Obituaries

Robert A. Smalley, age 80, of Colon, passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2016, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Robert was born Jan. 1, 1936, in Middleville, a son of the late Arthur and Lucille (Alger) Smalley. On Sept. 29, 1962, he married Phyllis M. Coble in Kalamazoo. She preceded him in death Aug. 13, 2008. Robert served in the …

Wayne E. Decker, age 84, of Hastings, passed away Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at Spectrum Butterworth in Grand Rapids. He retired as a superintendent at MDOT after 31 years of service. They spent winters at their home in Florida. He loved fishing, hunting, camping, and loved Tiger baseball. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Monafae; daughters Cindy …

Brad Lee Wells, age 58, of Burr Oak, passed away early Tuesday morning, April 19, 2016, at his home. He was born Dec. 21, 1957, in Sturgis, a son of the late Robert E. and Frances Jean (Wellington) Wells. Brad was a lifelong Burr Oak resident and a graduate of Burr Oak High School with the class of 1976. On …

Donna Joan Caseman, age 89, of Constantine, passed away Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at Heartland Health Care.  She was born December 25, 1926 in Union, a daughter of Frank and Fannie May (Hull) Caseman.   She graduated from Constantine High School.  Donna worked at Gambles in Constantine for 20+ years, later retiring from GM in Three Rivers after working there for …

Christine Kay Norton, age 66, of Mendon, died Monday, April 18, 2016 at Sunshine House in Three Rivers. She was born in Three Rivers on Oct. 13, 1949 the daughter of Leonard “Mike” and Janice L. (McKindley) Osgood and has been a lifetime resident of the Mendon area. She graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1968. Chris …

Alden Joseph Zimlich Jr., age 92, of Three Rivers died Sunday, April 17, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 21, 1923. The son of Alden J. Zimlich Sr. and Margaret (Fladeland) Zimlich. After high school, Alden worked in the Detroit area as a toolmaker. He later owned and operated Mid-America Plastics …

Clifton C. Haydon, age 72, of Constantine, passed away Sunday, April 17, 2016 at Bronson Methodist Hospital.  Clifton was born in Ypsilanti on September 23, 1943, a son of Clifton P. and Hiawatha (Johnson) Haydon, Jr.  He graduated from Belleville High School in 1961. On October 6, 1962, he married Nancy Smith in Ypsilanti.  He worked for 37 years at General …

Nora Mae Hart Ford passed on April 16, 2016, peacefully surrounded by her family, joining her savior Jesus Christ and her husband G.W. of 64 years. Nora Mae Hart was born in Lauderdale County, Ala., to Joseph Henry and Minnie Myrtle (Austin) Hart on Feb. 25, 1927. Nora, her parents and siblings Melvin, Joe and Virginia lived just outside of …

Maurice Lee “Nick” Nicholas, age 80, died Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Borgess Gardens in Kalamazoo where he had resided the past six weeks. He was born in Vicksburg on Jan. 5, 1936 the son of the late Earl and Grace (Timm) Nicholas. He graduated from Mendon High School with the Class of 1955. Nick was married to Barbara Hiatt …

Phyllis Jane Shahin, age 88, of Watersmeet, MI, died on Friday, April 15, 2016 at Aspires Iron River Hospital in Iron River, Michigan. She was born in Elkhart, IN on October 12, 1927, a daughter of Walter and Sarah (Simons) Price. Phyllis attended Oslo Elementary and Elkhart High School. On January 4, 1947 she married Richard F. Shahin in Ft. …