Ethel Velie, 85

Ethel Arlene Velie, age 85, of White Pigeon, passed away Wednesday morning, June 19, 2013, at Thurston Woods Villa.

She was born Feb. 16, 1928, in Bear Lake a daughter of the late Ray and Gerana (Holcomb) Druce.

Ethel moved to this area in 1949 and on July 11, 1963, she married Philip R. Velie in White Pigeon. He preceded her in death on Feb. 25, 1998.

Ethel had worked as a secretary at National Carbon Coated Paper Company and was in customer service and production at Huntley VanBuren Co., Sturgis Posture Chair, Sturgis Company, GF Business Equipment, and at Bucknell Insurance which became Boyle, Flagg, and Seaman, from where she retired. She also did civil service work in Augusta, Ga., and at White Sands Proving Grounds.

She enjoyed reading, crafts, gardening and puzzles.

Surviving are sons, Phil (Mary) Velie of Sturgis, Norman Holton of Grand Rapids and Michael (Mary) Velie of Connersville, Ind.; seven grandchildren, Stacey Richardson, Kristopher Bell, Briann Velie, Nicholas Velie, Matthew Holton, Sean Holton, and Hailey Jordan; several great-grandchildren; a sister, Leta Porter of Tucson, Ariz.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and a daughter, Cindee Eagan.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 3-6 p.m. Sunday at Hackman Family Funeral Home — Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Road, Sturgis. Services celebrating the life of Ethel A. Velie will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with Pastors Matthew Jensen and Tanner Shomin, officiating. Graveside services and interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery.

Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.