Obituaries

Mary E. Fox, age 73, of Sturgis, passed away Friday evening, September 1, 2023 at the Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital Warren Campus in Warren, Michigan. She was born November 24, 1949 in South Haven, daughter of the late Clarence E. and Laveda V. (Pierce) Jenner. Mary was a lifelong Sturgis resident and graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of …

Robert Whitfield Reetz, age 73, passed away Friday, September 1, 2023 at Beacon Health System – Three Rivers. He was born November 4, 1949 in Rochester, New York, the son of Harry and Maxine Reetz, and graduated from Irondequoit High School with the Class of 1967. A chemist by trade, Bob graduated with a degree in Physics from Purdue University …

Patricia Louise Dorrance, age 61, of Schoolcraft, passed away on August 22, 2023 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.  She was born in Kalamazoo on May 5, 1962 the daughter of Kenneth and Patricia (Reddy) Dorrance.  Pat attended school in Climax-Scotts and was part of the 1980 graduating class from Mendon High School.  After high school she attended Kalamazoo Valley …

Beverly Ann Chaddox, age 65, of Centreville, passed away Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023 at her home. She was born July 15, 1958 in Kentucky, a daughter of the late Virgil Hicks and Joyce (Brady) Ledger. Beverly has resided in Sturgis most of her life and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1976. On Jan. 31, …

Melva “Janie” Cunningham, age 86, of Centreville, passed away Monday, September 4, 2023. She was born July 31, 1937. Janie graduated from Centreville High School in 1955. On January 27, 1956 she married Howard Cunningham in Warsaw, IN. He preceded her in death December 23, 2004. Janie worked at Denton Mills and later retired from Sumitt Polymers. Janie was member …

Peggy Lee Standish, age 74, of Leonidas, died Friday, September 1, 2023 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend. She was born in Port Huron on March 3, 1949 the daughter of Frank and Bessie (Kibble) Dessro and attended schools in Port Huron and Three Rivers. She was married to Christopher Standish on August 8, 2002 in LaGrange, Indiana. Peggy was …

Derrell Merrill, age 65, of Sturgis, passed away on Saturday, Sepember 2, 2023 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born June 8, 1958 in Lexington, KY a son to the late Arthur B. and Reva (Ritchie) Merrill. Derrell has been a resident of Sturgis since 1983 moving here from Toledo. On June 16, 1979 in Toledo, …

James Edward Gushwa, age 79, of Jones, and a former longtime Sturgis and White Pigeon area resident, passed away Friday afternoon, September 1, 2023 at the Greenleaf Health Campus in Elkhart. He was born July 28, 1944 in Sturgis, son of the late Fredric Leroy and Olive Dorthea (Baker) Gushwa. Jim resided in Jones for the past 13 years. Most …

Jackson Scott Crager, age 2, of Jones, died on Friday, September 1, 2023 at his home from injuries sustained in an accident. He was born May 18, 2021 in Auburn, IN a son of Lyndy Crager and Joshua Robertson. Jackson aka “Baby Shark” was the definition of all boy, loving to be outside, working with his Dad and family around …

Ruth Herndon Jones, age 93, of Three Rivers, died Sunday, September 3, 2023 at Optalis (formerly Heartland) Healthcare in Three Rivers.  She was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on June 11, 1930 the daughter of the late Marshall and Sara Jane (Calvin) Herndon. She was a licensed practical nurse and provided in-home care to many in the Three Rivers area. Ruth’s …