Loretta Clare Dean
Loretta Clare Dean, 95, of Hillsboro passed away peacefully Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026 surrounded by her family at Trustwell Living at Bell Gardens in Hillsboro.
She was born Aug. 8, 1931 in Fayetteville, the daughter of the late Joseph F. and Hilda Mezger Carlier.
Mrs. Dean graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1949, received her bachelor of science in education from Wilmington College in 1953, going on to do graduate work for reading specialist from Miami University and the University of Cincinnati. Loretta’s life career was in education, teaching for over a total of 30 years serving the Kings Mills School, Fayetteville – Perry Schools in the 1950s and 1960s and from 1969 in the Highland County Schools until retiring from Bright Local School in 1989.
She has been a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Hillsboro since 1956, serving the church in several capacities, Parish Council, Alter Society Officer, Eucharistic Minister, CCD teacher and Funeral Lunch coordinator. In the community, Mrs. Dean was a member of American Association of University Women, Highland County Retired Teachers Association, was a former member of the Zane Trace Antique Car Club, Old Friends Car Club, Highland County Historical Society, and Highland County Senior Citizens.
On July 18, 1953, Loretta married James R. Dean at St. Patrick’s Church in Fayetteville. Mr. Dean passed away on March 7, 2013. She leaves to mourn her passing, but to celebrate her life, six children, Charlene (Roger Davis) Dean of Cincinnati, Marge (Rick) Mason of Columbus, Ind., Mary Hamilton of Waterford, Mich., Jane Horne of Hillsboro, Janet (Doug) Carson of Washington Court House and Joe (Sue) Dean of Mt. Vernon; 12 grandchildren, Tara (Chad) Cockerham, Amy (Steve) Smith, Kevin (Mandy) Mason, Zachary (Eve) Hamilton, Christina (Derek) Kowalski, Nathan (Allyce) Horne, Thomas (Danielle) Horne, Brett (Brooke) Horne, Joshua (Sarah) Carson, Jennifer (Tyler) Robertson, Ryan (Sadie Deckard) Dean and Matthew (Clover Truong) Dean, 21 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Agnes Fitzpatrick of New York. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one brother, Donald Carlier.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Hillsboro. The Celebrant will be Father Scott Morgan. Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Fayetteville.
Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 212 South High Street, Hillsboro.
The Turner & Son Funeral Home is serving the family. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.turnerfuneralhomes.cc.