Obituaries

October 9, 2017

David Russell Swanson, aged 95, of Maple Rapids, passed away at his home on Monday, October 9, 2017.  He was a retired dairy farmer and former Essex Township supervisor.

Born on May 17, 1922 in Oscoda County Michigan, David was the son of Clyde O. Swanson and Mildred Duerr Swanson.  He graduated from high school in McHenry, Illinois and...

October 9, 2017

Donald Bryan Tree age 73, of St. Louis, MI, passed away Monday, October 9, 2017, at Masonic Pathways, Alma, MI surrounded by his 3 daughters.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes St. Louis, MI, on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 1:00 P.M., with Pastor Dan Siedlecki officiating.  Burial will take place at Oak...

October 8, 2017

Edward H. Porter, age 72, of Ithaca, passed away to Eternal Life on October 8, 2017, at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing.

Ed was born in Alma, January 23, 1945, the son of Clifford E. and Ruth C. (Howd) Porter.  He lived all his life on the home farm in rural Ithaca.  Ed was a cheerful person, and...

October 5, 2017

Thomas Richard Thiell age 91, of Alma, MI, passed away Thursday, October 5, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, MI, on Monday, October 9, 2017 at 12:00 P.M., with Pastor John Eich officiating.  Internment will be at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly, MI at...

October 4, 2017

David Jerry Girard, age 77, of Ithaca, died peacefully on October 4, 2017, at Masonic Pathways in Alma.

Jerry was born March 28, 1940, in Bay City, the son of Elmer and Irene (Atkinson) Girard.  He married Mary Ann Louise Fisher on July 7, 1969 in Fredrick, Michigan  He worked for 23 years in animal Control for...

October 4, 2017

Minnie P. Scutt, age 95, of rural Ithaca, died Wednesday, October 4, 2017, at Hearts Content AFC in Breckenridge.

Minnie was born in North Star on May 23, 1922, the daughter of Dell and Fern (Seeley) Shaw.

Minnie is survived by her children, Connie (Conard) Fulkerson of Ortonville, and Duane (Sandra) Scutt of Clarkston; 7...

October 3, 2017

Erma Burdine (Kennedy) Criner age 100, of Elsie, MI, passed away Tuesday, October 3, 2017, at Hospice House of Shiawassee County, Owosso, MI.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, MI, on Friday, October 6, 2017 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Herb Wheelock officiating. Burial will take place at Ford Cemetery, Gratiot County,...

October 2, 2017

Carl Gaylord Bowles, 87, of Ovid, MI, passed away Monday, October 2, 2017, at Ashley Care Center, Ashley, MI.

Per Carl's request, cremation has taken place and no services will be held.

Carl was born in Antrim Township, MI on September 12, 1930, the son of Walter and Laura (Main) Bowles.  He graduated from Morrice...

October 2, 2017

Holly J. (Stacy) Havens, age 77, of St. Johns, Michigan passed away on Monday, October 2, 2017 at Hazel Findlay Country Manor in St. Johns, MI.

Per Holly’s wishes cremation has taken place and memorial services will be held at a later date in Virginia.

Holly was born on August 29, 1940 in Feds Creek,...

September 30, 2017

Marcia E. Reist, age 97, of Ithaca, passed away Saturday, September 30, 2017, at Sparrow Carson Hospital in Carson City, with her family at her side.

Marcia was born in Emerson Township on July 15, 1920, the daughter of Glenn E. and Harriet Anne (Carpenter) Coffin.  She was the oldest of five children, all of whom preceded...

September 28, 2017

Denise A. Johnson, age 64, of Ithaca, passed away at Masonic Pathways in Alma on September 28, 2017, with her family at her side, after a long battle with diabetes and COPD.

Denise was born in Alma on January 16, 1953, the daughter of Earl and Beverly (Graham) Fortney.  She married her high school sweetheart, Scott D....

September 28, 2017

Garnett "Carl" Weismiller age 72, of Ithaca, MI, passed away Thursday, September 28, 2017 at his home.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI on Monday, October 2, 2017 at 11:00 A.M., with Dr. Keith Wise officiating.  Burial will take place at North Star Cemetery, North Star, MI. Visitation will be held...

September 28, 2017

Gerald Eugene Westall age 94, of Ithaca, MI, passed away Thursday, September 28, 2017 at Woodland Hospice House, Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, MI, on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 2:00 P.M., with Pastor Tom Whitesel officiating. Burial will take place at Ithaca Cemetery, Ithaca, MI.  Visitation will...

September 27, 2017

James Bakita age 76, of Bannister, MI, passed away Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, MI.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, MI, on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor William Dye officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 29, 2017 from 2-8 P.M. with family...

September 26, 2017

Landon Cory Hause, 2 months old of Lowell, MI, passed away Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at Sparrow Hospital-Ionia, Ionia, MI.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Goerge Chapel, Fowler, MI on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 11:00 A.M., with Rev. Matt Olson officiating.  Burial will take place at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery,...

September 26, 2017

Tina Marie Kelley, age 52, of Elwell, died Tuesday, September 26, 2017, at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing.

Tina was born January 9, 1965, in Mason, the daughter of Margaret Marie Jones and Alvin Glassbrook, and was raised by Margaret and the late Lynn Clark.  She married Daniel Riley Kelley on January 28, 1983 in St. Johns.

September 25, 2017

Donald A. Schneider, age 88, of Fowler, MI, passed away Monday, September 25, 2017 at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor, St. Johns, MI.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fowler, MI, on Thursday, September 28, 2017 at 10:30 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Dennis Howard officiating.  Burial will take place...

September 22, 2017

Delores Bentley, our dear mother, grandmother and sister, was born August 26, 1931, to Peter and Hattie Toews near Middleton, Michigan.

She passed away peacefully, surrounded by family softly singing favorite hymns to her, on September 22, 2017, reaching the age of 86 years.

She gave her heart to the Lord and was baptized into...

September 22, 2017

Dorothy J. Dionise, age 95, of Ithaca, died Friday, September 22, 2017, at her home.

Dorothy was born August 9, 1922 in the apartment above her parent’s store, Paul and Mary Dionise, ran in Ithaca.  She graduated from Ithaca schools before attending St. Lawrence School of Nursing, graduating in 1944.  She served in the military during WWII...

September 22, 2017

Edna Marie Wicke, age 85, of Elsie, MI, passed away Friday, September 22, 2017, at Welcome Home Assisted Living, Elsie, MI.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, MI, at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, September 26, 2017, with Pastor Jeff Reser officiating. Burial will take place at Ford Cemetery, Gratiot County, MI. Visitation...