Obituaries

Eli M. Beechy, 80 years, 10 months and 16 days, passed away Saturday, April l6, 2011, at his home in Centreville. Eli was born June 14, 1930, in Topeka, Ind., a son to the late Manelius and Fannie (Yoder) Beechy. On Jan. 18, 1951, he married Clara Mullet in Topeka, Ind. Eli moved to Michigan in 1999, coming from Amherst, …

Thelma Jean Smoker, 86, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Thursday afternoon, April 14, 2011, at the home of her son Ronald in Mason, Mich. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place. The family will receive friends from 3-8 p.m. Sunday, May 1 at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091, …

Woodrow M. ‘Woody’ Funk, age 98, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday evening, April 16, 2011, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born Sept. 26, 1912, in LaGrange County, Ind., a son of the late George I. and Sarah (Nelson) Funk. Woody had resided in Sturgis since 1926, coming from Kendallville, Ind. On March 10, 1937, he married the …

Jason Michael Garmire, age 33, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away unexpectedly late Friday evening April 15, 2011, at his home. He was born Oct. 4, 1977, in Sturgis, Mich., a son of Les and Jean (Stevens) Garmire. Jason was a life-long Sturgis resident and had been employed by Medtec Ambulance Corporation in Goshen, Ind. He was a member of the …

David Scott Bradshaw, 48, of Centreville, passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at his home. He was born in Chicago, Ill. on Oct. 20, 1962 the son of Scott Walters and Jeanetta Bradshaw. David was a member of the Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church and also the N.A.A.C.P. He is survived by his wife, Tracey Moore, of Centreville, one daughter, …

Gerald E. Bradford, 75, of Three Rivers, passed away early Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at Three Rivers Health. He was born on July 31, 1935 in Three Rivers the son of George and Esther (Horn) Bradford. Gerald graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1953. Mr. Bradford attended Western Michigan University and traveled to Colombia, South America for two years. …

Mrs. Ann B. Mell, 93, of Kalamazoo and formerly of Three Rivers, died Sunday morning, April 10, 2011. Services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday from the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre Ave. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the chapel. Private interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Three Rivers. Memorials may …

Bruce P. Garland, 76, of Suttons Bay, passed away Sunday, April 10, 2011 at his home. Bruce was born Dec. 24, 1934 in Dowagiac the son of William P. and Doris Irene (Pray) Garland. On Sept. 3, 1960 in Rives Junction he married his loving wife of 50 years, Darlene Louise (Fullerton) Garland, who survives. As a young man Bruce …

Grace Van Wormer age 94, formerly of Colon, passed away Sunday, April 10, 2011, in Kalamazoo. Grace was born Dec. 10, 1916, in Colon, a daughter of the late George and Lilly (Thrams) Schellhous. She had lived most of her life in Colon, graduating from Colon High School with the class of 1936. On Feb. 16, 1944, she married Clyde …

Clarence V. Wooten, age 90, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at Sturgis Hospital. He was born May 1, 1920, in Kenova, W. Va., a son of the late Charles and Martha (Ellis) Wooten. Clarence had resided in Sturgis since 1945, coming from Kentucky. On March 28, 1942 he married Eva Kinsey in Battle Creek. He retired from …