Obituaries

David Foster Hecht, Retired Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, age 68, of Sturgis, passed away early Friday Morning, Oct. 19, 2012, at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. He was born Feb. 3, 1944, in Sturgis, a son of the late Max E. and Audrey E. (Reeg) Hecht. David was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with …

Paul J. Cooper, 90, of Marcellus, passed away Friday, Nov. 23, 2012 at his daughter’s home in Gobles. He was born Jan. 5, 1922 in Marcellus the son of James A. and Sophia (Timm) Cooper. On Dec. 18, 1948 in South Bend, Ind. he married Dorothy M. Beeson who survives. He graduated from Marcellus High School in 1940. He was …

Norman W. Haas, 80, of Quincy, passed away Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012 at the Laurels of Coldwater. He was born June 6, 1932 in Three Rivers to Edward “LeRoy” and Pauline (Ranck) Haas. Norm graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1950 and served the US Army in Germany during the Korean Conflict. He worked in the lumber insurance business …

Michaelyn A. (Mickey) Doty, age 77, of Nottawa, MI passed away Thursday, November 22nd, 2012 at her home. Mickey was born in Chatham, MI on October 31, 1935, a daughter of Michael and Evelyn (Lindquist) Malnar. She graduated from Eben High School in 1953. On January 29, 1955 she married Marshall Doty. He preceded her in death in April of 1983. Mickey …

Jeremy David Overton, age 35, of White Pigeon, passed away Sunday, November 25th, 2012 from injuries sustained in an accident. He was born in Three Rivers, MI on April 22, 1977, a son of Marty Overton and Valerie Mansmith. Jeremy was a self employed handyman. Surviving Jeremy are his mother, Valerie (Larry “Oley” Olejniczak) Mansmith of White Pigeon, daughters Chabelle Overton-Lawler of …

Ryan Lee Bowers Murphy, age 24, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012. He was born July 8, 1988, in Sturgis, a son of Gary Lee Bowers and Susan Marie Murphy Bowers. He lived his life in Sturgis and was employed as a line leader at Cobalt Holdings in Sturgis. Surviving are his fiancee, Emily Purcel; two children, Loretta, …

Emily (Ash-Hart) Killian passed away peacefully on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012 at the Traverse Manor Assisted Living Home. Emily was born in Three Rivers on May 13, 1919 to Edward and Anna Sholtey. After her mother died in 1922, Emily was adopted by Edgar and Mary Alice Ash of Three Rivers. Emily graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1937 …

Nancy C. Fisher, age 87, of Livonia, and a former longtime resident of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday morning, Nov. 21, 2012, at Heartland Health Care Center Dorvin in Livonia. She was born Aug. 3, 1925, in Port au Prince, Haiti, a daughter of the late Oscar Ray and Margaret McFarland (Brown) Cauldwell. Nancy resided in Sturgis from 1950 until 2005, …

Jane Wagner, age 64, of Leonidas, passed away Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, at her home, after an extended illness. Jane was born Dec. 31, 1947, in Battle Creek, a daughter of the late Harold C. and Iola (Stewart) Bower. Jane had lived in Colon all her life, graduating from Colon High School with the class of 1966. On June 14, …

Nelvina K. Weiderman, age 79, of Mendon, died Friday, Nov. 23, 2012 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Chicago, IL on Aug. 25, 1933 the daughter of Kermit and Sybella (Vander Veen) Parsons, and was a 1951 graduate of Three Rivers High School. Nelvina was married to Donald R. Weiderman on April 14, 1956, and they …