14 Thursday, September 19, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com
BATTLE
CREEK
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Stacey Lott • Planning for blended and non-traditional families
Attorney at Law
269-963-8222 • http://www.staceylottlaw.com
130 East Columbia Ave., Battle Creek, MI 49015
William David
Boykin Sr ., 77,
of Battle Creek,
Mich., passed
away Saturday,
Sept. 7, 2024, at
Bronson Battle
Creek Hospital.
He was born
Sept. 29, 1946,
the son of
William Duncan Boykin and Betty June
Boykin.
Dave attended and graduated from
Kathleen High School in Lakeland,
Fla. Following high school in 1967, he
joined the United States Marine Corps
and honorably served 10 years before
his discharge in 1977. He worked for
the VA Medical Center in Battle Creek
and Evergreen Senior Care as a CNA
and had a deep passion for helping care
for others. He also worked for II Stanley
for many years.
Dave married Kathleen Lewis on July
3, 2005, and the two have spent the
remaining years together.
Dave is survived by his wife, Kathleen
(Lewis) Boykin; daughter Melisa (Brian
Lake Jr.) Boykin; son William D. Boykin
Jr.; grandchildren Kaleb (Tiffany) Lake,
Saphyre (Madelyn) Lake, Brianna
(Jacob) Lake, William Boykin III,Raymond Slagle; great-granddaughters
Raylynn and Marleigh; beloved fur com-
panion Mickey; sister Sherry Boykin;
sister-in-law Jackie Hotchkiss; nephews
Taylor (Angela) Boykin, James and
Christopher Hotchkiss; special friend
and neighbor Judy O’Connor; and his
best friend for 40+ years, Kevin (Phyllis)
Herr.
He was preceded in death by his par-
ents and brother Don Boykin.
Dave enjoyed taking care of his gar-
den and spending time on the water
fishing. His love for the outdoors start-
ed at a young age as an Eagle Scout
and found peace in camping. Dave told
the best stories, anything ranging from
his younger years to his war stories. He
was a devoted family man, and loved
to be active with his grandchildren
and great-grandchildren, taking them
wherever they needed to go. He will be
greatly missed by all those that knew
him and loved him.
A memorial service will be held at
Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service
on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at 11:
a.m. Full military honors and interment
will take place at Fort Custer National
Cemetery following the service.
Arrangements by Baxter Funeral &
Cremation Service. 269-788-9800.
http://www.baxterfuneral.comBeth Ann
Brininstool, 63,
of Battle Creek,
Mich., passed
away Friday,
Sept. 6, 2024,
at Sparrow
Hospital in
Lansing, Mich.
She was born
March 5, 1961,
in Red Bank, N.J., the daughter of
Robert Lee Byrd, Sr. and Lois Jean
(Midlam) Byrd.
In her youth, Beth discovered the
joys of nurturing others, a passion that
was evident in the countless hours she
spent babysitting. This early dedication
to caring for those around her blos-
somed into a lifetime of loving relation-
ships, especially with her dear family.
The bonds she formed were the cor-
nerstone of her life, and the time spent
with her loved ones was her most trea-
sured possession.
A particularly beautiful chapter of
Beth’s life began on Sept. 2, 2002,
when she married the love of her life,
Steve Brininstool, in Delton, Mich. The
union was a testament to her unwav-
ering capacity to love and be loved,
and together they built a life filled with
mutual respect, laughter and an abun-
dance of caring.
Those who knew Beth will remember
her as the epitome of what it means
to be loving, kind and thoughtful. She
navigated life with a gentle strength,
and her absence leaves a void that willbe felt deeply by all. Yet, we take com-
fort in knowing that her legacy lives
on through the lives she touched, the
family she adored, and the memories
that will continue to inspire kindness in
others.
Beth’s interests were as warm and
inviting as her personality. She found
solace and joy in the rhythmic dance
of her crochet hooks, creating beauti-
ful works that were as much a part of
her as her generous spirit. Her love for
the vibrant panels of comics and the
rugged charm of Western movies pro-
vided a window into the rich tapestry
of storytelling that she adored. Equally,
the great outdoors called to her, with
camping trips and picnics offering
a backdrop for memorable family
moments under the open sky.
She is survived by her husband,
Steve; father, Robert (Leslie) Byrd, Sr.;
siblings Liza (Toby) Walling and John
(April) Byrd; two nieces; two nephews;
and three grandnephews.
She was preceded in death by her
mother, Lois Byrd; infant son, Jason
Michael Byrd; and her brother Robert
Byrd, Jr.
Visitation will be held at Bachman
Hebble Funeral Service on Thursday,
Sept. 19, 2024, from 1:30-3 p.m., with
a memorial service to immediately fol-
low at 3 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to
the family for funeral expenses.
Arrangements by Bachman Hebble
Funeral Service. (269) 965-5145/www.
bachmanhebble.comJeanne
Marie (nee
Whitworth)
Ford of Battle
Creek, Mich.,
the beloved
wife of Randy
W. Ford, dear
mother of
Amanda J.
(David) Merk
(nee Hughes), sweet grandmother
of Dacodis B. Hughes, step-grand-
mother of 10, sister of Kenneth
(Charlene) Hughes, James (Patsy)
Whitworth, Alan (Cindy) Whitworth
and Robert Whitworth, and loved by
many cousins, nephews and nieces,died Tuesday Sept. 10, 2024, at
home.
Friends may call at our
Celebration of Life, 11 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Rhema
Word Outreach Church, 21342
Capital Ave. NE, Battle Creek MI
49017, with Pastor Cheryl Jones
officiating.
Donations can be made to
Recovery Services Unlimited, 2150
Columbia West, Battle Creek, MI
49015.
Arrangements by Farley Estes
Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation
Care. Personal messages for the
family may be placed at http://www.far-
leyestesdowdle.com.Obituaries
BATTLE
CREEK