Obituaries

Max Melchi, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, teacher and friend, passed away in the loving arms of his wife and children on Monday, Sept. 5, 2011. He will be remembered for his talents as an artist, and for the kindness and humor he generously shared with everyone he met. Max enjoyed travel, exercise, music, golf, fishing, the Detroit Tigers and an …

Robert Morris Wilson,  age 85,  of Centreville, passed away Tuesday, September 6th, 2011 at Fairview Nursing & Rehabilitation Centre.  He was born in Holt County, MO on September 16, 1925, a son of  Charles and Ruth (Magowen) Wilson. On Feb. 11, 1950 he married Peggy Jean Moyle in Sturgis, MI. Robert worked as an Appliance Serviceman at Keesler & Emerson Appliance in …

Erika Elli Bloomfield, age 33, of Three Rivers passed away on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at Rose Arbor Hospice following her courageous battle with cancer. She was born on March 13, 1978 in Three Rivers, MI. the daughter of Walt and Emili(Henrich)Forward. Erika was a 1996 graduate of Three Rivers High School where she was very involved with the marching …

Charles A. McNary Sr., age 74, of Three Rivers, passed away on Thursday, September 1, 2011 at Bronson Methodist Hospital following a brief illness. He was born October 27, 1936 to the late Charles Alonzo and Amanda Harding McNary of Cassopolis, Michigan. Charles McNary aka “Charlie” accepted Christ at an early age and truly had a huge heart. Charlie was …

Martha Lee (Hartzell) “Pete” Ward, 88, died at Community Health Center in Coldwater, Mich., on Sept. 4, 2011. She was a 28-year resident of Colon, Mich., having retired and moved from Versailles, Ohio. She was married to the late Clarence E “Shorty” Ward on July 19. 1941, in Arcanum, Ohio. He died in March 2003. Preceding her in death were …

Joline Puckett, 32, of Leonidas, died at home after a three-year illness. She was born in Three Rivers, Feb. 21, 1979. She earned her GED from Colon High School and had worked in child care. Members of her family include her mother, Veronica (Wayne) Martinka; father, William (Valerie) Puckett; children, Jhenna Puckett and Trevor Saylor; step sons, Brian and James …

Elva Ellen Dobyns, 77, of Three Rivers, went to be with her Lord on Friday, Sept. 2, 2011 at the Riverview Manor Nursing Home following a lengthy illness. She was born in Wister, Okla., the daughter of Harry and Girtie (Jones) McLean. Mrs. Dobyns has been a resident of Three Rivers since 1969 moving from the Kalamazoo area. She married …

Bertrand O. Barkey, 69, of Topeka, Ind., died Sept. 1, 2011, at his home. Visitation is from 2-5 p.m. Monday at Frurip-May Funeral Home, 309 W. Michigan St., LaGrange, Ind., where services are at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in White Pigeon Cemetery in White Pigeon, Mich., with LaGrange American Legion Post #215 conducting the military graveside service.

Joseph Gerring, 63, of Cassopolis, died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011 at his residence. He was born Sept. 7, 1947 in South Bend, Ind. to Marcus “Bus” and Ann (McAdam) Gerring. He served in the US Navy. Joseph is survived by his mother, Ann Gerring of Three Rivers; one daughter, Shawna (Mike) Middleton of Constantine; two sons, Marcus Gerring of Jones …

Raymond Newton Johnson, 83, of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011 following a long illness. He was born in Mendon on March 1, 1928 the son of Newton O. and Nora (Croghan) Johnson and had been a lifetime resident of this area. He was married to Chloa E. Goodsell on Aug. 11, 1950 in South Bend, Ind. Ray had …