Obituaries

January 3, 2015

Nancy Karen Lopez, age 73, passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on January 1, 2015. She was born on April 18, 1941 in Ithaca, the daughter of Howard and Elizabeth (McRoberts) Lamey. Nancy was a wonderful mother and grandmother who cherished spending time with her family. She enjoyed oil painting, fishing, sharing her Christian...

January 2, 2015

Farquhar "Bruce" MacRae, 93, a resident of Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor in St. Johns and a former resident of Fowler and rural Cass City, passed away December 31, 2014.

Bruce was born Aug. 16, 1921, in New Greenleaf to the late Kenneth William and Sarah Ann (McLellan) MacRae. He attended the country school and graduated from...

December 31, 2014

Mary Ellen Buggs, age 86, retired registered nurse at Clinton Memorial Hospital, died on December 31, 2014. She was born on June 3, 1928 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Alfred A. and Marguerite (Walsh) Gannon.

Mary Ellen is survived by Karen (Bill) Pioszak, Richard Buggs, Joyce (Bob) Sherwood, Jean Buggs, Joe Buggs, Tim (Mary) Gannon, Mary...

December 31, 2014

Nancy Campbell, age 65, of Ithaca, MI passed away Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at Mid Michigan Medical Center in Midland, MI. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, MI on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Alma, Michigan. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 5, 2015 from...

December 30, 2014

Phyllis I. Simunek died December 28, 2014 at the age of 97. She was born in Morrice, on January 21, 1917, the daughter of Elta Jay and Zoe (Bigelow) Beebe. Preceding her in death was her loving husband of 63 years Fred, her brothers, Bryce and Keith Beebe, sisters, Barbara Casady and Grace Alling.

Surviving are her...

December 29, 2014

Susan "Sue" Jones, age 71, of Ithaca, Michigan passed away Monday, December 29, 2014 at Mid Michigan Medical Center, Midland, Michigan of a head injury due to a fall. A Memorial Service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI, on Monday, January 5, 2014 at 1:00 P.M., with Pastor George Showers officiating. Visitation will be held prior...

December 25, 2014

Linda Josephine Angell, age 74, of Elsie, MI passed away Thursday, December 25, 2014 at Ovid Healthcare Center, Ovid, MI. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, MI on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Herb Wheelock officiating. Burial will take place at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Owosso, MI. Visitation will be held on...

December 23, 2014

John Martin Bohil, age 97, of Oakley, Michigan passed away Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at his home. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, Michigan on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Ray Strawser officiating. Burial will take place at Ford Cemetery, Gratiot County, MI. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 26,...

December 21, 2014

Paul Theodore Schulz, age 91, of Bannister, Michigan passed away Sunday, December 21, 2014 at Ashley Care Center, Ashley, MI. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, MI on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Joel Thomford officiating. Burial will take place at Ford Cemetery, Gratiot County, MI. Visitation will be held on...

December 18, 2014

Mildred I. Smith, age 106, passed away on December 15, 2014. She was born in St. Johns on November 16, 1908, the daughter of John and Stella (Price) Gilson. Millie moved back to St. Johns in 1995 after living in the Detroit area and working for Decorative Interiors for 17 years. She was a member of the First United...

December 18, 2014

Doris Elaine DeRosia, age 73, of St. Louis, MI passed away Thursday, December 18, 2014 at her home with her family by her side. Funeral Services will be held at St. Louis Church of Christ, St. Louis, MI on Monday, December 22, 2014 at 11:00 A.M., with Mr. Keith Wise officiating. Burial will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery, St....

December 18, 2014

Bernadine Kieffer, age 85, of St. Johns, MI passed away Thursday, December 18, 2014 at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor, St. Johns, MI. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes St. Johns, MI on Monday, December 29, 2014 at 1:00 P.M., with Pastor Tom Wilson officiating. Burial will take place at Mt. Rest Cemetery St. Johns, MI....

December 18, 2014

Dennis Ray Cogswell, age 59 died on December 18, 2014 in Lansing, after a brief illness. He was born in St Johns, MI, on January 24, 1955, to Walter and Irene (Schultz) Cogswell. He spent most of his life in the St Johns and Lansing area. Dennis is survived by three sisters: Diane Wilson, Linda Thompson and Ellen Gorman. He...

December 16, 2014

Francis Dean "Frank" Champion, age 86, of St. Louis, MI passed away Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at his home. A Graveside Memorial Service will be held in June 2015 at Oak Grove Cemetery, St. Louis, MI. Frank was born in St. Louis, Michigan on September 5, 1928, the son of Francis and Coila (Doerr) Champion. Frank married Glenda Martin on...

December 16, 2014

Jeannette E. Efaw, age 93, of St. Louis, MI passed away Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at her daughters home. Funeral Services will be held at St. Louis Church of Christ, St. Louis, MI on Saturday, December 20, 2014 at 1:00 P.M., with Mr. Keith Wise officiating. Burial will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery, St. Louis, MI. Visitation will be...

December 15, 2014

Don Bearup, of Elsie, Michigan passed on to be with his Savior, Monday, December 15, 2014. He was 81. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, MI on Friday, December 19, 2014 at 2:00 P.M., with Pastor Cora Grace Goldman officiating. Burial will take place at Collier Cemetery, Washington Township, MI. Visitation will be held on...

December 13, 2014

Ruth Ann Kochensparger, age 63, of Ashley, died Saturday, December 13, 2014, at Hospice House of Mid Michigan in Lansing.

Ruth was born April 30, 1951, in St. Johns, the daughter of Cloyce and Erma (Shepherd) Kochensparger.  She graduated from Fulton High School in 1969 and began working at Ashley Care Center, where she continued to work...

December 13, 2014

Rita C. (Faivor) Cuthbert, age 93, passed away on December 12, 2014. She was born on Sept. 25, 1921, in St. Johns, Michigan, the daughter of Louis and Rose Anna (Heiler) Faiver. Rita was a loving wife, mother, and homemaker. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the St. Rita's Guild. Rita married Ronald James Cuthbert...

December 11, 2014

Ronald Benjamin Heibeck of St. Johns entered into the gates of Heaven Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at the age of 94. Born in St. Johns on July 16, 1920 to William Benjamin and Mabel Viola (Hicks) Heibeck. Ron's life passions included his family, church, and farm. He enjoyed feeding the birds, reading, riding his Gator, being out on his...

December 9, 2014

Thomas Roland "Tom" Nethaway, age 74, of Chapin, Michigan passed away Tuesday, December 9, 2014 in Shiawassee County, Michigan. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, MI on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at 1:00 P.M., with Pastor Eric Stanton officiating. Burial will take place at Fairfield Township Cemetery, Fairfield Township, Michigan. Visitation will be held on...