Obituaries

James Chester Eames, age 86, of Three Rivers, died Monday, April 4, 2016 at his home. He was born in Portage, MI on Nov. 13, 1929 the son of Chester L. and Mabelle (Bradford) Eames. He attended school in Parkville and Three Rivers before graduating from Mendon High School. James served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was …

Kathy Jo Britton, age 61, of Decatur, MI passed away Monday, April 4, 2016 at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, MI following a brief illness. She was born February 5, 1955 in Mishawaka, IN the daughter of Paul H. and Norma Jean (DeMeyer) Ryll. On April 1, 1978 in Mishawaka, IN she married Jerry Britton who survives. Kathy had a lifelong …

Wava Marie Hartman, 89, died on Tuesday, April 5th at West Woods of Niles after a short illness. She was born on August 22, 1926 to Elias and Magdalena Troeger in Defiance, OH Wava graduated in 1944 from Highland-South Richland High School in Ayersville, Ohio and was employed at Michigan Gas Company in Sturgis, MI and Ford Agency in Three …

Denny Seager, Sr., age 67, of Jones, died Sunday, April 3, 2016 at Lakeland Hospital in Niles. He was born in Three Rivers, the son of the late Walter and Melvina (Clute) Seager. He was a graduate of Three Rivers High School class of 1967. Denny was a charismatic and loving man. He had a “big heart” and was always …

Megan Marie Carpenter, 20, of Sturgis, died Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at her home. She was born April 22, 1995, in Three Rivers, a daughter of Bradley K. Carpenter and Joyce M. Collins. She was a resident of the Sturgis area the past six months, coming from Constantine, where she had attended school. She was employed at J&J Discount in …

Sharon Rose Smith, age 72, of Centreville, died Saturday, April 2, 2016 at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born June 10, 1943 in Lansing, a daughter of Charles and Alice (Kimble) Green. On March 31, 1979 she married Francis Lee Smith in Three Rivers, he preceded her in death in 2009. She owned and operated several businesses, Jessica’s …

George B. Garl, Sr., age 69, of Constantine, died Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Alamo Nursing Home in Kalamazoo. He was born November 2, 1946 in Mason Twp, a son of Vernon and Jeanette (Miller) Garl. George graduated from Constantine High School in 1966. George served in the US Army from 1966 to 1968. He worked his farm and also worked …

Nicholas Peter “Nick” Ruddock, age 63, of Leonidas, died Friday, April 1, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo following a long illness. He was born in Marshall, MI on Dec. 5, 1952 the son of Fred and Arlene (Van Nortrick) Ruddock. Nick graduated from Marshall High School in 1971. He was an independent truck driver, and had worked at …

Gail G. “Buckshot” Johnson, age 75, of Colon, passed away Thursday, March 31, 2016, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Buckshot was born Sept. 13, 1940, in Burr Oak, a son of the late Thurman and Lauretta (Fetch) Johnson. On July 2, 1961, he married Patricia J. Haskins. They met when he was 17 and they were high school sweethearts. …

Margo I. (Wagner) Baughman, age 74, of Colon, drove away in her Jeep to meet her Lord, Thursday, March 31, 2016, at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. Margo was born Feb. 1, 1942, in Union Township, a daughter of the late George W. and Dorothy (Davis) Wagner. On May 18, 1978, she married Jerry O. Baughman in Colon. Margo had lived …