All Obituaries

“Marvelous Marv” Marvin Jason Day, 75, of Gaylord, passed away Sunday, April 18, 2021 at home. Born in Kalkaska on March 6, 1946, he was the son of Carl and Gladys (Tink) Day. For many years, Marvin lived in Kalkaska before moving to Gaylord. He worked in Gaylord for Champion/Plywood/Georgia Pacific for 37 years until retiring in 2006. Marvin was an avid hunter and fisherman. He also loved to watch and listen to the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions games. He was a terrific...

Gordon Ray McCrary, 77, of Charlevoix, passed away peacefully on Sunday  April 18, 2021.  He was born on August 29, 1943 in Brimley, MI, the son of Marlin and Marguerite (Cartmill) McCrary. Gordon enjoyed fishing, hunting, and was a hard-working man.  He worked from 1974 to 1999 for the City of Charlevoix where he made many lasting impressions on the folks he worked with.  He will be deeply missed by many. Gordon is survived by his daughter, Ramona (Calvin) Olson of...

Theresa W. VanStedum, aged, 94, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, April 17, 2021. She was preceded in death by her husband Fred; son, Tim; and grandson, Greg. She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Judy and John Kooyer, Grace and Tim Charbonneau, Rick and Barb VanStedum, Jerry and Janet VanStedum, Jean and Paul Timmons, and Tom and Sandy VanStedum;15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson with another arriving in August 2021; brother, Harold and...

Helen Marie Bates Stewart, 93, passed away at her home on April 17th, 2021, in Bellaire, Michigan. Helen was born July 26, 1927, on the family farm which her great grandfather, Vrelon Bates, had purchased in Scio Township. She was the sixth of seven children of Henry Carl Bates and Ruby Estella (Ott) Bates. Helen grew up in Dexter and graduated from Dexter High School in 1944, after which she worked making walkie-talkies for the WWII war effort to fund her college education. She graduated...

Gerrit L. Elzinga, age 92 of Charlevoix passed away on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at The Brook Retirement Home of Boyne City.  Gerrit was born on October 17, 1928 in Charlevoix to Harry and Esther (Beattie) Elzinga and he lived most of his life in the Charlevoix area.  His wife, Ethel (Bost) Elzinga, preceded him in death in July 2012 and his infant son, Gary in 1954.  He is also preceded in death by several siblings, including his sister Rose Elzinga in 2016.  Gerrit, a...

Junior B. Cantrell,  90, of Mancelona, passed away on April 10, 2021 at Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility.    Junior was born on February 20, 1931, in Mancelona Township, the son of Alvah and Electa (Henderson) Cantrell.    He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951-1959 where he was honorably discharged as an A/1C.   He employed at Dura in Mancelona for many years before retiring in 1994 and enjoyed camping, baseball, NASCAR and walking.    On...

Timothy Jay Buffman, 51, a lifelong resident of Central Lake, died peacefully, Friday, April 9, 2021 at home.     He was born April 18, 1969 in Petoskey, the son of Gary and Janice (Gibbard) Buffman and graduated in 1987 from Central Lake High School.  He went on to Grand Valley State University for several years before coming home to work in the family business, Buffman and Sons Excavating.    Tim was a friend to all.  He had an amazing voice and could...

Marvin passed away peacefully on April 9, 2021 at home with his beloved wife Betsy at his side.  He is with his Lord and Savior now. Marv was born on October 19, 1932 to Harry and Celestia Batterbee, one of eleven children.  Marv was employed for many years in the tool and die trade as well as farming.  He was a longtime resident of Mancelona. He was married to Elizabeth (Betsy) Derrer on November 9, 1974.  He was a great outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing, and...

Condit Bailey Drury, 86, of Charlevoix passed away peacefully on April 8, 2021 surrounded by his loving family.  Friends knew him as “Connie.” He was born on February 13, 1935 in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.  The son of Wallace and Catherine (Randolph) Drury.  Connie attended Campbellsville College in Kentucky, played on a baseball scholarship and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Education.  Following college, he had a brief stint playing semi-pro baseball with the...

Jarl (Pete) Alexander Pontti, 80, of Mancelona, passed away at the Villa at Traverse Point in Traverse City on April 7, 2021.   He was born in Detroit, Michigan to the late Judila and Jarl Pontti, but was raised and spent his childhood in Lansing. On September 24, 1966, he married Cynthia Grant, his wife of 54 years, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lansing.  Most of their married life was spent in Mancelona where he taught school and they raised their three children. Jarl...