Obituaries

Gladys Lucille Courtney of Cooper Township, Michigan, passed away Thursday, January 3, 2013 in Kalamazoo. Lucille was born December 21, 1934 in Centerville, IN to Fred and Mabel (Wrigley) Vaughn.For over 20 years she owned and operated Lucille’s II, The Used Book Store, in Plainwell. Lucille had been a longtime faithful supporter of Fr. Flannigan’s Boys Town. In her leisure...

Marilyn J. Chandler of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, January 1, 2013 in Otsego after over a year of battling brain cancer. Mrs. Chandler was born April 20, 1944 in Lawrence to Richard and Hazel (Martin) Clark. For many years she was employed with First National Bank, retiring in 1998. In her leisure time she enjoyed reading and working puzzles....

Beverly L. Watson of Otsego, Michigan,passed away Tuesday, January 1, 2013 in Allegan. Mrs. Watson was born January 7, 1927 in Trowbridge Township to Curtis Sr. and Mildred (Newton) Holden and was a lifelong resident of the area.For over 20 years she was employed by Otsego Public Schools in the hot lunch program. Beverly was an artist and a faithful...

David C. Hedges, Sr. of Plainwell, Michigtan, passed away Monday, December 31, 2012, in Plainwell. Mr. Hedges was born March 29, 1929 in Kulin, Missouri to Ruben and Hodie Hedges.For over 20 years he was employed with Southwest Gravel and since 1984 worked at Dave’s Auto. Surviving are 5 children, Donna (Mike) O’Connell of Allegan, Chuck Stratton of Otsego, David...

Nancy Lee (Sanford) Smith of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Sunday, December 30, 2012, in Allegan. Nancy was born an identical twin with Diane Lynn Sanford on December 17, 1947 in Shelby, Michigan, to Robert and Evelyn (Grant) Sanford.In her youth she was a Camp Fire Girl and a member of Youth Fellowship in Holland and Shelby. She graduated from Shelby...

Rhonda Kay McGonagle, 62, of Tampa, Florida (formerly of Otsego, Michigan) went to be with our Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 21, 2012. She passed away unexpectedly, in Tampa, Florida, due to medical complications. She put up a courageous fight to the end.Rhonda was born November 20, 1950 in Plainwell, MI, the daughter ofCharles ‘Homer’andNadene(Ladd) Shaffer. She was a 1968...

David K. Drake of Pine Lake, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, December 25, 2012, at his home. Mr. Drake was born April 30, 1934 in Grand Rapids to Kent and Gertrude (Eby) Drake. For many years he was employed as a computer systems analyst with Ford Motor Company.Surviving are his wife, Penny; three children, Cathryn Drake of Athens, Greece, Stephen Drake...

Reatha L.Burkhead of Plainwell passed away Saturday, December 22, 2012 in Plainwell. Reatha was born February 23, 1928 in Gun Plain Twp., the daughter of James and Edna Jordon. Reatha was a wonderful mother and loved caring for her children and her home.Surviving are her children, Sandy Clark, Sue Edeus, Edna Elferink, Terry Burkhead, Tom Burkhead and Annie Tyler; many...

Jacqueline Ann ‘Jackie’ Perkins of Otsego, Michigan passed away Tuesday, December 18, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Jackie was born October 26, 1980 in Berrien Springs to Joseph and Katherine (Jones) Ott. Surviving are her husband, Trevor Perkins; her children, Logan and Mason; her mother and step-father, Kathy and John Graham of Otsego; her father, Joseph Ott of Sodus; her step-dad, Tino;...

Harriet K. Hoyt of Allegan, MI passed away on Friday, December 7, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Harriet was born October 6, 1946 in Kalamazoo to Sheldon and Marie (Bosma) Stensland. Harriet had worked for Kal-Equip for a short time before starting with Perrigo in Allegan. After 27 years of service Harriet retired in 2006. She enjoyed visiting casinos, knitting, scrapbooking, her...

Steven C. “Steve” Stevenson of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Sunday, December 2, 2012 in Nassau County, NY, where he was assisting in recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy. Steve was born September 8, 1960 in Plainwell to Thomas Neal and Paula Louise (Griffith) Stevenson, Sr.He was a 1978 graduate of Otsego High School, where he was on the swim team and...

Vanessa Kay Stewart of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, December 3, 2012 at her home. Vanessa was born June 21, 1985 in Allegan, the daughter of David and Diane (Fox) Stewart.Surviving are her mother and step-father, Diane and Jerry Wheeler of Otsego; 2 half-sisters and a half-brother, Donna Jean ‘Sarah” Spencer, Bonnie Spencer and Tony Spencer, all of Grand Rapids;...

Mrs. Valborg Davis of Plainwell, Michigan passed away Monday, December 3, 2012 in Plainwell. Mrs. Davis was born November 13, 1920 in Ryder, N.D. to Schjold and Ellen (Troite) Eide and had been a lifelong resident of North Dakota until moving to Michigan in 2000. Valborg had worked for Drake High School for over 5 years, was a secretary for...

Laura M. “Sis” Lewis of Shelbyville, MI passed Saturday, December 1, 2012 at home with her family at her side. Laura “Sis” was born September 27, 1940 in Plainwell to Clifton and Laura (Root) Holmes and had been a lifelong resident of the area. She had been employed at the Otsego Theatre, the Otsego Inn, Metron of Allegan and for...

Betty Ailene James, of Plainwell, MI passed away at her home, Sunday, November 25, 2012. She was born September 22, 1918, daughter of Hobart and Lucille Hale. She graduated from Richland Agricultural School in 1936, spent one year at Western State Teachers College and one year at Parsons Business College. She was employed as secretary and telephone operator in Prairieville,...

George H. “Butch’ Hatten of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Thursday, November 22, 2012 in Kalamazoo. George was born August 10, 1953 in Allegan, the son of George and Margarite (Rex) Hatten. For many years he owned and operated a tire re-selling business.On September 15, 1972 in Allegan he married Linda Metheny, who survives. Also surviving are his children, Mid Wilbur...

Joan Maxine DeVries of Plainwell, Michigan passed away Tuesday, November 27, 2012, in Kalamazoo. Joan was born April 24, 1946 in Kalamazoo to Reinert and June Maxine (Owen) DeVries. She was a 1965 graduate of Portage Northern High School. For 10 years she was employed with Dickerson’s Greenhouse in Bloomingdale and then was employed with the Plainwell Wal-Mart as a...

Rachel J. “Grandma Buddy” Cary of Otsego, Michigan passed away Monday, November 26, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Cary was born December 10, 1929 in South Haven to Orlo and Melba (Dunfield) Fletcher. For 30 years she was employed as a rural mail carrier with the U.S. Post Office and had also driven school bus for the Otsego Public Schools for...

Wilma J. Dalrymple of Watson Twp., Michigan, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Wednesday, November 21, 2012. Mrs. Dalrymple was born September 21, 1926 In Jamestown, Michigan to William and Jeanetta (Boerman) VanDerMeere. Wilma was a devoted homemaker and especially enjoyed spending time with her family. In her leisure time she enjoyed quilting and sewing.Surviving are...

Wayne Allen Jankowiak of Allegan, Michigan, passed away Monday, November 19, 2012 at his home. Wayne was born May 25, 1956, in Midland to Virgil and Bonnie (Hiliker) Jankowiak. For 4 years he served his country in the U. S. Army and for many years was employed at auto parts buffing and polishing. Wayne was good hearted and always enjoyed...