Obituaries

Keith E. Barnell, 72, of Portage, died Friday, July 2, 2010, at his home, following an extended illness. He was born Sept. 10, 1937, in Scott, Ind., a son of Everett C. and Venona L. (Christner) Barnell. He was a resident of Portage for eight years, coming from North Carolina and Fort Wayne, Ind., and spent his early life in Scott. He was a …

Larry D. Ferrier Sr., 72, of Burr Oak, and formerly of Dowagiac, died at 12:46 p.m. Sunday, July 4, 2010, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo after an illness. He was born Sept. 27, 1937, in Dowagiac, a son of the late Eugene and Hazel (Lilly) Ferrier Sr., and lived most of his life in the area. He is survived by …

Lt. Col. Levant B. Mast (retired) died Sunday July 4, 2010 at Heartland Healthcare Center in Three Rivers where he was a patient for 3 weeks.  He was born in Assyria Center, MI on March 28, 1925 the son of Kevin and Ruby (Miller) Mast.  He was a 1942 graduate of Lansing High School and later earned several college and …

Annie M. Dodds-Olidge, age 94, of Three Rivers, stepped out of time and into Eternity to Live forever with God on July 4, 2010 at the Heartland Health Care Center.  She was the second daughter of Joseph McCullium and Roberta (Jordan West) McCullium, born on February 16, 1916 in Earl, Arkansas. Annie was “Ma Dear” to us and many others.  …

Charles “Charlie” Schmitz, age 75 of Mendon, died Monday July 5, 2010 at the Bronson Hospital Emergency Room.  He was born in Chicago, IL on July 27, 1934 the son of Paul A. and Norvella (Kropel) Schmitz.  He attended St. Martin’s Catholic School and graduated from St. Rita’s Catholic School in 1953.   Charlie served in the U.S. Army from 1957-59 …

Marion Blankenship, age 66 of Mendon, died Friday July 1, 2010 at the Three Rivers Health, Emergency Room.  She was born in Dowagiac on April 27, 1944 the daughter of Clyde W. and Dorothy M. (Johnson) Davis.  She was married to Benny Blankenship on Jan. 21, 1960 in Goshen, IN.  They resided in Marcellus and Jones before moving to Mendon …

Shirley Alma Weaver, 72, of Three Rivers, passed away Monday, June 28, 2010 at the Fairview Living Centre in Centreville. She was born July 27, 1937 in Three Rivers a daughter of the late Frank Kline and Lenora (Fullgraf) Freese. Shirley has been a resident of Three Rivers most of her life and on Jan. 15, 1957 in Angola, Ind. …

Lettie June Bent, 54, of Three Rivers, passed away on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at Three Rivers Health Respite Suites following a short illness. She was born Feb. 1, 1956 in South Bend, Ind. the daughter of Sherman and Myrtle (Jarrells) Robinson. Lettie was preceded in death by her parents, and step-father, Jim Whitmyer. She leaves to cherish her memory …

Helen Barkman, 78, of Colon, passed away Monday, June 28, 2010, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Helen was born Nov. 23, 1931, in Ashland, Ky. Helen had lived at her present residence in Colon for the past 30 years, coming from Detroit. She married James E. Barkman in Colon. She retired from Sturgis Molding and had also worked at …

Mary Elizabeth Olney died Sept. 6, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. She was born Oct. 26, 1921, in Detroit, a daughter of Joseph W. and Katherine (Kennedy) Pattison. Lt. William H. Olney, dressed in his officer’s Naval uniform, stepped off the elevator of the Aetna Building in Detroit and met the prettiest girl he had ever seen. They married in 1943. …