Ellen Elaine (Bender) McDermid

Ellen Elaine (Bender) McDermid, 89, of Battle Creek, passed away Friday, July 22, 2022, surrounded by her Daughter and Grandson. Ellen was the eldest of four children born to John and Laura (Clough) Bender on November 25, 1932. She graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in 1950 and married James McDermid on September 3, 1950. They shared 66 ½ years of marriage until Jim passed away April 14, 2017.  They raised 4 children on the farm, McDermid’s Apple Orchard, until the farm was sold in 1979 and they moved.  Ellen’s career included working for Michigan Bell and Total Communications as a switchboard operator, Hillcrest Apple Orchards, and the family farm. She volunteered with Jim at the Food Bank of Southcentral Michigan. She enjoyed knitting, baking her famous Parker House rolls, word search puzzles, doing jigsaw puzzles with friends, feeding, and watching the wildlife and living in the country. The family would like to acknowledge and thank Centrica Care Navigators for their help and support.

She is survived by daughter, Paula (Robert) Liechty of Battle Creek, MI; son, Marc (Calvin Russell) of Battle Ground, WA; three grandchildren, Josh Liechty, TJ (Delaney) Allen and Jennifer (George) Martinez; two grandcats, Rusty and Moonie; three great-grandsons, Theo and Gabriel Martinez and Cooper Allen; son-in-law, Tim Allen; sister, Joyce Harrison; brother-in-law, Ed McLaughlin and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant sister, Pearl; brother, Wayne; husband, James in 2017; daughter, Linda on February 20, 2012; daughter, Sandy on June 30, 2017; and her cats, Nuisance and Bandit.

Services have been entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 2838 Capital Ave SW, Battle Creek, MI 49015. Visitation for Ellen will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, from 3:00pm – 7:00pm. Visitation will also be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022, from 1:00pm until the “Service to Remember Ellen” begins at 2:00pm with Lloyd Erickson officiating. She will be laid to rest at Hicks Cemetery, 21761 Capital Ave NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017 in Pennfield Township. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Companion Cats Inc, PO Box 2568, Battle Creek, MI 49016 or online at https://www.companioncats.com/donation/ or to Centrica Care Navigators, 7100 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49009 or online at https://centricacare.org/giving/ and envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Also, you may visit https://www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, sign the online guest book, or to leave the family condolences.