Obituaries

Jessie S. Schaeffer, a long-time resident of Sturgis and prominent businesswoman died Sunday, May 3, 2009, at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Jessie S. Schaeffer, 520 Center Ave., Sturgis, was born in Benton Harbor, the only daughter of Irven A. and Emma M. (Bucknell) Eicholtz. She moved to Sturgis when she was four, attended school in Sturgis and graduated from Sturgis High …

Dawn Marie Earl, age 48, of Huntsville, Ala., and formerly of Three Rivers, Mich., passed away unexpectedly Sunday morning, May 3, 2009, at the Huntsville Hospital emergency room. She was born Oct. 16, 1960, in Three Rivers, a daughter of William and Nancy (Kuiper) Brown. Dawn had resided in Huntsville since 1986. Prior to that she had lived in Washington …

Mary Helen Curtis, age 93, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Saturday, May 2, 2009, at Thurston Woods Village. She was born Jan. 21, 1916, in Hudson, Mich., a daughter to the late Bernard and Alice (Bradley) Timmerman. She lived in Coldwater for a short time before moving to Sturgis, where she has resided for more than 75 years. Helen worked …

Rudy “Ed” Edward Kelley, age 61, of Marcellus, passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2009 at his residence. He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on July 13, 1947 the son of Rudy Washington and Lucy Thelma (Dancer) Kelley. Mr. Kelley was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Rudy W. Kelley. He leaves to cherish his memory …

June M. Buchanan, age 83, of Centreville, died Friday, May 1, 2009, at Odyssey House Hospice in Palm Desert, Calif. Cremation has been conducted.  A memorial service will be held later this month, and will be announced by the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon.

George E. Flager Jr. (Red) (Junior), 83, passed away Friday, April 17, 2009 at the Hernado Pasco Hospice Center in Zephyrhills, Fla. after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born April 1, 1926 in Dearborn, the youngest of three children born to George E. Sr. and Mildred L. (Boyd) Flager. He attended school in Bristol, Ind. On Sept. 18, …

Jane Louise Stocking, 74, of Centreville and formerly of Three Rivers, died Friday, May 1, 2009 at Three Rivers Health. She was born in Three Rivers on June 18, 1934 the daughter of George and Winifred (Keigley) Stocking, and was a graduate of Three Rivers High School. She resided with her mother on Maple Street in Three Rivers until Winifred’s …

Bernhardt “Bernie” Paul Bird, of Moorepark, passed away on the job Jan. 13, 2009 at the age of 66. Bernie grew up in Moorepark and moved to Indiana, Missouri and finally to Arlington, Texas, to retire. He was a cook most of his life managing restaurants and food services and recently a part-time security guard. Bernie is survived by his …

Erma Oletha Huffsmith, age 89, of Constantine, formerly Three Rivers, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2009, at the home of her sister surrounded by her loving family.  She was born on Nov. 2, 1919, in Lockport  Twp., Three Rivers, the daughter of Boyd H. and Edith (Fairchild) Slack. Mrs. Huffsmith graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1938.  Mrs. …

John A. Gilbert, age 64, of Three Rivers, Mich., died Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at his home, following an extended illness. John was born on May 12, 1944, in Owsley County, Ky., a son of Orville and Louise (Short) Gilbert. He lived in Kentucky early in life and moved on to White Pigeon and Middlebury, Ind., and had lived in …