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http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Thursday, August 15, 2024 21

Carol Dianne

Ferguson, 80,

of Battle Creek,

Michigan,

passed away

Friday, August 2,

2024, at home,

surrounded by

her loving fam-

ily.

She was born

July 30, 1944, to Fred and Opal (Lowe)

Shoemaker in Adrian, Michigan.

Carol was a 1962 graduate of Marshall

High School and then attended Kellogg

Community College. Prior to being

employed for 15-plus years as an

accounts payable clerk at Guardian

Fiberglass in Albion. Before that, she

especially enjoyed waiting tables at

Russ’ in Battle Creek, where she also

met her husband, Keith. Carol also

took pride in being a representative for

Tupperware and Mary Kay Cosmetics.

She was a lover of dogs and leaves

behind her beloved Chewy Louie.

Walking on the beach and feeling the

sand between her toes was a favorite

way to spend a vacation, along with

traveling throughout Michigan with

her husband and family in their RV. In

her younger years, Carol loved play-

ing tennis and bowling, both of which

she excelled at. She enjoyed watching

sports, but most of all, sitting in the

stands and cheering on her children as

they played baseball, softball, basketball

and football. Carol will be truly missed

for her long conversations, and her abil-

ity to always stay involved with not just

close family, but extended family and

many friends, as well.

Carol is survived by her loving son,

Derek (Darcy) Williamson of Battle

Creek, Michigan; her granddaughters,

Kayla Jewell of Battle Creek, Michigan,

and Kelsey (Derek) Link of Kalamazoo,

Michigan; her step-granddaughter,

Megan (Coy) Reynolds of Texas; her

sister, Sue Mae Cook of Arizona; and

her brother, Chris Edward Shoemaker

of Montgomery, Michigan. She is also

survived by numerous nieces and neph-

ews, including special niece Karla (Tim)

Crall of Arizona. She is also survived by

several aunts, uncles, cousins and dear

friends.

She was preceded in death by her

parents; her daughter, Tracy Williamson;

her husband, Keith Ferguson; and her

brother, Fred J. Shoemaker, Jr.

A private graveside funeral service

at Battle Creek Memorial Park will take

place at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be

directed to the Humane Society of South

Central Michigan, 2500 Watkins Road,

Battle Creek, MI 49015.

Arrangements were entrusted to

Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation

Services, 723 US Hwy. 27 N., Marshall,

MI 49068. Visit http://www.kempffuneral-

home.com to view the online obituary,

sign the guest-

book or leave

the family con-

dolences.

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

Dr. Howard
Lewis Ely, DDS,
88, of Battle
Creek, Michigan,
died peacefully
Tuesday, July
30, 2024, at
Marshall Villa
in Marshall,
Michigan.
Howard was
born February
29, 1936, in
Villa Grove,
Illinois, the son
of Everett James
and Marjorie
Ruth (Lewis)
Ely. He grew up
in Villa Grove
and moved to
Danville, Illinois,
his senior year,
graduating from Danville High School.
Howard attended Eastern Illinois
University.
Howard Lewis Ely and Patricia Belton
were united in marriage in May 1959
in Danville, Ill. Howard enlisted in the
U.S. Air Force and spent most of his
service at Rhein-Main Air Force Base
in Frankfurt Air Force Base in Germany
with Patricia. While serving in the U.S.
Air Force Medical Corps, Howard was
introduced to dental practices and
encouraged to follow that path in life.
He received his undergraduate degree
from Eastern Illinois University and went
on to graduate at the top of his class
with honors from Loyola University in
Chicago, earning his doctorate and the
class Pediatric Award. Howard moved
to Battle Creek in 1968 and opened and
operated his dental office until retiring
at age 72.
He was formerly married to Patricia

Belton. Surviving are their three sons,

Eric K. (Teresa) Ely of Marshall, Michael

H. (Cheryl) Ely of Battle Creek, Mark A.

(Leann) Ely of Kalamazoo; five grand-

children, Ethan J. Ely, Kelsey M. Ely,

Samantha L. Ely, Loren E. Ely, Kamryn

C. Ely; special friend Marcia Ambs of

Battle Creek; and a cousin and several

nieces and nephews and their families.

Howard was preceded in death by his

parents; a daughter, Jennifer Lynn Ely

on December 17, 1988; and a sister

and brother-in-law, Virginia and Willard

Berger.

Howard was a former member of First

Presbyterian Church in Battle Creek.

During high school he played basketball

and had the nickname “Hoop.” More

recently he was called “Doc.” He loved

Outlaw Sprint Cars, motor sports and

aviation. He was a hard worker with

mechanical abilities, a jack of all trades

willing to start any project, sometimes

finishing with the help of his son(s).

He enjoyed long hours at the office,

hard physical work, using his chainsaw,

mowing the yard and numerous other

projects. Howard will be remembered

for his firm grip and caring nature.

He was close with many of his dental

patients and known for his calming

chairside disposition.

Friends were received 5-7 p.m. Friday,

August 9, 2027, at Farley Estes Dowdle

Funeral Cremation Preneed Care. A

graveside service to celebrate Howard’s

life was officiated by Pastor Jon

Brashear at Jordan/Fairland Cemetery,

Villa Grove, Illinois, at 2 p.m. Saturday,

August 10, 2024, where he was laid to

rest next to his daughter, Jennifer, and

where the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard

provided military honors.

Personal messages for the family may

be placed at http://www.farleyestesdowdle.

com.

Sandra

Lee Hiatt,

84, of Athens

Township,

passed away

Wednesday,

August 7, 2024,

at her home

under hospice

care.

In keep-

ing with Sandra’s wishes, she will

be cremated and no formal services

will be held at this time. The family is

being served by Lighthouse Funeral &

Cremation in Union City.

Memorial contributions may be direct-

ed to VFW #5319 Auxiliary, P.O. Box 61,

Athens, MI 49011.

Please visit http://www.lighthousefuneral.

com to share memories, pictures and

videos with the family.