Gary Kuikstra
May 31, 2024
Gary L. Kuikstra, age 75 of Morley, passed away at his home Friday, May 31, 2024 surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 28, 1948 in Grand Rapids, the son of Henry and Elaine (George) Kuikstra. Gary enlisted into the United States Marine Corps in 1968. He bravely served in Vietnam where he received two Purple Hearts. Gary...
Margaret "Trudy" A. Hicks
May 27, 2024
Margaret A. "Trudy" Hicks (Johnson) age 82, of Big Rapids formerly of Rogers Heights, left this earth to be with her Lord Monday, May 27, 2024, surrounded by family. Trudy was born in Knobel, Arkansas on June 24, 1941, but grew up in Grand Rapids. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank of 47 years; parents, John and...
Rev. Harold Gilkerson Jr.
May 26, 2024
Rev. Harold Gilkerson Jr. passed from this life into the next on Sunday May 26, 2024. He was born on January 3, 1942 to Harold and Ada Gilkerson in Wayne, West Virginia. He moved his family up to the Detroit area in 1967 to find work and was employed by the National Bank of Detroit as an internal auditor but...
Donald K. Lucha
May 22, 2024
Donald K. Lucha, age 63 of Big Rapids, passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. He was born on July 20, 1960 to Edward and Edna (Bartley) Lucha. Donald was raised in Reed City and grew up on the farm where he learned to train horses and raise livestock. He graduated from Reed City Highschool in 1978 and went on...
Donald S. Delellis
May 19, 2024
Donald S. DeLellis, age 63 of Big Rapids passed away unexpectedly on May 19, 2024. Don was born on April 19, 1961 to Sylvester and Mary (Cedroni) DeLellis. He graduated in 1979 from Cousino High School in Warren, Michigan and later became an auto body technician and worked construction for many years. Donald met his wife Dorene Schendel when he...
Pamela Sue Alley
May 16, 2024
Pamela Sue (Ebright) Alley was born the daughter of Carl and Edith Ebright on November 5, 1950, in Alma, Michigan at the Smith Memorial Hospital. She spent her childhood there and graduated from Alma High School in 1968. She attended Ferris State College earning a secretarial certificate in 1969 and married her high school sweetheart, Peter Alley in 1970. Then...
Mary M. Munsell
May 15, 2024
Mary M. Munsell, age 74 of Horsehead Lake, passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at her home. Her favorite song, On Eagles Wings, was playing as she passed, and she was surrounded by some of her family. Mary was born in Lansing on May 21, 1949, the daughter of the late Lawrence and Dorothy (Clewley) Rausch. She was a 1967...
Dava L. Cook
May 8, 2024
Dava Leith Cook, age 61, passed away Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI. She was surrounded by those that loved her on her final days, and gave the ultimate gift of donation. She was born on December 6, 1962 in Shelby, MI to David and Carolyn (Thebo) Cook. Dava spent most of her...
Joan M. Prince
May 8, 2024
Joan M. Prince, age 80 of Barryton, passed away Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at her home. She was born August 21, 1943 in Ypsilanti the daughter of Joe and Helen (Kubon) Darmofall. Joan married William Prince in 1977 and together they made their home and raised their family in Barryton. Joan will always be remembered as a sweet and kind...
Ilene Vera Bair
May 5, 2024
Ilene Vera Bair age 64 of Big Rapids, passed away at her home on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Daughter of Leo and Jane (Kindred) Drews, Ilene was born on February 8, 1960 in Big Rapids. Ilene met the love of her life, William Bair in 1989 at Wolverine, where they both worked. They married in 2003 and have been inseparable...
Reva E. Devary
May 3, 2024
Reva E. DeVary, age 91, passed away Friday, May 3, 2024 at Mission Point of Cedar Springs. Reva was born September 8, 1932 in Flint, the daughter of James and Katherine (Harrison) Haney. Reva attended Barryton Church of Christ for many years. On June 17, 1950 she married Donald DeVary in Barryton where they raised their family. Reva enjoyed working...
Douglas Wayne Ames
May 3, 2024
Douglas Wayne Ames age 68, passed away on Friday May 3, 2024 in Big Rapids. He was born on April 27, 1956 in Belding, Michigan. Son of Edmund and Joy (Stephens) Ames, Douglas was a Believer in Christ. He was known for being a jack of all trades and enjoyed most of his working life as a mechanic. Douglas enjoyed...
Richard "Randy" Fry
May 2, 2024
Richard "Randy" Fry, age 68, died Thursday, May 2, 2024 in Grand Rapids. He was born January 15, 1956 in Three Rivers, the son of Charles and Theresa (DeVivo) Fry. Randy graduated from Reed City High school in 1974. He was a heavy equipment operator for logging and construction for over forty years. Randy loved the physical labor and was...
Susan Cross
Apr 29, 2024
Susan "Sue" (Narrin) Cross, 84, died Monday, April 29, 2024 at The Brook of Big Rapids. She was born April 2, 1940 in Lansing, to James and Barbara (Mellon) Narrin. Sue married Frank Sandor Molnar in June of 1959, and had two children, Julia Quillan of Morley, and Frank "Alex" (Cheryl) Molnar of Hersey. In 1980 she married James "Jim"...
Paul Henry Klatt
Apr 27, 2024
Paul Henry Klatt, PhD., age 58 of Big Rapids, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, April 27, 2024. He was born in Moline, Illinois on December 27, 1965, the son of Richard and Elizabeth (Lauerman) Klatt. Paul was a 1984 graduate of Rock Island High School. He then furthered his education earning his Bachelor Degree in Psychology from University of Illinois...
Gregory A. Cranney
Apr 27, 2024
Gregory A. "Greg" Cranney, age 72 of Morley, passed away Saturday, April 27, 2024. He was born in Gooding, Idaho on August 22, 1951, the son of Wendell and Ruth (Adams) Cranney. Greg was a 1970 graduate of Morley Stanwood High School. He earned his Associate of Arts from Ferris State University. Greg worked on his family farm, Cranney Farms....
Betty Jane O'Neil
Apr 25, 2024
Betty Jane ONeil, age 88 of Big Rapids passed away peacefully, Thursday, April 25, 2024. She was born June 17, 1935 to John and Margaret (Beer) Kresnak at Little Traverse Hospital (now McLaren) in Petoskey, MI. Betty attended Saint Francis Catholic grade school, that went through the tenth grade, and finished high school at Petoskey public school. During her senior...
Denis "Denny" Burkett
Apr 24, 2024
Denis "Denny" Burkett, age 66, died unexpectedly Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at his home in Grand Rapids. He was born March 21, 1958 in Big Rapids, the son of Charles and Florence (Peterson) Burkett. Denny had a passion for painting different landscapes, writing, and was an avid reader. Denny is survived by his son, Dennis Burkett II; parents, Charles (Aloha)...
Francis "Frank" Ball
Apr 24, 2024
Francis "Frank" Ball, 89, of Paris, MI, passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2024 to be reunited with his wife on their 70th wedding Anniversary. He was born January 5th, 1935 to William and Della (Smith) Ball, the second of three children. Frank graduated from Cooley High School in 1954, and on April 24th of that year, he married his loving...
Marda G. Hughes
Apr 23, 2024
Marda G. Hughes, age 89 of Big Rapids, passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at The Brook of Big Rapids. She was born in Minnie, KY on June 25, 1934, the daughter of the late Arthur and Arettia (Preston) Mosley. Marda was a 1952 graduate of Wayland High School, where she was the head drum majorette. She attended Mayo State...
