Check here for new deaths throughout the week

Obituaries

Mary E. Snyder

Christine Idzkowski

Bertha 'Bea' Nicholas

Elsie B. Bigham

Robert B. Webb

Mark Richard Holton

Esther Hendershot died October 22, 2002 at the age of 95.   She was born in Riley Township, MI on September 12, 1907, the daughter of August and Bertha (Mohnke) Irrer. She was a real estate agent for many years. Esther married Clyde O. "Curly" Hendershot on July 24, 1938 and he preceded her in death on January 27, 1962.

Surviving are her son, Clyde Hendershot of Merrill; daughter, Karen "Kay" Taylor of Baltimore, MD; 7 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; 1 sister, Louise Schumaker of Riley Township; and 2 sisters-in-law, Alberta Irrer and Rita Irrer.

Funeral services will be 12:30 PM Saturday, October 26, 2002 at the Osgood Funeral Home, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Pastor Jeffrey Heimsoth officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 PM Friday at the funeral home.

Frances M. Swagart

Frances M. Swagart died October 22, 2002 at the age of 89. Born in Greenbush Township on March 21, 1913, the daughter of Mark and Amelia (Mattoon) Roat.  Frances was a member of Greenbush United Methodist Church and Central Michigan Lapidary & Mineral Society.  She was a former schoolteacher and past president of the Senior Child Study Club and the Urbanites Extension Study Club and enjoyed music, senior merrymakers, gardening, cake decorating, rock collecting and polishing, and wintering in Texas.   Her marriage of 65 years to Frank A. Swagart on June 24, 1934 ended June 15, 2000.  

She is survived by two daughters, Linda (Bruce) Carmon and Cheryl (Thomas) Moubray, both of St. Johns, three sons, Allan (Nina) Swagart of Gulf Breeze, FL, Richard (Neva) Swagart of St. Johns, and Gary (Merle) Swagart of Tallahassee, FL, Several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Ralph and Floyd Roat, and one sister, Minnie Belle Roat. 

Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, October 26, 2002 at the Osgood Funeral Home, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Pastor Jim Dibbet officiating. The family will receive friends 6-8 P.M. Thursday and 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Greenbush United Methodist Church.

Mary E. Snyder

Mary E. Snyder, age 81, died Friday, October 18, 2002 at her home.   Mary was born on the Dickenson family homestead, January 10, 1921 to Chester and Minerva (Slane) Dickenson.  Mary married Kenneth Snyder and together they farmed and later, Mary worked as a cook at Rivard’s Nursing Home.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years in 1978. 

Mary is survived by four children; James (Rosemary “Sue”) Snyder of DeWitt, Dale (Shirley) Snyder of Ithaca, Orlea “Bets” (Tim) Patrick of  St. Louis, and Kyle (Stuart) Iler of Florida; 18 grandchildren, 5 step grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, 16 step great grandchildren; two sisters, Irene Jumper of St. Johns and Almeda (Paul) Amanis of Ovid. 

Graveside Services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, October 26, 2002 at Duplain Cemetery with Pastor Donald Ruff, Pastor of Duplain Church of Christ, officiating. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to Gratiot Area Hospice, 300 E. Warwick Drive, Alma, Michigan 48801.  The family was served by the Osgood Funeral Home.

Elsie B. Bigham

Elsie "Granny" Bigham went to be with her Lord on October 17, 2002. Elsie Bell Bigham was born in Stonington, Colorado on October 26, 1909. Also lived in Montana, Washington, California, and Michigan, the last 33 years in Michigan. Her parents were Thomas Jefferson Ladd and Winnie May (Ryan) Ladd, she was preceded in death by her husband Earl Truman (Granddad) Bigham, six brothers and four sisters. 

She had three sons, Bob and Fran (Ziegs), Milton and Barbara (Stinson), Virgil and Mary Lou (Tyler) (deceased). She had ten grandchildren, Marah, Theresa, Marlene, Allan, Steve, Mark, Kelly, Peggy, Pam, Patrick, (three step grandchildren) Edward, Kathleen, Mary, twenty-four great grandchildren, (eleven step great grandchildren), twelve great great grandchildren. Granny, as she was affectionately known, taught Scripture memory and reading for twenty-five years at Grove Christian School, she retired in 1998. Earlier years she ran a day care in Imperial, California for eighteen years. She loved the Lord dearly and loved people and especially children. She has entered in the presence of the Lord. We will miss her but we know where she is. Rejoicing with her loved ones gone before. 

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Monday, October 21, 2002 at Grove Bible Church, 6990 E. Price Rd., St. Johns with Pastor Bob Prange and Pastor Larry Smith officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Saturday and Sunday at the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Ovid. Interment will be in El Centro, California. Memorials contributions may be made to the Grove Christian Schools, 6990 E. Price Rd., St. Johns, MI 48879.

Robert B. Webb,  DeWitt, MI Age 48, died Friday, October 11, 2002 at his residence. He was born October 30, 1953 in Midland, son of Arthur W. Webb of Midland and the late Gladys J. (Pahota) Webb. He graduated from H.H. Dow High School, worked for General Motors in Lansing, was a member of Electricians Local #652, and loved the outdoors. He is survived by his son, Adam Webb of Bay City; brothers, James (Barbara) Webb of Midland, Jack Webb of San Clemente, CA, and Michael Webb of Midland; he is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

A Memorial service will take place 1 PM Monday, October 21, 2002 from the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Chapel, 1200 West Wheeler Street in Midland. You may share your memories and thoughts with the family at the funeral home on Monday, October 21, from 12 noon until the time of service.

Christine Jane Idzkowski of Grand Junction, Colo., and formerly of St. Johns, died unexpectedly at her home Oct. 14, 2002. She was born July 2, 1953, in Lansing.

She received her elementary and secondary education in St. Johns and earned bachelor and master degrees from Michigan State University.

Surviving are her husband, Gary Wallace, of Grand Junction; her parents, Edward and Jane of St. Johns; sisters, Barbara Idzkowski (Tom Pile) of Murraysville, W. Virg., Elizabeth Idzkowski of Charlotte, and Rebecca Idzkowski of East Lansing. She was preceded in death by her sister, Joani Zuker.

Bertha 'Bea' Nicholas, 64, of Elsie, died Oct. 17, 2002. She was born Sept. 18, 1938 in Savinas Idelgo, Mexico, the daughter of Gregorio and Elbira (Flores) Escmilla. She lived most of her life in the Elsie area.

She was a teacher with Ovid-Elsie elementary schools, retiring in 1995. She graduated from Central Michigan University with a master degree. She was a member of the Elsie United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women.

She married Larry Nicholas Dec. 28, 1961 in San Antonio, Texas, and he survives her. Also surviving are two daughters, Cindy (Bryan) DeMass of Haslett and Brenda (Russ) Boehm of San Francisco, Calif.; one son, Michael (Julie) Nicholas of South Bend, Ind.; 11 grandchildren; three brothers and four sisters. She was preceded in death by her parents.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Oct. 21, at the Elsie United Methodist Church with the Rev. Merlin Pratt officiating. Visitation is at the Elsie Chapel of Smith Family Funeral Homes from 6 to 8 p.m., Oct. 19, and from 2 to 8 p.m., Oct 20, with the family present from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Elsie United Methodist Church.

Age 44 of Elsie, Michigan passed away Monday, October 14, 2002 at Memorial Healthcare Center in Owosso. He was a farmer and a Bee Keeper.

Memorials may be made to Steam Railroading Institute PM #1225, P.O. Box 665, Owosso, Michigan 48867. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel.