Marcella Defena Myers, age 85, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born March 22, 1924, in LaGrange, Ind., a daughter to the late William and Grace Kerns. Marcella was first married to Elton Barkman and after his passing she married Harold Myers.  He also preceded her in death. She had been employed …

Mattie Troyer, age 95, of Colon, passed away Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, at her home. The family will receive relatives and friends Monday after 4 p.m. and all day Tuesday at the Double M. Building, 59287 Nottawa Road, l mile north of Nottawa. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Double M Building. The Schipper Funeral Home …

Stewart D. Swihart Sr., age 97, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, 404 Cottage, Sturgis, Mich., died peacefully at Thurston Woods Village on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009. He was born Oct. 25, 1911, to Dyoll and Ella (Dague) Swihart in Howe, Ind.  He graduated Brighton High School (1929) and Purdue University (1934) with a mechanical engineering degree.  He was commissioned …

Ronald Roy Schrock, age 57, of Centreville, passed away Friday, August 28th, 2009 at his home. He was born in LaGrange, IN on May 10, 1952,  a son of  Roy D. and Rachael  I. (Hershberger) Schrock.  Ron graduated from Centreville High School in 1970 and attended Glen Oaks Community College for 2 years.  On November 6, 1971, Ron married Florence …

Stuart D. Halverson age 81, of Mattawan, passed away Wednesday August 26, 2009 at University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. He was born in Three Rivers, Michigan on January 11, 1928 the son of the late Erling and Kathryn (Patterson) Halverson. He graduated from Three Rivers High School and attended 2 years of college at Case Western Reserve in …

Mattie Jane Birch, age 83, of Richland and formerly of Chicago and Leonidas, died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009 at her home in Richland.  She was born in Leonidas on Aug. 18, 1926 the daughter of Karl and Ethel (Taylor) Birch.  She graduated from Mendon High School, attended the Chicago Evangelistic Institute, and graduated from Vernard University in University Park, IA.  …

Martha Winifred Bullock, age 86, of Cleveland Hts., OH , passed away  Sunday, August 23rd, 2009 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born in New Kensington, PA on April 9, 1923, a daughter of  Laney and Jerusha (Greer) Lewis.  Martha graduated from New Kensington High School in 1941 and later received her Masters Degree in Elementary Education from …

I’m starting the column with trivia. You’ll see why as you continue to read the column. 1. There are 60,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body. 2. Women’s hearts beat faster than men’s. 3. There are four main blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Each blood type is either Rh positive or negative.      The reason I …

Affectionately known as “The Chicken Lady”, Evelyn Alice Nuffer, age 73, of Three Rivers, died Sunday Aug. 23, 2009 following a brief illness.  She was born in Palmer, Alaska on June 28, 1936 the daughter John and Alice (DeGroat) Porter.  Generations have benefited from her volunteer work and generosity as a 4-H Leader.  She has assisted many children at the …

  A lifelong Mendon resident, Maurice “Mike” Kline, Sr., died Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009 following a long illness.  Mike was born on Jan. 9, 1927 to Otto and Ada (Mumby) Kline.  He was a member of the Mendon High School Class of 1944.  After graduation Mike served in the U.S. Army where he was among the first occupants of Japan …