Obituaries

Marie McCallie, age 78, went to be with her Lord on Friday, Jan. 16th, 2015 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on July 21, 1936 in Searcy, Arkansas the daughter of the late George Ray and Lena Modena (Martin) Neal. Mrs. McCallie has been a long time member of the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. She loved to cook …

Wayne Arthur “JR” Spearow, Jr., age 62, of White Pigeon, passed away Thursday, January 15th, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.  JR was born in Elkhart on July 27, 1952, a son of Wayne Arthur and Phyllis Ann (Collins) Spearow, Sr.  He attended Elkhart Schools.  JR worked as a truck driver for many local companies.  He loved sports, cartoon …

Dean Robert Rice, 93, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015 at Fairview Living Center in Centreville, where had been a resident for the past four years. Dean was born in Three Rivers on Feb. 5, 1921, the son of Henry and Verna (VanNordstrand) Rice. Dean had lived his entire life in the Three Rivers area. …

Richard Eugene Oates, age 84, of Long Lake, Colon, passed away Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. He was the beloved husband of Christa (Lambrecht) Oates; dear father of Connie (Brian) Demkowicz, Charlotte (Sean) Kelly, Dan Oates, Marianne (Tim) Loso and Jennifer Bowman; loving grandfather of 21 grandchildren; brother of Paul (Kathy) and Gene (Vivian) Oates; brother-in-law of Maxine Oates, Thea (Udo) …

Gregory A. Paxton, age 44, of Three Rivers, passed away early Monday morning, Jan. 13, 2015, at his home following a lengthy illness. He was born April 28, 1970, in Three Rivers, a son of Arden and Bonita (Battaglino) Paxton. Greg resided in Oxnard, Calif., and was a graduate of Oxnard High School with the class of 1988. He returned …

Laura May Neamen, age 89, of Three Rivers, MI passed away Wednesday, January 14, 2015 after a recent illness. She was born July 9, 1925 in Mishawaka, IN the daughter of Raymond F. and Marie F. (Smith) Johnson. She was raised in Edwardsburg, MI by her maternal grandparents Theodore and Samantha Smith. On July 23, 1944 in Elkhart, IN she …

William “Willy” Lee Harmon, age 66, of Three Rivers passed away on Tuesday, January 12, 2015 at Three Rivers Health. He was born in Memphis, TN on March 27, 1948 the son of William H. and Rosalee(Bryant)Harmon. Willy was a graduate of Centreville High School. On August 26, 1966 he was united in marriage to Rosann Hagelgans whom survives. Willy …

Donald E. Clipfell, 79, of White Pigeon, died on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015 at his home following a short illness. He was born on April 1, 1935 in Three Rivers the son of Wyman and Ruth (Pridgeon) Clipfell. Graduate of Three Rivers High School in 1953. Resident of White Pigeon since 1959 coming from Marcellus. Employed as a machinist for …

Cleon W. Frye, age 80, of Marcellus, MI passed away Monday, January 12, 2015 at home. He was born October 28, 1934 in Three Rivers, MI the son of James H. and Velma (Watkins) Frye. Cleon loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was retired from truck driving. He is survived by his daughter Beatrice Reed; good friend/companion …

Esther L. Clark, 89, of Kalamazoo, passed peacefully on Jan. 9, 2015 of natural causes. She was born June 10, 1925 in Kalamazoo to her parents Albert and Elithier Arink, and is preceded in death by her loving husband, Alfred L. Clark. Esther received her Bachelor’s Degree from Western Michigan University and continued on to University of Michigan for her …