Obituaries

Eleanor L. Gilchrist, 88, of Portage, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. She was born March 13, 1921 in Indianapolis, Ind., a daughter of John and Gladys (Miles) Dailey and was a long time resident of Portage. Eleanor was a member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church and her family was her focus. On Oct. 9, 1943 she married Frank E. …

Barbara Ann Avery, age 78, of Mendon, died unexpectedly Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. She was born Aug. 16, 1931, in Illinois, a daughter of E. Gordon and Mary (Morrell) Male. Barbara graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1949, and married Lloyd Avery on Aug. 30, 1956, in Mendon. She was an Avon Products representative for many years. …

Christopher Michael Schweda, 27, of Greenville, died Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. He was born Aug. 14, 1982, in Sturgis. Christopher loved to volunteer, and received the national “Yes I Can” award for his work. He also enjoyed working with Disability Awareness. More than anything, He deeply loved the Lord. Christopher was an exceptional human being who will be deeply missed …

Violet Pearl Hahn, age 96, of Mottville, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009, at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born July 7, 1913, in Portage, a daughter of Joseph K. and Savannah (Griffith) Adams. On Nov. 28, 1930, she married Raymond Hahn in Cumberland, Md. He preceded her in death on Aug. 24, 1997. Violet …

Phyllis Ann East, 88, of Three Rivers, passed away early Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 at Mercy Hospital in Muskegon. She was born on Feb. 26, 1921 in Ludington the daughter of Ernest J. and Doris (Ackerman) Subora. Phyllis had a great passion for reading, music and the importance of a good education. She attended Lawrence University in Wisconsin in the …

Mildred “Aunt Mike” Simon, 83, of Three Rivers, passed away on Oct. 18, 2009 at Thurston Woods Village following a lengthy illness. She was born on March 18, 1926 in Iowa City, Iowa the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Engleman. Mildred has been a long time resident of Three Rivers, moving with her husband George, whom she married on Sept. …

M. Margaret Riggs, 83, of Kalamazoo, passed away Oct. 19, 2009 at her Hope Woods residence. Margaret was born Dec. 8, 1925 in Three Rivers the daughter of W. Karl and Gertrude (Hendrickson) Knapp. She worked at the Abstract Office in Centreville 1943-45 and then in the advertising department at Shakespeare company from 1946-52 and 1961-75 and at the SLD …

Naoma (Ambs) Gonzalez, age 82, formerly of Colon, passed away Oct. 19, 2009, in Stuart, Fla. She was born Feb. 23, 1927, a daughter to Owen and Ruth (Corson) Ambs. She graduated from Colon High School in 1945 and Adrian College in 1949. Surviving are four children; nine grandchildren and two brother, Max O. Ambs of Williamston, Mich., and Marvin C. Ambs …

Thomas E. (Preacher Tom) Patterson, 63, of Stugis, died Oct. 20, 2009, at his home following an extended illness. He was born Sept. 21, 1946, in Three Rivers, a son of Thomas Eugene and Kathryn I. (Johnson) Patterson. He was a Sturgis resident for the first 20 years of his life, then living in Alabama and Tennessee. He returned to Sturgis in …

Gladys Paxton, age 94, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Tuesday October 20, 2009 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born February 13, 1915 in Cassopolis a daughter to the late Cloyd and Bessie (Biederman) Holtzapple. Gladys had resided in Sturgis from 1951-1972 when she and her husband moved to Mesick, Michigan where she lived until 1992 when she …