Obituaries

Sandra A. Conner, age 73, of White Pigeon, passed away Sunday, July 20, 2014 at her home. She was born in Summertown, TN on October 26, 1940, a daughter of Willis and Hazel (Parker) Hardiman. Sandra was a homemaker, and had also worked in customer service at Service Merchandise, Kokomo, IN and Lakeland, FL and at Disney World in Orlando, …

Donna Gail Schultz, age 77, of Mendon, died Saturday, July 19, 2014 at her home. She was born in Benton Harbor on Feb. 10, 1937 the daughter of the late Marion and Mae (Bodtke) Harner. She graduated from Benton Harbor High School and attended South Bend College of Commerce. Donna first worked at the Haas Corporation (now IAC) in Mendon, …

Patricia Ann Straw, 62, of Elkhart, IN, passed away Wednesday, July 16th, 2014 at Elkhart Center for Hospice Care. Patricia was born in Martin, Kentucky on February 12, 1952, a daughter of Cora Lee (Harrington) and Troy Taylor. She graduated from East Central High School in Tulsa, OK in 1972. Patricia attended North Eastern State University and later Cosmetology school …

Joyce Ann Hughes, age 71, of Leonidas, died Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at the Sturgis Hospital Emergency Room. She was born in Battle Creek, MI on March 20, 1943 the daughter of Samuel B. and Eddiess (Thomas) Hughes and has been a lifetime resident of Leonidas. She attended the Reserve Country School and worked on the family farm. Joyce loved …

Sherriel D. Coates, of Portage, passed away on Monday, July 14, 2014 at her residence. She was born May 3, 1936, in Three Rivers, the daughter of the late Robert L. and Neva L. (Wheeler) Garber and was a longtime Kalamazoo area resident. On Oct. 3, 1953, she was united in marriage to Herbert “Herb” Coates. For many years she …

Marion L. Charon, age 82 of Three Rivers died Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at her home following a long illness. She was born in Chicago, IL on Aug. 3, 1931 the daughter of Edward G. and Mary A. (Lahey) Pearson. As a child her family moved to Michigan, where she graduated from Mendon Schools, and later attended Nazareth College. Marion …

Mrs. Ardyce “Brenda” England, 80, of Norton Shores, passed away Sunday, July 13, 2014. She was born in Alma on June 19, 1934 to Lionel and Beatrice (Harter) Thompson and married Clifford England on Oct. 2, 1955. Mrs. England had been employed in Customer Service at GTE Telephone for 15 years until retiring. Brenda was active at Life Circles for …

Fred Joseph Churchill, age 68, of Marcellus, Michigan passed away on July 12, 2014 at Rose Arbor Hospice of Kalamazoo. Fred was born on March 30, 1946 in Dowagiac, MI to Eugene and Edith (Curtis) Churchill and graduated from Marcellus High School in 1964. He then enlisted in the United States Navy, proudly served for four years as an aviation …

Dolores T. (Kowal) Smith, age 87, of Kalamazoo, died Saturday, July 12, 2014 at Fountain View Retirement Village. She was born in Chicago on Dec. 16, 1926 the daughter of John and Mary (Hrycyn) Kowal. The family moved to Mendon in 1942 and Dee graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1945. She then graduated from Western Michigan …

It is with deep sorrow we announce the passing of our mother Maxine Straley, but with great joy knowing she has went home to be with our Lord Jesus Christ. Maxine F. Straley, age 77, of Centreville, passed away Friday, July 11th, 2014 at Fairview Nursing & Rehabilitation Centre, Centreville. Maxine was born in Muskegon, MI on July 25, 1936, …