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20 Thursday, June 20, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com

Zella M. Smith,

96, of Battle Creek,

passed away June

14, 2024, sur-

rounded by her fam-

ily. She was born

April 16, 1928, in

Leroy Township, the

daughter of Nile and

Nina (Katz) Eyre.

Zella attended

Bushnell and Blackett

Country Schools

and graduated from

Lakeview High School in 1946. She was employed

by H.B. Sherman, Hunter-Prell, Kellogg Company

and later retired from the Battle Creek Shopper

News.

Zella was united in marriage on Sept. 22, 1957,

to Richard A. Smith at Newton United Methodist

Church. He survives. Zella was a member at

Newton United Methodist Church and U.M.W. She

enjoyed crocheting, ceramics, flowers, gardening,

traveling on cruises, especially all the years spent

in Cancun, Mexico. Zella loved spending time with

her family, especially watching her grandson play-

ing football and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents;

brothers Clarence, twins Blaine and Wayne, Leo,

Royce, infant Dale; and sisters Cora Carey and

Marian Case.

Surviving are her daughter, Cheryl (Doug)

Wolfgang; grandson Matthew (Emily) Green;

great-grandchildren Rowan and Berkley Green;

several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Monday, June 24, 2024, at the Richard A. Henry

Funeral Home & Cremation Services, where the

family will receive friends one hour prior to the

service. Interment will follow the funeral service at

Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may

be made to Newton United Methodist Church.

Memories and condolences may be left for the

family at http://www.

henryfuneral-

home.org.

Mark Alan
Richmond, 45,
of Battle Creek,
Mich., passed
away unexpect-
edly on Monday,
May 27, 2024. He
was born May
19, 1979, the
son of Dwight
Lee Mathis and
Pamela Ann
(Richmond)
Mathis.
Mark was a proud Bearcat, attending
Battle Creek Central High School and
growing up on the south side of Battle
Creek. He was a hardworking, blue col-
lar man that could operate machinery, lay
concrete or fix anything that came his way.
Mark met the love of his life, Farah, on
March 24, 2000, and the two have spent
the remaining years together.
Mark is survived by his significant other,
Farah Mansfield; children, Mark Richmond
Jr., Kandra (Amiah Brainard) Richmond,
Amuar Kelly; mother, Pamela Mathis;
sisters, Jennifer Vincent, Sita Mathis;
grandmother Peggy Richmond; nieces and

nephews, Isaac Vincent, Kelsey Vincent,

Laigha Vincent, Haley Vincent, Nevin

Vincent; grandnephew, Liam Vincent;

grandniece, Arizona Rose Johnson, whom

he loved like his own; and best friend,

Tommy Wright.

He was preceded in death by his father,

Dwight Mathis.

Mark was an avid hunter and fisherman,

starting at 6 years old. He never missed

a season in 39 years with his grandfather

and great-grandfather. He also enjoyed

playing and watching sports. Mark loved

his family and friends and always took the

opportunity to irritate and agitate them. He

will be remembered as a man that loved

hard, would give anyone the shirt off his

back if needed, give you a good laugh and

was proud of being a provider to his chil-

dren and family.

Visitation was held at Baxter Funeral &

Cremation Service on Wednesday, June

19, 2024, from 11 a.m. to noon, with the

celebration of life service following at

noon.

Arrangements by Baxter Funeral &

Cremation Service. 269-788-9800. http://www.

baxterfuneral.com

Gladys Mae

Walters, 97, of

Battle Creek,

Mich., passed

away Friday, June

7, 2024. She was

born November

28, 1926, in

Battle Creek,

Mich., the daugh-

ter of Clyde and

Mable (Hoffman)

Walker.

Gladys grew

up on her parents’ farm by Nashville and

she grew to really love farm life. Gladys

worked for Kresge’s until their closing,

then retired from Kmart. She married

Duane Walters and that marriage ended in

divorce. Gladys loved country music and

going fishing with her son Duane.

She is survived by her son William

Walters of Hastings, Mich.; daughter-

in-law Carol Walters of Battle Creek,

Mich.; grandson Duane Walters III of

Battle Creek; great-step-granddaughter

Annabella Carr; and great-step-grandson

Typhon Alves Beronja.

She was preceded in death by her

parents; ex-husband Duane Walters;

son Duane Walters Jr.; daughter-in-law

Mil’Anne Walters; grandson David Walters;

step-granddaughter Shelby Carr; step-

grandson Stephen Beronja; and her sister,

Barbara Probst.

Per Gladys’ wishes, cremation has taken

place and no formal services will be held.

Arrangements by Bachman Hebble

Funeral Service; (269) 965-5145.

Priscilla Mae

Williams, 92,

of Battle Creek,

Michigan, went

to be with the

Lord on Sunday,

June 9, 2024,

at Bronson

Methodist

Hospital. She

was born August

7, 1931, the

daughter of John

Oesch and Dorothy (Howard) Oesch.

Priscilla was a 1949 graduate of Battle

Creek Central High School. She married

Frank Williams in July 1953 and they had

two sons. She was employed at Michigan

Bell, and Vision Services in Battle Creek

until retiring. She was a member of North

Avenue Church of God, where she sang

in the choir and was a Sunday school

teacher.

Priscilla is survived by her sons, Gary

Williams and Kim (Artis Fast) Williams;

grandchildren Amy (Troy) Henson, Jessica

Williams, John (Brandie) Williams, Brian

(Carter Johnson) Williams, Mackenzie

(Shane) O’neil, Mallory (Shane) Miller and

Megan (Forrestt) Walbeck; great-grandchil-

dren Lacie Williams, Levi O’neil, Addison

O’neil, Mason Miller, Blake Miller, Leona

Walbeck and Quinn Walbeck.

She was preceded in death by her par-

ents; her husband, Frank Edward Williams;

and brother John Oesch.

Priscilla enjoyed crocheting, knitting

and loved spending time with her family,

especially her grandchildren and great-

grandchildren. She loved going to their

activities.

A memorial service will be held at a

later date.

Interment will take place in Floral Lawn

Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to North

Avenue Church of God.

Arrangements by Baxter Funeral &

Cremation Service; 269-788-9800/www.

baxterfuneral.com.

FUNERAL ETIQUETTE

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP LATER?

In the days and months to come, the family will

continue to need your support. Try to write or call

on a regular basis. Continue to include them in your

social plans, they will let you know when they are

ready to participate. It is also nice to remember the

family on special occasions during the first year

following the death. Don’t worry about bringing up

the pain and emotion of the loss, they are well aware

of that. By remembering such occasions as wedding

anniversaries and birthdays, you are not remembering

the death, but reaffirming that a life was lived.

Source: Thefuneralsource.org

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