Steven Parrish, 26 / Jan. 18, 1985 — April 22, 2011

Steven J. Parrish, 26, of Edwardsburg, died Friday, April 22, 2011 at his home.

He was born Jan. 18, 1985 in Jackson to James and Terri (Mellville) Parrish.

Steven was a very giving young man who loved his family and especially his daughter, Londyn. During the last month of his life he was able to be by his grandpa Parrish’s side literally night and day. His grandpa would always say, “Steven loves Jesus, and Jesus loves Steven.”

He is survived by his parents, Jim and Terri (Mellville) Parrish of Edwardsburg; his daughter, Londyn Parrish of Edwardsburg; paternal grandparents, Paul and Janet (Heslet) Parrish of Cassopolis; maternal grandparents, Robert Palmer of Frankfort, Ind. and Gloria Dover of South Bend, Ind.; one brother, Jonathan Parrish of Big Rapids.

Family and friends gathered Tuesday, April 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 North Broadway St., Cassopolis.

Services were Wednesday, April 27 at 10 a.m. with the Revs. Trent Griffiths and Larry Settle officiating.

Interment was at Young’s Prairie Cemetery, Penn Township.

The family prefers memorial contributions be made to Forgotten Man Ministries, 3940 Fruit Ridge, N.W., Grand Rapids, MI 49544.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel, Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis.

Online condolences may be posted at wagnercares.com.

Clarence Ampey, 83 / Jan. 17, 1928 — April 23, 2011

Clarence John Ampey, 83, of Clovis, N.M., formerly of Cassopolis, died Saturday, April 23, 2011 at his home after a long illness.

He was born Jan. 17, 1928 to Carl and Mamie (Lawson) Ampey in Cassopolis.

Clarence spent his early life in Cassopolis on the family farm. After graduating from Michigan State University, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.  He married the love of his life, Ruth Sayers, on Dec. 17, 1957. They enjoyed 54 eventful years together. After retiring from the Air Force, Clarence spent many years working as a mechanic for Case International Harvester. He went to New Mexico for the first time in 1973, and later made it his home for retirement where he became very involved in the community and his church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl Clarence and Mamie (Lawson) Ampey; two sisters, Martha Emily Wright and Jessie Powell; and one brother, Oren Chavous.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Marie Ampey of Clovis, N.M.; five children, Ronald (Rosalie) Ampey of Cassopolis, Karen (Gary) Van Kuren of Clovis, N.M., Martha (Roger) Kemp of Decatur, Dolores “Dee” (Jon) Hammons of Clovis, N.M., Sharon (Michael) Phillips of Goldsboro, N.C.; two stepdaughters, Diana Retting of Clovis, N.M. and Bonnie (John) Reed of Jacksonville, Fla.; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one brother, William Ampey of Cassopolis.

Family and friends gathered Wednesday, April 27 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 North Broadway St., Cassopolis.

Services are today at 11 a.m. at Calvin Community Chapel, 18770 Mt. Zion St., Cassopolis.

Interment will be in Calvin Community Chapel Cemetery.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Clovis, N.M.

The family prefers memorial contributions be made to Vista Care Hospice of Clovis, New Mexico, 2708 North Prince St., Clovis, NM 88101-4462.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel, Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis.

Online condolences may be posted at wagnercares.com.

Charles Benson, Sr., 81 / May 22, 1929 — April 24, 2011

Charles L. Benson, Sr., 81, of Niles, died at 11:24 a.m. Sunday, April 24, 2011 at his home of natural causes.

He was born May 22, 1929 in Warren Tenn. He was a utilities arborist and U.S. Army veteran. He loved music and his faith; he was an avid musician; belonged to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Niles; and loved the outdoors.

He married Faye Benson on May 12, 1956 in Buchanan. She survives in Niles.

He is also survived by his sons, Charles (Kristen) Benson, Jr. of Cassopolis and Stephen (Elizabeth) Benson of Cassopolis; daughters, Kathi (Britt) Conrad of Ravenden, Ark., Susan (Ken) Hoffman of St. Joseph and Lori Lott of Niles; a brother, James Schrimsher of Imboden, Ark.; sisters, Clara Austin of Niles, Helen Wilbur of Walnut Ridge, Ark., Elsie Austin of Hoxie, Ark. and Pauline McNew of Nashville, Tenn.; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jimmy Lee Benson and Pearle Crawford; and two brothers, Waleter Lee Benson and Eugene Benson.

A memorial service were held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Niles with John Yeater, Jr. officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice at Home, Inc., 4017 Chamberlain Rd., Buchanan MI 49107.

Jane Kurzhals, 75 / Nov. 26, 1935 — April 20, 2011

Jane E. Kurzhals, 75, died Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at her home in Vandalia.

She was born Nov. 26, 1935 in South Bend, Ind. to Floyd and Mable (Wolfram) Gindelberger.

Jane graduated from MacMurray College with a degree in biology, and obtained her master’s degree in counseling from the University of Notre Dame. She taught science and English within the South Bend Community School Corp. for 27 years and was past president of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society and a CASA volunteer advocate.

She married Benny P. Kurzhals on Aug. 25, 1954, a happy marriage of 57 years.

Jane will be sorely missed by her husband, Ben; three daughters, Kathe (Robert) Snodgrass of Vandalia, Lisa (Joe) Krill of Granger, Ind. and Karen (Delbert) Littrell of Vandalia; one son, Bruce (Kathy) Kurzhals of St. Johns; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Jane died as she had lived her life — with a minimum of fuss, a strong serenity and faith and a loving concern for others rather than herself.

A celebration of Jane’s life will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Cassopolis United Methodist Church, 209 South Rowland St., Cassopolis. (Parking lot is in the back of the church with entrance off O’Keefe Street.)

The family prefers memorial contributions be made to Red Bird Mission, 70 Queendale Center, Beverly, KY 40913-9607.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel, Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis.

Online condolences may be posted at wagnercares.com.

Addie Davidson, 84 / Jan. 3, 1927 — April 23, 2011

Addie K. Greenfield Davidson, 84, of Edwardsburg, passed to her rest April 23, 2011 at Elkhart General Hospital after an illness.

She was born Jan. 3, 1927 in Giles County, Tenn. to Flournoy and Betris (Murphy) Kimbrough. She moved from Ohio to Edwardsburg in 1969 and retired from Selmer’s in Elkhart after many years of work.

She was married July 3, 1942 in Salem, Ala. to James Howard Greenfield; he passed July 8, 1974. She then married Mr. Davidson, who also passed.

Surviving Addie are three daughters, Shirley (Ronald) Boyles of Edwardsburg and twins, Debra Sourman of Elkhart and Darla (Robbie) Robinson of Cassopolis; daughter-in-law, Deb Greenfield; nine loving grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three sisters, Geneva McGrew, Martha Ruth McGrew and Tootsie Shoemaker, all of Pulaski, Tenn.; two brothers, Logan Kimbrough of Perry, Ohio and Tony Kimbrough of Pulaski, Tenn.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Daniel J. and David G. Greenfield.

Addie will be taken to Pulaski, Tenn. by Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home to Bennett-May-Giles County Funeral Home, Pulaski.

Friends and family will gather in Pulaski at the funeral home Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., where a service of remembrance will be held at 1 p.m.

Addie will be laid to rest in Prospect Cemetery in Prospect, Tenn. after the service next to her husband, James H. Greenfield.

Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home of Edwardsburg is handling arrangements.

Rex Brown, 51 / March 2, 1960 — April 18, 2011

Rex Everett Brown, 51, of Edwardsburg, passed on April 18, 2011 at the scene of an accident on Redfield Street and the CNRR south of Edwardsburg.

Rex was born March 2, 1960 in South Bend to Willis and Bonnie Brown. He was a self-employed contractor and carpenter.

He is survived by his sons, Matthew and Jacob; his companion, Shelly Smith; his brothers and sister, Jean (Bill) Schirf, Danny (Leah) Brown, Frank (Linda) Brown, Fred (Marsha) Brown and Russ (Vicki) Brown — all his relatives are from Edwardsburg. There are many friends, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Friends gathered Friday, April 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, 26863 West Main St., Edwardsburg.

Services were Saturday, April 23 at 11 a.m. at Smith’s Chapel, 29858 Redfield St., Niles, west of Edwardsburg.

They gathered starting at 10 a.m. April 23.

Burial was at Smith’s Chapel Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, P.O. Box 24, Edwardsburg, MI 49112-0024 to help defray funeral expenses.

Lurlene Whiting, 87 / Jan. 17, 1924 — April 24, 2011

Lurlene E. Whiting, 87, formerly of Edwardsburg and Niles and recently of Angola, Ind., passed to her rest Sunday, April 24, 2011 at Northern Lakes Nursing Home, Angola after a brief illness.

Lurlene was born Jan. 17, 1924 in South Bend to Lloyd and Blanche (Koplineer) Peck and graduated from South Bend Central High School. She moved from Niles to Edwardsburg in 1970, and then to Angola in 2006.

She was married April 25, 1941 in Niles to Jess Gerald “Jerry” Whiting; he passed Aug. 13, 1996.

She is survived by her children, Sandra (Dennis) Campbell of Henderson, N.C., Barbara (Jack) Preston of Angola and Patrick (Betty) Whiting of Niles; eight loving grandchildren, Dana Edwards, Bob Day, Jess Preston, Brandie Fish, Nicole Berry, Danielle Guernsey, Patrick Preston and Kim Walker; 17 great-grandchildren; a sister, Betty Deo of Osceola, Ind.; and a sister-in-law, Pat Pace.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; four sisters, Irma Hewson, Irene Million, Dorothy Howacki and Helen Herreman; and three brothers, James, Clarence and Delbert Peck.

Friends and family gathered Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial is today at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 24832 U.S. Highway 12 East, Edwardsburg, where friends and family may gather from 10 to 11 a.m.

Burial will follow in Edwardsburg Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband, Jerry.

Arrangements are by Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, Edwardsburg.

Thomas Conrad

A graveside memorial service will be held for Thomas Edward Conrad Monday, May 2, 2011 at 2 p.m. at Adamsville Cemetery, Edwardsburg.

Officiating will be the Rev. Michael Smith, followed by the U.S. Army Honor Guard.

Thomas is survived by a sister, Shirley Kirsch of Niles, and her children, Pamela Ann Closson, Tamara Closson, Steven Closson and Becky Bookout.

He is predeceased by his parents, Clarence and Marguerite Conrad, and a sister, Margaret Ann Conrad.

Thomas served in the U.S. Army.

Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home of Edwardsburg is directing the services.

Lloyd Fuller, 82

Lloyd Fuller, 82 of Lakeport, Fla., formerly of Cassopolis, died Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

Arrangements pending at Connelly Chapel, Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis.

Patricia Smith, 76

Patricia (Allen) Smith, 76, of Lansing, Mich., died Sunday, April 10, 2011.

The family prefers memorial contributions be made to Ingram Hospice, 401 West Greenlawn Avenue, Lansing, MI 48910.

Connelly Chapel, Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis is assisting the family.

Online condolences may be posted at wagnercares.com.