Obituaries

Melody Lynn Ruggles, age 43, of Three Rivers went to be with her Lord Wednesday, August 20, 2014. She left from her home with her loving family by her side after a courageous battle with colorectal cancer . She was born in Berwyn, IL on July 24, 1971, the daughter of Oren and Marilyn(Allen)Shoemaker. Melody graduated from Three Rivers High …

Mae D. Willings, age 81, of White Pigeon, passed away Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis.  She was born in Oakman Co., Alabama on November 19, 1932, a daughter of Cranford and Mandy (Davis) Smith. Mae worked at Yukon Delta in Elkhart in the 1970’s. On June 10, 1950 she married Walter F. Willings in Columbus, MS. He …

Dennis L. Hill, 68, of White Pigeon, Mich., died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers, Mich.There will be a small gathering of friend and family at a later date.

William Morris Metty, Sr., age 68, of Centreville, MI. passed away on Monday, August 18, 2014 at Borgess Medical Center. He was born on October 22, 1945 in Centreville, MI. the son of Gordon and Pearl (Steen) Metty. Mr. Metty has been a lifetime resident of this area. He was employed at the White Pigeon Paper Mill for forty years …

Frances “Fran” Belle Stoppenbach, age 91, of Three Rivers passed away on Friday, August 15, 2014 at Heartland Health Care Center. Fran was born in Quincy, MI on June 7, 1923 the daughter of Archie and Iva(Roth)Smith. Frances graduated from Coldwater High School in 1941. She then went to work for her brother Darryl at the A&P grocery store in …

Harry R. Rasmussen, Jr., age 86, of Decatur, MI passed away Sunday, August 17, 2014. He was born August 30, 1927 in Superior, WI the son of Harry R. Sr. and Mable (Reynolds) Rasmussen. He was preceded in death by his first wife Ruth in 1985.  On October 16, 1987 he married Evelyn R. Rice who survives. Surviving besides his wife …

           John R. Lapham, age 86, of Marcellus, MI (Wakelee), passed away unexpectedly Thursday, August 14, 2014 at home.           He was born December 24, 1927 in Cassopolis, MI, the youngest child of John W. and Alma B. (Johnson) Lapham.  On August 26, 1951 in Cassopolis he married the love of his life, Joan Ayers who preceded him in death …

Myrtle Lucy Barnes, age 94, of Three Rivers, died Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014 at Heartland Healthcare Center in Three Rivers. She was born in Mendon on May 9, 1920 the youngest daughter of Thomas and Clyo (Kline) Engle, and attended school in Mendon. She was married to LoWayne Elmer Barnes on Sep. 4, 1937 in Centreville. They lived briefly in …

Philip Raymond Gregrich, Sr., 59, of White Pigeon, passed away Thursday, August 14th, 2014 at Riverview Manor Nursing Home in Three Rivers.  Phil was born in Benton Harbor, MI on November 26, 1954 to William Knapp and Doris Barton. On June 17, 1995, he married Valerie Harvey. Phil was employed in retail sales at Bontrager’s Supply in White Pigeon.  He also worked …

Lenora A. Rocha O’Grady, age 70, of Cassopolis, MI. She was born October 5, 1943 to Jack and Inez (Addelman) Kennedy. She loved fishing and gathering with friends for social activities. Surviving are two daughters, Tammy (Mark) Adcock of California and Joanna (Todd) Hawkins of Marcellus; three sons, Danny (Gloria) Rocha of Oregon, Kenny (Cindy) Rocha of Arizona and Steve (Sherry) …