Obituaries

Jerry Walter Whitley, age 68, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, at Lakeside Cemetery in Colon. The family was assisted by Schipper Funeral Home.

Gerald James Ross Jr., age 70, of Burr Oak, passed away early Saturday morning, Nov. 10, 2018, at Goshen Hospital. He was born Aug. 14, 1948, in Alma, a son of the late Gerald James and Beatrice (Oswald) Ross. Jerry resided in the Sturgis and Burr Oak area since 1989, coming from St. Louis, Mich., where he had lived his …

Heidi Sue Pyke, age 54, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday evening, Nov.6, 2018, at her home. She was born Dec. 15, 1963, in Champaign, Ill., a daughter of Gary and Carol (VanZile) Jones. Heidi resided most of her life in Sturgis and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1982. On April 11, 1998. she married …

Patricia L. Merriman, 78, of Sturgis, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, at Glenn Arbor Hospice in Battle Creek, following an extended illness. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at Grace Christian Fellowship Church in Sturgis, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Cremation will follow the service. Donations may be directed to the family. …

Shirley Louise Lipscomb, age 65, of Three Rivers, passed away Wednesday evening, Nov. 7, 2018, at her home. She was born July 12, 1953, in Wellston, Ohio, a daughter of the late Rosa Alice Wyatt. Shirley had resided in Three Rivers for the past two years, coming from Centreville, and she also lived in Nottawa for many years. On Aug. …

Patricia E. Yoder, age 71, of Sturgis, died Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, at Sturgis Hospital, following an extended illness. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, at New Beginnings Church in Sturgis. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, with Pastor Randy Evans officiating. Interment will follow in Mottville Township Cemetery. Donations may …

Larry L. Carpenter, age 63, of Bristol, Ind., and formerly of Sturgis, passed away early Tuesday evening, Nov. 6, 2018, at Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart. He was born April 8, 1955 in Sturgis, a son of the late Lloyd and Hope (Hedglin) Carpenter. Larry resided most of his life in Sturgis, living the past six years in Bristol. …

Elijah Jawan Hamilton, age 21, passed away on Friday, November 2, 2018 in Three Rivers. He was born on November 15, 1996 in Sturgis, the son of Kevin and Ericka (Wright) Hamilton. He was a graduate of Three Rivers High School Class of 2015.  In high school, Elijah participated in basketball, student council, TRAM (Three Rivers Area Mentoring), and was …

Deb Providakes, age 59, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born March 26, 1959, in Springfield, Mass., a daughter of the late Anthony F. and Barbara (Chaffee) Marino. On Oct. 29, 1977, she married Bill F. Providakes in Springfield. Deb was a florist for more than 40 years and was …

Virgil Leroy Lancaster, age 82, of Burr Oak, passed away Monday morning, Nov. 5, 2018, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born Nov. 12, 1935, in Burr Oak, a son of the late Kenneth B. and Maude A. (Schrader) Lancaster. Virgil’s early life was spent in Burr Oak until entering sixth grade, when the family moved to Mesa, …