Thorn-Black Funeral Homes Inc.

11/02/2026

James Allan Blankenship

James Allan Blankenship, 58, of Cambridge, passed away on Friday, October 30, 2026, at his home.

James was born on July 22, 1968, in St. Louis, MO, a son of the late David and Patricia (Winkler) Blankenship.

James was an avid joker, enjoyed squatching for Bigfoot, fishing, and being outdoors, and he loved making people laugh and smile. He worked in construction doing house rehabbing.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Wayne Blankenship, and his maternal grandparents, August and Irene Winkler.

James is survived by his son, Cole Blankenship, four daughters, Justain Blankenship, Sienna Blankenship, Alexandria Blankenship, and Antonia Blankenship, two brothers, Thomas Blankenship and David Blankenship, three sisters, Terrie Richey, Kathy Parmeley, and Ginny Swanson, three grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

View James Allan Blankenship's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

11/02/2026

Did you know?

You should still preplan even if you do not want a traditional service. Preplanning is as much "what not to do" as it is "what to do". When plans aren't made families resort to guessing as to what your wishes are. If you prefer a direct cremation, a memorial service, an immediate burial, or something else documenting these wishes is still a good idea. Your family is no longer using guesswork but your own thoughts and ideas.

If it's important to you that certain services are not done, it's best to have that conversation with your family and ensure your wishes are outlined somewhere that make them easy for your family to follow. This is about making thoughtful decisions while you still can and making the path easier for your loved ones in the future.

Attached is a link to our website that asks vital information questions to start the process:

Ease the burden on your loved ones by pre-planning your funeral services in Cambridge, OH with compassion and care. Contact us today to plan ahead.

11/01/2026

UPDATE: The service for Dorothy Swanson is now starting at 12PM at St. Johns Episcopal Church.

View Dorothy F Swanson's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

10/31/2026

Jerry Gatrell

Jerry Richard "Dick" Gatrell, 83, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, formerly of Cambridge, passed away Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at his home.

Jerry was born in Guernsey County on December 17, 1942, the son of the late Samuel Gatrell and Goldie (Mayhew) Spencer.

Jerry served in the U.S. Army as a Staff Sergeant (E-6), was a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient, completed four tours in Vietnam, and worked as a tool pusher, dozer operator, and truck driver in the oil field. He enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family and friends, and he was also a farmer and mechanic.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife Violet Gatrell; his daughter, Ruth Ann Gatrell; and his siblings, Robin Spencer, Jim Gatrell, Ed Gatrell, Tom Gatrell and Duke Gatrell.

He is survived by his sons, Michael Gatrell of Fort Wayne, IN and Kevin Gatrell of Norwich; his son-in-law, Nick Waller; also his adopted children, Terry Gatrell of New Concord and Missy Yoho of New Concord; his brothers, Bob Gatrell and companion Mary Duryee of Cuba, MO, Terry Gatrell of Quaker City, and Butch (Debi) Gatrell of Lore City; his sister, Brenda (Rob) Smith of Satsuma, FL; his brother, Alan Gatrell of Oxford, NC; his grandchildren, John, Sarah, Chad, Tara, Dylan, and Javin; his great-grandchildren, Iness, Eva, Hunter, and Alister; and his friends.

Visitation will be held at Thorn-Black Funeral Home in Cambridge, Saturday November 7, 2026, from 11AM to 1PM with the service to start at 1PM. Burial to follow at Guernsey Memory Gardens.

View Jerry Gatrell's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

10/31/2026

Frederick Eugene Taylor

Frederick "Fred" Eugene Taylor, 89, of Quaker City, passed away Thursday, October 29, 2026, at his home.

Fred was born October 9, 1937, in Belmont, Ohio, the son of the late Frederick and Hilda (Coe) Taylor.

Fred was a graduate of Belmont High School and was a truck driver. He enjoyed farming and woodworking, and he was always working with his hands.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia (Israel) Taylor, a sister, Verna Wroble, and a great- granddaughter, Azlynn Lucas.

He is survived by his daughter, Lori Taylor; his grandchildren, Olivia Lucas and Ariane Ross; and a great- grandchild, Azariah Ross.

There will be private graveside services at a later date.

View Frederick Eugene Taylor's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

10/30/2026

Cremation isn't as simple as people think at first glance.

There's still a lot of effort to put into it. We have put together a list of frequently asked questions about cremation.

Why does cremation take time?
Unlike burials in which we can do the services without a signed death certificate, we have to wait until the doctor signs the death certificate in order to do the cremation, because cremation is irrevisible.

Wait, I can have a service before cremation?
Yes! We can have a viewing and service before you are cremated. It would look very similar to a service in which there is a burial afterward except we don't go to the cemetery afterward. We have a rental casket that is used for these services.

Do I have to be embalmed before I'm cremated?
No, the only time that we embalm someone is if we are having services for them. You do not have to be embalmed to be cremated.

Why am I asked about a pacemaker or internal defibrillator when I'm signing the cremation authorization?
These devices contain a lithium battery in them, and they do not do well under extreme heat. They tend to explode and can over a long period of time cause damage to the retort, so we remove them before you go to the crematory.

What happens the metal inside my body (hip, knee, plates, screws, etc.)?
The metal that makes it through the cremation process is often separated from the body after cremation. Most crematories donate this metal.

How do I know this is my loved one?
When we take your loved one to the crematory, they are given a metal disk with a code on it. This disk stays with them from the time they are in the crematory through us handing them to you. When they get here, we take the time to check the code on the disk with the code on the certificate of cremation that the crematory gives us with your loved one.

Where is the crematory at? Do you cremate on site?
No, currently we do not have a crematory on site. We trust the people down at SRS Services/ Whispering Oaks Pet Funeral Services. They are located in Hopewell, Ohio.

Can I still pick up my loved ones cremated remains even if I haven't paid the bill in full?
Yes, we cannot hold them due to nonpayment, as stated in ORC 1713.40 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1713.40 and ORC 4717.14 (A)(7) https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4717.14

What happens if someone doesn't get claimed by family?
While we are upset when this happens, but sometimes it does. While we are only legally required to hold onto cremated remains for 60 days, ORC 4727.27(C)(1) https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4717.27, we hold them for up to 6 months before we inter them at Northwood Cemetery.

Do you have any questions about cremation? If so, feel free to call us at 740-439-1365 or comment them below.

(A) The authorizing agent who executed the cremation authorization form authorizing the cremation of a decedent under section 4717.24 of the Revised Code or the cremation of body parts under section 4717.25 of the Revised Code is ultimately responsible for the final disposition of the cremated remai...

10/28/2026

At Thorn Black Funeral Home, we want to make sure our families know we care about their journey through grief. We know how difficult losing a loved one is and how hard it can feel to get back to what “normal” looks like. Every Wednesday through the end of the year, we will be doing “Grief Resources Wednesday”. During this, we will be sharing tips on how to deal with grief and what that comes with. By sharing these resources, we hope we can help someone out there dealing with the heaviness of losing someone in their life.

This week, we are sharing a local Grief Share support group. Trinity Baptist Church, located at 7022 Bloomfield Rd., Cambridge, Ohio 43725, has a meeting every Monday evening. Grief Share is a ministry to help people process their grief after losing a loved one. If you have any questions about meeting times or information, their phone number is 740-439-2963 or email them at [email protected].

10/28/2026

💚 Healthy Relationships Matter!

Healthy relationships are built on respect, trust, communication, and support. Whether it’s with a partner, friend, or family member, everyone deserves relationships where they feel safe, valued, and heard.

Take a moment to learn more about the signs of a healthy relationship—and how positive connections can support your overall well-being. 💬💚

10/26/2026

Cleora "Iris" Edgell

Cleora “Iris” (Neilson) Edgell, of Cambridge, passed away at 3:10AM on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the age of 85. She was born in Alliance, Ohio on September 24, 1941, the daughter of the late Paul M. and Lucy L. (Whiteman) Neilson.

Cleora had a creative spirit, expressed through her work as a ceramicist during the middle years of her life. She also had a special love of frogs and assembled a large collection of frog-themed items over the years. Her ceramics and her much- loved collection offer lasting reminders of her creativity and the things that brought her joy.

She married Robert Thomas Edgell on September 29, 1959. They shared more than 55 years of marriage before his passing on February 3, 2015.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she is preceded in death by her brother, Paul L. “Sonny” Neilson and her sister, D. Kay Bargar.

She is survived by her sister, Donna Howell; her three children, Robert A. of Utica, NY, Cindy M. (& Howard) of Holloway, and Thomas A. (& Tina) of Flushing; her two granddaughters, Lucy A. (& Craig) Jones of Dayton, Dawn M. Kunath of Leesville, LA; several great- grandchildren; and her best friend and confidant, Marcella Evans.

Her family will remember her through the pieces she created, the frogs she collected, and the memories they shared throughout her eighty-five years.

In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation in her name to SAVE THE FROGS! 1968 S. Coast Hwy Suite 622 Laguna Beach, CA 92651.

Visitation will be held at Thorn- Black Funeral Home on October 30, 2026, from 11AM to 1PM with the service to follow at 1PM. Pastor Kris Bright will officiate. Burial will follow at Greenmont Cemetery in Freeport.

View Cleora "Iris" Edgell's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.