Obituaries

Melva “Janie” Cunningham, age 86, of Centreville, passed away Monday, September 4, 2023. She was born July 31, 1937. Janie graduated from Centreville High School in 1955. On January 27, 1956 she married Howard Cunningham in Warsaw, IN. He preceded her in death December 23, 2004. Janie worked at Denton Mills and later retired from Sumitt Polymers. Janie was member …

Peggy Lee Standish, age 74, of Leonidas, died Friday, September 1, 2023 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend. She was born in Port Huron on March 3, 1949 the daughter of Frank and Bessie (Kibble) Dessro and attended schools in Port Huron and Three Rivers. She was married to Christopher Standish on August 8, 2002 in LaGrange, Indiana. Peggy was …

Derrell Merrill, age 65, of Sturgis, passed away on Saturday, Sepember 2, 2023 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born June 8, 1958 in Lexington, KY a son to the late Arthur B. and Reva (Ritchie) Merrill. Derrell has been a resident of Sturgis since 1983 moving here from Toledo. On June 16, 1979 in Toledo, …

James Edward Gushwa, age 79, of Jones, and a former longtime Sturgis and White Pigeon area resident, passed away Friday afternoon, September 1, 2023 at the Greenleaf Health Campus in Elkhart. He was born July 28, 1944 in Sturgis, son of the late Fredric Leroy and Olive Dorthea (Baker) Gushwa. Jim resided in Jones for the past 13 years. Most …

Jackson Scott Crager, age 2, of Jones, died on Friday, September 1, 2023 at his home from injuries sustained in an accident. He was born May 18, 2021 in Auburn, IN a son of Lyndy Crager and Joshua Robertson. Jackson aka “Baby Shark” was the definition of all boy, loving to be outside, working with his Dad and family around …

Ruth Herndon Jones, age 93, of Three Rivers, died Sunday, September 3, 2023 at Optalis (formerly Heartland) Healthcare in Three Rivers.  She was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on June 11, 1930 the daughter of the late Marshall and Sara Jane (Calvin) Herndon. She was a licensed practical nurse and provided in-home care to many in the Three Rivers area. Ruth’s …

Maynard V. Miller, age 87, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, September 1, 2023 at his Mendon home surrounded by his family. He will be remembered for being a loving husband, father, and grandfather who could always be relied upon to help out and could bring smiles with his sense of humor. Born to the late …

William Glenn Barr, age 65, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday afternoon, August 31, 2023 at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. He was born August 20, 1958 in Coldwater, son of the late Robert and Phyllis (Fitch) Barr. Bill resided in Sturgis since 2003 coming from Coldwater. His early life was spent in Bronson where he was a graduate …

Toni Lorene Gard, age 73, of Jones, passed away Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at home in the comfort of her family’s presence. Her life began September 24, 1949 in Baltimore, Maryland, one of five children born to Anthony Majka and Doris Elizabeth (Hopkins) Majka. She married Kenneth Edgar Gard, Jr. May 18, 1968 in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Toni was a …

George Paul Yung, age 80, of Three Rivers, passed away Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at Optalis Health & Rehabilitation. He was born June 11, 1943 in Columbus, Georgia, the son of George Peter and Phyllis Louise (Hutchinson) Yung. George was a graduate of RVRHS in 1962. George served his country in the United States Navy, then worked for 26 years …