Obituaries

Larry Bratton is at last with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Larry Bratton, age 93, died on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, at Riverside Village in Elkhart. He was born Junior Lawrence Bratton, the son of Lawrence and Mabel (Rainier) Bratton on May 13, 1925, in St. Joseph County, Mich. He married Lois Elizabeth Aurand on Sept. 10, 1950, in Mottville. …

Darlene Carol Gest, age 74, of Sturgis, passed away Monday evening February 11, 2019 at her home. She was born September 10, 1944 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Frederick W. and June (Blackburn) MacPherson. Darlene resided most of her life in Sturgis with the exception of the eight years she lived in Dowagiac and nine years in Centreville. On …

Thelma L. Smith, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away Monday evening, February 11, 2019 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born January 26, 1934 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Homer and Pearl (Brown) Carter. Thelma resided most of her life in Sturgis with the exception of the several years she lived in Vicksburg. She was married to …

Jean M. Avery, age 94, formerly of Mendon and Lake City, died Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at Thurston Woods in Sturgis. She was born in Centreville, on July 11, 1924 the daughter of Harry and Blanche (Worthington) Yearling. She graduated from Centreville High School with the class of 1942, and worked at the Ration Board in Three Rivers during the …

Arletta Rae Gruzinski, age 78, of Sturgis, died on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, at Thurston Woods Village. She was born July, 29, 1940, in Sturgis, a daughter of LeRoy and Juanita (Wesphall) King. She was a graduate of Sturgis High School. After high school, she attended Adrian College, where she received a bachelor’s degree in teaching. She worked as a …

Richard L. Gamble, age 46, of Centreville, died Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, in Portage, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by the Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon.

Edie Carolyn Howe, age 92, died on Friday, February 8, 2019. In accordance with family wishes cremation will be conducted and memorial services will be held this summer at Corey Lake, Three Rivers. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Margaret “Marge” Mary Guiher, age 80, passed away early Wednesday morning, February 6, 2019. Margaret was born in Buffalo, New York on May 18, 1938, the daughter of William J. and Ellen M. (Cunningham) Morrison. On June 01, 1991, she married Maurice A. Guiher in St. Frances of Assisi Chapel in Tonawanda, New York. They were married for almost 12 …

Wayne Arthur Fennell, age 92, of Burr Oak, passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Private burial will take place in Burr Oak Cemetery. A time of sharing and services celebrating the life of Wayne A. Fennell will be held on his birthday, June 23, 2019 at 1:00 P.M., at the Rosenberg Chapel of Hackman …

Richard D. “Don” Harker age 91 of Sturgis, passed away early Thursday morning, February 7, 2019 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born February 8, 1927 in Chicago, son of the late Chester and Dora (Neusom) Harker. Don resided in Sturgis since 1979 coming from Battle Creek. He had also lived in North Hollywood, California and his early …