All Obituaries

Elden Arnel Ripley, age 75, passes away on December 14, 2019 in Grand Rapids, MI.  He was born February 15, 1944 in Battle Creek, MI, son of Oral and Dorthy (Conley) Ripley.  He was a lifelong resident of this area and was a graduate of Olivet High School, class of 1963.  Elden worked for Hoover Ball Bearing in Charlotte, MI for 25 years and Harvard Industries in Albion, MI for 5 years.  He retired at the age of 59 due to poor health.  On June 19, 1976, he married...

Barbara J. Gates, age 92, of Marshall died early Sunday morning, December 15, 2019 at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall. The family will receive friends on Friday, December 20. 2019 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Marshall Chapel of the Kempf Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services.  A funeral service to celebrate the gift of her life will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, December 21, 2019 at the funeral home with Reverend Bob Stover officiating.  Following a luncheon at the funeral home,...

Nancy S. Kimber, passed away at 79, on December 12, 2019 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was born on August 6, 1940 to Hazen and Beatrice (Root) Heselschwerdt in Hillsdale, Michigan.  She was a lifetime resident of Homer and was a graduate of Homer High School, class of 1958.  On May 9, 1959, she married Cleo E. Kimber at the United Methodist Church in Homer. She had worked for State Farm Regional Insurance Offices in Marshall, Michigan for a short...

Reatha Mae (Bleam) Bushong, age 96, of Indiana and formerly of the Albion and Homer areas died Monday evening at the Presence Sacred Heart Home-Ascension Living Center in Avilla, Indiana. Mrs. Bushong was born on October 13, 1923 in Caledonia, Michigan to LeRoy and Dorothy (Thomas) Bleam.  She spent her youth living in the Grand Rapids area moving to the Albion-Homer areas in 1944.  Reatha was a homemaker the majority of her life.  After her children were grown, she worked...

Frances Laura Pease   Frances L. Pease, age 88, of Bellevue died Monday afternoon, December 9, 2019 at the Flower House Assisted Living in Nashville, Michigan. Mrs. Pease was born on December 31, 1930 in Kalamo Township to Conrad M. and Esther (Beckner) Barker.  She was a lifelong resident of the Bellevue area and was a graduate of Bellevue High School, class of 1949.  After graduation she attended Western Michigan University. On June 23, 1951, she married...

Duane L. “Pete” Shrontz, 83, of Marengo Township, the current Marengo Township Supervisor, passed away in the love and care of his family at his home on Monday afternoon, December 9, 2019. Pete was born on June 20, 1936 at Hayes Green Beach Hospital in Charlotte to Dale and Mildred (Goodwin) Shrontz.  He graduated in 1954 from Olivet High School.  His first job was driving school bus for the Olivet schools after graduation.    In 1955 he started to drive...

Lloyd R. Dixon, 81, of Bellevue died on Sunday December 8, 2019 at Ascension Borgess Hospital following a short illness.  Lloyd was born on May 26, 1938 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania to Harvey and Gertrude Dixon Sr.  He attended schools in Pennsylvania.  On March 10, 1984 he married Marie A. Gormerley in New Jersey.  Although their marriage ended in divorce, they remained good friends till the end. Lloyd worked at Arvco Container in Kalamazoo for over 15 years he retired...

Shirley Helen Gilmore, 95, of Jackson, died on Monday, December 2, 2019 at Jackson County Medical Care Facility surrounded by her family following a long illness. Shirley was born on September 5, 1924 in Albion to Emil and Helen (Hakes) Tech and graduated from Olivet High School in 1942. After working several years, Shirley retired in 1988 from University Microfilms Incorporated, a publishing company in Ann Arbor. She was a member of the Uncle Carl Dulcimer, playing bass in the band...

Neil G. “Pete”  Isham, 94, of Albion, peacefully passed away in the comfort and company of family at Maplewood Of Marshall on Monday, December 2, 2019 after a long and rewarding life. Pete was born on February 9, 1925 at the family’s home on a farm near Dowling to Howard and Sarah (Hammond) Isham.  He attended Hastings High School.  Like many young men of his generation, he chose to enlist on June 16, 1943 in the military to serve his country, choosing the...

Richard “Dick” Watson, age 80, of Marshall passed away Saturday, November 30, 2019 surrounded by his loving family. He was born August 16, 1939 in Corning, NY, the son of Leslie Watson and Wilma (Patterson) Watson. Richard was united in marriage with Roberta (Andrews) Watson on August 30, 1958. He graduated in 1957 from Addison High School, in Addison, NY, and then attended Oswego State (SUNY Oswego). He was employed with the former Corning Glass Works in Corning, NY. In 1969 he...