Obituaries

Mary Catherine Borton
B: 1928-03-24
D: 2018-03-05
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Borton, Mary Catherine
Sandra "Korkye" Sternburgh
B: 1946-08-29
D: 2018-03-04
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Sternburgh, Sandra "Korkye"
Melissa Zimmerman
B: 1962-07-24
D: 2018-03-03
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Zimmerman, Melissa
Allen Law
B: 1926-02-10
D: 2018-03-02
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Law, Allen
Ronald Schrader
B: 1963-07-18
D: 2018-03-01
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Schrader, Ronald
Richard Sloyer
B: 1952-09-13
D: 2018-03-01
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Sloyer, Richard
Priscilla Gove
B: 1941-03-02
D: 2018-02-24
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Gove, Priscilla
Dahl DeBoer
B: 1931-11-02
D: 2018-02-23
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DeBoer, Dahl
Genevieve Simon
B: 1926-06-17
D: 2018-02-22
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Simon, Genevieve
James Manzullo
B: 1955-12-01
D: 2018-02-20
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Manzullo, James
Judith Minner
B: 1939-01-23
D: 2018-02-19
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Minner, Judith
Juanita Horman
B: 1934-08-08
D: 2018-02-17
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Horman, Juanita
Camma Harwood
B: 1944-04-02
D: 2018-02-15
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Harwood, Camma
Kenneth Washburn
B: 1964-05-28
D: 2018-02-13
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Washburn, Kenneth
Betty Mankey
B: 1923-11-18
D: 2018-02-12
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Mankey, Betty
James Skriba
B: 1935-03-11
D: 2018-02-06
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Skriba, James
Arlene Plowman
B: 1926-01-31
D: 2018-02-02
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Plowman, Arlene
Linda Snater
B: 1958-06-11
D: 2018-01-31
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Snater, Linda
Maxine Kushmaul
B: 1926-12-17
D: 2018-01-29
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Kushmaul, Maxine
Richard Wells
B: 1941-05-31
D: 2018-01-28
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Wells, Richard
Dorothy Sousley
B: 1929-10-02
D: 2018-01-23
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Sousley, Dorothy

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1500 Waterford Parkway
St. Johns, MI 48879
Phone: 989-224-4422
Fax: 989-224-4488

Obituary for Gene Whitford

Gene  Whitford
Eugene Whitford of Ashley, MI was born to Richard and Lula (Pearson) Whitford on December 21, 1916 in Gratiot County, MI. He lived in that area his entire life and his ancestors were the first Anglo settlers in that township about a mile from where he lived his entire life.
Gene had a sister, Elizabeth and brother, Olin who predeceased him in death. Gene married Dorothy Slagell on December 4, 1937 and they were married for 78 years when she died this past March. Together they farmed, as they would say, "Not for a living, but as a way of life." Gene loved farming from his childhood until his death. Together Gene and Dorothy raised four children on their farm, Son, Leslie and his children, Jose, Luanne and Kelly; daughter Barbara Elaine Slagell (Gene) and their children, Faith and Steve, daughter-in-law, Judy and her children, Marianne, Kristi, Tim and Jeff, and son Eldon (Ann) and their children, Angi, Michelle and Josh. Gene and Dorothy have 20 great grandchildren and 7 great great grandchildren. Son Gary and Daughter-in-law, Marilyn preceded him in death. Gene lived his life for his wife and children and their families. He loved to have children around him and was especially remembered by those children for his quiet sense of humor. He openly offered friendship to anyone who would reciprocate and was an integral part of his community. Gene was greatly respected as a person who always did his own thinking and a person of very high ethics and his quiet humility. Gene held many jobs o provide for his family including, farming, truck driving, tractor mechanic, fertilizer sales to other farmers, welding for farm implement builders and building experimental farm equipment for Michigan State University, commercial hay bailing (until he got his arm in his bailer) and was a rural mail carrier.
Gene died on December 26, 2016, five days after his 100th birthday. He left his family and friends an excellent example of living a full life of integrity and love.
The family will receive friends and relatives at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns on Thursday, December 29th from 3 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Bethel Mennonite Church, Ashley, MI where he was a member, on Friday, December 30, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Steve Slagell, his grandson, officiating. Burial will be at Collier Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's favorite charity.

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