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Richard E. Cates
COVERT -- Richard E. Cates, 97, of Covert passed away Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, at South Haven Health Care Center following an illness.
He was born in Danville, Ill., Jan. 23, 1907, to the late Michael F. and Alberta (Jessup) Cates, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Darlene Cates and his wife, Edna.
Richard married Edna (Chandonia) on Oct. 27, 1933, at a ceremony in South Bend, Ind. The couple enjoyed 71 years together before her passing in July of 2001.
He was retired from AM General after many years of service. Spending time with his family and eating out for lunch were Richard's favorite pastimes.
Survivors include five sons -- Richard Jr. (Irene) Cates of South Haven, Dean (Dee) Cates of Mishawaka, Ind., Don (Ruby) Cates of Evansville, Ind., Derrel (Carol) Cates of Breman, Ind., Dennis Cates of Muskegon; one daughter, Diane Cates of Texas; 24 grandchildren; and more than 40 great and great-great grandchildren.
Services will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles with visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of one's choice.
Willie Cotton Jr.
BENTON HARBOR -- Willie Cotton Jr. was born Jan. 2, 1947, in Tunica, Miss., to the union of Willie Sr. and Cleo Cotton. Willie Jr. Willie Jr. departed this life on Feb. 17, 2004, at Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo, after a brief illness.
Willie graduated from Rosa Fort High School, Tunica, in 1967. Willie moved to Benton Harbor in the fall of 1967 to be with his family. Willie entered the United States Armed Forces on March 22, 1968. Willie served his country proudly and was honorably discharged on Feb. 28, 1974. Willie was also active in the Army Reserves until 1993. He worked for various employers in the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph area. He was most recently employed at Seven Trees Security and Kartar Fruit Haven until his death.
Early in his life, Willie confessed a hope in Christ and was baptized at Stranger's Rest Baptist Church, Lula, Miss. Willie Jr. was a passionate and loving family man, and an avid fisherman. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Willie leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Deborah Cotton; his mother, Cleo Cotton; his daughter, Veda M. (T.J.) Hawkins; grandchildren -- DeJa and Teya Hawkins, Lamar Jr. and Kalecia Wills, Christian, Anthony and Matthew Kinsey; stepsons -- Eric and Lamar Wills, Tony and Michael Kinsey. He also leaves to mourn -- brother, Lenzy (Darlene) Cotton; sisters -- Alena (Willie) Barze, Stella (Charles) Brown, Eula Cotton, Loretta (Robert) Lanier, Cozetta (Curtis) Seldon.
Willie was preceded in death by sister, Kay Francis Foster; father, Willie Cotton Sr.; and brother, Travis Cotton.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Israelite Baptist Church, 1715 Highland, Benton Harbor, where visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Pastor Joe Bruins will officiate. Interment will be in Crystal Springs Cemetery, Benton Harbor.
Dinner will be served for the family, friends and out of town guests at the Virginia Edwards Complex, 725 Nate Wells Drive, Benton Harbor.
Arrangements entrusted to Robbins Brothers Funeral Home, 204 S. Fair Ave., Benton Harbor.
Richard H. Newhouse
GRAND JUNCTION -- Richard H. Newhouse, 69, of Grand Junction passed away unexpectedly Monday, March 8, 2004, at South Haven Community Hospital.
The family will meet friends from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Bangor Chapel, D. L. Miller Funeral Home. Following the visitation cremation will take place. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (Central Time) at the Jacobson-Zniewski Funeral Home, Benson, Minn. Burial will follow in the Benson City Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to the American Heart Association.
Richard was born June 6, 1934, in Benson the son of Helmer and Olga (Nelson) Newhouse. He graduated from Benson High School in 1952, where he was active in athletics. He was a 13 year veteran of the U.S. Army, working in the missile program in Illinois. After his military service, he became a general contractor and was a partner in B & D Builders and then owned Newhouse Construction, Lockport, Ill., until semi-retirement in 1994. It was then he became a full-time resident of Grand Junction. Richard was infamous for always having and never forgetting a good joke.
Surviving are his wife, Marian (Pederson), whom he married Dec. 29, 1957, in Benson; a daughter, Dawn (Jerry) McCure of Joliet, Ill.; sister, Janet (Harold) Jansen of Romeoville, Ill.; niece, Julie (Andy) Kanturek, and their daughters, Katie and Alissa; nephew, Steve Jansen; two stepgrandchildren -- Keith McCure and Ginger (Rick) Mata; two stepgreat-grandchildren, Nicole and Aaron Mata; several cousins; and many friends, including good friend Mark Ransom.
Lucille A. Sullivan
SAWYER -- Lucille A. Sullivan, 101, of Sawyer, beloved wife of the late John F. Sullivan, passed away on Monday, March 29, 2004, at Bridgman Retirement Home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Saturday, April 3, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Sawyer, with the Rev. Don Suberlak officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Three Oaks. Friends may meet with the family from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 3, at Boyd-Pike Funeral Home, Bridgman. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to the Hospice at Home, P.O. Box 297, 2626 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville, Mich. 49127. You are invited to sign a guest book and "Share a Memory" with the family at www.BoydPike.com.
Lucille was born June 13, 1902, in Manchester, England, the daughter of the late Sidney and Anna (Koehn) Loeb. Her loving family includes two children -- Jack (and his wife, Katie) Sullivan of Chillicothe, Ohio, and Lucy Sullivan of Chicago; one brother, Adolph Loeb of Sacramento, Calif.; three grandchildren -- Elyn Estram, Kathy Baumgartner and Jeanne Bashore; and six great-grandchildren -- Alex, Sean, Crystal, Elizabeth, Rachel and Brian. Lucille was preceded in death by her husband, John F. Sullivan, in 1987; a daughter, Audrey Estram, in 1995; and three sisters, Gladys, Evelyn and Florence.
In 1977, she and her husband moved to Sawyer from Chicago. She was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Sawyer and the River Valley Senior Center.
Harvey 'Dean' Shelton
DOWAGIAC -- Harvey's life began on Oct. 6, 1960, in St. Joseph, the son of Bobby J. and Linda E. (Main) Shelton. He attended Berrien Springs schools and lived his entire life in the area. After high school, he started his career as an auto repair technician at Don Sprung Chevrolet in Berrien Springs and worked 10 years for his dad. He loved fishing, hunting, camping and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He also enjoyed playing with his nieces and nephews and just hanging out in the garage.
Harvey is survived by his father and stepmother, Bob and Linda L. Shelton of Dowagiac; sisters -- Robin and her husband, Paul Richardson of Baroda, and Diane Tobin of California; his brothers -- Randy and his wife, Carolyn Shelton of Berrien Springs, Scott Shelton and Jason Shelton, both of Dowagiac; many nieces, nephews; and a family friend, Dave Riggs of Dowagiac.
Harvey died at his home surrounded by family on Tuesday, March 30, 2004. He was preceded in death by his mother, Linda E. Shelton, in 1976; paternal grandparents, Harvey Shelton and Mildred Lawson; and maternal grandparents, Norman and Lillian Main.
There will be a gathering of family and friends at a later date. He will be laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery, Berrien Springs. Memorial contributions in Harvey's name may be directed to Cass County Hospice. Groner Funeral Home and Cremation Service is serving Harvey's family.
Nimrod Baird
EAU CLAIRE -- Nimrod Baird, 93, of Eau Claire died Sunday, March 28, 2004, at Orchard Grove Extended Care Center, Benton Harbor.
Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Second Baptist Church, Benton Harbor, where visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Friday. Burial will be in North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma. Arrangements are by Robbins Brothers Funeral Home, Benton Harbor.
Mr. Baird was born Sept. 16, 1910, in Springfield, Tenn., to the union of William Baird and Henrietta (Brown) Baird. He retired from the former Auto Specialties Manufacturing Co. of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph as a millwright. He owned and operated his family farm for many years. Mr. Baird was a member of Second Baptist Church, Benton Harbor, where he was a faithful usher for many years.
The family moved to Benton Harbor in the early 1900s, and Nimrod graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1928. Nimrod was an active member of Harbor Lodge No.15 Masonic Lodge.
He was united in marriage to Rosalind Mitchell on Sept. 3, 1934, and they were loving parents to three children.
Mr. Baird leaves to cherish his loving memory, son, Dennis Baird of Sacramento, Calif.; daughters -- Nancy Mason and Pam Baird, both of Sacramento; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a sister, Kathryn Johnson of Benton Harbor; and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosalind Baird; his parents, William and Henrietta Baird; brothers, William Baird, Eugene Baird and Milton Baird; sisters, Mary Ann Mitchell, Estella Gray, Mattie Young, Pauline Walters and Martha (Scott) Hunter; and niece, Joan Johnson.
Ernest D. Harris
ALLEGAN -- Ernest D. Harris. 94, of Allegan died Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at his home.
Mr. Harris was born Sept. 19, 1909, in Alma, Mich., the son of Clyde and Margaret (Wells) Harris. He was a member of the Allegan United Methodist Church. He had been a self-employed construction contractor and was a retired member of the Operating Engineers Local No. 324.
Surviving are his wife, Vernie (Tiller), whom he married May 11, 1991; four children -- Raymond and Geraldine Harris of Allegan, Carl and Janet Harris of Eau Claire, Bernard and Millie Harris of Allegan and Gayla and Monte Mitteer of New Era, Mich.; six stepchildren -- Charles and Marge Tiller of Kalamazoo, Robert and Cheryl Tiller of Crossville, Tenn., Audrey and John Neese of Allegan, Delbert and Linda Tiller of Gobles, Sandra and John Sibson of Climax, Mich., and Roger and Sandra Tiller of Hudsonville, Mich.; eight grandchildren; 17 step-grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren; two sisters -- Viola Haynor of Florida and Ardist (Bud) Jones of Alma; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Zelma, in 1990; three brothers and one sister, Gerald Harris, Irwin "Cal" Harris, James Harris and Vera Evans.
Friends may meet with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Gorden Funeral Residence, Allegan Chapel, www.gordenfuneral.com, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, with Pastor Joseph Spackman and the Rev. Dr. Robert Wessman officiating. Interment will be at Hudson Corners Cemetery, Allegan Township. Memorial contributions may be made to Allegan United Methodist Church or Borgess Visiting Nurse and Hospice.
Katherine M. Radke
BENTON HARBOR -- Katherine M. Radke, 90, of Millington, N.J., formerly of Benton Harbor, died Monday, March 29, 2004, at her residence in Millington.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 3, at Calvary Cemetery in Benton Harbor. Arrangements are by Fairplain Chapel, Florin Funeral Service, Benton Harbor. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to Mount St. Mary Academy, 1633 U.S. Highway 22, Watchung, N.J. 07069.
Mrs. Radke was born May 9, 1913, in Peru, Ind., to Peter and Angeline (Mattio) Bessignano. She was raised in Benton Harbor before moving to Millington more than 16 years ago. Mrs. Radke was a communicant of St. John's Church in Benton Harbor and St. James' Church in Basking Ridge, N.J. She enjoyed spending time with her family.
Survivors include a daughter, Kathryn Ann Wildeman of Millington, a faculty member of Mount St. Mary Academy.
Mrs. Radke was preceded in death by her parents; and by her husband, Frank A. Radke.
