Obituaries

Marjorie Eleanor (Brand) McConnell, age 90, of Portage, and longtime former Sturgis resident, passed away on February 28, 2023 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Marjorie was born on January 15, 1933 in Ann Arbor to George and Eleanor (Cook) Lutz and lived a long life filled with love. She married her 7th grade sweetheart, John Brand, on June 12, …

Lloyd A. Featherstone, age 85, of Constantine, died on Friday, March 10, 2023 at his home. He was born August 16, 1937 at the family home in Florence Township, a son of Leslie and Edna (Wright) Featherstone. Lloyd attended Constantine Schools and served in the United States Army National Guard from 1955 to 1961. On March 5, 1960 he married …

Katherine “Katie” A. Whitehead, age 49, of Trenary, Michigan died on Sunday, March 5, 2023. She was born on October 30, 1973 in Kalamazoo. Katie grew up in Three Rivers and graduated in 1991 from Three Rivers High School. While in school, she played softball and continued on to play in multiple church and bar leagues. Katie attended classes at …

William Louis Eckler Sr., age 57, of Burr Oak, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at his home. He was born July 9, 1965 in Rochester, New York. William graduated from Westview High School in Emma, Indiana with the class of 1983 and shortly after graduating move to Sturgis, and began working at Burr Oak Tool & Gauge, …

Michael W. Frays, Sr., age 66, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday morning, March 8, 2023 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born October 12, 1956 in Sturgis, son of the late William and Frances June (Ledyard) Frays. Mike resided in Sturgis since 1981 coming from Centreville, where he was a graduate of Centreville High School with the class …

Phyllis Sue Meeks, age 80, of Pampa, Texas passed away on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at the home of her daughter, Phyllis, in Sturgis. Phyllis was born February 15, 1943 in Sayre, Oklahoma to Roy and Mary Holder. She graduated from Pampa High School with the class of 1962. Soon after high school, she married James Meeks on August 2, …

Margaret Lucille Patterson, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday evening, March 5, 2023 at Promedica Coldwater Regional Hospital in Coldwater. She was born August 25, 1931 in LaGrange, daughter of the late Ray Owen and Lorema L. (Fitch) Hawkins. Mrs. Patterson resided in Sturgis for the past 71 years coming from Howe, Indiana where she was a graduate of …

Cain Molina, age 46, of Parma, Michigan passed away Tuesday morning, March 7, 2023 in Sturgis. He was born August 28, 1976 in Toledo, son of Abel and Darlene (Noell) Molina. Cain resided in the Jackson area most of his life and was a graduate of Jackson High with the class of 1995. On July 6, 2002 he married Heather …

Melinda Sue (Lough) Jacobs, age 65 of Battle Creek, passed away at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo on Monday, March 6, 2023.  She was born in Kalamazoo on January 3, 1958 the daughter of Herbert and Rosemary (Poling) Lough.  Melinda was a graduate of Vicksburg High School in 1976.  She enjoyed spending time up in Baldwin at “the cabin”.  Melinda …

Norma Jean (Tackaberry) Arnett, age 81, of Three Rivers, passed into the loving arms of our Lord and Savior on Monday, March 6, 2023 at Birch Meadows Senior Living with her family by her side. She was born April 30, 1941 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Loran and Beatrice (Riggs) Tackaberry. She graduated from Three Rivers High School with …