Obituaries

Mary Ellen Shultz, age 44, of White Pigeon, died on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at Elkhart General Hospital. She was born May 29, 1979 in Kalamazoo, a daughter of Chris and Phyllis (Wyatt) Shultz. Mary Ellen received her education at Ross Medical school and worked as a medical assistant. She worked at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, at Fresenius Kidney Care …

Clarence Vernon White Jr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at the age of 86. He was the oldest son of Clarence Sr. and Larue White, born in Clarendon, Arkansas, upon relocating to Kalamazoo at the age of thirteen. On March 24, 1962, Vernon married the love of his life, Betty …

Kenneth Phillip Boyer, age 55, of Three Rivers, passed away on July 17, 2023. He was born August 15, 1967 in Three Rivers, the son of Richard and Carolyn (Wible) Boyer, and through hard work and dedication, he was able to receive his GED. He grew up with the graduating class of 1985. Kenneth worked as a fork lift driver …

Margaret Alice Butten, age 96, of East Lansing, and longtime former resident of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, July 31, 2023 at the Willows of East Lansing. She was born May 12, 1927 in Battle Creek, daughter of the late Harold and Beatrice (Piatt) Hamilton. Mrs. Butten resided in Sturgis from 1966 to 2022 when she moved to East Lansing. …

Gerald Hampton Boswell, age 87, of Sturgis, passed away early Tuesday morning, August 1, 2023 at his home following a short, but hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born February 14, 1936 in Banks, Alabama son of the late Waco Hobson and Bama Corrine (Hickman) Boswell. Mr. Boswell was a longtime resident of Sturgis. On November 9, 1960 …

Heather Lynn Lafler, age 39, of Three Rivers, passed away late Friday Evening, July 28, 2023 in Three Rivers due to injuries sustained in an automobile/bicycle accident. She was born July 13, 1984 in Belen, New Mexico daughter of Rusty Lynn and Kathy (Henderson) Girard. Heather resided most of her life in White Pigeon and was a graduate of White …

Susan Erma “Sue” Harrell, age 75, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday morning, July 29, 2023 at Hillsdale Hospital. She was born January 31, 1948 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Arthur and Erma (Pridgeon) Bauman. Sue was a lifelong Sturgis resident. On July 15, 1995 she married Gary Harrell in Three Rivers. Susan had been employed by Adapt, Inc. for …

Jeanne Ellen (Crabill) Blasius, age 93, of Sturgis, passed away Friday morning, July 28, 2023 at the Sturgis Hospital Emergency Room. She was born December 31, 1929 in Bronson, Michigan daughter of the late Northa F. and Rubia R. (Morrow) Crabill. Jeanne resided in the Sturgis and Bronson area her whole life and was a graduate of Bronson High School …

Donald Wayne Johnson, age 62, of Marcellus, passed away on Monday, July 24, 2023, at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 31, 1960 in Three Rivers, the son of Calvin and Ida Pearl (Kelley) Johnson. Don was the youngest of eight siblings: Larry (Judy) Johnson, Margie (Van) Crawford, Bonnie (Danny) Lehew, Mike (Dianna) Johnson, Cathy (Terry) …

Leona L. Truax, age 82, of Leonidas, passed away on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at her daughter’s home in Leonidas. Leona was born on January 5, 1941, in Coldwater, a daughter to the late Jeremiah and Hazel “Lucille” (McLish) Mears. Leona was a graduate of Vicksburg High School with the class of 1959. On December 9, 1961, Leona married Donald …