16 Wednesday, June 6, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com
In Loving Memory
of Dr. Christopher
David Myatt:
Dr. Christopher
David Myatt of San
Antonio, TX, beloved
father, husband,
brother and uncle to
many and cherished
friend to all, depart-
ed from this world
on May 17, 2024,
after a long and cou-
rageous battle with
cancer.
Born in Battle
Creek, Michigan, on February 19, 1967, Chris
was the beloved son of William Myatt and Mary
Jo Andersen Myatt. He was married to Rebecca
Hole from 1993-2006 and they had two beautiful
daughters, Lily and Lauren, who brought Chris
immense joy and pride. On February 3, 2023,
Chris married the love of his life, Trish Kierstead,
and they began the happiest chapter of his life
together.
Chris was an alumnus of Battle Creek Lakeview
High School, graduating with the class of 1985.
He continued his education at Michigan State
University, where he earned his degree in veteri-
nary medicine in 1993, marking the beginning
of a lifelong dedication of caring for animals.
Chris lived and practiced veterinary medicine in
Boyne City, MI, and Washington, D.C., Maryland
before settling in San Antonio, Texas for the
past 26 years. Ultimately, Chris ventured into
entrepreneurship, investing in the Great Clips
franchise, and opening four successful stores
in the San Antonio area. His dedication to his
business endeared him to the community and he
enjoyed managing his stores until his retirement
in December 2021.
After retirement, Chris and Trish enjoyed travel-
ing and seeing new places together. Just in thelast year, they explored Cancun, Cozumel, Turks
n Caicos, Dominican Republic, several exotic
Caribbean trips and Houghton Lake, Michigan – a
cherished family tradition spanning four genera-
tions. Chris especially enjoyed the camaraderie
and competition of fishing on Houghton Lake with
his brothers, along with spending time with his
family. He also enjoyed boating, hiking, bicycling
and swimming. Chris spent three decades raising
and caring for his favorite Rhodesian Ridgeback
pets. He imparted his love and compassion for
animals to his daughters, Lily and Lauren, ensur-
ing that his legacy of caring for creatures great
and small would endure. Additionally, he shared
his musical talents with his daughters, and his
accomplishments on the piano enriched the lives
of all who knew him.
Chris is survived by his loving wife, Trish;
daughters Lily (JT) Edwards, Lauren Myatt; step-
daughter Tiffani Kierstead; siblings Anna (Bill)
Myatt/Verhulst of McKinney,Texas, Ben (Debby)
Myatt of Battle Creek, MI, Jason (Katie) Myatt of
University Park, Texas; sister-in-law Pam Myatt
of Kalamazoo, MI; nieces and nephews Alexandra
(Erik) De Sousa, Taylor Smith Behmard, Jake
(Bryanna) Smith, Joanna, Rebecca, Mason,
Andersen and Henry Myatt; four grandnieces and
nephews; many cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents,
William and Mary Jo Myatt, and his brother
Michael Myatt.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the
American Cancer Society or the Humane Society
of Battle Creek or San Antonio.
Though his physical presence may be gone,
Chris leaves behind a legacy of love and compas-
sion that will continue to uplift those who were
fortunate enough to know him. May he rest in
eternal peace, surrounded by the love and warmth
he so freely shared with the world.
The family held a private service for Christopher.
http://www.SunsetNorthFuneralHome.comMitchell Dean
Hess, 64, of Battle
Creek, Michigan,
passed away
Wednesday, May 29,
2024, at home. He
was born January
8, 1960, the son of
Terry Hess and Kay
(Newburn) Brown.
Mitch graduated
from Athens High
School with the
Class of 1979. He
was a former mem-
ber of the Corvette Club and lifetime member of
the NRA. Mitch was an avid fisherman and loved
to fish with his grandchildren. He enjoyed riding
his motorcycle, spending time at the lake, working
on cars, collecting guns and spoiling every dog
he came in contact with. Above everything else,
however, his family was his main priority, making
memories through the years. He will be greatly
missed by his family, friends and all those that
knew him.
Mitch is survived by his daughters, Melissa
(Adam) Gregory, Dawn (Eric) Thompson, and
their mother, Donna; grandchildren Natilly, Nicole,
Ethan, Katie, Xander, Lennon, Brennan, Keegan,
Jennah, Jordan, Abby, Alice; brother Terry Hess;
sister Dionna Fritz.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife
Joy; and brother Philip Hess.
Visitation was held at Baxter Funeral &
Cremation Service on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, from
5-7 p.m. A funeral service was held at Baxter
Funeral & Cremation Service on Wednesday, June
5, 2024, at 11 a.m.
Interment took place at Memorial Park
Cemetery in Battle Creek.
Arrangements entrusted to the Baxter Funeral
& Cremation Service, 269-788-9800. http://www.baxter-
funeral.comVicki Jean
Kewley passed
away at Bronson
Methodist Hospital
in Kalamazoo on
May 29, 2024, at the
age of 77.
Vicki was pre-
ceded in death by
her father, Clifford
Duane Iden; and
mother, Minerva
Louise Iden.She is survived by her partner, John Ritter; and
son, Clinton A. (Lois) Campbell.
Vicki was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, and
enjoyed her pets and spending time fishing and
skiing on Waubascon Lake, where she lived for
more than 55 years.
At this time, cremation has taken place, and no
services are being held.
Arrangements entrusted to the Baxter Funeral
& Cremation Service; 269-788-9800/www.baxter-
funeral.com.Ernest Jack
Hubbard, Jr. passed
away Sunday, May
26, 2024. His wife
of 54 years, Frances
Ann Hubbard
(Noble), was by his
side.
Surviving are his
wife, Fran; sons
Anthony J. Hubbard
(Kay) of Richland,
MI, and Jeffrey A.
Hubbard (Sandi
McMillin) of Saint
Charles, MO; grand-
children Erika, Nathan, William, Olivia and Sophia;
siblings Dennis Hubbard (Shirley), Linda Howard
(Michael), Gary Hubbard (Dodie), Ted Hubbard
(Lori), Venna Willemsen (Tim); and sister-in-law
Marilyn Hubbard.
He was preceded in death by his mother,
Vendela Hubbard; father Ernest Hubbard, Sr.; and
brother Christopher Hubbard.
Jack was born at Percy Jones Hospital on
July 4, 1947. He attended Prairieview Elementary
School, Highland Jr. High, and was a 1965 gradu-
ate of Lakeview High School, where he was a
manager of the football team. Jack was always
proud to be part of the first freshman class to
go through the Lakeview High School building
built in 1961. Jack began work at the Battle Creek
Federal Center in 1966, where he became knownto his co-workers as Ernie. He met his wife, Fran,
through mutual friends in the summer of 1969.
Jack and Fran were married February 14, 1970,
at Lakeview Baptist Church. Jack (Ernie) retired
from the Federal Center/DOD after 36-1/2 years of
service in 2003.
Jack loved traveling, typically preferring road
trips, showing his family that the journey was
often as fun as the destination. His favorite
destinations were Florida (mainly Disney) and
Mackinaw City. He coached both of his sons’ Little
League baseball teams and continued to support
their activities throughout high school. He served
as part of the sideline chain crew for Lakeview
High School football and was a member of the
boosters club. Most of all, Jack was a loving and
devoted father and grandfather and made every
effort to always be there for everything. He was
known as someone people could depend on, par-
ticularly when it came time for a move. He will be
missed dearly by his family.
Funeral services were held at Farley Estes
Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed Care, Battle
Creek, on Monday, June 3, 2024. The service was
recorded and may be viewed at https://vimeo.com/
event/4339907.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a
donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation (https://
http://www.michaeljfox.org/).
Personal messages for the family and special
memories may be placed at http://www.farleyestes-
dowdle.com.Jack Dennis
Healy, 76, passed
away peacefully
on May 30, 2024,
at Kairos Dwelling
Place in Kalamazoo
after an eight-month
battle with cancer.
Jack was born
December 8, 1947,
in Philadelphia, PA,
to George Walter
Healy and Elaine
Marie (Hodges)
Healy. He lived
in Springfield for most of his life, graduating
from Springfield High School in 1965. A Navy
veteran, he subsequently worked at the Veterans
Administration Medical Center as a Psychiatric
Nursing Assistant for many years and retired in
2005 with 32 years of service. For most of his
time working at the VA and for many years after
his retirement, he created monthly bulletin board
calendars for the PTSD unit he worked at. He was
presented with a volunteer award in 2016, recog-
nizing his efforts in this regard.
Jack was a strong advocate for the Binder Park
Zoo, and spent much of his time after retirement
there, often opening the gate at 9 a.m. He enjoyed
walking through the zoo, which he did daily, and
promoted attendance at the zoo often in the com-
munity. Meeting someone for the first time, Jack
would invariably tell them he would “See you at
the zoo!” Proficient in the use of American Sign
Language (ASL), Jack had been known to urge
hearing challenged people to enjoy the zoo as
well.
Jack is survived by his brother, George W.
“Sandy” Healy II (Susan); nephew James “Jamie”
(Darlene) Healy; niece Kathleen “Katie” (Bill)
Delaney; cousins Michael (Sandra) Braham,
Pamela Braham, Colleen Healy (Rick) Heaverly;
grandnephews Garrett (Yelin) Healy and Brendan
Healy; and many other cousins and second cous-
ins. Jack is also survived by long-time special
friends Valerie Quinn, and Paul and Kim Bessler.
Jack was predeceased by his parents, grandpar-
ents and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
The family will receive friends on Sunday,
June 9, 2024, from 2-4 p.m. at Richard A. Henry
Funeral Home & Cremation Services. A graveside
service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11,
2024, at Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may
be made in Jack’s memory to Binder Park Zoo.
Memories and condolences may be left for the
family at
http://www.henry-
funeralhome.
org.Give a memorial that can go on forever...
A gift to the Battle Creek Community Foundation is used to
help fund activities in Battle Creek and throughout Calhoun
County in the name of the person you designate.
Call (269) 962-2181 or go to http://www.bcfoundation.org
for more information.