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Everett Lyndon Holt
BUCHANAN - Everett Lyndon Holt, 76, of Buchanan, died on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at his son's home in Buchanan after an illness.
A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 13, at Legacy Family Funeral Services - Matthew R. Purchase Chapel. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of services. The Rev. Kendall Holder of the Baroda Church of God will officiate. Committal will take place in New Troy Cemetery, New Troy. Friends may also sign the register book at www.legacyfuneral.com.
Everett was born on May 6, 1932, in Walnut Ridge, Ark., to Merritt and Maudie (Evette) Holt. On Feb. 22, 1999, he married Annie Marie Woods, who survives. Everett was a carpenter. He will be remembered as one who loved fishing and playing his guitar.
In addition to his loving wife, Everett is survived by one son, Frank (Vanessa) Holt of Buchanan; one brother, Ray (Carrie) Holt of Bridgman; and four grandchildren - Tracy Lynn Hillcock, David A. Gibson, Melissa Sue Kaeding and Everett S. Holt.
He was preceded in death by one grandson, Everett F. Holt II in November 1984.
Marian Temple
ST. JOSEPH - Marian Temple, a beloved wife and mother, role model to her grandchildren and voracious reader whose fascination with the world never dimmed, passed away early Wednesday morning, April 8, 2009. She was 83.
Marian was, at various times, a homemaker, crossing guard, receptionist, veterinarian's assistant and librarian. She grew up and raised her own children in Detroit. Once empty nesters, she and her husband, Jim Temple, moved to Indianapolis for several decades before settling in St. Joseph. In recent years, she remained active in a local book group and the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan.
She was a lifelong lover of the written word, digesting the newspaper daily, puzzling out crosswords and making quick work of thick tomes. She enthusiastically shared the captivating facts, theories, personalities and ideas she discovered in books and eagerly lent them out - whether they were solicited or not.
Marian firmly embraced the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" philosophy, instilling it in her children and grandchildren and exemplifying it her own life. She grew up during the Great Depression and never had the opportunity to attend college, but nonetheless managed to raise two sons who earned advanced degrees.
She could also trounce most graduate students in a trivia game of history, geography or just about any other topic that wasn't the subject of their thesis. Personal initiative was her tuition, and books were her seminars.
She never stopped attending and was still making reading recommendations to relatives as recently as a month ago, after the cancer that would quickly take her life had been diagnosed.
Marian is survived by her husband, Jim; son, Kenn; daughters-in-law, Ann and Kathy; grandchildren - Doug, James, Jeff and Sarah; and great-grandson, Cameron Michael.
Her first son, Bruce, preceded her in death by four months.
A memorial service will be held on a date to be determined.
Willie Jones
COVERT - Willie Jones, 76, of Covert died Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at Holland Community Hospital.
He was born May 23, 1932, in Olyphant, Ark., to Fred and Dolly Jones. Willie served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. Willie married Juanita Langston on Aug. 21, 1944. Willie worked at Bohn Aluminum as an auto pour lineman for over 40 years. He was a member of Trinity Missionary Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Juanita Jones of Covert; three sons - Cornelius Langston of Grand Rapids, Pastor Maurice L. (Gwendolyn) Jones of South Haven, and Michael A. (Barbara) Jones of Zeeland, Mich.; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one brother, Casey Jones of Muskogee, Okla., also survives.
Funeral services will be Monday, April 13, at 12:00 p.m., at the Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Charles Knox officiating. The wake will be Monday from 11 a.m. to noon before the service at the church. Burial will take place in Covert Cemetery. Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family's online guest book at www.FilbrandtFFH.com.
The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven.
Alfred Edgar Miller Sr.
SOUTH HAVEN - Alfred Edgar Miller Sr., 71, of South Haven, died Monday, April 20, 2009, at home.
He was born Oct. 23, 1937, in Petoskey, Mich., to Cecil (Phillips) and Tyrus Miller and was raised in Harbor Springs, Mich. Alfred married Eva Haselton on June 20, 1969, in Traverse City, Mich. Alfred worked as an electrical Lineman for IBEW Union Local 876 out of Grand Rapids from 1967 to 1984. Alfred then worked for the City of South Haven for 20 years, retiring in 2004.
He is preceded in death, along with his parents, by his daughter, Elizabeth D. Nugent, and a great-grandson, Caiden Angel.
He is survived by his wife, Eva Miller of South Haven; 12 children - Alfred Edgar Miller Jr., Jack E. Miller, Susan B. Miller, Christopher M. Miller, Timothy L. Holliday, Jeffery L. Holliday, Kevin L. Holliday, Laura L. Holliday, Cathy L. Holliday, Alfred E. Miller, Robert L. Miller and Karen F. Nugent; 33 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many foster children. Also surviving are five siblings - Tyrus Miller of Harbor Springs, Mich., Terry G. Miller of Jackson, Mich., Bobby Miller of Milan, Mich., Donna Swenor of Alanson, Mich., and June Blakemore of Harbor Springs, Mich.
Memorial services will be scheduled at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society at 1400 West Milham Ave. Portage, MI 49024. Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family's online guest book at www.FilbrandtFFH.com.
The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven.
Martin P. Strefling
BARODA - Martin P. Strefling, 89, of Baroda, died Thursday, April 23, 2009, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph.
Funeral servies will be held at 12 Noon, Monday, April 27, at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, with the Rev. Don Suberlak of St. Mary of the Assumption Church of Three Oaks officiating. Burial will be in New Troy Cemetery. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday at the funeral home.
Martin was born Aug. 21, 1919, in Galien. He married the former Dorothy Stupeck on Sept. 27, 1941, and they were married for 61 years. Martin and his wife owned and operated the Warren Dunes State Park Motel and Drive-in in Sawyer for 30 years.
Survivors include three sons - Martin (Marilyn) Strefling Jr. of St. Joseph, David M. (Paula) Strefling of Harbert, and Terry A. Strefling of Deltona, Fla.; one daughter, Cynthia (Jack) Bauer of Sawyer; six grandchildren - Vanessa (Jeff) Cool, Nichole (Karl) Spitzer, Charis (Ryan) Atwood, Stephen (Melissa) Strefling, Jack (Shannon) Bauer Jr. and Darcy (Chris) White; 10 great-grandchildren; and two brothers - Dr. Michael R. Strefling of Stephenson, Mich., and Dr. John L. Strefling of Michigan City, Ind.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, in 2003; both parents, Michael Sr. and Pauline Strefling; and 10 brothers and sisters.
Cecil Willard Niles
BENTON HARBOR - Cecil Willard Niles, 76, of Benton Harbor died Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph.
Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at Napier Parkview Baptist Church, 245 W. Napier Ave. Benton Harbor, which he attend for the last 15 years. A celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the church, with Dr. J.O. Hosler officiating. Services have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home. Friends wishing to send a condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Cecil was employed at Berrien General Hospital, attended Benton Harbor Senior Center, and was a member of the Shepherd Sunday school class at Napier Parkview Baptist Church. Cecil enjoyed playing his guitar and listening to Hank Williams.
He is survived by his caregivers since 2000, Dolphi and Jenny Lontoh; and his guardian, Jack Chandler of St. Joseph.
Johnnie Ashley
WATERVLIET - Johnnie's life began Nov. 22, 1929, in Dyess, Ark. He retired from Comstock Michigan Fruit Canners in 1991 after 23 years. Johnnie loved to trade and mow his lawn.
His loving family includes, his children, Kathy (Hency) Naka of Coloma, Sharon Cox of Phoenix, Ariz., Terry (Cheryl Ashley of Coloma, Doug (Deb) Ashley of Coloma, Kenneth (Marlena) Ashley of Coloma, Chris (Richard) Nitz of Watervliet; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and a daughter-in-law, Deborah Ashley of Coloma.
Johnnie died Thursday, April 23, 2009, at Community Hospital in Watervliet.
His wife Jean Ashley whom he was married to for 40 years, two sons, Ron and Gary, a great-granddaughter, Hope, a son-in-law, Gary Cox, and his parents, Heskel and Gladys (Flana) Ashley preceded Johnnie in death.
Friends may visit with Johnnie's family Sunday, April 26, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet. Funeral services celebrating Johnnie's life will be held Monday, April 27, at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Watervliet. Memorials may be made in Johnnie's memory to Hospice.
