http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Thursday, June 27, 2024 19
Bruce Eno
Milnes, 86,
beloved husband,
father, pappy,
brother, passed
away on June 15,
2024, at home,
with his family by
his side. He was
born March 16,
1938, in Lansing,
Mich., to Forrest
and Mabel
(Sever) Milnes.
Bruce’s father passed away in 1942.
Mabel married Dorian Baggerly in 1948.
After graduating from Battle Creek
Central High School in 1956, he met and
married Darla Ughetti on October 19,
- They celebrated 66 years together
and raised their two sons.
Bruce dedicated 35 years of his life
to working at Clark Equipment in Battle
Creek and in Lexington, Ky., where he
retired. Prior to his career at Clark, Bruce
served in the United States Air National
Guard as a military police officer. Outside
of work, Bruce had a passion for coach-
ing Little League baseball for his son and
grandson for many years. He also was
an avid fan of following his grandchil-
dren and great-grandchildren’s sporting
events. Bruce was active in the American
Bowling Assoc. from 1960 until 2020. He
served as one of the past presidents for
the league and was very instrumental in
starting Bantom and Junior bowlers’ pro-
grams in Battle Creek, teaching children
and teens proper techniques of bowling.
He was inducted into the BCUSBC Hall
of Fame in 1987. Bruce was also very
involved in the Clark Credit Union/Omni
Credit Union; he served on their board for
many years. He was an avid NASCAR fan
and MSU football fan. “Pappy” enjoyed
taking his great-granddaughters to get
Coke slushies. He loved buying them
slushies so much that just before he
passed away, he bought a slushy machine
for them.
Bruce leaves behind a loving family and
cherished friends. He is survived by his
wife, Darla; sons, Bruce (Krista) Milnes II
of Battle Creek, Mich., Jeffrey (Bridgette)
Milnes of Caledonia, Mich.; grandchildren,
Bruce (Trae) Milnes III, Hanna (Kale)
Alexander and Clay Milnes; great-grand-
children, Addisyn, Aubree, Harper, Gage
and Sawyer; they brought much joy to his
life; brothers and sister, Forrest (Scharlet)
Milnes, Jayne (Ron) Cook, Jim (Pat)
Baggerly; and many nieces and neph-
ews; and special cousin, Charles (Sue)
Baggerly.
Bruce was preceded in death by his
parents.
Bruce will be deeply missed by all who
knew him. His dedication to his family and
friends serves as a testament to the kind-
hearted person he was.
There will be no services or celebration
of life at the request of Bruce and Darla
until they are both together again.
Arrangements were entrusted to Kempf
Family Funeral and Cremation Service
of Battle Creek. To view the obituary and
sign the online guestbook, or leave the
family condo-
lences, please
visit: https://www.
kempffuneral-
home.com.
There will be a joint celebration of life on
July 7 for James R. Taylor, who passed
away in 2023, and Yuvon F. Taylor, who
passed away in 2020.
Yuvon Fern “Blondie” Taylor, 94, passed
away on Nov. 2, 2020, in Dade City,
Florida. She was born July 15, 1926,
being the middle child of nine children of
Paul and Hattie (Blotter) Smith.
She was raised in the Coldwater/
Bronson area, where she met her hus-
band, James R. Taylor, who, at the time of
her death, survived her. Shortly after their
marriage on Sept. 1, 1946, they moved to
Springfield, Mich., for a short time before
they made their home in Bellevue, MI.
Yuvon was a hairdresser for a short
period of time, but mostly spent her life as
a homemaker. Upon Jim’s retirement in
1982, they moved to Dade City, FL. They
enjoyed many years of square dancing
several nights a week, where they made
many new friends!
At the time of her death, “Blondie” was
survived by four sons, James C. (Laurie)
Taylor of Bellevue, John P. (Marilyn)
Taylor of Battle Creek, who are both now
deceased; Jack W. (Bev) Taylor of Battle
Creek, and Joseph K. Taylor of Dade City,
Florida; nine grandchildren; 19 great-
grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grand-
children. She has one surviving sibling,
Thelma (George) Wonders of Bronson;
sister-in-law Loretta Smith of Quincy; and
many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her par-
ents and siblings Walter Smith, Pauline
Kentner, Marie Smith, John Smith, Mildred
Wilson, Leonard Smith and Alice German;
grandson James Carpenter Taylor; and
great-granddaughter Courtney Harold.
A celebration of her life will be held on
July 7, 2024, at Johnstown Township Hall,
13641 M-37 Hwy., Battle Creek, MI, from
2-5 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider mak-
ing a donation to Stoneridge Adult Foster
Care in Bellevue, MI.
James Rolland Taylor, 97, passed away
on November 21, 2023, in Bellevue, MI.
He was born September 25, 1926, in
Coldwater, MI, to Lewis Clare and Marilla
(Goss) Taylor.
Jim enlisted in the United States Navy,
serving as a “gunner” during World War
II, which resulted in a hearing impair-
ment from the loud noises of cannons
being fired at enemy territory. After
being discharged, Jim married Yuvon F.
(Blondie) Smith, and soon after moved to
Springfield, MI, for a few years and then
moved to Bellevue, MI.
He was employed by and retired from
the Eaton Corporation after 30 years in
- He also owned and operated a
gas station in Springfield for a short while
and a restaurant, Marshall Recreation, in
Marshall, MI. Jim always had a hard time
sitting still. He also bought, cut and sold
timber for many years aside from his full-
time employment at Eaton’s.
Upon retirement, Jim and Blondie
moved to Florida and settled in Dade City.
It was then that they acquired a renewed
love for square dancing, which they looked
forward to several nights a week for many
years! Jim soon started a small RV park,
which ended up being more work than
he’d intended, so he converted it to a flea
market. He also started his long-time
car sales business being “Old Timers Car
Sales,” which he found much enjoyment
in and ran this until spring of 2023, when
due to “not being what he used to be” dis-
solved the business.
Jim is survived by three sons, James
C. (Laurie) Taylor of Bellevue, Jack W.
(Bev) Taylor of Battle Creek, and Joseph
K. Taylor, also of Battle Creek; nine grand-
children; 19 great-grandchildren; and 12
great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law
Thelma and husband George Wonders of
Bronson, MI, and Loretta Smith of Quincy,
MI; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his par-
ents; wife of 74 years, Yuvon; brothers
Richard, Morris and Robert Taylor; sister
MaryAnn Lawton; son and daughter-in-law
John and Marilyn Taylor; grandson James
Carpenter Taylor; and great-granddaughter
Courtney Harold.
A celebration of life will be held for
Jim and Yuvon jointly on July 7, 2024, at
Johnstown Township Hall, 13641 M-
Hwy., Battle Creek, MI, from 2-5 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider mak-
ing a donation to Stoneridge Adult Foster
Care in Bellevue, MI.
Kathy Ann Tenney was born Aug. 28,
1965, and she died unexpectedly on June
21, 2024, in Coldwaer General Hospital.
She graduated from Harper Creek High
School.
She is survived by her life partner,
Michael Kerr; and mother Mary Tenney
and brother John Tenney, both from Battle
Creek, Michigan.
Jan “JD”
Martin Davis, 80,
of Battle Creek,
Michigan, passed
away on Sunday,
June 23, 2024, at
home, surround-
ed by his family.
He was born on
January 29, 1944,
the son of James
Martin Davis and
Marcella Lillian
(Danielson) Davis.
JD graduated from Decatur County High
School in Decatur County, Tennessee.
Following high school, he joined the
United States Air Force, serving and
receiving an honorable discharge. He
worked as an audio visual technician for
the U.S. Kennedy Space Center in Florida
and moved to Battle Creek, MI, where he
worked for Clark Equipment until 1985
and Kellogg Company until his retirement
in 2005.
He married Christine Harris on June 24,
1988, in Battle Creek, and the two have
spent the remaining 36 years together.
JD and Chris faithfully attended Nashville
Baptist Church in Nashville, MI.
JD is survived by his wife, Christine
(Harris) Davis; five children, Kimberley
(Timothy) Robbins, Stacey Yepez, Julie
(Aaron) Hinten, Jennie Edwards, Anthony
(Karolina) Edwards; grandchildren,
Jessica, Joshua, Jami, Alyssa, Caleb,
Jarod, Tyler, Emily, Isaac, Landon, Khloe,
Emma, Cameron; five great-grandchildren;
brother, Jim Davis; nieces and nephews,
Sandy, Mark, Steve, Julieanna; and a host
of many other nieces, nephews; special
camping and church friends.
He was preceded in death by his par-
ents; and brother Stephen Davis.
JD was an avid fisherman who loved to
spend time on the water, camping with his
wife, Chris, playing golf, cards and pool,
woodworking and taking apart electronics
just to put them back together. JD’s main
passion in life, however, was his ability
to teach his children and grandchildren
the skills he knew and to help anyone in
need.
Visitation will be held at the Baxter
Funeral & Cremation Service on Tuesday,
July 2, 2024, from noon to 1 p.m., with the
memorial service to follow at 1 p.m.
Interment will follow at Fort Custer
National Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to
the VA Medical Center in memory of JD.
Arrangements entrusted to the Baxter
Funeral & Cremation Service, 269-788-
Obituary Policy
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