Obituaries

Richard Neavor, age 54, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at his home. He was born Sept. 5, 1957, in Hillsdale, a son of the late John and Dorothy (Gottschalk) Neavor. Richard had been a resident of Hillsdale most of his life and moved to Sturgis in 1996. He had been employed by Midwest Tool since moving …

Richard William Strawser, 88, of White Pigeon, died at 6:30 a.m. Friday Feb. 24, 2012 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers, Michigan. Richard (Dick) was born November 25, 1923 in Scott, Indiana. He was the eighth of ten children born to Ethan Allen Strawser and Maybelle (Platz) Strawser. He married Mary Covert on March 19, 1946 in Three …

Louise Marie (Van Zile) Pratt, age 72, formerly of White Pigeon, died Thursday Feb. 23, 2012 in Celina, TN where she has resided the past 11 years. She was born in Mottville Township, MI on April 24, 1939 the daughter of Clarence and Gladys (Strawser) Van Zile. She was a 1957 graduate of White Pigeon High School and attended Western …

Ruth Alice (Kohlmeyer) Toothman passed away Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, at her residence in Sturgis. She was born May 8, 1958, in Uniontown, Pa., to James and Alice (Windgassen) Kohlmeyer. She was the first licensed woman pyrotechnician in Michigan. Ruth liked to crochet and she especially enjoyed her cats. Ruth loved her family. Ruth is survived by two daughters, Lisa …

Thomas Allen Persons, age 46, of 24 N. Oller Ave., Waynesboro, and formerly of Indiana, was suddenly called home to be with the Lord on Thursday morning, Feb. 23, 2012, in Fredericksburg, Va. Born June 10, 1965 in Sturgis, Mich., he was the son of the late Maurice “Jake” and Darlene (nee Crain) Persons. He was a 1983 graduate of …

Tia Lynn Caroline Wilbur, 10-day-old daughter of Joseph Wilbur and Cassandra Gilbert, died Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. In addition to her parents, Tia is survived by a sister, Joanna Jones; a brother, Joseph Dean Wilbur; grandfather, Gerald Wilbur; grandparents, Harry and Caroline Wilbur; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death …

Robert Ray Schrader, age 51, a lifelong Sturgis resident, passed away, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born Dec. 16, 1960, in Sturgis, a son of Robert and Patricia (Jordan) Schrader. In September 1980, he found his soulmate and life companion, Sherry Mullins. Robert had been employed at the Sturgis Oasis Party Store, Western …

Gary Lee Beauchamp, age 66 of White Pigeon, died Wednesday morning, Feb. 22, 2012 in a motor vehicle accident in Sturgis Township. He was born in LaPorte, IN on Jan. 30, 1946 the son of Vernon “Bud” and Norma (Bruner) Beauchamp. He attended Syracuse High School and was married to Fannie Hershburger; they were later divorced. Gary had resided in …

Melvis E. “Tex” Morris Jr., age 69, with a favorite saying of “Fire in the Hole,” passed away Monday, Feb. 21, 2012, at Sturgis Hospital. He was born Dec. 10, 1942, in Plattsburgh, N.Y., to Melvis E. Morris Sr. and Margaret (Learned) (Morris) Landry. On Feb. 12, 2010, he married Elaine Kay Jackson in Centreville. Mel was a talented mason …

James Robert Rahfeldt, 72, of Three Rivers, formerly of Elkhart, Ind., died at 7:50 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2012 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. He was born Feb. 15, 1940 in Michigan City, Ind. to Robert F. and Evelyn (Reed) Rahfeldt. On Oct. 26, 1963 in LaPorte, Ind. he married Shirley M. Garrett. She died on Jan. 9, 1996 …