The following obituaries are from the May 15, 2008 print edition of the Chanhassen Villager newspaper:

James E. Nicholls

James Nicholls, 82, of Chanhassen, died Wednesday, May 7, 2008.

Visitation was Monday, May 12, from 5-8 p.m. Services were Tuesday, May 13, at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour before, all at Washburn-McReavy Eden Prairie Chapel, 7625 Mitchell Road, 952-975-0400.

George Steven Ray

Beloved husband, father, son, son-in-law, brother, and uncle, George “Jorg” Steven Ray, 49, of Katy, Texas and formerly of Chanhassen, died Sunday, May 4, 2008 in his home. George Ray

Mr. Ray was born on June 4, 1958 in Niederhausen, Germany. He was an Instrumentational Designer with Mustang Engineering located in Houston, Texas. Mr. Ray was a graduate of Texas State University, and served in the United States Armed Forces.

His father, Robert Wilton Ray, preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife, Olga Ray, of Katy; daughters from a previous marriage, Gabrielle Savannah Ray and Sierra Cheyenne Ray of Hot Springs, Ark.; adopted daughter from his current marriage, Anastasia Ray of Katy; mother, Helga Ray of Texarkana, Ark.; brothers, Robert Allen Ray of McKinney, Texas and Thomas Patrick Ray of Dallas, Texas; sister, Jennifer Joan Hensley of Texarkana; nephew, Kyle David Hensley of Texarkana; niece, Patricia Dylan Hensley of Texarkana.

Funeral services were held Friday, May 9, at East Funeral Home, Texarkana, Texas at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Joe Strebeck officiating. The burial will take place at East Memorial Gardens in Texarkana. Visitation was at East Funeral Home on Thursday, May 8, from 6-8 p.m.

Family and friends may send tributes at www.mem.com [1].

Father Elstan (James) Coghill OFM

Father James Coghill, 85, of Springfield, Ill. and formerly of Jordan, died Friday, May 9, 2008 in Loretto Home at the Motherhouse of the Hospital Sisters of Saint Francis in Springfield.Father James Coghill

James Coghill was born Aug. 27, 1922 in Jordan, the son of Donald and Elizabeth (Smith) Coghill. On Aug. 19, 1942, he entered the novitiate of Sacred Heart Province of the Order of Friars Minor and received the religious name “Elstan,” which he kept for the rest of his life. Making solemn profession in 1946, he was ordained a priest on June 24, 1949.

After the first practicum year for preaching after ordination, Elstan spent the rest of the priestly career in parish work, except for one year of continuing education in 1972-73. He made the circuit of almost the whole province; eight years in Chaska, two years in St. Paul, one year in Memphis, Tenn., six years in Columbus, Neb. at St. Bonaventure’s, five years at Harbor Springs, Mich., seven years in Bastrop, La., three years in Memphis at St. Mary’s, two years in Chanhassen, 11 years in Victoria, six years at Cross in the Woods in Indian River, Mich. as senior associate. He retired to Our Lady of Angels Friary in Villa West in Sherman, Ill. in 2002 and eventually moved to Loretto Home where he passed away.

He was known as a genial and entertaining story teller all of his life. During the years he was stationed in Victoria, he regularly wrote columns for the “Victoria Gazette” which were collected into a book entitled Prints of a Priest. His sense of hope, spirit of joy, and genuine authenticity endeared him to many people. As one young adult said about him, “There was an ‘air’ about him that I have never felt with anyone else. Transcendent comes to mind...”

Father Coghill is survived by his brother, Jesse (LaVerne) of Jordan; sisters, Mary Barry of Shakopee and Joan Lyrek of Chetek, Wis.; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Blanch Fahey, Helen Coghill and Barbra Polingo; brother, Joseph who died at birth; brothers-in-law, Joe Fahey and Edward Polingo.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, May 15, at 10:30 a.m. from St. Victoria Church in Victoria with Father Robert White and Father John Doctor officiating. Visitation is Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. from the Wagner Funeral Home in Jordan and also one hour prior to the funeral Mass on Thursday at the church. Pallbearers are Bruce Coghill, Donald Barry, Joe and Terry Fahey. Burial will be at the St. Victoria Catholic Cemetery, Victoria.

Funeral arrangements with the Wagner Funeral Home of Jordan. 952-492-3366.