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Ronald J. Pauley
DOWAGIAC - Ronald's life began on Feb. 4, 1941, in Paw Paw the son of Donald J. and Estelle (Carlson) Pauley. He served his country proudly in the United States Army from 1959 until 1962.
Ronald worked for Niles Steel Tank Company for 33 years as a welder, retiring in 2001.
He was a member of the American Legion Post 365 and the Disabled American Veterans. Ronald supported many causes and would assist anyone in need.
His loving family includes his children, Ronda (Russell) Cross of Dowagiac, Nanette Pauley of Marcellus and Donald (Rebecca) Pauley of South Bend; and brother, Tom (Annette) Pauley of Watervliet; grandchildren, Colin and Nikolas Carpenter, Marissa Cross, Kristen Armstrong and Jeremy and Christopher Schriefer; sister, Joan Whiteman of Lawrence; special niece, Pam Febus of Delaware, and several other nieces and nephews.
Ronald passed away on Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was preceded in death by sisters, Dorothy Strietmatter, Vonnie Mararro, Patricia Armburst and Jackie Boughan; and brothers, Jim Pauley and John Pauley.
His family will gather with friends on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home, Dowagiac, where his funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, led by Pastor Arliss Terry. He will be laid to rest in South Wayne Cemetery with full military honors following the service. Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to the Disabled American Veterans.
Marion 'Sonny' Gibson
SOUTH HAVEN - Marion "Sonny" Gibson, 74, of South Haven died on Aug. 21, 2009, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Sonny was born Nov. 12, 1934, to Marion and Nina (Vaughn) Tinsley in East Chicago, Ind. He married Mary Parks on Sept. 15, 1978. Sonny loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing and riding his motorcycle. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren. He worked for many years at the Michigan Fruit Canners in South Haven, retiring in the late 1980s.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his adopted parents, Carl and Florence Gibson; and one sister, Audrey Shemwell.
Sonny is survived by his wife, Mary Gibson; his daughters, Mary June (Edwin) Maxwell of San Antonio, Texas, Ann (Jerome) Parks of Glenn, Katherine Hefright and Audrey Gibson, both of South Haven and Theresa (Eric) Wheeler of Constantine; his sons, Robert (Patricia) Gibson and Sonny Gibson of South Haven and Michael (Cora) Gibson of Pullman; his sister, Rebecca (Charles) Crawford of South Haven, and one brother, George Tinsley of Indiana.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home, South Haven. Funeral service will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Scott Hollebrands officiating.
Richard 'Dick' Abler
COLOMA - Richard H. "Dick" Abler, 86, of Coldwater, formerly of Detroit, Coloma, Mendon and Battle Creek died Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, following a long illness. Dick was a longtime employee of Michigan Bell Telephone Company, working from the Benton Harbor and Kalamazoo offices. He was also active in the Elks Lodge where he was a past exalted ruler and state president in the mid-1970s.
He is survived by four children, Bill, Wes and Alex Abler, and Claudia Davenport; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Carolyn.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon, Mich., where Elks Club Rites will begin at 7:05 p.m. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Crossroads Missionary Church, west of Mendon, followed by burial in Mendon Cemetery.
Memorials will be directed to the Major Projects Fund in care of Sturgis Elks Lodge 1381.
Mark Brandon Bishop
HARTFORD - Mark Brandon Bishop, 34, of Hartford, died Monday, Aug. 17, 2009 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center after a sudden illness.
A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, at Legacy Family Funeral Services, Matthew R. Purchase Chapel, 8747 US-31 N., Berrien Springs. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home and sign the guestbook at www.legacyfuneral.com.
Mark was born on April 18, 1975, in St. Joseph to the late Ronald and Darlene (Bishop) Grubb. Mark was a roofer and worked in the construction trade. He was a gifted person, everyone's friend who was loved by all and will be deeply missed.
Survivors include his fianceC©, Nicole Shelton; one loving daughter, Sadie Marie Belin of Berrien Springs; his mother, Darlene Grubb; one sister, Lindsey Grubb of Coloma; one brother Ronald Grubb Jr. of Coloma, and his paternal grandmother, Catherine Musick of Berrien Springs. He was preceded in death by his father, Ronald Grubb Sr. on Nov. 12, 2007.
Melva Lee Donovan
EAU CLAIRE - Melva Lee Donovan, 78, of Eau Claire, formerly of Lawrence, passed away Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, at Royalton Manor, after a courageous battle with a longterm illness. She was born May 17, 1931, in Cardwell, Mo., to Bill Stone and Elsie (King) Cherry. She moved to Arkansas where she married Arthur Newton. It was there that she began her close relationship with the Lord. Her love, devotion, and faith in God showed in the spiritual upbringing of her children. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. To anyone entering her home, she was "Mom."
She was active in the American Legion and the Sportsman's Club with her husband, Rex Donovan, prior to retirement in Florida. While she spent most of her life in Michigan, it was the cotton fields of Arkansas that she always called home.
Melva is survived by two sons, Jeffrey (Sandy) Newton of New Market, Ala., and Mitchel Newton of South Haven; five daughters, Sandra (John) Seidl of South Haven, Glenda (Ben) Chadwick of Berrien Springs, Betty (Paul) Brandon of Coloma, Carol (Kevin) Selvidge of Lawrence and Cathey Newton of Benton Harbor. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Melva was preceded in passing by her husband, Rex Donovan on Sept. 7, 1997, a daughter, Rose Newton, a son, Roger Newton, her parents, three sisters, Madeline Wilson, Clara Stone and Ella Stone, and three brothers, Jim Wilson, Benny Stone and Theodore Stone.
The family will receive friends on Monday, Aug. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Leonard Funeral Home, Lawrence. The service to honor her memory will commence at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the funeral home. Pastor Billy Long will officiate. Melva will be laid to rest next to her husband, Rex, in Hill Cemetery, Lawrence Township. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice at Home.
Phillip 'Philo' Ridenour
STEVENSVILLE - Phillip "Philo" Ridenour, 45, of Stevensville died suddenly at his home on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009.
Services celebrating his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Lakeshore Christian Church, 5565 Washington Ave., Stevensville. Cremation has taken place. Arrangements are by the Dey-Florin Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to the Phil's family.
Phil was born on June 5, 1964, in St. Joseph to Donald and Lela Ridenour. He was employed at R B Mechanical Contractors in Baroda. Previously, he had been employed at Wolverine Metal Stamping and had been a self-employed painter. Phil was passionate about music and was the singer and guitarist in the Stumble Bums Band. He had also been a member of the DUI Band and the Stacks Band. He liked dirt bike riding, fishing and sports. Phil was a good friend and brother. He loved spending time with Michelle and his son, Phillip. Phil was a loving, caring partner and father.
He is survived by his soul mate, Michelle Muske; his children, Alexis Ridenour of Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii and Phillip Ridenour II of Stevensville; his stepson, Josh (Jessica) Winans of Watervliet; his brothers and sisters, Karen (Tom) Kirkdorfer, Denise Haynes, Ruth (Stewart) Rudolph, Donald (Marie) Ridenour II, Kathy Smith and Richard (Julie) Ridenour; his stepgranddaughter, Jienne-Marie Winans, and many nieces and nephews.
Leatha B. Barnes-Triblett
BENTON HARBOR - Leatha B. Barnes-Triblett, 79, of Benton Harbor passed away Aug. 16, 2009 at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo.
Leatha was born on Jan. 1, 1930, to her proud parents Acie and Lottie Barnes in Marianna, Ark. She married the love of her life in 1977, Preist (P.W.) Triblett. They relocated to Benton Harbor, where they were blessed to raise their children, Andrew and Catherine. Leatha had a great love for her family and would help anyone she could. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Leatha leaves to cherish her memories one daughter, Catherine Hadley of Benton Harbor; one sister, Minister Dorothy Williams of Cave City, Ark.; two brothers Eddie B. Barnes Sr. of St. Louis and Acie Barnes Jr. of Detroit; sister-in-law, Janie (Acie) Barnes of Benton Harbor; and a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, with services following at 11 a.m. at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, 1105 East Main St., Benton Harbor. Family Funeral Home, 1102 E. Main St., Benton Harbor is in charge of arrangements.
Berniece M. Miller
BARODA - Berniece Mary Ann Miller, 83, of Baroda passed away on Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, at Cartel Inn of Royalton in the care of her family.
Mrs. Miller was born March 15, 1926, in St. Joseph the daughter of the late Charles and Louise (Leas) Schiebel. On March 29, 1947, she married Ronald Miller. She was a member of Baroda Bible Church. Berniece worked alongside her husband at Miller Lock and Key in Baroda.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 23, at Baroda Bible Church with Dr. Clare Cardy officiating. Burial will be in Ruggles Cemetery, Baroda. Friends may meet with the family from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel, 9191 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be given to Baroda Bible Church or Hospice at Home. Online condolences will be accepted at www.PikeFH.com.
Surviving loved ones are her husband of 62 years, Ron; three daughters - Linda Keefer of St. Joseph, Diana (Don) Kamp of Stevensville, and Barbara (Randy) Arnt of Texas; five grandchildren - Matthew (Allison) Keefer, Ryan (Gretchen) Arnt, Justin (Jordan) Arnt, Katherine Kamp and Molly (fiancé John Weinlader) Kamp; one great-grandson, Logan Arnt; one sister, Ruth (Nathan) Arent of Benton Harbor; and dear friend, Jean Ott of Baroda.
Berniece was preceded in death by a sister, Leona Steinke, in 2008; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Margie and Elmer Jannert, in 2007; and a son-in-law, James Keefer, in 2004.
Berniece enjoyed a wonderful life filled with the endearing friendship of her two sisters, her very special "Baroda" friends, travel, wintering in Florida, and most of all, her beloved husband, Ron, and three daughters. She was a devoted, supportive and proud grandmother, who eagerly attended her grandchildren's many school and sporting events. The Miller family is grateful for the extraordinary care Berniece and the family received from the compassionate staff of Cartel Inn. She will be lovingly remembered and cherished always.
