Allen Randolph “Randy” Hughes, age 77 of Morley, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, January 19, 2020 at his home. He was born August 22, 1942 in Gary #10, West Virginia, the son of Randolph “Link” and Deborah (Mitchem) Hughes. Randy trusted in the Lord and was a member of the Church of God. He served his country honorably in the United States Army National Guard. Randy married Joan Schoonmaker on April 21, 1969 in Florida and together they raised their children in the Cedar Springs and Morley areas. He was employed by American Die Casting in Grand Rapids and later Singleton’s RV in Muskegon. Randy was a strong man that lived a long and adventurous life and overcame many health obstacles and injuries. He grew up in the mountains; sledding, jumping trains, and racing cars. He was a great storyteller. Randy enjoyed being outside, hunting, hunting, and fishing. He loved teaching and spending time with his family and grandchildren. Randy is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joan Hughes; 11 children, Douglas (Ann) Hughes, Finley (Jenni) Hughes, Susan (Mike) Price, Tim (Julie) Bassett, Manda Scholtz, Kenny (Melissa) Thomas, Tammy (Scott) Johnson, Jonathan Terrill, Aaron Sharp, Christian Sharp, and Alyssa Rodriguez; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; four siblings, Wally (AnneMarie) Hughes, Deborah (Robert) Maxwell, Donald (Connie) Burress, and Delainah Burress; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; biological parents, Jack Burress and Ruby Hutcheson; brothers and sisters, Benny, Tim, and Richard Hughes, Doris Justice, Claudette Stangline, and Ray, Allen, and Daryl Burress; grandchildren, Justin, Joel, Emily, Robert, Jaiden, and an infant grandchild. Funeral services will take place 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home with Pastor Joe Cottle officiating. The family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 24 at the funeral home.

Share a memory or leave a condolence for the family by clicking the guestbook tab at www.daggettgilbertfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Daggett-Gilbert 

Funeral Home, Big Rapids

Gary S. Churchard, age 61 of Cedar Springs passed away Friday, January 17, 2020 at his home. Gary was born in Grand Rapids, MI on May 25, 1958 the son of Ronald and Sharon (Shotwell) Churchard. He was a graduate of Creston High School. He was a talented jeweler and artist. Gary loved his family deeply and was the most wonderful father. He was unendingly generous, silly, and had a kind heart for all animals. He is survived by his children, Emily (Joshua) Churchard-Godfrey, Walter Churchard; brothers, Ron Jr., Tom (Karen), Joe and John Churchard; many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Patricia (Groth) Churchard; sister, Cheri Baughman and brother, Michael. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Rockford Community Cabin, 220 N Monroe St, Rockford, MI 49341 on Thursday, January 30 at 5:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the ASPCA in lieu of flowers. 

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs, MI.

Mike Harless, age 69 of Greenville, died early Thursday, January 16, 2020 at Metron of Greenville. He was born November 13, 1950 in Anderson, Indiana, the son of Mac and Barbara Joan (Murray) Harless. Mike worked at Master Unit Die in Greenville for many years. He was an outdoorsman, and especially enjoyed fishing and his dogs. He also had an affinity for fast cars. More than anything, he loved his family, and loved spending time with grandchildren. Mike is survived by his wife, Barbara Jean Harless; parents, Mac and Barbara Joan; children, Marci Harless (Scott), Melissa Harless (Aaron), and Chris Lyon; grandchildren, Jessica, Sherita, Mya, Jordon, and Connor; sister, Teressa (Dan) Taylor; and other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held on Monday, January 20, 2020 at Hurst Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Cooper as officiant. Burial will take place in Solon Cemetery. Those wishing to make a memorial contribution are asked to consider the needs of the family.

Arrangements by Hurst Funeral Home, Greenville

Rocke D. Pennington, age 71, of Greenville, MI died Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus. Rocke was born January 17, 1948 in Grand Rapids, MI the son of Roger and Rose (McIntyre) Pennington. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during the Vietnam War. Music was his heart as well as leading the Praise and Worship Team at church. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting and playing cards. Surviving are his wife, Nancy (Tompkins); children, Jason (Dawn) Pennington, Jacob (Connie) Pennington, John (Virginia) Pennington, Jeremy (Tabitha) Pennington, and Janina Evans; 18 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; sisters, Diane Wickering, Dena Feltman. He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Michael Evans; brothers, Ricke and Rande Pennington. Services were held Saturday, January 18 at the Living Faith Family Church, 2543 S. Greenville Road, Greenville. Pastor Lynda Dyke officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Church. 

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs.

Robert J. Remer age 95 of Cedar Springs, died Wednesday, January 1, 2020 at Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus. Bob was born February 1, 1924 in Grand Rapids, MI the son of Donald and Inda (Powers) Remer. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II on a submarine tender in the South Pacific. He was a partner in the grain elevator in Cedar Springs and owned and operated Remer Bottled Gas. Bob was a member of the Cedar Springs Historical Society and Museum and helped to maintain the White Pine Trail. Surviving are his children, Don (Barb) Remer, Sue Brace; 5 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Donald Koster; nieces and nephew. Visitation and service was held Saturday, January 4 at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. Interment Elmwood Cemetery, Cedar Springs with military honors by the U.S. Navy. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cedar Springs Historical Society.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs

Michael A. Smith 77 of Rockford, MI passed away, Thursday, December 26, 2019 and now resides in Heaven. Unfortunately left behind after almost 54 years is his wife, Patricia; two sons he proudly fathered, Andrew Smith of Langley, VA and Eric (Melissa) Smith of Jenison, MI; his beloved grandchildren, Alexis, Courtney, Austin and Brianna of Jenison. Preceding him in death were his twin grandbabies, Andrew and Alex Smith and parents, Russell and Eileen (Toenjes) Smith. He served two tours in Vietnam in Navy Seabees and struggled with cancer and side effects of Agent Orange. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends but will be remembered for all the ingenious ideas and inventions he was always working on. His favorite saying until the end was, “There is no such thing as can’t,” and that was the way he lived his life. If there was no path, he made one. The family greeted friends Wednesday, January 1 at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. The service was Thursday, January 2 at Blythefield Hills Baptist Church, 6727 Kuttshill Dr. NE, Rockford. Pastor Louie Konopka officiating. Interment Altona Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Blythefield Hills Baptist Church or Faith Hospice.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs

Jerald Ray Magoon Sr., of Cedar Springs, passed away December 25, 2019.  He was born to Clare and Gerda (Gritzmaker) Magoon on August 3, 1948 in Grand Rapids, MI.

Jerald came home to the farm as number fourteen of fifteen children.  Which I am sure made life interesting to say the least.  He grew up to be an avid outdoorsman who especially enjoyed hound hunting and drowning a worm occasionally.  He enjoyed spending time with friends having a beer.  And was never caught without his trusty pack of Winstons.  Later in life, he enjoyed bird watching, observing a well arrayed flower bed with all its beautiful colors and reminiscing with friends of times gone by and telling lies about hunts of yesteryear.

Jerald is survived by his four children, Jerald Magoon Jr. (Emily), Rebecca Starr (Roy), Shaun Magoon (Tonya), and John Magoon, ten grandchildren, Jhordan Magoon, Renee Flowers (Magoon), Tyler Magoon, Jordan Caudill, Joshua Magoon, Camantha Magoon, Dakota Vanscoy, Marjorie Starr, Jason Magoon, and Olivia “Ollie” Starr; six and a bun great grandchildren; two brothers, Clare Magoon Jr., and Jim Smigiel; eight sisters, Inez Hough, Pat Seymour, Lillian Dines, Marie McClary, Betty Hilbrands, Joyce Paige; and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, John, Jim, Jerry and Carl Magoon; two sisters, Elsie Utter and Susan Porter.

There will be a time of visitation from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Friday, January 3, 2020 at Pederson Funeral Home, 127 N. Monroe Street, Rockford, MI 49341.  There will be a second visitation from 12:00 pm until 1:00 pm Saturday, January 4, 2020 with the service to immediately follow at 1:00 pm at Pierson Bible Church, 101 Grand Street, Pierson, MI 49339. Pastors Tom Ekkel and Kim Hough presiding.

Those wishing to offer an expression of sympathy are encouraged to make a memorial contribution to Pierson Bible Church or to the family to offset any funeral expenses.

Arrangements by Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford.https://www.pedersonfuneralhome.com

Gerald J. Kelly Jr. age 88 went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, December 20, 2019 at Samaritas Senior Living in Cadillac. Jerry was born November 24, 1931 in Benton Harbor, MI the son of Gerald and Eleanor (Yagman) Kelly Sr. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, camping and traveling with his family. He loved the Lord and talking to people about his Lord and Savior. Surviving are his sons, Craig (Finley), Dale, Ken (Heather); sister, Marilyn Kelly; brother-in-law, Norris Kranich; sisters-in-law, Flora Helling, Clara Maddox, Charlene VanWyk; four cousins, Jacqueline Nice, Patricia Hansen, June Vanko, Ronald Capen; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice in 2015. The family will greet friends Friday, December 27 from 12:00 p.m. until time of service at 1:00 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 980 N. Morey Road, Lake City, MI. Pastor Brian Algie officiating. Interment Mesick Sherman Cemetery. Military honors by the U.S. Navy. Memorial contributions may be made to Gitche Gumee Bible Camp, 5189 Garden City Road, Eagle River, MI 49950. 

Arrangements by the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs.

Steven G. Hyrns, age 68, of Sand Lake passed away, Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at his home surrounded by his family. With his faith and strength in God, Steve fought a courageous and hard battle with merkel cell carcinoma. He graduated from Tri-County High School in 1969. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and then had to fight the effects of this rare cancer from Agent Orange exposure. He was a carpenter and member of the Local 100 Carpenters Union for 45 years. Steve was an avid hunter and outdoorsman, enjoyed playing the banjo and seeing his family have fun. He was a loyal, honest and dedicated man. Surviving is the love of his life, Catherine (Mulholland) whom he married on April 14, 1973; children, Kamie (Stephen) Hyrns McGuire, Jason (Michelle) Hyrns, Benjamin (Jennifer) Hyrns; grandchildren, Benjamin, Faith, Hunter, Hudson, Jolene and Stella; sister, Susan (Bill) Bryant. Steve is loved and will be greatly missed by many. The service was held Saturday, December 21 at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. Pastors Larry Young and Doug Bergsma officiating. Private interment in Coral Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the BKH Jr. Care Fund for his grandson, Benjamin.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs

Sheryl A. “Shari” Dennis, age 69, of Sand Lake, passed away to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at her home. Shari was born September 1, 1950 in Dearborn, MI the daughter of Robert and Agnes (Spiers) Russell. She graduated from Cedar Springs High School Class of 1968. She and her husband, Michael were members of the Christian Motorcycle Association. Surviving are her husband, Michael whom she married on January 25, 1969; children, Robert (Angela) Dennis, Stacy (John) Riemsma; grandchildren, Robert “RJ”, Ashlynn, Clinton “CJ”, Jacob, Crystal and Tyler; great-grandchildren, Grayson, Aidan, Ethan and Avery; brother, Robert (Patricia) Russell. A memorial gathering will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Humane Society of West Michigan, 3077 Wilson Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534. 

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs.