Obituaries

Evelyn C. Ford, age 91, of Avilla, Ind., and formerly of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, at Presence Sacred Heart Nursing Facility in Avilla, Ind. She was born Jan. 10, 1923, in Chicago, a daughter of the late George and Emma (Hajek) Koza. Evelyn moved to Sturgis in 1965, coming from South Bend, Ind. On Dec. 28, 1946, …

Robert “Bobby” Wiles was born on May, 11 1955, in Sturgis, and joined his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. His loving, caring spirit lives on in the love of his wife, Diana; children Jason Wiles, Ryan (Abby) Wiles and Sonya Cronkite; grandchildren Alexis, Daija, Jaidon, Cross, and Austin; sisters, Betty (Jerry) Caudill and Donna (Dan) Voorus; brother, Michael …

Elizabeth M. Johnsonbaugh, 94, a lifelong resident of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014 at Thurston Woods Village. She was born Dec. 3, 1919 in Sturgis, a daughter to the late Edward and Mary (Johns) Mamroe. Elizabeth graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1937. On April 25, 1941 she married Louis E. Johnsonbaugh in Sturgis. He …

Bobby W. King, 74, of Coldwater, passed away Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, as the result of an auto accident. A funeral service for Bobby will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater. Pastor Matt Beaty from Gathering Church of God in Scottsboro, Ala., will officiate. Visitation will be held prior to the …

Sharon Lee Fryling, age 75, of Vicksburg, died Monday Feb. 24, 2014 at her home following a very short illness. She was born in Mendon, MI on Jan. 21, 1939 the daughter of Leo G. “Bud” Batten and Grace Elizabeth (Cook) Batten, and was a lifetime resident of the area. She graduated from Mendon High School with the class of …

Michael Willis passed away suddenly in a fatal car accident on February 7, 2014. Michael Gabriel Juan Willis was born on Jan. 11, 2001 in South Bend, IN., the son of Michael Eugene Willis and Ida Renee (Garcia) Beasley. Michael was a bright vibrant kid. He love playing his video games, playing with his niece & nephew and hanging out …

Naomi Grace Jackson, age 61, of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Borgess Medical Center. She was born on January 4, 1953 in Three Rivers, MI., the daughter of the late Willard Edson and Gladys (Cochran) Slack. Ms. Jackson has been a lifetime resident of this area. She owned and operated several foster care homes …

Gerald Disney Vogt, age 88, of Klinger Lake, Sturgis, passed away early Thursday morning, Feb. 20, 2014, at his home. He was born May 19, 1925, in Sturgis, a son of the late John W. and Olive Caroline (Disney) Vogt. Jerry was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1944. He continued …

Wallace Earl Bristow, 68, of Colon, died Monday at his home. Wally was born Dec, 3, 1945, in Aberdeen, N.C., to the late Harris L. Bristow and Una M Bristow “Allred.” Wally graduated and served in the U.S. Navy from 1964-1966. In 1975, he married Ottilie Bristow and they lived in Taylor until they moved to Sturgis in 1996. Wally …

Rolene L. French, age 80, of Coldwater, passed away, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, at Community Health Center of Branch County. Rolene was born Sept. 3, 1933, in Matteson Township, a daughter of the late Merton E. and Golda C. (Hovarter) French. Rolene had lived in Branch County all her life and was a member of the former Matteson Brethren Church. …