Obituaries

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 …

Inez M. Ultz, age 84, of Burr Oak, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She is now celebrating a full life with her Savior Jesus Christ. Inez was born June 3, 1928, in Sturgis, a daughter to the late William and Emma (Wittenberg) Studeman. Inez had lived most all of her life in Burr …

Viola M. Copsey, age 87, of Constantine, passed away Monday, November 19th, 2012 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born in Baldwin, IN on May 2, 1925, a daughter of Edward and Lucinda (Hoover) Gibson. On June 8, 1942 she married Glen Copsey in Ft. Wayne, IN, he preceded her in death in February 1984. Viola was …

Norman E. Webb, age 67, of Colon, passed away Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, at his home, after several months of failing health. Norm was born Feb. 1, 1945, in Sturgis, a son of the late Warren and Dorothy (Sager) Webb. Norm lived most all of his life in Colon, where he had attended Colon schools. On June 23, 1973, he …

Joyce P. King, 69, of Coldwater, passed away Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, at Community Health Center of Branch County. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, also at the funeral home. Joyce was born Aug. 11, …

Patricia Ann Vrobel, age 82, of Mendon, died Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012 at Heartland Healthcare Center in Three Rivers. She was born in Kalamazoo on Jan. 16, 1930 the daughter of William and Martha (Frick) Rynd. she graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1947. Pat was married to Raymond Vrobel on Oct. 2, 1948 in Kalamazoo and they moved …