18 Thursday, June 27, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com
David
Lawrence Cook,
86, of Battle
Creek, passed
away peace-
fully on Tuesday,
June 18, 2024,
in Battle Creek,
Michigan.
David was born
April 8, 1938, to
Kenneth G and
Mary M. (Riski)
Cook in Homer,
Michigan. His family moved to Marshall in
1945, he attended school in Marshall and
graduated from Marshall High School in
- Following high school, he honorably
served in the United States Coast Guard
from 1958 until 1967.
David had numerous jobs in the area,
gathering expertise in many fields, but his
true passions were building and farming.
He became a master carpenter and used
these skills to build three family homes.
In 1968, he continued to follow his pas-
sion to run a dairy farm, inspired by his
early working days with Neil Shaffer. His
family moved to Battle Creek in 1974. He
was also a valuable skilled tradesman at
Kraft Foods until he retired in 1997. Even
though the farm life was behind him, he
continued to have the best garden (sweet
corn) in Calhoun County. For many years
David and his wife, Ginny, enjoyed camp-
ing at local campgrounds. Always seeking
adventures, they traveled to many destina-
tions. One of their camping highlights was
exploring multiple states, visiting family in
Texas and California. Their beloved dog,
Maggie, enjoyed the journey, too. David’s
love of nature was endless. Being a his-
tory buff, he and his family explored, the
Deep South, the East Coast, and abroad
to the British Isles. His enthusiasm for
knowledge and adventure was limitless.
David was active in his community;
he was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic
Church and the Knights of Columbus.
For many years he enjoyed volunteering
for the Knights’ annual Lenten fish fry.
He was involved with his son, Neil’s, Boy
Scout troop, teaching skills, chaperon-
ing and mentoring. He was a member of
Marshall’s Moose Lodge.
David is survived by his loving spouse of
28 years, Virginia “Ginny” Warman, Mahrle
Cook; former wives, Nancy Moore Gallant,
and their children, Craig (Chris) Cook
of Battle Creek, MI, Kirk (Anita) Cook
of Ceresco, MI, Carrie (Mick) Haley of
Austin, TX, and Rita LaLonde Green, and
their son, Neil Cook of Battle Creek, MI;
three stepchildren, Timothy (Sherrie) G.
Mahrle of Marshall, MI, Gregory Mahrle of
Traverse City, MI, and Julie Bowers (Jason
Roberts) of Marshall, MI; grandchildren
Hunter, Halie, Ava, Carter, Christopher,
Elizabeth, Emily, Sarah, Sadie, Sophia,
Jacob and Matthew; great-grandchildren
Harley, Hazel, Kinzley, Cohan, Emma,
Allison, Eloise, Sylvia and James; four sib-
lings, Donald Cook of Marshall MI, Dennis
Cook of Marshall, MI, Douglas (Susan)
Cook of Homer, MI, and sister, Doreen
(Robert) Misener of Marshall, MI; numer-
ous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by parents
Kenneth G. and Mary M. Cook; stepson
Terry J. Mahrle; and siblings Duane Cook,
Daniel Cook; and sister-in-law Eileen
Cook.
A visitation was held Monday, June 24,
2024, from 5-8 p.m., with a 7:30 p.m. Vigil
at Kempf Family Funeral & Cremation
Services, 723 US Hwy. 27 N., Marshall,
MI 49068.
The Funeral Mass was held Tuesday,
June 25, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary
Catholic Church, 212 W. Hanover St.,
Marshall, MI 49068, with Rev. Father
Craig Lusk officiating. The committal ser-
vice followed at Lyon Lake Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contribu-
tions are suggested to either Wilder Creek
Conservation Club, P.O. Box 21, Marshall,
MI 49068 or on their website at https://
wildercreekconservationclub.org/donate/;
or FFA Marshall Chapter “Dairy Cows.”
Envelopes will be available at the funeral
home.
Please visit http://www.kempffuneralhome.
com to view the
online obituary,
to sign the online
guestbook or to
leave the family
condolences.Judy C. (Messenger-Anderson)
Mackinder, daughter of Burton H. and
Grace A. (Henry) Messenger-Schukman,
passed away on June 11, 2024. She
was born February 5, 1940, in Pennfield
Township. Judy graduated from Pennfield
schools and was a business owner for
over 25 years in the Battle Creek area.
She is survived by a wonderful son
and daughter-in-law, Paul D. and Jackie
Anderson of Battle Creek; stepson Richard
L. (Laura) Mackinder, Jr. of Rosedale,
VA; brothers Dan and Jerry Messenger;
sister Della McClain; sisters-in-law
Leslie Messenger and Kathy Southern,
all of Battle Creek; sister-in-law Martha
Mackinder of Seffner, FL; four grand-
children; seven great-grandchildren; two
great-great-grandchildren; and several
very special nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her
husband, Richard L. Mackinder, Sr.; a
son, John A. Anderson; her parents; a
brother, Jim Messenger; sisters-in-law
Joan Messenger and Karen Messenger;
brother-in-law Ronnie McClain; David A.
Anderson, the father of their children;
granddaughter Sara; and stepsons Mike
Mackinder and Randy Mackinder.
Private family services have been held.
A burial will take place at a later date at
Fort Custer National Cemetery, where she
will be reunited with Richard, and they will
be together again.
Judy’s life will be celebrated on July 20,
2024, from 3-5 p.m. at the Sportsman’s
Club of Battle Creek, 22655 Clear Lake
Rd. N., Battle Creek, MI 49014. All friends
of Judy are invited to share how she
touched people’s lives.
Per her wishes, NO FLOWERS; NO
DONATIONS TO ANY CHARITYJudith M.
Reynolds of Sun
City West was
promoted to her
heavenly reward
on May 21, 2024.
Judy was
born in Battle
Creek, Michigan,
to Cecil and
Margaret Sivits
on October 17,- She gradu-
ated in 1964
from Penfield High School, where she
was a majorette. She traveled extensively
through the Midwest competing in “twirl-
ing” competitions. She became very
accustomed to bringing home trophies
and medals. After graduation, Judy taught
“twirling” to several young girls. Judy also
tried her hand at pageants, placing first
runner-up in the Miss Battle Creek pag-
eant.
Judy met her soulmate, William R
Reynolds, and they married on June 19, - In their early years, Bill worked at
the Kellogg Company while Judy was a
stay-at-home mom. They welcomed a
daughter, Heidi L. Stamkoff (Reynolds),
in 1966 and a son, William B. Reynolds,
in 1971. After the kids entered school
she worked at All- Tronic, Radiology
Consultants, and the Kellogg credit union
from which she retired after 16 years of
service.
For several years, Bill and Judy spent
their retirement between a home in
Colorado and one in Arizona. They loved
having their friends and family visit, espe-
cially in Colorado, to enjoy the magnificent
location.
She was a devoted member of Church
on the Green in Sun City, where she
was very involved in ministry. She was
president of women’s ministries, which
she truly poured her heart into. She also
worked in the kitchen for any and all
events. She was at the church weekly to
serve at the soup kitchen and monthly for
the “pow-wow” food giveaway program.
She was always willing to help wherever
needed.
Judy was always kind, with a smile on
her face, and she will be greatly missed
by so many.
She was preceded in death by her
husband, William R. Reynolds; mother
Margaret J. Sivits (Miller); father Cecil
Sivits; mother-in-law Lorraine A. Reynolds
(Kull); father-in-law William O. Reynolds;
and brother-in-law David O. Reynolds.
Her remaining loved ones are daughter
Heidi L. Stamkoff (Mike); son William B.
Reynolds (Carrie); granddaughters Chelsie
L. Jozwiak and Maelyn D. McKendrick;
grandsons Mitchell J. Holder, Brad N.
Reynolds and Jacob W. Reynolds. Also,
great-grandchildren Kinsey L. Jozwiak,
Ryder W. Jozwiak, Liam W. McKendrick
and Lyla M. McKendrick.Orville “Ray”
Smith, 78, of
Monterey, TN,
passed away
at his daughter
and son-in-law’s
home on Monday,
June 17, 2024.
Ray was born
September 17,
1945, to Orville
Chester and
Maudie Smith in
Battle Creek, MI.
He graduated from Battle Creek Central
where he met the love of his life, Sharon
Siddall.
Ray worked at Union Pump after
graduating until he was drafted in the U.S.
Army in 1965. After serving two years
between Vietnam and Washington, D.C.,
he returned and married Sharon on April
8, 1967. They bought a farm and started a
family, having one daughter, Michelle Lee.
He worked at Clark Equipment Company
for 22 years as an experimental machinist.
After Clark Equipment closed their doors,
he worked as a carpenter until retiring
in the early 2000s, when he and Sharon
left Battle Creek and moved to Monterey,
Tennessee.
Ray and Sharon were married for 45
wonderful years, doing everything together
on the farm. They loved going to car
shows, going on motorcycle rides and just
loving life. Ray loved golfing, motorcycle
rides, hot rods and restoring old cars,
including his 53 Mercury Monterey, 88
Thunderbird, and 62 F-100 pickup truck.
In his later years, Ray loved backporch sit-ting, dickering and dealing, tinkering, and
collecting, but most of all, he loved spend-
ing his time with friends and family. He
recently attended the monthly breakfast
meet-up with his former Clark’s alumni,
which he really enjoyed. Ray spent much
of his last few years with a very special
person whom he loved and kept him living
life, Ms. Marty Donnelly. Marty has been a
blessing to Ray and his family, being there
for him and them in any way she could.
Ray is survived by his only daughter,
Michelle (Matthew) McClelland; grandson
Casey (Rachel) McClelland; granddaugh-
ter Megan (Nick) Curtis; great-grandchil-
dren Scout, Brogan and Marley; sisters-
in-law Judy May Smith and Becky (Andy)
Kerr; brothers-in-law Dennis (Jan) Siddall
and Butch Hanna; many cousins, nieces
and nephews; and his girlfriend, Marty
Donnelly.
Ray was preceded in death by his wife
on June 5, 2012; his parents, O.C. and
Maudie Smith; and two brothers, Jack and
Ralph.
A celebration of life Ray’s life was held
Friday, June 21, at North Avenue Church
of God, with visitation from noon to 1 p.m.
A service followed, with Ray’s cousin Tony
Phipps of Tennessee officiating. A proces-
esion followed at Floral Lawn Memorial
Gardens.
Family and friends were invited to cel-
ebrate and remember Ray’s life with a
luncheon following the graveside service
back at the church.
Personal messages for Ray and his fam-
ily may be placed at farleyestesdowdle.
com.