Obituaries

Billie E. McDonald, 59, of Shipshewana, Ind., died Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, at Elkhart General Hospital following an extended illness. She was born Jan. 9, 1951, in Sturgis, a daughter of William Lewis and June Iris (Fickel) McKale. She was a Stone Lake resident for the past five years, prior to that she lived in the White Pigeon area. She worked …

Michael Lee Morris, 63, of Three Rivers, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers where he had resided the past five years. He was born on March 26, 1947 the son of the late Joseph and Hazel (Kramb-Webb) Morris. Michael was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers and had worked in the lawn-care and …

Richard M. King, 75, of Three Rivers, passed away Jan. 12, 2011. Richard was born Dec. 26, 1935, in Sturgis, a son of Elvyn and Frances (Mumby) King. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. Richard retired from Armstrong International after 33 years in 1998. He attended Chapman Memorial Church of the Nazarene at Indian Lake. He loved his …

Patricia A. (Keith) Eastes passed away January 11, 2011 at her home. She was born in Three Rivers, MI, December 15, 1940, a daughter of Franklin  and Mary (Cekander) Keith. Patricia graduated from Three Rivers Schools in 1959.  She married Delman Eastes on June 18, 1960 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Three Rivers.  Patricia is survived by her husband Del …

Judy W. Lunsford, 54, of Three Rivers, died Monday, Jan. 10, 2011 in Kalamazoo. She was born in Kalamazoo on May 28, 1956 the daughter of Lloyd and Ilene (Brizendine) Scott. She was a Three Rivers area resident the past 35 years coming from Parchment. She married Daniel M. Lunsford who preceded her in death. She is survived by one …

Cornelius Gipson, Jr. was born on July 22, 1939 to Essie and Cornelius Gipson in Ebenezer, Miss. He was the eldest of two children. Cornelius was a member of Westside Christian Parish Church at a young age. He was drafted into the United States Army at the age of 18 and served in Korea. Cornelius was honorably discharged at the …

Mary Ellen Marietti, age 71, of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on Monday, January 10, 2011 at Three Rivers Health. She was born on June 19, 1939 in Lamont, Missouri, the daughter of Charles and Hazel (Hughes) Vickrey. Mary has been a long time resident of Fishers Lake, Three Rivers. She was an exceptional cook and often blessed friends and …

Lynn Hocevar, 67, of White Pigeon, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011, at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers, following a four-year battle with breast cancer. She was born Sept. 10, 1943, in Lawton, Okla., a daughter of William Robert and Thelma Louise (Sims) Miller. She had been a resident of the Constantine and White Pigeon area for many years. She was a teacher’s …

John E. Boocher, 85, of Burr Oak, and formerly of Orland, Ind., and Bronson, died Jan. 8, 2011, in Burr Oak. He was born Feb. 23, 1924, in Bremen, Ind., a son of Elmer and Helen (Starrett) Boocher. They preceded him in death. On Sept. 23, 1993, he married Bernice E. Tweddly. She survives. He retired in 1989, and was a …

Helen M. Van Aken, 90, of Bronson, died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. Helen was born December 28, 1920, in Sturgis to George E. and Lillian M. (Badder) Van Vorst. After graduating from High School in Brighton, Ind., class of 1939, she married Walter Van Aken on July 13, 1940, in Sturgis. He preceded her …