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Dr. Jack Layh was a pillar of the greater Dayton mental health community, having an important hand in building local community agencies including the Dayton Free Clinic in 1969, the Clark County Big Brothers Big Sisters Program in 1978, the Mental Health Unit at Greene Memorial Hospital in 1980, and TCN Community Mental Health Center in 1989. Dr. Layh was among one of the first graduating classes at Wright State University where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in 1968, followed by a master’s degree in psychology in 1970. He went on to complete his doctorate in clinical psychology at Ohio University in 1979.

Dr. Layh was actively involved with the Dayton Area Psychological Association for many years, including serving on the Board of Directors as President. He also served as the clinical director at both TCN Community Mental Health Center and the Mental Health Unit at Greene Memorial Hospital when he was involved with those organizations.

Throughout his life, Dr. Layh was motivated by a strong belief that people have the right to mental health treatment and more than 40 years ago, he founded one of the largest private psychology practices in our area: Layh & Associates.

Through Layh & Associates, Dr. Layh developed a multi-specialty private practice, with mental health providers who have a broad range of backgrounds that allows the practice to provide access to quality mental health services for the diverse needs of the people in our local and surrounding communities.

Dr. Jack Layh passed away in November of 2022. His goal was to leave the world a better place and he embodied this message throughout his life.

ALDEN, Jonathan "John"

Age 76, of Kettering, Ohio, passed away on November 1, 2022. He was born on February 21, 1946, in Dayton, Ohio, to the late Jonathan and Gladis Alden. John is survived by his loving wife of 30 years Cathy Alden; son Aric Chilcote; children Darcy Alden, Jonathan Alden, and their mother Nancy Blackburn; granddaughter Nevada Alden; Good friends Billy Darnell, Peter Bradstreet, David Kreitser, Bill Moy, and Sandy Kreitser. John's life was all about music. He was an incredible acoustic guitarist and was a member of numerous rock bands, including Jonathan and Leigh, Starbucks, Dayton Yellow Springs Band, and Electric Range. John loved dancing while cooking in the kitchen, especially while making Buck Benny Casserole. He was loved and will be missed, especially by the love of his life Cathy.

SEARLES, Mary, age 77, of Beavercreek, passed away on Friday, September 22, 2023 in Beavercreek, Ohio.



Mary (Marianthi Mitrousis) was born on September 29, 1945 in Flampouro Greece to the late Stefanos and Arhonda (Kiritis) Mitrousis. She immigrated from Greece when she was 12 years old and lived in Englewood, Ohio where she graduated from Colonel White High School. She earned her BS in Social Work from Wright State and then received her master’s degree at The Ohio State University.



She began her professional career at the Welfare Department and spent over two decades developing her career at Wright Patterson Air Force Base until she retired in 2006.



She met the love of her life, John Searles, on a blind date. They were married on June 28th, 1970.



Mary was a wonderful and caring daughter, sister, wife, mom, Yia Yia, Thetsa, and godmother. Family was her number one priority and she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren the most. She devoted much of her time to the Greek church as a Sunday school teacher, running the gyro booth, and supporting the community through Daughters of Penelope and Philoptochos. She loved golfing and would be on a course almost every day of the week when the weather was nice. She was the life of the party and loved hosting events at her house for family and lifelong friends. Marianthi never met a stranger and always put others before herself. She enjoyed gardening and looked forward to planting her colorful annuals every spring. Traveling was an important part of her life especially after retirement. She traveled the world with family and friends, but enjoyed visiting Greece the most. She loved teaching her daughters and grandchildren how to Greek dance, cook Greek food, and how to live life to the fullest. She loved to Greek dance and sing Greek songs even until her final days. Her mother, Arhonda, would always say: “Mia Zoi” which means “One Life” in Greek. She lived her life everyday as if it were her last, not taking for granted a single moment.



She was preceded in death by her husband John Searles; parents Stefanos and Arhonda (Kiritis) Mitrousis; her father-in-law and mother in-law Sanford and Henrietta (Drieling) Searles; her brother Chris Mitrousis.

Mary is survived by her two daughters Elisabeth and Nicole: Elisabeth (Bryan) Ludwig of Dayton, Ohio and their children, Zachary and Julia; Nicole (Nathan) Sites of Columbus, Ohio and their children, Emerson and Eleni. In addition, Mary is survived by many loving family members including: brothers and sisters-in-law Bill and Georgia Mitrousis, Nick and Denice Mitrousis, sister-in-law Linda Mitrousis, cousins, many nieces and nephews, and godchildren.

January 30, 1946 - March 27, 2023
Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1946, Gary later moved with his family to Dayton, Ohio. While attending Colonel White High School, he met his best friend and future wife, Karen Gebhardt. Gary graduated from Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio in 1968; from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio in 1971; and received Clinical Pastoral Care training at Kettering Medical Center through 1985. An active minister of the United Methodist Church for 44 years, he served Ohio churches in Dayton, Middletown, Findlay, Franklin, Cincinnati, and Enon, and as a hospital chaplain at Grandview Hospital in Dayton. He retired in 2014 from his last appointment, serving as senior pastor of Roser Memorial Community Church on Anna Maria Island in Florida. Those who knew Gary remember him as a man of integrity, dedicated, inspiring, and loving, who had the ability to listen and to share his wisdom and his humor.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents John W. Jr. and Frances E. Batey; and by his siblings John W. Batey III, Truman L. Batey, and Kristine F. Batey. He is survived by Karen, his wife of 56 years; daughters and their husbands Diane and Matthew Magness, and Melanie and Brian Parent; grandchildren Carter Parent, Adria Parent, and Soren Magness; sisters Melinda (Richard) Stan, and Janet Filer; brother-in-law Richard (Barbara) Gebhardt; sister-in-law Marcia Gebhardt; and nieces and nephews. Being a loving Dad and Grandpa was the favorite part of his life.

Sandra Lynn Kline, 77, of Centerville, OH, passed away on December 15, 2023. She was born on March 27, 1946, in Dayton, OH to the late Dorcy and Velma Garwood. Sandee graduated from Colonel White High School and earned an education degree from Otterbein University. Sandee was the heart and soul of her family, the love of her husband's life, and a best friend to her daughters. As "Mimi", she found great joy in her grandchildren. Sandee is survived by her husband of 54 years, Michael; daughters Gina (Steve) Gentile and Nicole (Chris) Wimsatt; grandchildren Jake (Tessa) Gentile, Tyler Gentile, Evan Gentile, Brady Wimsatt, Caroline Wimsatt, and great-grandchildren Mia Gentile and Luke Gentile; brother Robert (Susan) Garwood; nieces, a nephew, and many cousins.

Diana Colleen Scott, 76, of Delrose, Tennessee passed away on Friday, August 19, 2022, at Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, Alabama.

She was the daughter of the late Albert Behnken and Zella Smith Behnken.

Mrs. Scott lived in the Delrose area half her life and was of the Baptist faith. She attended church regularly. She was an advocate of the Elkton Homemakers Club and enjoyed Monday morning prospect bible study. Mrs. Scott also worked for the Ardmore Telephone Company for 31 years.

She is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, parents-in-law and grandson Justin Scott.

She is survived by her husband, Tom Scott, two daughters: Monika and Melissa Scott, brother Andy (Leann) Dargavell, sisters: Winnie (Eldon) House and Alice (Gary) Gilreath, grandchildren: Carmen (Brad) Yap, Rhiannon (Scott) Payne, Trace (Baylie) Williams, and Megan Williams, great grandchildren: Caeli, Cyeson, Coral, and Braelynn, as well as many great friends.

Susan Elizabeth, Age 75, of Kettering, passed away after a long battle with breast cancer on April 7th, 2022. She was born in Dayton, Ohio, on October 27, 1946, to James Lee and Janet (Stoddard) Miller. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, James Lee Miller Jr. of Kerala, India.

Susan graduated from Colonel White High School in 1964 and Miami University in 1967 earning a Bachelor of Science in Education. She taught in Dayton Public Schools for 27 years, working with the
wonderful students of Lincoln and Kemp Elementaries. Susan especially loved her years teaching kindergarten. During the 1970s and 1980s she stayed home to raise her children which she felt was her most important accomplishment. She was a champion of children and loved her children and grandchildren wholeheartedly. As a parent and then a grandparent, she was often involved in their activities and events and enjoyed attending music and acting performances as well as ball games. She enjoyed vacationing with her grandparents, parents and children throughout the United States and Canada. Susan spent many spring break vacations with family in Scottsdale, Arizona. She had fond memories of waterskiing on Georgian Bay, as a child and adult. In more recent years, Susan embarked on international travel with her brother Donn. She swam in four oceans, including the Indian and
Arctic. A lifelong member of Memorial Baptist Church, Susan enjoyed singing in the church choir, and served the youth as a Sunday School teacher and Baptist Youth Fellowship leader. She also served on many committees and projects. Upon the closing of Memorial Baptist, she was now a member of First Baptist Church of Dayton. Susan will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Susan is survived by daughter, Betsy (Rev. Daniel) Bellavia; son, Michael Reichard; daughter, Debbie (Joshua) Reichard-Smith; and son, Stephen Reichard. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Scott (Annie) Bellavia, J.D., Chris Bellavia, John Bellavia, James Bellavia serving in the US Army at Fort Drum, and Jackson Smith; three great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Hudson and Lillie Bellavia; brothers Donn (Peggy) Miller and Mike Miller; cousin, Tim (Jean) Gaffney; and dear nieces and nephews. Susan is also survived by her sweet dog, Trudy. Susan wants to extend a special thanks to her son Stephen who was his mother's devoted caregiver.

PAYNE, James R. "Jim"

Age 82, of Dayton, passed away on March 3, 2022. Born in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa on March 4, 1939. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Ethel Payne, his sister

Betty (Roger) Enke, and his grandparents William and Mathilda Heintze and Jesse and Leona Payne. James is survived by his life-partner James L. Hayden, as well as his cherished sisters, Katherine Applebee, and Christine (Milton) Baldridge, and many amazing nieces and nephews. Extended family includes Phil, Michael, Bruce, Robert, and Dana Hayden and their children. Jim graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College and Miami University. A former teacher of Speech, Drama, and English at Sigourney, Iowa High School and Colonel White High School in Dayton. He served on the planning committee for the Dayton award-winning creative Arts program - The Living Arts Center, where he also served as Drama and Program Director. Jim directed, or acted, for the Dayton Theatre Guild, Dayton Community and Dayton Reperatory Theatres, as well as other community and college theatres. In 1980, Jim was named Managing Director of the Dayton Playhouse, where he served for 14 years. He was instrumental in designing the current Dayton Playhouse location at Wegerzyn Garden Center. During his tenure, he elevated the quality of community theatre in the Miami Valley including the formation of FutureFest, a national, annual playwriting contest for previously unproduced plays. In 2002, Jim was inducted into the first Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame. Jim directed over 75 plays and musicals in his theatre career. After retiring, Jim became a talent agent with Jo Goenner

Talent Agency. Jim Payne and Jim Hayden "The Jims" loved their Cabin-in-the-Woods and entertaining family and friends and their dog, Mitzi. A Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at Kindred Funeral Home, (400 Union Blvd. Englewood, Ohio 45322). Jim's Service will take place at 9:30 am on Friday, March 11, 2022, at

Kindred Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to consider a donation to the Dayton Playhouse (P.O. Box 3017 Dayton, OH 45401-3017). Online condolences may be made to the family at www.KindredFuneralHome.com.

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NORTHCUTT (Epps), Brenda Carol

Age 75 of Miamisburg, passed away on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. She was a graduate of Colonel White High School class of 1964 and attended the University of Dayton. She worked for many years as the Executive Administrative Assistant for the CEO of LexisNexis, McCalls and Workflow One. Brenda had also worked for the Superintendent of Volusia County School District in Florida. She was also a former dance teacher at Dayton Ballet. Brenda was a member of Fairhaven Church and enjoyed music, dancing, cruising, being at the ocean and being with people. She is survived by her husband of 46 years: William "Bill" Northcutt