Obituaries

Ricky Gene Smithers, age 58, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully in his home on Monday, March 12, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 14, 1959 in Coalinga, California the son of William and Hazel (Travis) Smithers. In June of 21, 2002 he was united in holy matrimony to Jenni Davis. He was employed by …

Dora Mae Gaylor, age 77, passed away surrounded by loved ones at her side on Friday, March 9, 2018 after a long battle with cancer. Dora was born on September 25, 1940 of Harbor Springs, MI.  She married John Gaylor, on October 22, 1960 of Fibre, MI. Dora enjoyed knitting, crocheting, reading, and eating Chinese food.  She always had a smile on …

Ray Miles Stevens, age 87, of Nottawa, died on Monday, March 12, 2018 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. Ray was born November 16, 1930 in Eckford Township, MI, a son of Roscoe C. and Bernice L. (Holt) Stevens. He attended the Arch Workshop for many years and enjoyed making crochet rugs, attending the St. Joseph County Fair, …

Carol Ann Rose, age 76, of Sturgis, passed away Monday, March 12, 2018 at her home. She was born Aug. 22, 1941, in Sidney, Ohio, a daughter of the late Glenn and Ruby (Smith) Burch. Carol had been a resident of Sturgis since 1978, moving here from Sidney, Ohio, and previously lived in Jackson Center, Ohio. On Aug. 26, 1961, …

Trudy Marie Harnell, age 76, of Klinger Lake, passed away Saturday, March 10, 2018, at her home. She was born Feb. 24, 1942, in Chicago, a daughter of the late Edward R. and Catherine Pacak. Trudy was raised in Duluth, Minn., and married her high school sweetheart, Robert Harnell, on Oct. 1, 1960, in Omaha, Neb. She received a BSN …

Cleon Wayne Shultz, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, March 11, 2018, at his home. He was born Dec. 5, 1932, in Sharon, Conn., a son of the late Albert and Letha (Grove) Shultz. Cleon resided in Sturgis since 1956, coming from Brighton, Ind., where he was a graduate of Brighton High School with the class of 1957. While …

Marty Stecker, age 60, of Vandalia, passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at home. She was born August 3, 1957 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of William Rufus and Marian Louise (Price) Collum. Marty was an avid movie watcher and she loved to knit, sew and enjoyed quilting. She also previously enjoyed playing darts at the Marcellus V.F.W and what is …

William R. (Bill) Carter, age 77, of Colon, passed away Saturday, March 10, 2018, at his home after a short illness. Bill was born May 31, 1940, in Ann Arbor, a son to late Charles and Vivian (Walker) Carter. Bill grew up in the Plymouth area graduating from Plymouth High School with the Class of 1958. He later lived in …

Deborah Lynn Eckert, age 63, of Sturgis, died Friday, March 9, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Sturgis on July 2, 1954 the daughter of Lyle J. and Wava E. (Crotser) Eckert. Debbie attended the Pathfinder Center in Centreville and later worked at ARCH Workshop in Sturgis. She attended the Sturgis Church of the Nazarene. …

Neva Sue Hicks, age 77, of Sturgis, passed away early Saturday morning, March 10, 2018, at her home. She was born May 5, 1940, in Bracken County, Ky., daughter of the late David and Garnett (Jackson) Bell. Neva resided in Sturgis for several years returning from Tennessee four years ago. On Aug. 25, 1962, she married Charles Hicks in Milford, …