Rowena Joy Smith, age 62, of Cedar Springs, went home to be with her heavenly father on June 27, 2017 surrounded by her family. She was born on November 1, 1954 to Robert and Thelma (Rookstool) White in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Rowena was a member of First Baptist Church of Cedar Springs where she taught Sunday School for 35 years. For years, Rowena served as a camp cook for Lincoln Lake Baptist Youth Camp. She was also the church custodian for many years. She loved spending time in her yard gardening growing vegetables and flowers. Rowena is survived by her husband of 34 years Dale Allen Smith; daughter, Katherine Joy (Curtis) DeJong; grandson, Cameron Dean DeJong; granddaughter DeJong; brother, Dan (Shelly) White; in-laws, Steven Smith, Michael Smith, Sharon (Jeff) Russell, Rose (Warren) Wright, Margaret (Robert) Parks, Vince (Brenda) Smith, Joani (Mike) Spicuzza, Debbie (Rob) Swider, James Smith; best friend, Sue VanEnk and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents. Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at First Baptist Church – Cedar Springs, with funeral services following at 12:00 pm with her brother Reverend Dan White, officiating. Memorials may be made to assist the family. Please share your memories of Rowena online at www.fieldsmckinley.com.

Arrangements by Fields-Mckinley Funeral and Cremation Services

Rosemary Hatfield, 65 of Sand Lake, died Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at Spectrum Health – Butterworth Campus. Rosemary was born April 14, 1951 in Grand Rapids, Michigan the daughter of Kenneth and Virginia (Smith) Johnson. She enjoyed shopping at Dollar Stores and Goodwill and was very proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Surviving are her daughters, Kimberly (Mark) Cooper, Michelle (Bob Hardin) Feikema; grandchildren, Ashlie (Glenn Ross) Feikema, Amanda (Richard) Oliver, Matthew Cooper; great-grandchildren, Maddelyn and Sebastian Oliver; sister, Carol (Larry) Sawyer; nieces, Lisa (Shawn) Scott, Shannon (David) Swan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Nathan in 2014. The family greeted friends Monday, April 3^rd from 11:00 a.m. until time of service at 1:00 p.m. at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. Pastor Eva Walter officiating.

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

Les, age 82, passed away unexpectedly November 3, 2016 at his home in Greenback, Tennessee. He was originally from Sand Lake and Grant Michigan. Les was preceded in death by his father and mother, Fred and Oleva Smith of Sand Lake and a son, Jerry from Spring Lake, Michigan. Les is survived by three sons, Larry, Terry and Gary from Spring Lake, Michigan; brother Ervin Smith from Owasso; sister Lorraine Pratt from Belton, South Carolina; brother Ken (Lois) Smith from Sand Lake and sister Lorna (Richard) Holbrook from Trufant, Michigan; grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service is being planned for a later date.

Edward J. Smith, age 89, of Sand Lake passed away at his residence on August 22, 2015.  He was born April 12, 1926 in Lakeview, the son of John and Margaret Smith.  As a teenager, Ed worked for his brother, Francis, at Smitty’s Garage in Lakeview.  He also worked delivering coal in the Lakeview area.  He served his country in the US Army during WWII and was a member of the Sand Lake VFW Post.  After the war he worked for Dohler Jarvis in Grand Rapids and Toledo as a die cast repair man, retiring after 35 years. Ed never lost his love for auto mechanics and was noted in Sand Lake for being able to fix most anything.  He was always willing to help neighbors and the Village of Sand Lake with repairs.  Many children learned how to repair their bicycles from Ed.  Ed loved to fish, hunt and camp. He enjoyed riding motorcycle and fast cars. He also loved to restore old cars and tractors.  Ed and his wife Laura could often be found sitting on the swing in their front yard.  In his senior years Ed rarely missed Friday music at the Howard City Senior Center. Surviving are his wife Laura; children, Dan (Jane) Smith of Pierson, Margaret Merritt of Sand Lake, Sandra (Harold) McConnell of Sparta, Edward (Karin) Jr. Smith of Ohio, Randy (Roxie) Smith of Texas, John (Cheryl) Smith of Sand Lake, Lori (Scott) Wesche of Howard City; 23 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; one sister Dorothy Briggs of Muskegon; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Francis and Ray Smith and one sister Charlotte Rogalewski. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, August 29^th at 11 am at the Heckman Funeral Home in Howard City with burial in the Pierson Cemetery, where Military Honors will be conducted by the Howard City VFW Post.  The family will greet friends on Friday, August 28^th  from 2-4 and 6-8 pm and prior to services on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Howard City Senior Center, 132 E. Edgerton, PO Box 399, Howard City, MI 49329  Attention Delores Becker.

Arrangements by Heckman Funeral Home, Howard City

THOMAS W. SMITH 

May 24, 1945 to May 1, 2012 

Dad,

Another year has gone by

and we’re sending our love

to your beautiful home

in heaven above.

You live on in our hearts

and our thoughts every day

We cherish the memories

that will never fade away……

Deeply Loved and Missed. 

Marty, Dawn, Yvonne, and family 

Kristy Lynn Beemer

A Cedar Springs woman is serving a 25-day sentence as part of a plea deal for causing the deaths of two elderly people last fall.

Kristy Lynn Beemer, 28, of Sand Lake, was reportedly driving too fast and caused the accident that occurred at Cedar Springs Avenue and Egner, Wednesday evening, October 16. A 2008 Ford Taurus was eastbound on Egner and stopped at the stop sign at Cedar Springs Avenue about 6:22 p.m. The driver attempted to turn north on Cedar Springs Avenue and collided with Beemer’s 2008 Saturn that was northbound.

The backseat passenger in the Taurus, Kathleen Fernn Bitely, 88, of Bailey was pronounced dead at the scene. The front seat passenger, Herbert Donald Smith, 92, from Twin Lakes, was transported to the hospital where he later died of his injuries.

Beemer was also charged with a moving violation causing serious injury to her front seat passenger, Michael McBride, 30 of Sand Lake, and his five-year-old daughter, who suffered two broken legs.

As part of the plea deal, Beemer pled guilty to one count of moving violation causing Smith’s death. The other charges were dismissed.

The Cedar Springs Public Schools Board will interview five candidates next week—including current Assistant Superintendent David Cairy—as potential replacements for retiring Superintendent Ron McDermed.

The candidates are Assistant Superintendent David Cairy; Gibraltar/Shumate Middle School Principal Brad Coon; Boyne Falls Public Schools Superintendent Karen Sherwood; Hudsonville Human Resources and Assessment Director Scott Smith; and Laura Van Duyne, the executive director of a special education consortium in Concord, California.

The candidates were selected from a pool of 15 applicants.  First round interviews for Coon and Smith will be held at 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. on March 17; Sherwood and VanDuyne at 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. on March 19; and Cairy at 6 p.m. on March 21. Second round interviews are scheduled for March 26.  The public is invited to attend the interviews, which will take place in the Hilltop board room.

Following are short bios for each candidate:

David Cairy

David Cairy was named Cedar Springs’ assistant superintendent in 2007 and has led a variety of educational initiatives as well as serving as the district’s chief financial officer. Before joining the central office administrative team, Cairy was principal at Cedar Trails Elementary and a teacher at the Jefferson Elementary School in South Redford. He holds a Masters in K-12 administration from Michigan State University and a Bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Grand Valley State University.

Brad Coon

Brad Coon has been a principal in the Gibraltar district since 2004 and was an assistant principal at Algonac High School from 2002-04. He has also served as an alternative education consultant at Oakland Schools and a teacher in the Orchard View and Fruitport districts.  He holds an education specialist degree from Oakland University, a master’s in education from Grand Valley State University, and a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University.

Karen Sherwood

Karen Sherwood was named principal of the Boyne City Middle School after serving as a teacher in the building for 14 years prior to her 2010 appointment as the superintendent in Boyne Falls.  She holds a master’s in education leadership from Grand Valley State University, a master’s in early childhood development from Central Michigan University and a bachelor’s from the University of Michigan at Dearborn.

Scott Smith

Scott Smith was a middle school principal and assistant principal in the Hamilton district from 1995-2011 before joining the Hudsonville district in his present position.  He holds an education specialist degree from Grand Valley State University, a master’s in educational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Western Michigan University.

Laura Van Duyne has served as executive director of the State SELPA, Contra Costa Special Education Joint Powers Authority since 2010 and held a variety of administrative and leadership positions in the Antioch, CA, system from 2003-2010.  She holds a doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco, a master’s in education administration from Minnesota State University and a bachelor’s in education from the University of Nevada.

65^th Anniversary

EDWARD & LAURA (BECKER) SMITH

Sand Lake – An open house celebration of 65 years of marriage will be held on Saturday, October 19^th from 3 – 6 pm at the Sand Lake VFW Hall. No presents necessary. The Smith’s children are; Dan (Jane) Smith, Margaret Merritt, Sandy (Trez) McConnell, Ed (Karen) Smith, Randy (Roxy) Smith, John (Cheryl) Smith and Lori (Scott) Wesche. Ed and Laura have 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

A Grand Rapids man that sold catfish he had caught in the Kalamazoo River has been sentenced to four months probation.

The man, Leon Terrill Smith, 40, had advertised the catfish on Craigslist as for sale. Michigan DNR law enforcement officers worked with the Wildlife Resources Protection Unit (WRPU) and made contact with Smith, who sold 14 catfish to WRPU members.

Officers arrested the man after the sale for selling sport caught fish, driving while license suspended and an outstanding arrest warrant. Investigating officers were advised Smith also had previous felony convictions for drug and firearms violations.

A person convicted of buying or selling game fish or any parts of game fish is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not less than $250.00 or more than $1,000.00, or both.

Smith appeared in court Tuesday, July 9, and entered a guilty plea. He was sentenced to four months probation and must take part in an educational series on fishing laws in Michigan.

Smith reportedly did not know it was illegal without a commercial license. DNR officials say that sport fishing is not health regulated and the fish could be contaminated.

The DNR reminds readers that you can call the Report All Poaching Hotline at 800-292-7800 to report any natural resources violations, including hunting and fishing violations.

The Post traveled with Karen Smith, of Ensley Township, and her family to Georgia last month to welcome their son, SSgt. Shane Smith, home from Afghanistan. Welcome home, Shane—and thank you for serving our country! We are glad the Post could be part of such a great reunion!

If you are traveling, take the Post with you and snap a photo. Send it to news@cedarspringspost.com, along with a little info. We will print photos as space allows.

Celebrating 25 years

of Marriage

Kim & Connie Smith

Kim and Connie (Gillespie) Smith of Cedar Springs are sharing their 25th Wedding Anniversary on Wednesday, February 6 2013.

Wishing you many more happy years together.

We love you…

Your Family

SMITH (Cedar Springs) Mr. William “Bill” Smith, age 85, passed away on Thursday, October 18, 2012. He served his country in the US Navy during WWII on the USS Stembel. Bill was a gentleman who enjoyed fishing, especially for Walleye. He also enjoyed making custom cabinets. For 42 years he was employed with McInerney Spring & Wire. Bill was a member of the First Baptist Church of Cedar Springs. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris. Bill is survived by his children, Gregory Smith, Shawn and Margret Smith; grandchildren, Christie Jo and Rachel; great-grandchildren, Chelsea, Brooklyn, and Austin; brothers and sisters, Margaret (Robert) Jenkins, Alice (Howard) Perrins, Robert and Joyce Smith, Carl and Marty Smith; nieces and nephews. The service for Mr. Smith was held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Pederson Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Howard officiating. Military honors will be under the auspices of the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard with interment in Blythefield Memory Gardens. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider First Baptist Church of Cedar Springs, 233 S. Main St., Cedar Springs, MI 49319. Relatives and friends met with the family at the funeral home on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Arrangements by Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford

www.pedersonfuneralhome.com