Bryce Elkins-Davis, 4 / March 14, 2007 — April 26, 2011

Bryce Anthony Elkins-Davis, 4, of Cassopolis, died Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at his home.

He was born March 14, 2007 in South Bend, Ind. to Jesse Davis and Sonia Elkins.

Bryce is survived by his father, Jesse Davis of Elkhart; his mother, Sonia Elkins of Cassopolis; three sisters, Savannah Elkins of Cassopolis, Breanna Davis of Elkhart and Sydney Davis of Elkhart; one brother, Kaiden Van Syckle of Cassopolis; maternal grandparents, Cynthia Lehman of Elkhart and Larry “Brett” Elkins of Mannassas, Va.; maternal great-grandfather, Pete Elkins of Elkhart; paternal grandparents, Scott and Diana Hershberger of Elkhart; and paternal great-grandparents, Jack Bunch and Janet McCaslin of Elkhart and Rose Wimer of Ft. Myers, Fla.

Friends and family gathered Friday, April 29 from noon until time of service at 1 p.m. at Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 North Broadway St., Cassopolis.

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

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 was 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.

Vera Freimund, 89 / June 4, 1921 — April 30, 2011

Vera M. Freimund, 89, of Edwardsburg, passed away Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. in her home, surrounded by her loving family.

Vera was born June 4, 1921 in Kessington, Mich., Mason Township as the daughter of the late Clair O. and Edna L. (Hiatt) Smith.

She married Robert D. Freimund on Jan. 18, 1942 in Adamsville, Mich. They recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary.

Vera was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother. She was strong women of faith and a longtime member of Adamsville Road Church of God. At one time she worked at C.G. Conn, where she helped with the war effort during World War II. Vera loved to cook and make homemade quilts from scratch.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Robert; three daughters, Janet D. (Dr. W. Scott) Kiester of Granger, Ind., Betty M. (Michael) Standiford of South Bend and Becky M. (Jeff) Dangler of Niles; six grandchildren, Michelle (John) Karren, Jason (Janie) Kiester, Micky (Kelly) Standiford, Amanda (Chris) Johnson, Jennifer (Tim) Stein and Joseph Dangler; 10 great-grandchildren; and her brother, Jerry (Betty) Smith of Niles.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Smith, and her sister, Margaret Stoeckinger-Baxter.

Visitation was held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 3 at Billings Funeral Home 812 Baldwin St. Elkhart.

Funeral services to celebrate Vera’s life were held at noon Wednesday at the Adamsville Road Church of God located at 51287 CR 7, Elkhart, with calling for one hour prior to services. Pastor Rob Meckley officiated.

Burial followed at Adamsville Cemetery.

The family request memorials may be given to Adamsville Road Church of God.

Betty Reed, 87 / Sept. 28, 1923 — May 1, 2011

Betty M. Reed, 87, of Goshen, Ind. and formerly of Edwardsburg, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2011 at Greencroft Healthcare in Goshen.

Betty was born Sept. 28, 1923 in Elkhart to the late Frances and Elizabeth (Thoms) McCoy. She married Robert R. Reed on Aug. 29, 1946 in Elkhart; he died March 2, 1996.

Betty retired from Selmer’s in Elkhart as a shipping and order clerk. Betty also worked at Eagle Lake Elementary School in the cafeteria and was a real estate sales person.

She was a member of Hope United Methodist Church; the Eastern Star 476 of Edwardsburg; the Ladies Auxiliary of the Moose; associate member of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church of Citrus Springs, Fla.; a volunteer for Elkhart General Hospital; and a member of Four Lakes Country Club.

Surviving are her two children, Michael (Sherry) Reed of St. Joseph and Patty Reed of Goshen; grandchildren, Amber (Kenneth) Keller of St. Joseph, Alicia Roskoski of Kalamazoo; and two great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister-in-law, Donna McCoy of Toledo, Ohio; and two adopted daughters, Patricia Ward of Goshen and Betty Peachey of Tipp City, Ohio.

Besides her husband, Bob, Betty was also preceded in death by her brother, Bob McCoy, and sister, Mary Jane Gluck.

Friends called Wednesday, May 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home with an Eastern Star service at 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be today at 1 p.m. at Hope United Methodist Church, 69941 Elkhart Rd., Edwardsburg with the Rev. Jeff Reese, pastor of the church, officiating.

There will be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the service.

Burial will follow at Adamsville Cemetery in Edwardsburg.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the Greencroft Healthcare staff for everything they did for Betty.

Arrangements are by Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home.

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.