Obituaries

Jean Marie McKenzie, age 89, of Three Rivers, passed away early Thursday, April 3, 2014 at the Riverview Manor following a short illness. Jean was born May 3, 1924 in Three Rivers, the daughter of George H. and Vera (Boyer) Harmon. Jean was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. She was extremely active in the American Legion Auxiliary, where she …

Yovonda Marie Crossgrove, age 54, of White Pigeon, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at the Borgess Medical Center. She was born on June 12, 1959 in Wellsville, New York the daughter of Robert and Vivian (Tanner) Payne. On Oct. 7th, 1989 Yovonda was united in marriage to Mr. Samuel Crossgrove. Together they raised their two daughters in …

Berdeen F. Poe, age 92, of Dowagiac, MI, passed away Wednesday, April 2, 2014. She was born May 16, 1921, in Cass County, MI, the daughter of Howard J. and Beulah M. (Stanard) McKenzie. On January 31, 1941 she married Kenneth M. Poe who preceded her in death in 1991. In 1996 she married Glen Reifenberg who also preceded in …

Dallas Eugene Asher, age 63, of Mendon, died on March 31, 2014 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Hyden, KY on Dec. 1, 1950 the son of Ardell and Gladys (Howard) Asher. The family later moved to Battle Creek where he graduated from Battle Creek Central in 1970. Dallas served in the U.S. Army from 1970-71 …

Sharon Irene (Sowles) Kline, age 54, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday morning, March 30, 2014, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born Feb. 7, 1960, in Gary, Ind., a daughter of the late Ray and Dorothy (Crowe) Sowles. Sharon spent the past 20 years in Sturgis, where she was a friendly and familiar face in the community and …

Mr. William “Bill” Hugh Mitchell Jr., age 88, of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on Sunday, March 30, 2014, at his home. He was born in Burgoon, OH., on May 2, 1925 the son of the late William Hugh and Minnie E. (Voorhies) Mitchell. Bill graduated from Jackson Burgoon High School in 1943. Upon graduation Bill joined the U.S. Navy …

Louis Lee White, Sr., age 71 of Three Rivers died Sunday March 30, 2014 at his home. He was born in Sturgis on July 29, 1942 the son of Walter E. and Geraldine (Hendricks) White and was a lifetime resident of the area. Louis was employed at Weyerhauser in Three Rivers for over thirty one years. He enjoyed camping and …

Betty A. VanDeKeere, 81, of LaGrange, Ind., died Saturday, March 29, 2014 at Miller’s Merry Manor in LaGrange. She worked at Transagram and as a cook at Miller’s Merry Manor. She lived her lifetime in LaGrange and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Betty was born on April 19, 1932, in LaGrange, to Raymond and Anna (Brown) Keplinger. …

Amber W. Shirah of Three Rivers passed away on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at the age of 90. She is survived by her three daughters, MaryAnn (Jeff) Kudary of Vicksburg, Susan (Mark) Boyer of Kalamazoo and Barbara (Jim) Bungart of Centreville; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren. She follows in death her husband, Berlin “Bud”; her son, Thomas; and great-grandson, Tyler. Funeral …

Howard A. Gest, age 82, of Burr Oak, went to be with his Lord and savior Thursday, March 27, 2014, at Skaggs Assisted Living in Burr Oak. He was born Sept. 4, 1931, a son of the late Leo and Eureath (Mitchell) Gest. Howard had been a resident of his beloved Burr Oak for the majority of his life. On …