Obituaries

Feb 16, 2021

Mary Wanda Phillips, 89, of Coloma passed away Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, in Hartford Township.

Mary was born April 13, 1931. in Pleasant Grove, Ark., the daughter of Robert and Opal (Rhodes) Southard, both of whom precede her in passing. Also preceding her in passing are her husband, George; two sons: Gary and Kenneth; two sisters; and...

Feb 7, 2021

Rusty Ray Phillips, 41, of Lawrence passed away suddenly Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021.

Rusty was born March 8, 1979, in Berrien Springs, the son of Randy and Sharon (Yawberry) Phillips. He dedicated his life to his children, whom he loved dearly. He loved to fish and hunt.

Rusty is survived by three children: Tarynn, Delaney,...

Feb 3, 2021

Norine Lucille (Bisnett) Arnt went to meet her savior on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021.

She was born on Oct. 1, 1928, in her parents’ farmhouse in Keeler Township. She was the second youngest in a large family of 11 siblings. While they never had a lot of money, there were plenty of hand me downs, food, and...

Feb 1, 2021

Thomas Willard Cross, 66, of Lawrence passed away Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.

Thomas was born May 20, 1954, in Paw Paw, the son of Willard and Betty Cross. He was an accomplished welder, who could fix just about anything. He was very active in the Lawrence community, serving as a member...

Jan 20, 2021

Diana Lynn Eaton, 69, of Hartford, formerly of Kalamazoo passed away suddenly at home on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021.

She was born on Jan. 21, 1951, to Wallace and Bettye (Wood) Harvey in Kalamazoo. She was raised by her mother and step-father Wilbur Long. She worked as a CNA with home health care for several years. She...

Jan 13, 2021

Terry Lee Simons, 65, of Keeler Township passed away Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, at Rose Arbor Hospice Center, Kalamazoo.

Terry was born Feb. 23, 1955, in Kalamazoo, the son of Frank and Iva (Flett) Simons, both of whom precede him in passing. He is also preceded in passing by four brothers: Donald Simons, Richard Simons, Frank “Sonny”...

Jan 8, 2021

Patricia Ann Chappell-Gerencser, 80, of Hartford passed away Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at Pine Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Stevensville.

Pat, as she was known by most everyone, was born in Bangor on April 17, 1940, the daughter of Allen and Marian (Smith) Prouty. She graduated from Hartford High School in the class of 1957. She was...

Jan 5, 2021

Jerome (Bud) Henry Pitcher, 89, of Hartford passed away Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph.

Bud was born Aug. 2, 1931, in Watervliet Township, the son of Jerome and Ethel Pitcher, both of whom preceded him in passing. Also preceding him in passing were five sisters and one brother.

Bud was...

Jan 4, 2021

Christine Elaine Tillman, 66, of Galien passed away Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph.

Christine was born June 15, 1954, in Benton Harbor, the daughter of Charles and Caroline (Zachary) Avery, both of whom precede her in passing. Also preceding her in passing are a sister, Pamela Champ; and a brother, Lawrence Avery....

Jan 3, 2021

Ruth Ann Everett, 83, of Keeler Township passed away Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, at Caretel Inns of Lakeland, St. Joseph.

Ruth was born July 31, 1937, in Paw Paw, the daughter of Harold and Dorothy Drake, both of whom precede her in passing. Also preceding her in passing were a daughter, Julie Ann Everett-Nyoncesa; two brothers; and...

Dec 29, 2020

On Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, Harold Lee Ryan, loving husband and father of two children passed away at age 74.

Harold was born on March 7, 1946, in Benton Harbor, to JB and Lorene Ryan. He graduated from Hartford High School in 1965. And then proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968.

...

Dec 26, 2020

Shirley Elaine Hall, 82, of Hartford passed away peacefully Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, at home with her family at her side.

Shirley leaves behind her son, Richard Hall, and wife, Susan Hall, of Hartford; and her granddaughter, Sarah Hall, and significant other, Christopher Welch, of Detroit.

Shirley was preceded in passing by her husband, Robert...

Dec 26, 2020

Helen Irene Drake was born on March 2, 1918, in Alexander, Manitoba, Canada, the daughter of George and Mary (Twa) Lovegrove.

Irene, as everyone knew her, passed away Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, at The Timbers of Cass County, Dowagiac. She had 102 exceptional years and lived a rich family-filled life. Our family has lost a wonderful mother...

Dec 21, 2020

Reva Janet (Buskirk) Knight, 90, passed away peacefully at home on Dec. 21, 2020, surrounded by her children. She was born July 5, 1930, in Kalamazoo, the only child of Reta (Gilleo) and Fred Peake, and Everett Buskirk. She married the love of her life, Frederick Knight of Martin, Mich., on March 12, 1947, and celebrated 61 years of...

Dec 21, 2020

Eric Steven Weston, 41, of Hartford passed away suddenly Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, at home.

Eric was born on Dec. 6, 1979, in Paw Paw, the son of Richard and Debra (Davis) Weston. He enjoyed riding the tractor on the farm, working on cars, and he enjoyed helping his father.

Eric married the former Caryl...

Dec 6, 2020

Ella Jane Feenstra Vliek Orr entered her Heavenly home Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020. She was the only child born to Joseph and Alma (Bagley) Feenstra on May 15, 1923, in Decatur.

Ella went to Decatur schools, never graduating because she was needed to drive the tractor on her uncle Johnny’s celery farm during the Great Depression.

Dec 5, 2020

Treva Carlisle was born March 30, 1936, in Dexter, Mo., the daughter of Roy and Hazel (Wicks) Conner.

Treva passed away at the age of 84, on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, at The Willows, St. Joseph.

Treva was formerly employed at Sundstrand Corporation in Dowagiac. She attended the Full Gospel Assembly of Hartford. She loved...

Dec 1, 2020

Marjorie Kathryn Robinson, 85, of Hartford was born Nov. 18, 1935, in St. Joseph, the daughter of Henry and Frances (Vandersee) Doroh.

Marge as she was known passed away Dec. 1, 2020, at Graceway at Countryside Assistant Living & Nursing Home, South Haven.

Marge was formerly employed at the Watervliet Paper Mill and at Harding’s...

Nov 24, 2020

Jim Smith, 87, of Hartford passed away peacefully Tuesday, Nov, 24, 2020. He was loved, and will be missed.

Jim was born Jan. 25, 1933, in Grand Rapids, but called Hartford home for most of his life, graduating from Hartford High School in 1951. He enjoyed sports and was a stand-out fullback on the football team. In...

Nov 20, 2020

Thomas William Trux, 69, of Dowagiac, formerly of Hartford, passed away Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, at home.

Thomas was born Jan. 25, 1951, in Benton Harbor, the son of Glenn and Shirley (King) Trux, both of whom preceded him in passing. Also preceding him in passing was a brother, Mark Trux.

Thomas retired from Gast...