Obituaries

Ruth M. Alwood, age 93, Three Rivers, formerly of Jones, passed away Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 at the Fairview Nursing Centre in Centreville. She was born in Cassopolis, MI on February 22, 1918,  a daughter of Frank and Cecil (Loveland) Sherry. On April 20, 1936 she married Harold “Bill” Alwood in Elkhart, IN. He preceded her in death on June …

Estella B. Lawson, a lifelong resident of Calvin Township, died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 at Riverview Manor in Three Rivers at the age of 102. She was born Feb. 25, 1909 in Calvin Township, the second child of Oscar and Edna (Vaughn) Sanders. She married Forest M. Lawson on July 7, 1927 in Goshen, Ind. He preceded her in death …

Avis E. Jenkins, 86, of Three Rivers, passed away Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. Avis was born Sept. 18, 1925 in Urbana, Ohio a daughter to the late William and Eva Marie (Schaffer) Coleman. Avis had made her home in Three Rivers at her present address for the past 30 years and had …

Gary Harvey Hughes, age 48, of Marcellus, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at home. He was born in South Bend, IN. the son of Paul Harvey and Florence (Jones) Hughes. Gary has been a long time resident of this area. He was raised in South Bend, IN. and before taking ill, he worked as a commercial and residential …

Harold L. “Punk” Harris, age 65, of Burr Oak, Mich., passed away early Saturday morning, Dec. 10, 2011, at  Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born Dec. 30, 1945, in Sturgis, Mich., a son of the late William and Pauline (Diehm) Harris. Punk was a lifelong Burr Oak resident and a graduate of Burr Oak High School with the class …

David Orlin Vincent II, age 45, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away unexpectedly late Friday evening, Dec. 9, 2011, at his home. He was born July 15, 1966, in Battle Creek, Mich., a son of David O. and Norma (Fuller) Vincent. David had resided in Sturgis for the past 11 years coming from Battle Creek where he attended Battle Creek Lakeview …

Alice Minnie Cottingham, 89, of Three Rivers, died Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011 at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in Centreville. She was born in Kokomo, Ind. on Feb. 4, 1922 the daughter of the late Frank and Eva (VavBriggle) Smith. Alice has been a resident of Three Rivers since 1954 and was the widow of Raymond Edward Cottingham, who died …

R. Bradley Riley, age 57, of Three Rivers passed away suddenly on December 7, 2011 at Bronson Methodist Hospital of Kalamazoo. Brad was born June 14, 1954 the son of Ronald C. and Joann (Rink) Riley. Brad graduated in 1972 from Northridge High School, Middlebury, IN. He worked 18 years at T&M Rubber (Goshen). In 1990 Brad, along with His …

James D. Yurs, 81, of Shipshewana, Ind., and formerly of Howe, Ind., died Monday, Dec. 5, 2011, at Sturgis Hospital.  James was born on April 27, 1930, in Elgin, Ill., and was raised on a farm operated by his parents, Donald L. and Juanita C. Yurs.  Jim, along with his wife, owned and operated several Motels in Colorado, Michigan and …

Vera M. McVay, 60, of Woodruff, Ind., and formerly of Colon, died at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, 2011, at Parkview LaGrange Hospital, LaGrange, Ind.  She was a homemaker. She was a member of Moose Lodge No. 1351 in LaGrange.  Vera enjoyed helping others by volunteering her time, setting up fundraisers, and helping those in need. She liked to play …