Obituaries

Richard G. Sylvester, age 86, of Mendon, died Sunday, April 16, 2023 at Heartland Healthcare Center in Three Rivers.  He was born Jackson County, Michigan on Aug. 22, 1936 the son of Peter and Anna (Houseman) Sylvester.  He was married to Willnetta “Dolly” Harrison on Oct. 9, 1954 in Auburn, Indiana. They moved to Mendon in 1971 coming from Rives …

Leland H. “Lee” Wickey, age 74. of Centreville, diedon Saturday, April 15, 2023 at his home. He was born March 21, 1949 in Goshen, a son of Henry and Suzanne (Hostetler) Wickey. Lee attended school in the LaGrange area. On May 19, 1972 he married Deborah Anne Elliott at the First United Methodist Church in Sturgis. She preceded him in …

Marian Emerson Hair, age 100, of Harbor Springs, Michigan and a former longtime Sturgis resident, passed away on December 8, 2022 in Harbor Springs, She was born Aug. 13, 1922, in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, daughter of the late Donald and Hannah (Lincoln) Emerson. Her parents had moved from northern Indiana to Canada to farm, then returned to the United …

Fairah Eileen “Shorty” Stokes, age 97, of White Pigeon, went to be with her Heavenly Father Wednesday, April 12, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She was born November 11, 1925 in Oil Trough, Ark., the daughter of Robb and Myrtle (Davidson) Phifer. She grew up in Bald Knob, Ark. as the oldest of eight children, where she spent most …

Robert L. Thompson, age 99, of Fisher Lake, Three Rivers, passed away on Monday, December 26, 2022 at Heritage Community of Kalamazoo. Bob was born on August 5, 1923 to Mabelle A. and Lloyd E. Thompson at home in Park Township, Three Rivers. Bob was preceded in death by his loving wife, Patricia (Pat), 93, after almost 75 years of …

David Joseph Hines of  Mendon, passed away on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at the age of 81. Dave was born on July 30, 1941 to Frank and Lillian (Coby) Hines. Dave will forever be remembered as a kind, gentle person, and an avid fisherman. While living in foster care, Dave had the most excellent caretaker: Ruth Bohm. For 50 years …

Donald Albert Palmer, age 95, of Centreville, passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at Edgewood Nursing and Rehab of Three Rivers. He was born June 6, 1927 in Sturgis, a son to the late James Albert and Bertha (Baker) Palmer. Donald married Norma Plucinski and this marriage ended in divorce in 1978. He was employed by Taylor Produce Co. for …

Mary Lou Ware, age 93, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born August 15, 1929 in Dayton, Ohio daughter of the late Lawrence J. and Elizabeth (Rose) Brinkman. Mary Lou resided in Sturgis since 1962 coming from Dayton. On September 1, 1951 she married Donald Ray Ware at the …

Corrine Kay “Connie” Woods, age 87, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday evening, April 11, 2023 at Sturgis Hospital. She was born July 18, 1935 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Hugh “Sox” and Ethel (Lockwood) Carver. When Connie was in the fifth grade the family moved to Hillsdale where she graduated from Hillsdale High School with the class of 1954. …

Betty Jean Peters, age 90, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday afternoon, April 11, 2023 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born July 4, 1932 in LaGrange County, Indiana daughter of the late Ellis and Blanche (Wilson) Rowe. Betty resided in Sturgis since 1962 coming from LaGrange County, where she was a graduate of Brighton High School with the …