Obituaries
Keith and Connie Bazaire
Keith and Connie Bazaire of Parrish, Florida, formerly of Charlotte, Michigan, passed away less than one month apart on April 24 and May 9, respectively. A memorial visitation will be held Thursday, July 25, 2024, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Pray Funeral Home Gardens (behind the funeral home) at 401 W. Seminary Street in Charlotte. A graveside service is scheduled for Friday, July 26, 11:00 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
Barbara French
Barbara French, 95, of Michigan, passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Barbara was born in Charlotte, MI on November 25, 1928.
Barbara was a loving mother and grandmother. She loved her children and grandchildren very much. Barb and Keith loved living at their home on Narrow Lake.She is preceded in death by her husband, Keith French.
Survivors include her children, Patricia (Bill Ruxton) French and Kirk (Tammy) French; grandchildren, Tiffany (Jeff) Pfeiffer, Brian (Brittany) Hochradel, Tyler (Jenna) French, Ashley (Trent) Vance, and Mandy (Joey) Loveall; and great grandchildren, Zack (Cassie) Pfeiffer, Hayes Hochradel, Ethan French, Natalie Vance, and Miriam Loveall.
Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Barbara French.
Donna Kay McBride
Donna Kay (Davis)(Johnson) McBride, born June 25, 1938, passed peacefully at home with her daughter on May 20, 2024. She married James Martin McBride in 1969, and moved to Eaton Rapids, MI, where she and James became very active members of the community. Donna managed James’ successful campaign for Mayor in the mid ‘70’s. She also managed Claudia Brown’s successful campaign for City Council. She was the chair of the ER Redistricting Committee. Donna was a member of the ER Hospital Auxiliary and a member of the U&I Club. She hosted the ERHS Senior Tea for several years. Donna was instrumental in cataloging graves in the Eaton County cemeteries, and many other civic activities.
She leaves behind her daughter, Brenda (Johnson) Harvey of Millers Falls, MA; three granddaughters, Hannah Harvey of Morehead Beach, NC, Halle Harvey of West Springfield, MA, and Hattie (Kevan Bordner) Harvey of Northfield, MA; two great grandchildren, Calvan and Blair Bordner; sisters, Bess Wiggins of Midland, MI and Mona Miller of FL, as well as many nieces and nephews. Donna is predeceased by her husband of 53 years James; brothers John and Grant Davis; sisters Shirley Emmendorfer and Irene Howe.
Please join the family for a Celebration of Life to honor Donna and James (June 17, 1938 – October 11, 2022) on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at the Charlotte VFW from 1-4 p.m. Interment will be private. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. To leave condolences for the family, visit our website www.millsfuneral.com.
Raymond Oscar Kilbourn
Raymond Oscar Kilbourn “Poppy”, age 88, of Olivet, died on July 5, 2024. He was born on December 19, 1935 in Battle Creek, MI to George Sr. and Velma (Miller) Kilbourn. He married the love of his life, Carolyn Jane Brownell, on May 23, 1964. They just celebrated 60 wonderful years together.
Ray worked for Clark Equipment in Battle Creek for 21 years then worked at Alro Steel of Lansing until his retirement in 1996. Ray and his wife, Jane, owned Bellevue Dry Cleaners and Laundromat for 13 years. He was an avid sportsman who loved fishing and hunting, bagging his last deer at age 75. Ray served in the United States Army at the end of the Korean War from September 1954 to January 1962.
Ray is survived by his wife, Jane; daughter, Pam Bess; son, Randy (Dale Klahn) Kilbourn; grandchildren, Gerry (Brittany) Bess, Alicia (Ken) Horton, Joanna (Derek) Smith; great grandchildren, James, Brooke, Jackson, Robby, Emma and Peyton; son-in-law, Ken (Grace) Bess; special friends, Steve and Kathy Penny; siblings, Janette Robertson, Leon, Mary Jane (Paul) Niemela, Al, Leola Kilbourn, and Bill O’Neal.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Daniel, Rosa O’Neal, George Jr., Gary Lee, Bruce Robertson and Ruth Kilbourn.
Friends may call on Saturday, July 13, from 10:00 a.m.– 12:00 p.m. at Kempf’s of Bellevue with the funeral service at 12:00 p.m. with Steve Penny officiating. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in Bellevue. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Oaklawn Hospice, Marshall, MI. Arrangements have been entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services. Please visit https://www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guestbook, or to leave the family condolences.
Richard Cornwell Fleming
Richard Cornwell Fleming, age 92, of Olivet, died July 7, 2024, in Battle Creek. He was born March 10, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois the son of Robert and Helen (Cornwell) Fleming. Richard graduated from Bangor High School. On March 28, 1958, he married Elizabeth A. Nichols in Kalamazoo. Richard was a great proponent of education. He earned two doctorate degrees. The first was a Doctorate in Science from Olivet College and the other a Doctorate in Philosophy (Entomology) from Michigan State University. He worked as a professor at Olivet College for over 35 years. He was known for his vast knowledge on many complex subjects but ornithology and entomology were truly his passion. He loved his work as a professor and cherished the many life-long friendships he created while teaching. Richard was an avid model railroader and loved to build and fly RC planes. He played numerous musical instruments, was a talented painter, wrote much poetry, and enjoyed listening to his beloved Chicago White Sox play ball. Richard was a member of many organizations to numerous to mention but was especially proud to belong to the Olivet Lion’s Club, where he was fortunate to become a recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellowship.
Richard is survived by his children, Elizabeth “Kitty” (Mike) Ingram of Olivet, Rebecca “Becky” (Rick) Britton of Olivet, Robert Fleming of Olivet, Agatha “Aggie” (Brian) Bowen of Sturgis, and Thomas “Tom” (Tami) Fleming of Olivet; 15 grandchildren; and 18 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Elizabeth; and sister, Betty.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Olivet Congregational Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.
Those desiring may make contributions in Richard’s memory to the Biology Department at The University of Olivet.
To view Richard’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com. The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home.