Obituaries

Dorothy May Nichols, age 102, of Colon, passed away Friday, March 18, 2016, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in Centreville. Dorothy was born Nov. 5, 1913, in Colon, a daughter to the late Lou G. and Lucy Belle (Gregg) Dingman. She had lived most all of her life in the Colon area, graduating from Colon High School with the …

Jody Lee Merriam, age 56, of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at Bronson Methodist Hospital following a three month illness. He was born in Kalamazoo on July 17, 1959 the son of Allen and Anna (Hoogakker) Merriam. Jody graduated from Vicksburg High School with the class of 1979. He was married to Marcia Shingledecker on Aug. 22, 1982 …

Ruth J. Perry, age 89, of Ionia, and formerly of Burr Oak, passed away Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at Heartland Health Care Center in Ionia. Ruth was born Sept. 20, 1926, in Burr Oak, a daughter of the late John C. and Louise B. (Modert) Baumeister. Ruth grew up in Burr Oak, graduating from Burr Oak High School with the …

Fletcher “Bumpy” West, age 78, of Three Rivers, passed away Monday, March 14, 2016 at Kairos Dwelling in Kalamazoo.  He was born on July 11, 1937 in Haverhill, Massachusetts, a son of Fletcher and Madeline (Young) West.  Fletcher graduated from Milford High School and served in the U.S. Army for 2 years.  He continued his education at Boston College and Harvard University, …

M. Kay (Thornton) Lafler, age 75, of Colon, passed away, Saturday, March 12, 2016, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Kay was born December 30, 1940, in Sturgis a daughter to the late Jesse and Velma (Wilcox) Thornton. She lived all her life in the Colon area, graduating from Colon High School with the Class of 1958. She had been …

Norman Wesley Lunsford died on Monday, March 14, 2016. In accordance with family wishes, cremation will be conducted and there will be no public services held at this time. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Mary (Westphal) Patterson, passed away on Friday, March 11, 2016 at the home of her daughter in Augusta, MI following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on January 24, 1947 in Three Rivers, MI to the late Russell and Jeanne (Herron) Westphal. Mary was a life long resident of Three Rivers and graduated with the class of 1965, …

Alice Louise Schumacher Ash, age 90, of Three Rivers passed away peacefully Saturday, March 12, 2016. She was born May 24, 1925 in Aurora Ill. to John and Alice (Graham) Schumacher. While attending Kalamazoo College she met the love of her life Dr. Robert D. Ash Sr., while he was attending Western Michigan University. They were married on January 28, 1944 …

Steven Seth Ely, age 55, of Richland, MI died Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at his home. He was born in Three Rivers on February 8, 1961 the son of Howard R. and Virginia Ann (Brown) Ely. He had resided in Richland the past year, coming from Plainwell. He was employed as a technician for J-S Automation in Plainwell. He enjoyed …

Sandra Lynn Hemenway, age 53, of Mendon, died Friday, March 11, 2016 at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in Centreville. She was born in Three Rivers on Oct. 15, 1962 the daughter of Ralph D. and Donna C. (Happel) Hemenway. Sandra attended Three Rivers, Centreville, and Mendon Schools where she graduated in 1980. She had worked at Lear Plastics in …