NORTH MANCHESTER – Josephine Estella Likens, 104, died at 5:50 a.m. Jan, 26, 2013, in Timbercrest Healthcare Center, North Manchester, of respiratory complications. She was born in Fairmount to Cyrus Melbourne and Caroline Gemmer Garner. She married Colonel B. Likens, who died in 1991. The family moved to a small farm in Monroe Township in 1918 where she lived for the remainder of her life. She celebrated her 104th birthday with some 50 family and friends Dec. 12. She graduated from Sidney High School in 1927 and was proud of the fact that she had never missed attending the annual alumni meeting. Her recitation of the poem “Home” by Edgar Guest was a favorite and she could give this poem/reading by memory to the end of her life. A YouTube version at her 100th birthday went “viral” on the Internet. She was a renowned seamstress and musician. She and Colonel had sung at numerous weddings, funerals and other occasions, and she was a long-time pianist/organist at the Eel River Congregational Christian Church, Spring Creek Church of the Brethren and Eel River Church of the Brethren. For decades she played the piano for singing “America The Beautiful” at the Kosciusko County Retired Teachers Association meeting. Her husband of 61 years was a well-known school teacher and principal in Sidney and Monroe Township schools. She was a school secretary at Sidney High School and Whitko Consolidated School for many years. She was president of the Eel River Ladies Aid and grand marshall at the Sidney Days Parade. Her love of life, her sense of humor and winning smile will be long remembered by family and friends. Surviving are two sons, Gene (and spouse Phyllis) Likens, Clinton Corners, N.Y., and Stephen (and spouse Elsa) Likens, Cerritos, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She also was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Whitehead, and a half sister, Ethel Davis. Services were at 2:30 p.m. today at Eel River Community Church of the Brethren, 2507 E. Ind. 14, Silver Lake, with Pastors Andrew Sampson and the Rev. Byron Miller officiating. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery, Pierceton. McKee Mortuary, North Manchester, was in charge of arrangements.. ***** Memorials may be made to Timbercrest Senior Living Community, P.O. Box 501, North Manchester, IN 46962. Condolences may be sent via mckeemortuary.com
