All Obituaries

Bessie Esther Ivey, 101, of Ceresco, passed away on Friday, January 17, 2020 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. Bessie was born on November 29, 1918 to Frank Russell and Louisa Mae (Bater) Thomas in Tekonsha Township, Michigan. Bessie graduated from Tekonsha High School in 1936. After graduating from high school, Bessie went onto County Normal School in Marshall and then started teaching in the 1930’s at Burlington Ward Station School until it closed, Flint Rural School...

Anita L. Dowell, 77, of Battle Creek, went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 17, 2020. Anita was born in Charlotte on March 2, 1942 to Keith and Florence (Rorabaugh) Martens.  Her father Keith died when Anita was only 3 years old.  Her mother remarried to Cedric Oteney who she was very close to as she grew up.    She moved to Marshall as a youngster and graduated from Marshall High School in 1960.  Anita enrolled in Western Michigan University from...

Sheryl Diane Green, age 72, of Bellevue died peacefully at her home on Friday, January 10, 2020. Sherry was born on September 8, 1947 in Hastings, Michigan to Kenneth G. and Grace (Conklin) Ritchie.  She lived the majority of her life in the Bellevue area and was a graduate of Bellevue High School, class of 1965.  Sherry had been employed as a bookkeeper for Federated Home Life Insurance Company in Battle Creek and then for the Neighborhoods Inc of Battle Creek.  She retired...

Judith “Judi” Chloe Barkley, 80, of Olivet, went to be with her Lord on Friday, January 10, 2020 at home surrounded by her loving family. Judi was born on December 15, 1939 to Earl Hainline and Blanche (Martin) Hainline-Sayat in Battle Creek, Michigan. She graduated from Lansing Everett High School. Judi married Jack L. Barkley on April 11, 1988 in Potterville, Michigan She was a Dental Office Manager in the Lansing area for over 20 years, retiring in 1995. Judi was a faithful,...

Zelphia Iva Otto, age 99, of Olivet, Michigan, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday evening, January 8, 2020 at her home in the loving care of her family.   Mrs. Otto was born on February 28, 1920 in Newaygo, Michigan to Daniel A. and Florence M. (Hole) Keiper.  Zelphia was a graduate of Big Rapids High School, class of 1938 and Del-Mar Cosmetology school in Detroit, in 1939.  She worked in Detroit and then Reed City as a cosmologist.  She has been a resident of the...

Michael “Mike” Ball, 59, of Jonesville, formerly of Homer, passed away on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 unexpectedly at Henry Ford Allegiance Health in Jackson, Michigan. Mike was born on June 9, 1960 to Fred and Ida (Reed) Ball in Albion, Michigan. He was a 1978 graduate of Homer High School. He worked for Catrec in Homer for the past 3 years as a drywall installer. Mike was also self- employed as a drywall contractor for many years in the Homer and Jonesville area. Mike was a...

Mary L. Bynum, 98 of Marshall died on Monday January 6, 2020 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing following short illness. Mary was born on July 23, 1921 in Battle Creek to Don and Grace (Wood) Hendrickson.  She graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in 1940.  On June 22, 1940 she married Frank J. Bynum in Battle Creek.  He preceded her in death in 2008. Mary trained new employees in the Auto Department at State Farm Insurance at the Marshall Regional Office for 27...

Philip Arthur Blakeslee, age 95, of DeLand, Florida and formerly of Marshall, passed away on January 3, 2020 after a short illness.  Phil was born in Battle Creek, MI on September 22, 1924 to Floyd C. and Hazel M. (Whiting.) Blakeslee.  As so many of his members did, Phil served during WWII in the US Army as a member of the Signal Corps (switchboard operator) and crossed the Rhine with the 1st Infantry Division. He returned home after his honorable discharge.  He married...

       Steven Casarez, age 61, of Marshall, passed away at MediLodge of Marshall on Friday morning, January 3, 2020 after a lengthy illness.      Steven was born on March 9, 1958 in Marshall to Miguel “Mike” and Ramona (Amaro) Casarez .  He attended Marshall schools, graduating from Marshall High School in 1976.  He took several classes at Kellogg Community College.      He worked in as a sales...

Jesse Oliver Ahearn passed away January 3, 2020. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements were entrusted to the Kempf Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2838 Capital Ave SW, Battle Creek, MI 49015. Please visit https://www.kempffuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book, or leave messages for the family.