April 5, 2005

Obituaries

      MAX EDWARD HOBBS, 73, of Old Mission Peninsula, died Sunday, April 3, 2005, at his home.
      Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, Traverse City.

      GEORGIA INA (PARSONS) MURPHY, 94, of East Jordan, died Saturday, April 2, 2005, at Charlevoix Area Hospital.
      The family will receive friends this evening, April 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc. in East Jordan.
      Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, at the funeral home.

      THOMAS MICHAEL PHILLIPS, 59, of Grayling, died Saturday, April 2, 2005.
      Services will be held at 11 a.m. today, April 5, at Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home in Grayling.

      ELEANOR PURDY SMITH of Buckley died Thursday, March 31, 2005, in Stuart, Fla.
      Memorial services will be held summer 2005; a complete obituary will appear at that time.
      Arrangements have been entrusted to Covell Funeral Homes.
     
Dorothy J. Clark
Died April 3, 2005
      GAYLORD - Mrs. Dorothy J. Clark, 88, of Gaylord, died Sunday, April 3, 2005. She was born Feb. 25, 1917, in Antioch Twp., and lived most of her life in Mesick.
      She worked at the Traverse City State Hospital for 25 years, retiring in the early 1970s.
      Mrs. Clark is survived by her daughters, Judy (Butch) Mankowski of Gaylord, Kathy Bruder of Arkansas and Nancy (Ramley) Bordelon of New Orleans; eight grandchildren, Gena (Mike) Shankleton, Jeff (Sandy) Mankowski, Jim (Nicole) Fusee, Elizabeth (Brian) Styles, Ame (Ed) Fitzgerald, Billy Bruder, Robbie (Gemma) Magee and Zach Bordelon; great-grandchildren, Katy and Jeff Carson, Ginger and Sam Fusee, Allie and Jacque Mankowski, David Fitzgerald, and Cole Magee; great-great-grandson, Hayden Carson.
      She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; son, William Clark; and granddaughter, Jacqueline Fitzhenry.
      Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, at Mesick Methodist Church. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will follow in Sherman-Mesick Cemetery.
      Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice, through the Nelson Funeral Home, P.O. Box, 1548, Gaylord, MI 49734.

Helen F. Garn
Died April 2, 2005
      COLDWATER - Helen F. Garn, 85, of Coldwater, died Saturday, April 2, 2005, at Community Health Center of Branch County in Coldwater.
      Helen was born in Traverse City July 14, 1919, to Vernon and Isabel (Ramsey) Hayes. On Oct. 21, 1939, she married Earl Garn in Bristol, Ind. He preceded her in death Aug. 12, 1997.
      Mrs. Garn spent most of her life in the Traverse City area, where she had worked at the hospital as a nurse, before moving to Coldwater. Helen was an avid reader and was very active in politics. She enjoyed spending time with her family.
      Helen is survived by her sons, Terry (Sandy) Garn and Richard (Connie) Garn and her daughter, Nancy Garn, all of Coldwater; a brother, Joe Hayes and sisters, Vera Godina and Arlene Davis, all of Florida; eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
      A memorial service will be held at a later date. Interment of ashes will be in Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.
      Memorials may be directed to the CHC Home Health & Hospice, 274 E. Chicago St., Coldwater, MI 49036. Please visit www.dutcherfh.com to share a memory in the family's online guest book.
      Arrangements are being handled by the Dutcher Funeral Home Inc., Coldwater.

Albert William 'Bud' Korn
Died April 2, 2005
      TRAVERSE CITY - Albert William "Bud" Korn, 76, of Traverse City, died Saturday morning, April 2, 2005, at Birchwood Nursing Center.
      Born on Feb. 27, 1929, in Traverse City, he was the son of the late Albert R. and Bertha Josephine (Host) Korn.
      A Traverse City native, Bud worked at the Traverse City State Hospital as an attendant nurse, retiring after 28 years of employment.
      A honorably discharged veteran, Bud served his country faithfully with the United States Navy in the Seabees, United States Army (1946-1949), United States Air Force (1949-1955), United States Air Force Reserve (1955-1961) and retired from the United States Coast Guard in 1989 as a Chief Petty Officer after 25 years of service.
      Bud's memberships included the Traverse City Eagles Club #383, V.F.W. Cherryland Post #2780 and the American Military League.
      He enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodworking. Bud will be fondly remembered as a great storyteller and a practical joker. He will be sorely missed.
      Bud is survived by his family, including two sons, Paul A. Korn of South Boardman and Mark E. Korn of Lansing; two daughters, Kim R. (Les) Miller of Haslett and Lori S. (Marv) Mero of South Boardman; sister, Emma (Charles) Mikos of Ravenna; eight grandchildren, Brandon, Elizabeth, Jennifer, Pauly, Miranda, Jacob, Nick and Jamie; and two great-grandchildren, Dalton and Sydney; former wives, Carolina J. Bronson of Troy and Shirley A. Korn of Traverse City.
      He was preceded in death by two brothers, Harry and Henry Korn.
      A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2005. The time and place will be announced in a later edition of the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
      In remembrance of Bud, memorials may be directed to the Birchwood Nursing Center, Side A.
      Arrangements are being made by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home Traverse City.

Marshall Scott Pitcher
Died April 1, 2005
      GRAND RAPIDS - Marshall Scott Pitcher, 38, passed away suddenly Friday, April 1, 2005, in Grand Rapids. Scott was born in Traverse City April 5, 1966. He moved to the Grand Rapids area in 1969.
      Surviving Scott are his father, James Lee Pitcher and his companion, Karen Blackburn of Traverse City; his mother and step-father, Mary Kathleen and Allen Brown of Wyoming; his sister, Tracey Shannon of Grand Rapids; two nieces, Madison and Emily; his companion, Gregory Squire-Mills; and in the Traverse City area, several aunts, uncles and cousins, including his loving cousin, William Seeley.
      The family will receive friends Friday evening, April 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Grand Rapids.
      Scott's final resting place will be in Traverse City.
      Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Mary's McAuley Health Center, 245 Cherry St. SE, Ste. 306, Grand Rapids, MI 49506.
      The family is being served by Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Service, 4291 Cascade Rd. SE at Kenmoor, east of I-96, Grand Rapids.

Hiram Albert Tharp
Died April 4, 2005
      TRAVERSE CITY - Hiram Albert Tharp, 87, patriarch of the Tharp family and cherished father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend, died Monday April 4, 2005, at Munson Medical Center.
      One of nine children, Hiram was born Sept. 16, 1917, to Clara (Shorter) and Elkanah Bard Tharp. He grew from humble beginnings on the Keystone homestead to be a lifelong resident of Traverse City. Hiram married Garnet Fuller Erickson in 1958, and she preceded him in death on May 10, 2003.
      A veteran, Hiram served in the U.S. Army during World War II, marching across the desert of North Africa, through Sicily, Italy, and finally to the Poe Valley. He was a member of the American Legion and enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends.
      Following his service to our country, Hiram became employed by and retired from the Pennsylvania Railroad.
      The family poet and story teller, Hiram was wise beyond formal education and was a mentor and friend to many. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.
      Survivors include his son, Thomas Tharp of Traverse City; his step-children, Jack Erickson of Traverse City and Sally (Chris) Craig of Douglas; his grandchildren, Justin Guy Erickson of Arizona, Jennifer Alise Erickson and Ashlee Elaine Erickson; and his great-granddaughter, Delainey Nickerson, whom he affectionately called "Danny." Also surviving is his former daughter-in-law and friend, Beccy Erickson.
      In addition to his wife, Hiram was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings.
      Visitation will take place at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home on Thursday, April 7, from 1 until 3 p.m., at which time services will be held The Rev. Peter Semeyn will officiate, and military honors will be afforded by the Honor Guard of V.F.W. Cherryland Post 2780. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association, or to a college fund for his great-granddaughter, Delainey. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.