Obituaries

It is with immense grief we announce the death of our beloved daughter, Baylor Abbs. She died Friday, March 13, 2020, at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. Baylor was born June 5, 2019, to Craig and Jenna Abbs in Fort Wayne, and was diagnosed with transitional atrioventricular canal defect at 2 months of age. For the past nine months, she …

Tim Lewis Miller, age 78, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, March 12, 2020, at the Sturgis Hospital emergency room. He was born Sept. 3, 1941, in Lima, Ohio, a son of the late Lawrence L. and Evelyn (Long) Miller. Tim moved to the Sturgis area in eighth grade and graduated from Centreville High School with the class of 1959. He …

Karen Lynette Napier, age 56, of Sturgis, died Tuesday, March 10, 2020, as the result of a single car accident on US-12 west of Sturgis. She was born March 19, 1963, in Gary, Indiana, to Eldon and Carolyn (Harbit) Ralston. Ms. Napier worked at the Dairy Queen in Sturgis. Karen enjoyed caring for her brother’s dogs and making jewelry. She …

Sherrill A. Kline, age 84, of Constantine, died on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at Birch Meadows AFC in Three Rivers. She was born April 29, 1935, a daughter of Ralph and Mildred (Crotser) Heminger. Sherrill graduated from White Pigeon High School in 1953. On June 27, 1953 she married Lyle E. Kline at the Mottville Biible Church. He preceded her in …

Elke Karin Lambert, age 53, of Constantine, died on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo following a brave battle with cancer. She was born June 6, 1966 in Bayreuth, Germany a daughter of Hans Gunther Joachim and Inge (Scholz) Lehmann. Elke graduated from school in Germany and qualified by exam to be a state employee of the …

Katheryn Faye Lytle, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, March 12, 2020 at her home. She was born June 19, 1934, in Mendon, a daughter of the late Lloyd and Pauline (Katz) Kuhlman. Kathy resided in the Sturgis and Mendon area her entire life and was a graduate of Mendon High School with the class of 1951. On May …

Alan Charles Ake Sr., age 61, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born April 18, 1958, in LaGrange, a son to the late Elmer and Rachel (Hershberger) Ake. Alan was a resident of Sturgis most of his life and was employed as a tool-and-die maker at Sutton Tool for …

Leah Ann Wilson, age 34, of Three Rivers passed away suddenly at her home on Thursday, March 5, 2020.  She was born on November 13, 1985 in Coldwater, the daughter of Lloyd Wilson and Cynthia Dillon. Leah was beloved by all who knew her. She was very active in the Special Olympics and her work at Main Street Café, where …

Carolyn Sue Comstock, age 71, passed away on Friday, March 6, 2020, at her home in White Pigeon. She was born June 13, 1948, in Anniston, Ala. On June 28, 1986, she married Rickie Comstock. He survives, along with her two children, Anthony (Angie) Montgomery and Belinda (John) Garrett; three stepchildren, Lisa, Kari and Troy; 16 grandchildren; 13-great grandchildren; and …

Mi Kell Tatum “Kelly” Betcke, age 46, of Sturgis, passed away Friday evening, March 6, 2020, at her home. She was born Feb. 5, 1974, in Sturgis, a daughter of Terry and Roberta “Bobby” (Smoker) Betcke. Kelly was a lifelong Sturgis resident and graduate of Sturgis High School with the class or 1992. Following her graduation from high school, she …