Obituaries

Lois Faye Foster, age 78, of Athens, and formerly of Portage, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Reed City, on Aug. 31, 1940 the daughter of the late Rev. Albert Edwin and Eleanor Lavina (Foster-McDougal) McFarland. Lois was a homemaker who also worked at Meijer, a local day-care center, and as …

Bruce M. Jones, age 85, of Centreville, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center following a brief illness.  He was born in Schenectady, NY., the son of the late Duane and Frances (Miller) Jones and moved to Centreville in 1949. Bruce graduated from Centreville High School in 1951, where he was class Treasurer and attended Boys …

Stephen M. Snyder, age 57, of Kalamazoo, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, at his home. He was born Feb. 20, 1961, in Three Rivers, a son of Ralph A. and Harriet J. (Hutton) Snyder. He was a 1979 graduate of White Pigeon High School, where he was on the cross country track team and played french horn in the band. …

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. …