Obituaries

Mrs. Vera May Young, age 89, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 18, 2016 at the Riverview Manor Nursing Home following a lengthy illness. She was born on May 8, 1926 in Three Rivers, MI. the daughter of the late Ray and Marie (Spooner) Fitch. Mrs. Young has been a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. Following graduation …

Shirley Jean (Roberts) Haas, age 87, died at Drew’s Place in Coldwater on Saturday, March 19, 2016 after a long illness. Shirley was born on December 5, 1928 to Mendon residents Leda (Cupp) Roberts and Louis Roberts. During her childhood Shirley lived in Zeeland ,MI and Gainesville, FL, but spent her summers with her grandparents, Norman and Alvie Cupp on …

John Pederson, age 72, died on Friday, March 18th. Arrangements are being handled by Hohner Funeral Home.

Lyle E. Motter, age 81, of Sherwood, passed away Thursday, March 17, 2016, at Bronson of Battle Creek Hospital. Lyle was born Sept. 10, 1934, in Leonidas, a son to the late Roy and Grace I. (Birkley) Motter. He had served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. On Feb. 6, 1956, he married Shirley L. Batterson in Angola, …

Dorothy May Nichols, age 102, of Colon, passed away Friday, March 18, 2016, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in Centreville. Dorothy was born Nov. 5, 1913, in Colon, a daughter to the late Lou G. and Lucy Belle (Gregg) Dingman. She had lived most all of her life in the Colon area, graduating from Colon High School with the …

Jody Lee Merriam, age 56, of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at Bronson Methodist Hospital following a three month illness. He was born in Kalamazoo on July 17, 1959 the son of Allen and Anna (Hoogakker) Merriam. Jody graduated from Vicksburg High School with the class of 1979. He was married to Marcia Shingledecker on Aug. 22, 1982 …

Ruth J. Perry, age 89, of Ionia, and formerly of Burr Oak, passed away Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at Heartland Health Care Center in Ionia. Ruth was born Sept. 20, 1926, in Burr Oak, a daughter of the late John C. and Louise B. (Modert) Baumeister. Ruth grew up in Burr Oak, graduating from Burr Oak High School with the …

Fletcher “Bumpy” West, age 78, of Three Rivers, passed away Monday, March 14, 2016 at Kairos Dwelling in Kalamazoo.  He was born on July 11, 1937 in Haverhill, Massachusetts, a son of Fletcher and Madeline (Young) West.  Fletcher graduated from Milford High School and served in the U.S. Army for 2 years.  He continued his education at Boston College and Harvard University, …

M. Kay (Thornton) Lafler, age 75, of Colon, passed away, Saturday, March 12, 2016, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Kay was born December 30, 1940, in Sturgis a daughter to the late Jesse and Velma (Wilcox) Thornton. She lived all her life in the Colon area, graduating from Colon High School with the Class of 1958. She had been …

Norman Wesley Lunsford died on Monday, March 14, 2016. In accordance with family wishes, cremation will be conducted and there will be no public services held at this time. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.