Obituary Listing

Recent Obituaries

Chester Davidson Jr.

Chester Davidson Jr.

Jun 15, 2018

Chester Davidson Jr., 80, of Scottville, died Friday, June 15, 2018, at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital.  He was born June 10, 1938, in Vallonia, Indiana, the son of Chester and Ocie (Acton) Davidson.

Cremation has taken place and no services will be held at this time.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Pere Marquette Chapel, is...

Margaret Belle Darknell

Margaret Belle Darknell

Jun 15, 2018

Margaret Belle Darknell, 76, of Ludington, died unexpectedly Friday, June 15, 2018, at home.  She was born November 2, 1941, in Traverse City, the daughter of Garry and Jennie (Ayers) Goodrich.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, June 20, 2018, at Pere Marquette Cemetery in Ludington.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Pere...

Ardith Rosella Merten

Ardith Rosella Merten

Jun 11, 2018

Mrs. Ardith Rosella Merten, age 79, passed away Monday, June 11, 2018, at home. She was born March 1, 1939, in Hart, to Adison and Rhodora (Forbear) Corliss. She graduated from Hart High in 1957 and went on to attend Business School in Muskegon.

She married Herbert F. Merten Jr on July 11, 1959. Ardith worked a...

Fidencio "Junior" Vasquez Jr.

Fidencio "Junior" Vasquez Jr.

Jun 11, 2018

Fidencio Vasquez Jr., age 63, of Hart, passed away Monday, June 11, 2018. Fidencio was born in Edinburg, Texas, on March 30, 1955, to Fidencio "Joe" Sr. and Maria "Lucy" Vasquez.

Junior attended Hart Public School. In his working career he worked for over 20 years at Gales IGA in Hart, for local area farmers during the...

Mary Jo Butcher

Mary Jo Butcher

Jun 10, 2018

Mary Jo Butcher, 84, of Hart, passed away Sunday, June 10, 2018, at Mercy Health Mercy Campus, in Muskegon. She was born July 4, 1933, in Ypsilanti, the daughter of Maurice and Jessie (Shepherd) Marsh. Mary Jo was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who in addition to being born on the 4th of July was a true firecracker....

Charles Ralph Nielsen

Charles Ralph Nielsen

Jun 7, 2018

Charles "Charlie" Ralph Nielsen, 75, passed away Thursday, June 7, 2018, at Spectrum Health Butterworth in Grand Rapids.  He was born March 28, 1943, in Ludington, the son of Niels and Ruth Nielsen.

Charlie served as a medic in the US Army during the Vietnam Era, stationed in Korea, and was honorably discharged in 1966.

...

Barbara Ray Sutter

Barbara Ray Sutter

Jun 6, 2018

Barbara R. Sutter died at Oakview Medical Care Facility in Ludington, MI on June 6, 2018 as a result of Alzheimer's Disease.  She was born Barbara Ann Ray on October 30, 1932 in Owensboro, Kentucky the daughter of Joanna (Mason) and Edward Marshall Ray.  Most of her childhood was spent in Kentucky.  During World War II she, her parents...

Alice Margy Patterson

Alice Margy Patterson

Jun 4, 2018

Alice Margy Patterson, 74, of Hart, formerly of Walkerville, passed away at home Monday, June 4, 2018, surrounded by her loving family.  She was born February 2, 1944, in Flint, the daughter of Vern and Lillian (Holcolmb) Keyworth.

Alice retired in 2017 as a reading specialist from Walkerville Public Schools, where she had been employed for almost...

Emery "Mac" Mackenzie Hatch

Emery "Mac" Mackenzie Hatch

Jun 3, 2018

Emery "Mac" Mackenzie Hatch, 84, of Whitehall, passed away Sunday, June 3, 2018. Mac was born June 1, 1934 the son of Emery and Jean Hatch.

In 1960 Mac married Joanne Greer. Together they were blessed with 2 children and 54 years of marriage until her death in 2014. Mac moved to Whitehall, in 1971, where he...

Francisco Sebastian Hernandez

Francisco Sebastian Hernandez

May 30, 2018

Francisco Sebastian Hernandez, 54, of Hart, died unexpectedly Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at Mercy Health Mercy Campus in Muskegon.  He was born Janury 21, 1964, in Oaxaca, Mexico, the son of Delfino and Manuela (Guerrero) Hernandez. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 PM, Friday, June 8, 2018, at the Spanish Pentecostal Church of God, 508 N. State Street, Shelby,...

Alice Elaine Drachus

Alice Elaine Drachus

May 30, 2018

Alice Elaine Drachus (nee Wackernagel) peacefully flew the coop and headed to greener fairways on May 30, 2018. Born December 11, 1929, preceded by her loving husband Fred Drachus Sr. and parents Robert and Esther Wackernagel, along with brothers Clayton, Kenneth, Robert, Walter, and Carl Wackernagel.  She had a wicked sense of humor, an electric smile, and a passion...

Rita Jean Schneider

Rita Jean Schneider

May 26, 2018

Rita Jean Schneider, 92, of Ludington, passed into the arms of her Lord, Saturday, May 26, 2018, at home surrounded by her loving family.  She was born October 10, 1925, in Munising, the daughter of Roy and Mazie (MacKenzie) Peters.

Rita was proud to have managed the footwear department at Montgomery Ward for over 25 years.  She...

Timothy Joseph Forbes

Timothy Joseph Forbes

May 26, 2018

Timothy Joseph Forbes, 56, of Ludington, died unexpectedly Saturday, May 26, 2018.  He was born June 2, 1961, in Ludington, the son of Richard and Maryann (Wojtaszak) Forbes.

Tim was a long time employee of Pallet Recycle in Ludington where he made many friends over the years.  In his spare time, Tim enjoyed hunting, raising pigeons, and...

Mereta Ann Spitler

Mereta Ann Spitler

May 26, 2018

Mereta Ann Spitler, 75, of East Lansing, passed away Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Rose Garden Assisted Living in Grandville.  She was born July 16, 1942, in Monterey, California, the daughter of Seth and Margaret (Schaner) Spitler who preceded her in death.  She was also preceded in death by her fiancé, George Mueller.

Private committal services will...

Ty Swihart

Ty Swihart

May 23, 2018

Tyler Scott Swihart, 15, of Montague, passed away Wednesday, May 23, 2018. Ty was born on August 21, 2002, to Scott and Lisa Swihart.

Ty attended Montague High School. In his 15 short years, he touched so many lives with his wit, charm, and always funny personality. He was always willing to lend a helping hand and...

James Howard Monroe

James Howard Monroe

May 22, 2018

James Howard Monroe, 97, of New Era, formerly of Lansing, died Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at Lakeshore Hospital in Shelby. He was born August 4, 1920, in Lansing, the son of Howard and Allie (McManamon) Monroe.

Jim was a Veteran of World War II serving in the US Army Air Force.

Joseph Ervin Merten

Joseph Ervin Merten

May 22, 2018

Joseph Ervin Merten, 82, of Hart, passed away Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus in Grand Rapids. Joe received exceptional care at Butterworth and was able to pass peacefully surrounded by loving members of his family.

Joseph E. Merten was born August 29, 1935, in Hart, the son of Herbert and Frances (Estepp) Merten. ...

Hugh Harold Bengtsson

Hugh Harold Bengtsson

May 22, 2018

Mr. Hugh Harold Bengtsson, 94, of Hart, died Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at Harbor Hospice Poppen House in Muskegon. He was born October 23, 1923, in Bitely, Michigan, the son of Fred and Myra (Page) Bengtsson.

Hugh was a Veteran of World War II, serving in the US ARMY.

In his early years Hugh enjoyed...

Elmo Elin Freeland Jr.

Elmo Elin Freeland Jr.

May 19, 2018

Elmo Elin Freeland, Jr., 78, of Pentwater, died Saturday, May 19, 2018, at home surrounded by his family. He was born July 22, 1939, in Pentwater, the son of Laurance "Buster" and Romaine (Bromley) Freeland.

Elmo served four years in the US ARMY until being honorably discharged in 1961.

He retired from Howmet, in 1996,...

Peggy Smith

Peggy Smith

May 18, 2018

Peggy Jane Smith, 60, passed away Friday, May 18, 2018. Peggy was born on August 30, 1957 to Gerald and Bettey Lefort.

Peggy was blessed with 2 children in her life. She enjoyed walks in nature, music, books, writing, her pets, and random adventurous. Peggy was a sassy, intelligent, artsy, kind, loving, passionate, strong-willed woman who loved...

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