattanooga, Tennessee, are delighted to announce the birth of their second child, Shane Colton Haney. Shane was born April 24, 2005, on the First Day of Unleavened Bread. His older brother Reno was born in 1999 during the Feast of Tabernacles. Cheers for Holy Day babies! Proud grandparents are Jim and Jean Rickard and E.W. and Bess Haney, all of Chattanooga.

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Engagements

Leigha Elisabeth Riley, daughter of Martha and the late C.W. Riley, members of the Wichita, Kansas, congregation, and Arnold Mendez Jr., son of Arnold and Janie Mendez of the Corpus Christi, Texas, congregation, are excited to announce their engagement. They were engaged on Oct. 16, 2005, before the Feast. A June 24 wedding is planned in Houston, Texas. Both currently attend the Houston North congregation.

Susan Fike of Orlando, Florida, and Joel Falardeau of West Lafayette, Indiana, are pleased to announce their engagement. Susan is the daughter of Michael and Nancy Fike of Zephyrhills, Florida. They attend the Tampa and St. Petersburg churches. Joel's parents are Michael and Michelle Grovak of the Lafayette, Indiana, congregation, and Michel Falardeau of Danville, Illinois.

Susan and Joel met at the 2004 Feast in Panama City Beach, Florida. They plan a July 2, 2006, wedding in Georgia and plan to live in Orlando.

Weddings

Ralph and Cheryl Bean of Lebanon, Tennessee, would like to announce the marriage of their youngest daughter, Rebecca, to Brent Baker, son of Howard and Sarah Baker of Hawkins, Texas. Brent and Rebecca were united in marriage on June 26, 2005, in Brentwood, Tennessee.

The wedding party included Greg Baker, Eric Breedlove, Tina Cason, Jason Cook, Jake Flynn, Karen Ha, Jason Kelley, Caroline Luck, Hannah Luck and Isaac Powell.

Brent and Rebecca currently reside in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and attend the East Texas congregation.

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Anniversaries

Burkley and Edna Stacy celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in Mount Vernon, Ohio, on Nov. 16, 2005. They were married on that date in 1945, shortly after Burkley finished his service with the U.S. Army in Europe, and after Edna's work experience in the Navy Yard at Norfolk, Virginia.

Upon being congratulated on how nice they looked, Burkley held out his black necktie, saying, "This is the tie I wore the day we got married—and it's the only thing I can still fit into!"

The couple cut a cake of congratulations and shared it with the family and friends who came to honor them on a very special day.

In a short ceremony at Sabbath services on Dec. 10, 2005, the East London, South Africa, congregation witnessed a first in its 31-year history when Sydney and Muriel Banks renewed their wedding vows made exactly 50 years previously. After the service they cut a cake together and shared it with the congregation over a cup of tea.

Sydney and Muriel had four children (of which three survive) and they have eight grandchildren. Their faithfulness during 50 years of marriage and 31 years in the Church of God has been a wonderful example to all who know them.

Obituaries

Wilmer H. "Pop" Beyer, 93, of Coldwater, Michigan, died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005, at home. Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he was a former resident of Van Wert, Ohio, and Tekonsha, Michigan. He and his wife, Gerri, have been members of the Church of God since the early 1960s, and attend the United Church of God in Fort Wayne.

In his late teens he placed sixth in the world in a speed roller skating competition held in Chicago, Illinois. He retired as co-owner of Beyer's Van Wert Roller Rink in 1975, and also retired from Dana Plant Security after 19 years, in 1975.

He is survived by his wife of 75 years, Geraldine "Gerri" Parker; son, Laron (Marla) Beyer; daughter, Sharon (Charlie) Stemen; sister, Clara Adair; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister.

Burial is in Monroeville Memorial Cemetery, Monroeville, Indiana, and preferred memorials are to Southern Care Hospice, 437 Fern Ave., Jackson, MI 49202.

Mr. Beyer's dry wit and sparkling, open personality will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

Myrtle A. Mitchell of Green Acres, Washington, a member of the Spokane, Washington/Coeur d'Alene, Idaho congregation, died peacefully at her home Nov. 26, 2005, after a five-year bout with multiple myeloma.

She is survived by a sister, Shirley Fisher, of Newman, California; her daughter, Kimberley Garr, of Green Acres; two sons, Curtis Ankerberg, of Medford, Oregon, and Keith Ankerberg, of Longview, Washington; and six grandchildren. All but Curtis and two of the grandchildren were by her side at the time. None are members of the Church. Also, a very close friend, Arnold Egbert, was at her side at the time.

Her husband, Ray Mitchell, had died in 1997. The children are from a previous marriage.

She was a very outgoing person, always doing things for people. Several times she made it possible for someone to attend the Feast. One person wrote, "She was an absolute delight to every one that had the pleasure of meeting her, and her beautiful smile made her welcome everywhere."

She had attended the Feast in a number of different places, but the one that took her heart was St. John's, Newfoundland. She would have liked to have gone there again, but due to her health, she stayed in the United States this year. She was able to attend the Feast in Escondido, California, and saw one of her grandchildren in California as well as friends she had grown up with.

She has been a faithful, serving member of the Church since 1987. A memorial service was conducted on Dec. 1 by Mark Mickelson.

Carmel Mullen, a beautiful, loving and faithful wife, mother, sister and friend to many, was peacefully taken too soon from us on Nov. 26, 2005, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Carmel served and attended congregations in Portland, Oregon, for the past 30 years. Her interest in the truth began in 1968, when she and her husband moved to Canada from Ireland after they were married. In 1973 she was baptized shortly after attending in Edmonton, Alberta.

She is survived by her husband, Gerald; six sons, Corey, Aaron, Kieran, Shaney, Kyle and Orin; sisters, Catherine Wallace, Eileen Wallace, Josephine Garrivan, Angela Gavin; and her brother, Patrick Sheehan.

To see her online obituary, watch the tribute video or sign the online guestbook, feel free to visit edwardsmemorial.com. Her family would also like to extend their deepest appreciation for everyone's support, cards, thoughts and prayers in the past months. We really appreciate all of your encouragement and the reassurance for the hope we all hold for the soon-coming Kingdom of God.

Helena Keisel, 88, of Fulton, Illinois, died Oct. 15, 2005. She was a member of the Beloit, Wisconsin, United Church of God, although her health had prevented her from attending church for several years. She was a faithful member of God's Church since the 1960s.

She will be remembered for her warm hospitality, love of life and laughter. She treasured God's truth and the beauty of His creation. Even as Alzheimer's took its toll on her mind, she expressed appreciation for friends and family.

Survivors include two sons, Darrell (Janet) Keisel of Oglesby, Illinois, and Roger (Marlene) Keisel of Erie, Illinois; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one sister; and one brother. She was preceded in death by her husband, Emmett. Steve Nutzman conducted the funeral service on Oct. 19, 2005.

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