Obituaries

Shashaguay, Bernard

Bernard “Bernie” Shashaguay, age 90, died Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at Clark Retirement Community surrounded by family and friends.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Bea Shashaguay. Bernard was the Conference Treasurer for fourteen years. A memorial service is planned for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at the Clark Chapel. Visitation will be held at 12:00 p.m. prior to the service. Coffee and dessert will be served after the service. Arrangeme...

Beach, Julie

Julie Beach, 73, died Tuesday, November 29, 2011 in Miamisburg, OH. She is survived by her husband, retired clergy, Rev. Stephen Beach who served in the West Michigan Conference. A memorial service is to be held Friday, December 2, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cedar Springs UMC 140 S. Main Street, Cedar Springs, MI 49319. Visitation will take place from 10:00 a.m. preceding the service. Pastor Mary Ivanov will officiate. Obituaries will be published in the Grand Rapids Press and...

Fetty, Carol

Rev. Carol Fetty (nee Cotton), 88, died September 26, 2011. She was the surviving spouse of Rev. Bernard Fetty who died in January 2011.  Rev. Carol Fetty served in the following churches in the United Methodist Church:  Brethren 1955, 1956 Mulliken (local pastor), Brethren 1957, Coral/Amble UMC 1958.   She also served in the United Church of Christ. In 1961, Rev. Carol Fetty was one of the first women ordained as an Elder in the denomination.   A Memorial...

Strader, Gaynell

Gaynell Strader, 86, died September 15, 2011.  She was the surviving spouse of Rev. Curtis Strader. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on October 1, 2011, at Westminster Suncoast  6909 Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Street S., Saint Petersburg, FL 33705 (727) 867-1131. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lakewood United Church of Christ at 2601 54th Ave S, Saint Petersburg, FL 33712 (727) 867-7961 or Bread for the World (www.bread.org). An obituary...

Bloomfield, Erika

Erika Bloomfield, 33, died September 7, 2011 following a long battle with cancer. Erika is survived by her parents, Rev. Emilie and Walt Forward, of Avondale UMC in Colorado, and her husband, Jeff Bloomfield, and their three children, Austin, Alexis and Annika.    A celebration of life was held on Saturday, September 10, 2011 in Three Rivers, MI.   Condolences may be sent to Rev. Emilie and Walt Forward of 1680 Sangre Vista Drive, Canon City, CO 81212 or Jeff...

Simon, Sr., Harold R.

Rev. Harold R. Simon, Sr., 82, of Belding, died Saturday, July 30, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Delores Simon. Rev. Simon, Sr., served at the following appointments in the West Michigan Conference: Ludington Bethany 1968; Mendon/West Mendon Nov. 15, 1970; Mendon 1971; Middleville/Freeport Nov. 1, 1973; Leave of absence Oct. 27, 1976; Pine River Parish July 15, 1979; Reading 1983; Disability Leave March 1, 1990; Retired 1995   A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 a.m.,...

Robinson, Elbert

Elbert Robinson, age 94, died July 15, 2011. He was the husband of retired clergy, Rev. Beatrice Robinson.   As per his wishes, Elbert has been cremated and a service of celebration will be held Friday, August 5, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home, 811 Finley Drive, Albion, MI.   Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.   Condolences may be sent to his widow: Beatrice K. Robinson 706 Huntington Blvd Albion,...

Lyon, Doris L.

Doris L. Lyons, WMC Retired Local Pastor, died July 11, 2011. Doris served at Pleasant Valley UMC for 12 years. Funeral services for Doris will take place 11am, Friday, July 15, 2011, at the following:   Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home 1200 W. Wheeler St. Midland, MI 48640 (877) 631-2292   Pastor Tom Schomaker, Gordonville UMC, will officiate with graveside committal rites to follow in Midland Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Doris’ family will receive friends at the funeral...

Frick, II, Frank S.

Rev. Dr. Frank S. Frick II Ph.D. Quincy Frank S. Frick II Ph.D., age 73, died June 19, 2011.  He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Frick.   Rev. Dr. Frick served in the following extension ministry appointments in the West Michigan Conference: Professor of Religious Studies, Albion College 1976; Chairman and Professor of Religious Studies, Albion College 1977; Professor of Religious Studies, Albion College 1988; Retired 2000   A celebration of life is planned for Friday,...

Eversole, Edna May

Edna May (McDowell) Eversole, aged 96, died June 12, 2011 at Clark Retirement Community where she lived for many years. She was preceded in death by her husband the late Rev. John A. Eversole. According to her wishes, cremation has taken place and a private inurnment ceremony will be held in the columbarium at First United Methodist Church, Zaagman Memorial Chapel.  A complete obituary was published in the Grand Rapids Press on July 3, and may be found at: http://obits.mlive.com/obituar...

Sprague, Sr., Joseph

"Pastor Joseph Sprague, Sr., retired Native American Pastor in the West Michigan Conference died Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Pastor Sprague served at the following appointments in the West Michigan Conference: Mt. Pleasant Chippewa Indian Mission Feb. 1, 1974; Grand Rapids: Native American Ministry of Presence (Part-Time), Central and Grand Rapids Oct. 1, 1984; Mt. Pleasant: Chippewa Indian Mission Jan. 1, 1986; Grand Rapids: Native American Ministry 1986; Pawating Magedwin 1988; Mt....

Montgomery, Marietta

Marietta Montgomery, 92, died Sunday, April 17, 2011. She was the surviving spouse of Rev. Howard Montgomery who served in both the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences prior to his death February 27, 1997. Visitation will be held Thursday, April 21, 2011 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. with the funeral to follow. A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street, Niles, MI 49120.   Memorial contributions may be...

Tennant-McLean, Ruth

Ruth Tennant-McLean, 94, died Friday, April 8, 2011, from heart disease. She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Rev. Wilson Tennant. Ruth was organist for many Methodist churches and directed youth camp choirs, starting in her high school days. Visitation with family and friends will take place Tuesday, April 12, between 6:00 and 8:00pm at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 E Grand River Ave, East Lansing.   The Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, April 13,...

Whiting, Ann

We are saddened to inform you of the death of Rev. Ann Whiting, former editor of the Michigan Christian Advocate.  She died this morning Monday, March 28, in Rhode Island. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time....

Stout, Jr., Rev. Dr. Samuel F.

Rev., Dr. Samuel F. Stout, Jr., 89, of Rochester Hills, MI died on Sunday, March 27, 2011. Rev. Dr. Stout served at the following appointments in the West Michigan and Detroit Conferences: [(RM) T 1955; F 1959]. 1951 Sand Lake; 1953 Highland Park: First (assoc.); 1955 Cleveland, OH: Epworth, Euclid Avenue (assoc.); 1956 school; 1958 Birmingham: Embury; 1966 Utica; 1971 Marquette: First, 1975 Plymouth: First; 1980 Franklin; 1988 Retired. [1988 Rochester; St. Paul’s...

Charter, Doris

Doris M. Charter, the widow of Rev. Norman A. Charter, died on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at the age of 101 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.  Rev. Norman Charter, who died in 1984, served in the UMC in Missouri and in both West Michigan and Detroit Conferences in the years 1962 - 1980. Her son, Rev. John Charter, is a retired UMC West Michigan Pastor. The funeral service was held on Saturday March 26th, 2011 at the Chapel at the Meadow Vale Cemetery in Brampton with her 5 sons and...

Speese, Margaret

Margaret Speese, 94, died February 6, 2011. Margaret was the widow of Rev. Wayne Speese who served in the West Michigan Conference.  Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 10, 11:00 a.m. at Mamrelund Lutheran Church, 4085 Lutheran Church Rd., Kent City, Michigan with Rev. Dr. Leonard Dahlgren officiating.   Visitation will take place Wednesday, February 9 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Hessel-Cheslek Funeral Home 88 E. Division Street,...

Heaton, Ruth G.

Ruth G. Heaton, 92, died Monday, January 31, 2011. Ruth was the widow of Rev. Gilbert Heaton. Ruth served faithfully alongside ‘Gib’ in ministry at several churches in Ohio and Michigan, including the Montague and Temple United Methodist Churches. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 12th, at 2:00 p.m. at Montague UMC 8555 Cook Street, Montague, MI 49437. Randy Hansen will officiate. Visitation will take place at 1:00 p.m. at the same location for...

Fetty, Bernard N.

The Rev. Bernard N. Fetty, age 93, died Sunday, January 30, 2011. He is survived by his wife, The Rev. Carol Fetty.  Rev. Bernard Fetty served at the following appointments in the West Michigan Conference: Lakeview 54-60; Riverdale 60-66; Scottville 67-70.   A memorial service celebrating Rev. Bernard Fetty's life will be held in the Chapel at Clark Retirement Community on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will take place prior to the service at 1:00...

Muessig, Patricia Jo

Patricia Muessig, died last Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011. She was the wife of retired local pastor Richard Muessig. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Feb. 12, at Dowagiac First UMC, with visitation from 10-11am, and the service directly following. Church info:   326 N Lowe Dowagiac, MI 49047 (269) 782-5167 linda@fumcdow.com   Memorial contributions may be made to the Martha Hale scholarship fund at Southwestern University, or a charity of one’s choice. A...