Obituaries

Apr 1, 2017

Clotilde Hernandez was born on July 8, 1948, in Raymondville, Texas, the daughter of Jose Chavarria and Amelia Gonzalez. She passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence in Oshtemo Township.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hartford, with...

Mar 18, 2017

Wilma Jean Heflin was born on July 2, 1938, in Bald Knob, Ark., the daughter of Cecil and Sadie (Sarrels) Elder.

Wilma passed to her new life Saturday, March 18, 2017, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

On Aug. 2, 1958, Wilma was united in marriage to L. D....

Mar 17, 2017

Robert E. Buss was born Oct. 8, 1928, in Arlington Township. He was one of three children born to John and Mildred (Jacobs) Buss. Robert passed away suddenly at home on Friday, March 17, 2017.

Robert served his country proudly in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was formerly employed by a house...

Mar 12, 2017

Charles Ellsworth Warkentien, 77, of Hartford Township passed away Sunday, March 12, 2017, at Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville.

Charles, or “Chuck” or “Charlie” as he was known by most, was born April 1, 1939, in Star City, Ind., the son of Irvin and Annabelle (Phillips) Warkentien, both of whom preceded him in passing.

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Mar 12, 2017

Russell Robert Gray, 73, died peacefully at his home in Benton Harbor Sunday, March 12, 2017. He was born April 19, 1943, in St. Joseph. He was a 1962 graduate of Covert High School and attended Southwest Michigan Community College. He was a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War serving aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Coral Sea (CVA-43).

Mar 3, 2017

Elizabeth June Rodgers was born June 18, 1923, in Hartford. She was the daughter of Adelbert and Barbara (Wise) Neff. Elizabeth passed away at home on Friday, March 3, 2017.

The family will welcome friends from 12:30-1 p.m. Saturday, March 11, 2017, at the Van Buren Sportsmen's Club, followed at 1 p.m. with a celebration...

Feb 27, 2017

Carol Elizabeth Wilkens, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, surrounded by her family at Pine Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Stevensville.

Carol was born on July 27, 1935, in Benton Harbor, the daughter of Charles and Frances (Tucker) Kozma, both of whom preceded her in passing. Carol was...

Feb 26, 2017

Robert Arthur Garrod, 92, of Lawrence, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at his residence, surrounded by his family. He was born July 28, 1924, in Arlington Township, MI, the son of Fred Sr, and Edith Garrod.

Robert was a 1941 graduate of Lawrence High School, and graduated from Michigan State College's Agricultural (East Lansing) short...

Feb 24, 2017

Brian Scott Burfield, 48, of Hartford passed away suddenly on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, at home.

Brian was born Aug. 23, 1968, in Watervliet, the son of Wallace Burfield and Wanda Drane Morse.

On Nov. 26, 1990, Brian was united in marriage with Linda Bisbee and she survives; along with three...

Jan 25, 2017

John Anton Brower was born June 10, 1939, in Brazzaville, Belgian Congo, one of five children born to Angus and Emma (Anderson) Brower, both of whom preceded him in passing. Also preceding him in passing was a brother, Paul Brower. John passed away at home on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017.

The family will welcome friends...

Jan 24, 2017

Nathan Franklin Wright, 76, passed away Jan. 24, 2017, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo. He was born Dec. 30, 1940, in Athens, Ala., to Nathan and Sarah (Adams) Wright.

He leaves a loving family including his wife, Sandra; a daughter, Katie Valtierra of Dowagiac; a son, Johnny Wright of Tucson, Ariz.; three sisters: Ramona (Steven)...

Jan 18, 2017

Vivian Mae Godgiben was born Dec. 10, 1942, in Tyronza, Ark., one of 11 children born to Charles and Alta (McHorney) Mitchell. Her parents and four of her siblings have preceded her in passing.

Vivian passed away at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. She loved singing and playing her guitar,...

Jan 10, 2017

Gary Lee Brink, 62, of Hartford passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence, Kalamazoo.

The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, at the Calvin Funeral Home in Hartford, followed at 2 p.m. with a celebration of life service to honor Gary's memory. Chuck Ishmael, David...

Jan 8, 2017

Ellen Pearl Tyler, 84 of Hartford passed away Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, at Hanson Hospice Center.

Ellen was born April 3, 1932, in Mattawan, the daughter of Jake and Larue (DeYoung) Burkett.

On Oct. 6, 1950, Ellen was united in marriage to Kenneth Tyler. Kenneth passed away on July 27, 2008....

Jan 7, 2017

Virginia Lee Willoughby, 85, of Hartford passed away Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at Caretel Inns of Lakeland, Royalton Township.

Virginia was born Nov. 2, 1931, in Wardell, Mo., the daughter of Harvey and Bertha (Brown) Phillips, both of whom preceded her in passing. Also preceding her in passing were her husband, James Arthur Willoughby; a...

Jan 5, 2017

Vada Estella Langston, 91, formerly of Hartford passed away Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, at Maple Lake Assisted Living, Paw Paw.

Vada was born July 29, 1925, in Paragould, Ark., the daughter of Edward and Florabelle (Speer) Davidson, both of whom preceded her in passing. Also preceding her in passing were her husband, Andrew Langston on...

Dec 31, 2016

Antonia Reyna Vigil, 65, of Lawton was born July 13, 1951, in Santa Cruz, Matahuala, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, to Nazario and Catalina (Galligos) Reyna, both of whom preceded her in passing. Antonia passed away at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, surrounded by her loved ones.

The family welcomed friends from...

Dec 31, 2016

James Alvin Hester, 80 of Bangor Township passed away Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, at home.

Jim, as he was known by most, was born in Ben, Ark., on Nov. 21, 1936, to his parents F.W. Davis and Cora Miller, both of whom precede him in passing. Also preceding him in passing was his step-father, Cliff...

Dec 26, 2016

A beautiful mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother died this week. Luella Mae Cheshire had a smile that could light up a room, and kindness that permeated her being. It showed in the words she spoke and the way she lived her life. She could bake an apple pie like nobody’s business, and take pictures. They say if you...

Dec 14, 2016

Cynthia “Cyndi” Marie Carlock, 65, of Hartford lost a long hard battle with cancer on Dec. 14, 2016, at Bronson Methodist Hospital.

Cyndi, as she was known, was born Dec. 1, 1951, in Dowagiac, to Emerson and Ruby (Krager) Drake. Cyndi was the oldest of five children.

Her time was divided...