Obituaries
Gloria Ross
May 28, 2020
Gloria Ross, of Richland passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at the age of 84. A complete obituary is in the process of being written and will be posted in the coming days. The family is being assisted by the Avink Funeral Home & Cremation Society, 5975 Lovers Ln., Portage, MI 49002 (269-344-5400).
Sue Moore
May 27, 2020
By Linda Lane Sue Moore, editor of the South County News and a decades-long area activist, was honored by community leaders at an Aug. 25 “farm-to-table” dining event hosted by three Vicksburg organizations – the Cultural Arts Center, Historical Society and Farmers Market. The evening event featured small-plate appetizers from local farms prepared by Main St Pub, small-pour pairings of...
Donna Smith
May 26, 2020
Donna Bee (Woolsey) Smith, of Kalamazoo passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at the age of 78 after a short illness. Donna is survived by her husband of 57 years, Phillip. She is also survived by 4 sons and their spouses, 2 brother and 1 sister. Donna will also be missed by her 8 grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren, and...
Donald Edward Hunt
May 24, 2020
Donald Hunt, of Three Rivers passed away on Sunday May 24, 2020 at the age of 64. Donald was born on February 8, 1956 to Donald and Dorothy (Christian) Hunt in Wayne Michigan. While visiting Donald's webpage at www.avinkcremation.com please sign the guestbook by lighting a candle, and/or sharing a memory with the family. The family is being assisted by...
Charles "Chuck" Forman
May 23, 2020
Charles Leslie Forman, 82, went home to be with the Lord on May 23rd, 2020 after a year-long battle with cancer. Chuck was born to Charles and Ruby Forman on May 24th 1937 and lived in the Kalamazoo area his entire life. He met and married Ardith Marian Pence in 1953 and enjoyed 63 years of marriage. They had 3...
Zelma M. Largent
May 22, 2020
Largent, Zelma Zelma Largent, age 86, of Plainwell, passed away at home peacefully with her son by her side on May 22, 2020. Zelma was born on November 26, 1933 to James & Mabel (Roberts) Brower. A graveside service has taken place. Zelma’s family includes her son Michael; her brother Alvin (Linda) Brower and her sister Mary Ellen (Jim) Steele;...
William Nelson Beverly
May 22, 2020
William N. Beverly III passed away Friday, May 22, 2020, in Kalamazoo. Bill was born in Fort Worth, Texas on July 29, 1942, son of William N. Beverly Jr. and Jane-Anne Vaupel Beverly. He is survived by wife Martha Staples Beverly of Kalamazoo; one sister, Lisa Beverly Fitzpatrick of Watervliet, Michigan; two sons, Bill Beverly of Hyattsville, Maryland, and Tom...
Ryan "Pye" Miller
May 22, 2020
***Due to the current state of the Covid-19 pandemic, the family request that anyone attending please respect current recommended social distancing practices of 6 feet and mask. Anyone with concerns or feeling ill please leave the family your favorite memory of Ryan on this webpage for the family to achieve and take a moment during the day to remember Ryan....
William Harvey Fry
May 22, 2020
William H. Fry, of Grand Ledge passed away on Friday May 22, 2020 at the age of 50. William was born on November 6, 1969 to William and Wanda (Montgomery) Fry in Montpelier Ohio. While visiting William's webpage at www.avinkcremation.com please sign the guestbook by lighting a candle, and/or sharing a memory with the family. The family is being assisted...
Norman Wayne Essex
May 21, 2020
Norman Wayne Essex, 77, of Marcellus, passed on Thursday, May 21, 2020 at home. He was born in Dowagiac, Michigan on November 25, 1942 the son of Frank Dixon Essex and Edith Francis (Alden) Essex. On March 7, 1964 he married Marilyn (Sue) Kahler who survives. Wayne was a Journeyman working for GM for many years. He loved animals especially...
Lorraine Johnson
May 20, 2020
Lorraine Sophie Nelson Johnson, age 92, died at home in Plainwell, Michigan on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Born March 8, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois Lorraine attended Steinmetz High School, North Park Junior College and Carthage College. She married Charles Henry Johnson in 1948 and together they lived in Greencastle, Indiana and Stevens Point, Wisconsin before moving to Plainwell. Lorraine taught...
Keith Wayne Chapman
May 20, 2020
On Wednesday, May 20, 2020 Keith Wayne Chapman of Kalamazoo passed away peacefully at home at the age of 61. Keith was born February 22, 1959 and was the son of Gary and Marilyn Younkers, the younger brother to John Chapman, older brother to Gary Yonkers Jr. (Amie) and Kim Yonkers Gygax (Gary). He was a loving father, grandfather, son,...
William Joseph Hessler
May 19, 2020
Bill (Ace) Hessler, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away May 18,2020. Bill was born August 30, 1932 to Joseph and Adele (Boeske) Hessler in Dearborn, MI. Bill graduated in 1950 from Redford High School in Detroit, MI, after playing three years as the All Area High School football lineman and kicker. Upon graduation, Bill enlisted in the U.S....
Betty Jeanne Kelley
May 18, 2020
Betty Kelley, of Kalamazoo, passed away on Monday, May 18, 2020 at the age of 92. Betty was born on January 8, 1928 to John and Kathryn (Winkles) Young, in Shelbyville Indiana. While visiting Betty’s webpage at www.avinkcremation.com please sign the guestbook by lighting a candle, and/or sharing a memory with the family. The family is being assisted by the...
Jean Christine Priebe
May 16, 2020
Jean Christine Priebe born April 14, 1929 in Battle Creek passed away peacefully at her home in Otsego at the age of 91. She is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Bill Priebe. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Wings of Hope Hospice, 530 Linn...
Kenneth J. Jager
May 16, 2020
Ken passed away at the age of 87 on Saturday, May 16, 2020, at Park Village Pines in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was born on February 17, 1933 in Plainwell, the son of Fritz and Lillian (Wigginton) Jager. Ken thought very highly of his family of eight children, 2 step-sons, many grandchildren and great grandchildren and was proud to be their...
Mary Lou Mason
May 16, 2020
Mary Lou was born to Maynard and Fern (Hess) Fellows on October 28, 1928 on their farm in Prairie Ronde Township. She attended the Clark country school and graduated from Mattawan High School. She attended Parsons Business School and also Western Michigan University while she worked there. In 1959 she started working as a secretary in the Kalamazoo Public School...
Shirley Ann Johnson
May 13, 2020
SHIRLEY ANN JUDKINS JOHNSON COX FUNERAL HOME BASTROP, LOUISIANA Mrs. Shirley Ann Johnson was born at Bastrop, Louisiana on April 17, 1943 to the late Jefferson Davis Judkins and Irene Ridenour Judkins. She passed away, surrounded by her family, at the home of her son in Schoolcraft, Michigan on May 13, 2020. Shirley is also preceded in death by her...
Bryan Jesus Amador Sanchez
May 13, 2020
Bryan Jesus Sanchez, of Kalamazoo passed away on May, 13 2020 at the age of 21. Byran was born on August 29, 1998 to Jesus and Yesenia Amador in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. While visiting Bryan's webpage at www.avinkcremation.com please sign the guestbook by lighting a candle, and/or sharing a memory with the family. The family is being assisted by the...
Megan Elizabeth Farrish
May 12, 2020
Megan Elizabeth Farrish Megan Elizabeth Farrish was born in Ruston, Louisiana on March 2, 1992 and passed away in an automobile accident in Allegan County, MI on May 12, 2020. She moved with her family, as a baby, to a small town in East Texas in 1996. In Nacogdoches, Megan wanted to be involved in everything that she loved. She...


