Obituaries

William Ray “Bill” Coomer, age 72, of Mendon, died Friday, May 3, 2016 at his home following a long illness. He was born in Paulding, Ohio on Sep. 20, 1943 the son of Robert L. and Wilma (Davis) Coomer. Bill graduated from Centreville High School in 1961 and later attended Kellogg Community College. He was a life-long farmer, and sponsor …

Pastor Elbert L. Foster, born Sept. 25, 1964 to Jessie L. Kelly and Raymond Banks, Jr., departed this life after a long and courageous battle with sickle cell anemia on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center. Pastor Elbert Foster joined Ambassadors for Christ Church in 1992 under the Leadership of Apostle Joseph L. Stanford, became a licensed Deacon and …

Jack Klerk, 62, of Three Rivers, left this world on Memorial Day 2016. He was born in Kalamazoo where he grew up on Waite Avenue with the Winchell gang and graduated from Loy Norrix and Albion College with a biology degree. He went on to be a middle school science teacher on St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands where …

Mary Ellen Hargett, age 61 of Three Rivers, died Monday, May 30, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Gary, IN on Oct. 21, 1954 the daughter of Richard and Sarah (Durham) Gray and later graduated from Michigan City High School. She was a homemaker, and a volunteer at the COA site in Three Rivers. Mary …

Harold Eugene Riggs, age 85, of Burr Oak, passed away early Monday morning, May 30, 2016, with his loving family by his side. He was born July 7, 1930, in Three Rivers, a son to the late Cecil and Wanda (Foust) Riggs. Harold had resided in Three Rivers until his mid 20s when he moved to Sturgis and began his …

George L. Ersland, 83, of White Pigeon, passed away Friday, May 27, 2016, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, following a short illness. He was born Feb. 1, 1993, in Ladysmith, Wis., a son of John and Maude (Keys) Ersland. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving with the U.S. Army. He was employed as a daily herdsman …

Clara Ann Doan, age 74, died on Saturday, May 28, 2016. In accordance with family wishes, cremation will be conducted and private services will be held at a later date. Arrangements were handled by Hohner Funeral Home.

Mrs. Elva May Palmer, age 89, of Three Rivers, formerly of Battle Creek, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at her home with her family at her side.  She was born in Three Rivers, MI., on September 8, 1926 the daughter of the late Edmund and Nellie (Ash) Smallcombe. Elva attended Three Rivers Schools and graduated with the …

Donna J. Hendricks, 65, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, following an extended illness. She was born July 1, 1950, in Three Rivers, a daughter of Harold G. and B. Juanita (Schultz) Wesse. She was a resident of Sturgis since 2009, coming from Centreville and White Pigeon, where she graduated high school. …

Jeffrey A. Schwartz, age 41, of Burr Oak, died unexpectedly on Thursday, May 26, 2016, at his home. Jeff was born in Kalamazoo, November 8, 1974 to Wayne Schwartz and Carolyn Allen. He graduated from Centreville High School in 1993. Jeff attended Glen Oaks Community College and later graduated from Ferris State University with a Nuclear Medicine Technician degree. He …