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Kevin Mark Scott
KALAMAZOO - Kevin's life began May 27, 1960, in St. Joseph. He spent most of his lifetime in the Coloma and Watervliet area. Kevin worked for Denmark Management as a project supervisor. He loved to go to the beach, take walks, work and fix things. Kevin will be remembered as a loving father and husband who enjoyed spending time with his children and taking them to the park.
His loving family includes his wife, Dawn (Pugh) Scott of Watervliet; three sons, Chad Menkhaus, Taylor Scott and Andrew Scott, all of Watervliet; a granddaughter, Riley-Lynn Marie Menkhaus; his parents, Lynn and Ilene (Hemming) Scott of Battle Creek; two sisters, Amy (Fred) Lenz of Battle Creek and Laurie (David) Schwartz of Dallas; a brother, Brad Scott of Benton Harbor; a mother-in-law, Joyce Pugh of Coloma; and many nieces and nephews.
Kevin died Tuesday, April 21, 2009, in Kalamazoo. His father-in-law, Wayne Pugh preceded Kevin in death.
Friends may visit with Kevin's family Friday, April 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet where his life will be celebrated Friday, April 24, at 1 p.m. Burial will follow in North Shore Memory Gardens. Memorials may be made in Kevin's memory to the family.
Ralph W. Watkins Sr.
COLOMA - Ralph Wayne Watkins Sr., age 63, of Goodletsville, Tenn., passed away April 20, 2009, at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tenn.
Mr. Watkins was born Sept. 21, 1945, in Coloma to Ray V. Watkins and Wanda (Watkins) Tipton.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ray V. Watkins; brother, Ray A. Watkins; son, Ray A. Watkins; and grandson, Joseph Alsup.
Survived by mother, Wanda Tipton, Hazen, Ark.; sister, Sharon Watkins, Hotsprings, Ark.; daughters, Tina Clark, Conroe, Texas and Sherrie Watkins, Nashville; sons, Ralph W. Watkins Jr., Hendersonville, Tenn., and Richard Watkins, Sparta, Tenn.; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be April 24, at 3 p.m. at Northshore Memory Gardens, Coloma.
James Pollard
BENTON HARBOR - James Pollard, was born Sept. 24 1939, in Morgan City, Miss., to the union of Henry and Pearlie Pollard. He attended school and graduated from Morgan City High School. He served his country faithfully in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1963 and was honorably discharged.
James passed April 14, 2009, in Detroit at the Henry Ford Cottage Hospital. He leaves to cherish his memories two sons, James and Bobby Pollard of Detroit; two daughters, Edna Pollard and Lathirea Lewis of Benton Harbor; two brothers, Johnny Pollard of Detroit and Henry Pollard of Miami; one sister, Mary Boston of Miami; and his daughter, Sandra Pollard who was his care-taker; a special grandson, Craig Pollard; and a daughter in-law, Shanaka Patterson; and a host of relatives and friend.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Della Mae Pollard, and his parents.
Service will be Monday at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m. Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Darren Keith Ventress
BENTON HARBOR - Darren Keith Ventress passed away on April 13, 2009, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph, after a short battle with pneumonia. He was born July 27, 1962, in Benton Harbor.
Darren believed in making things happen in his life. He loved to cook, he loved his family and friends. He had a strong work ethic, hard worker, filled with joy, laughter and a loving spirit. He worked more than 20 years in the family business at Betty's Dry Cleaners. He was employed at Mid-Town Cleaners for two years.
Darren leaves behind to cherish his loving memories his loving mother, Betty Jean Ventress; grandmother, Betty Shurn of Sodus; four brothers, Delbert Ventress and Andre Moon, both of Las Vegas, Adrian Moon of Altadena, Calif., and Gregory Daggs of Chicago; seven sisters, Anita Hill of Las Vegas, Donna Jean Webb (Curtis) of Newbury Park, Calif., Darlene Ventress of Pleasant Hill, Calif., Doreen Smith (Randy) of Lansing, Mich., Carla Rolfe (Tyrone) of Benton Harbor, Teresa Coates of Grand Rapids, and Debbie Nelson of Benton Harbor.
He was preceded in death by his father, Daniel Lee Ventress; two uncles, Eddie Ventress and William Ventress; and grandmother, Jewel Lytle.
Services will be Saturday at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m. Family Funeral Home, Benton Harbor is in charge.
Thelma M. Tunis
ST. JOSEPH - Thelma M. Tunis, 77, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away, Monday, April 20, 2009, at The Health Center of Pensacola in Pensacola, Fla.
Arrangements are entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Covenant Hospice, P.O. Box 17887 Pensacola, Fla., 32522 or to Alzheimer's Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, Md. 20871 (www.ahaf.org).
Mrs. Tunis was born Aug. 20, 1931, in Mt. Auburn Township, Ill., to Walter and Myrtle (Walker) Carlock. She graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1949. On May 27, 1950, she married Henry P. Tunis in Benton Harbor. Thelma was employed at Whirlpool, retiring in 1988 after 28 years.
Thelma is survived by her daughters, Kathleen (Neil) Saxman of Pahrump, Nev., Denise (Anthony) Myers of Pensacola; five grandchildren, Jason Zechiel, Jeremy Sturgill, Scott Wagner, Joshua Sturgill and Kristin Myers; five great-grandchildren; her sister, Betty (Earl) Williams of St. Joseph; and two brothers, Walter (Lillian) Carlock Jr. of Chesapeake, Va., and Nelson (Vicky) Carlock of Arizona.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry, on March 26, 1991, and by her sister, Esther Bielicki, on April 23, 2008.
Olga Rigoni
SAWYER - Olga Rigoni, 92, of Sawyer died Wednesday morning, April 22, 2009, at St. Anthony Memorial Hospital, Michigan City, Ind.
Olga was born Aug. 31, 1916, to John and Elizabeth Simovic in Chicago, and moved with her family to Stevensville when she was three years old. On Sept. 6, 1947, she married Christy Rigoni in Chicago. Olga was a homemaker and excellent seamstress who made many of her own clothes. She enjoyed all kinds of crafts, puzzles, cooking and dancing. Olga also liked playing bingo and going to the casino. Olga was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sawyer.
Olga is survived by her husband, Christy Rigoni; daughter, Karen (Corey) Paraf of Summit, Ill.; grandchildren, Donald Smith of Los Angeles and Krystal Smith of Chicago Ridge, Ill.; niece, Susan (Steve) Shearer and nephew, Alan (Pam) Havlicek.
Olga was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, John and Emil, and sisters, Ann Havlicek and Bess Maranto.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sawyer, with the Rev. Kendall Schaeffer officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Bridgman. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Pobocik Funeral Home, Three Oaks. Memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, 1169 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48108.
Mary E. Leon
BARODA - Mary E. Leon, age 65, of Baroda, formerly of Adrian, Mich., passed away, April 20, 2009, at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. She was born July 29, 1943, in Corpus Christi, Texas, the daughter of Jesus and Josephina (Ramirez) Sanchez. On June 26, 1965, she married Pilar "Pete" Leon Jr., he survives. Mary was a graduate of Eastern Michigan University receiving a BSN. She worked as a public health nurse for fifteen years. Mary loved her family and she was a great dedicated witness and worker for The Lord.
In addition to her husband, Pete, she is survived by her two daughters, Kelly (Paul) Kirk and their children, Zachary, Stefanie, Alison and Samantha, and Jennifer (Mark) Broberg and their children, Haillie, Noah, Jonah, Silas; three brothers, Abel Sanchez, Edward Sanchez and Armando Sanchez; and three sisters, Irene Gonzalez, Ruth Gomez, Josephina Alvardo.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesus and Josephina Sanchez, two brothers, Alfonso Sanchez and Jesse Sanchez Jr., and one sister, Mary Louise Gonzalez.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday, April 24, at the J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Adrian with Pastor Mike Schoeplein of Road to Life Church in St. Joseph, officiating. Burial will follow in Lenawee Hills Memorial Gardens, Tecumseh, Mich. Visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. today and also on Friday from noon until the time of service at J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Adrian.
Cards can be sent to Pilar "Pete" Leon, 1056 W. Lemon Creek Road, Baroda, Mich. 49101.
Willie James Senior
BENTON HARBOR - A Celebration of Willie James "Red Sonny" Senior will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 25, 2009, at Robbins Brothers Funeral Home, Benton Harbor. He passed away April 17, 2009. The Rev. Milton McAfee is in charge of the Eulogy.
Survivors include a daughter, Gloria Jean Senior of Detroit; two grandsons; one granddaughter; one great-grandchild; stepdaughter, Joyce Johnson; brother, Curtis Senior Jr. of Chicago; four sisters, Serena Dexter, Dorothy Jackson, both of Conway, Ark., Patricia Hill of Detroit and Shirley Knuckles of Brownstown, Mich.; very special friends, J.C. and Maxie Taylor of Benton Harbor; special friend, Alberta Davis.
He was preceded in death by his father, Curtis Senior Sr.; his mother, Essie (Collins) Senior, brothers, James Senior and Billy Julius Senior; and a daughter, Bernice Senior.
