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Kermit McAlvey

Robert L. Gumaer

Keith Howard Kimball

LeRoy E. Hammond

Francis J. Keilen

Barbara Crowell

Martha May Swisher

Martha May Swisher died September 3, 2007, at the age of 61. She was born in Gratiot County, Michigan on September 4, 1945, the daughter of John and Helen (Semore) Johnson. Martha married Paul Swisher in Shepherd, Michigan on April 6, 1963 and he survives her.

Also surviving are her children, Jimmy Swisher, Russell Swisher, Sally Bowers and Thomas Swisher, grandson, Bill Wilson, sisters, Donna (Lester) Cortright, Rose Starnes and Virginia (Leroy) Johnson, brothers, Chuck (Grace) Johnson, John (Cindy) Johnson, Harold (Mary) Johnson, Mark (Wanda) Johnson and Jerry Johnson, many nieces and nephews and several in-laws. She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Toni Swisher and sisters, Clara Belle Johnson and Anna May Johnson.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, September 7, 2007 at the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes with David Hudgens officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to the charity of the family’s choice.

Anthony G. "Dickie" Wirth

Anthony G. "Dickie" Wirth of Westphalia, age 80, passed away on September 3, 2007. He was born February 8, 1927 the son of Arthur and Clara (Wieber) Wirth. Dickie was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Westphalia and the choir for over 60 years. He loved to sing and dance. He was a member of the St. Joseph Society, Catholic Order of Foresters and the Fowler, Pewamo, Westphalia V.F.W. Post #3733. Dickie was a member of the Clintonia Antique Power Club, and the winter ping pong group. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a member of the Pioneer Road Deer Camp. He enjoyed morning coffee with the guys at Ditty's, playing cards and giving M&M 's to his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers William, Julius, Louis, Robert and Herman; sisters Esther Schafer, Rosalyn Spitzley, and Antoinette Ondrus.

Surviving are his children Nancy Wirth of Texas, Patricia Shepherd of Lansing and Michael (Donna) Wirth of Westphalia; grandchildren Anthony, Abigail, Elizabeth and Nathan; Sister Agnes Wirth of Lansing and a brother Charles Wirth of Westphalia. Many nieces and nephews.

Mass of Chrisian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 7, 2007 at St. Mary Church, Westphalia. Rite of Committal will follow at St. Mary Cemetery. Military graveside honors will be provided by Fowler, Pewamo, Westphalia V.F.W. Post #3733. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday at the St. Mary Funeral Chapel, 210 N. Westphaila St.. The rosaries will be prayed at 3 and 8 p.m., Wednesday and 3 p.m., Thursday. A Scriptural Wake Service will be held 8 p.m. Thursday. The family would like to thank Eaton Community Hospice and Heartland Hospice for the care given to Dickie. Arrangements are entrusted to Schrauben-Lehman Funeral Homes, Portland.

LeRoy E. Hammond

LeRoy E. Hammond, age 88, of Holt, passed away Friday, Aug. 31, 2007, at the Maplewood Adult Foster Care Facility in Eaton Rapids. LeRoy was born Feb. 7, 1919, the son of Lyna and Bertha (Darnell) Hammond. He graduated from St. Johns High School in 1936. He married Marjorie E. Cole Aug. 2, 1941, in Bancroft.

LeRoy had been a mint farmer in Eaton Rapids and worked at Motor Wheel in the winter during the war years. Starting in 1959, he drove a truck and delivered gas and home heating oil for Pure Oil/Union Oil. He and his wife formed Hammond Gas and Oil in Lansing and they retired in 1981. He loved sports, especially bowling, table tennis and croquet, and enjoyed traveling in his motor home.

He leaves his wife, Marjorie; a daughter, Sharon (Darrell) King of East Lansing; two sons, Lawrence (Jenny) Hammond of Mozambique, Africa, and Richard (Sharon) Hammond of Bath; seven granddaughters and five great-grandchildren; and a brother, Lloyd (Mercedes) Hammond of East Lansing. He was predeceased by his parents.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007, at the Love Funeral Home, Bancroft, with Pastor Hal Polk officiating. Burial will be in Union Plains Cemetery, Byron. Visitation will be Wednesday, Sept. 5, from 4 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Heartland Hospice in Mason or the Eaton Community Hospice in Charlotte.

Kermit McAlvey

Kermit McAlvey died September 1, 2007 at the age of 84. He was born October 24, 1922 in Montcalm County, the son of Floyd and Pearl (Robinson) McAlvey. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, and retired from the US Truck Company. He enjoyed fishing, square dancing, traveling and spending time with his family. He married Dorotha "Dot" Durbin on November 2, 1946 and she survives him.

Also surviving are his daughter Suzanne (David) Paksi, grandchildren Debra (Richard) Light and Kevin (Janel) Paksi, great grandchildren, Jordan, Zane, Kole and Cass Paksi, brothers, Duane McAlvey of Carson City, and Elwood (Mary Ellen) McAlvey of Battle Creek and sisters Doris Cole of Battle Creek, Shirley (Merlin) Ruedger of Carson City and Barb (Bob) Wood of Grandville. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Don and Keith McAlvey.

Funeral services will be 1 PM Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at St. John's Lutheran Church, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Pastor George Brinley officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday 6-8 PM with and Monday 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the Osgood Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to St. Johns Lutheran Church.

Francis J. Keilen

Francis J. Keilen died September 1, 2007 at the age of 81. He was born October 17, 1925 in Portland, MI, the son of Joseph and Mary (Fedewa) Keilen. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, and retired from the Wohlert Company. He married Hildegard T. "Hilda" Simon on June 1, 1949 and she survives him.

Also surviving are his children, Joe (Janean) Keilen, Mike (Cindy) Keilen of St. Johns, Ron (Jill) Keilen of Dewitt, Sharon (Ed) Moinet of St. Johns, Ellen (Chris) Halfmann of Grandville, Steve (Lori) Keilen of Sudbury, MA, Gary Keilen of Austin, TX, and Julie (Josh) Rippie of St. Louis, twenty eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, one brother, Vincent Keilen of Lansing & and one sister, Anita Fitzpatrick of Ionia. He was preceded in death by brothers, Walter, Robert, Fr. Ernest and Herb Keilen and, sisters, Verena Huggett, Sr. Frances Keilen, Mildred LaRowe and Dorothy Bower.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 AM Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with The Rev. Fr. Eoin Murphy officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday 6-8 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7 PM and Monday 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the Osgood Funeral Home with a Vigil Service at 7 PM Monday. Memorials may be made to Great Lakes Home Health and Hospice or St. Joseph Catholic Church

Robert L. Gumaer

Robert L. Gumaer of Ovid died August 31, 2007, at the age of 95. He was born in Ovid on August 19, 1912, the son of J. LeRoy and Nelle K. (Dennis) Gumaer. He graduated from Ovid High School in 1929 and from Michigan State College in 1933. He married Frances M. Vaniman on November 22, 1947. Mr. Gumaer was President and Owner of The Gumaer Lumber and Building Supply Co. from 1946 until 1973. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army in WWII, having served with the rank of Captain. He was a former member of both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Robert was a long time member of The United Church of Ovid, also past president of The Ovid Lions Club and Life Members of both Ovid Lodge F & AM #127 and RAM Chapter #139.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Frances M. Gumaer and sister, Mary L. Gumaer.

Funeral services will be 1 PM Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at the Houghton Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes in Ovid with Pastor Don Fry officiating, burial at Maple Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday 4-8 PM at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Barbara Crowell

Barbara Jean Crowell passed on at home on August 30, 2007 surrounded by her family, at the age of 64. She was born in St. Johns on October 22, 1942, the daughter of Frederick and Bertha (Cordray) Ludwick. She was an avid reader and had a love of the outdoors as evidenced by her interest in gardening and camping. Mostly, she loved her family and took great pride in her grandchildren. Barbara married Jerry “Tim” Crowell at the First Baptist Church in St. Johns on January 28, 1961 and he survives her.

Also surviving are her three daughters, Cheryl (Jeff) Wagner of Lansing, Carrie (Joe) Huard of St. Johns, and Christine (Alan) Droste of Freeland, six grandsons, Jacob, Tim, and Jed Wagner, Nicolas Huard, and Mitchell and Collin Droste, two great-grandchildren Olivia and Sean Wagner, step-father, James Gross of St. Johns, her half-brothers, Doug Gross of St. Charles and Rob Ludwick, half-sister, Beth Ludwick and several in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at the Osgood Funeral Home, with burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Pastor Silas Doctor officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M Tuesday, at the funeral home. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to the Calvary Baptist Church, PO Box 539, South Range, MI 49963.

Keith Howard Kimball

Keith Howard Kimball age 80 of Elsie, Michigan and Goodland, Florida died Thursday, August 30, 2007 at Mother Theresa House, Lansing, MI.

Funeral Services will be held at Duplain Church of Christ St. Johns, MI on Monday, September 3, 2007 at 11:00 AM. Pastor Dan Cameron will officiate with burial at Riverside Cemetery Elsie, Michigan. Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 1, 2007 from 4-8 P.M. and Sunday, September 2, 2007 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M.

Keith was born in St. Johns, Michigan on July 30, 1927 the son of Niel and Eva ( Weaver ) Kimball. He resided most of his life in St. Johns and Elsie, Michigan. Keith married Ruby G. Acre on March 25, 1951 at the Duplain Church of Christ. He served in the Army during World War II. Keith enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was a member of Duplain Church of Christ, St. Johns, MI.

He is survived by his wife Ruby Kimball of Elsie, MI and Goodland, FL, children; Howard and Joyce Kimball of St. Johns, MI, Bonnie and Timothy Stine of Lakeland, FL, grandchildren Kevin Kimball, Jason and Becky Kimball, Aimee Stine, and Megan Stine. He is predeceased by his parents, and 2 sisters.

Memorials may be made to Mother Theresa House, Lansing, MI, Duplain Church of Christ, St. Johns, MI or Great Lakes Home Health and Hospice, Lansing, MI. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel.