Battle Creek Enquirer from Battle Creek, Michigan • Page 4

LOCALSTATE 4A July 15. 1997 Battle Creek Enquirer 'Jet SM' laws are on the way I'll- a ASSOCIATED PRESS A pair of raters on personal watercraft cruise outside a swimming area on Lake Lansing near Haslett on Monday. Legislators are looking to regulate the popular "jet certification program implemented with a driving test so personal water-craft users have a proven ability to operate watercraft, whether they ride their own or rent "You think Avis or Hertz is going to say, 'Here's our car, go ahead and take Visitation: 6 to 9 p.m. today at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte. Servkes: 2 p.m.

Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial: Deepdale Cemetery, Lansing. Memorials: First Congregational Church Bell Choir, Charlotte. Marjorie Tobin Plainwell Marjorie (Halloran) Tobin, 95, of Plainwell, died Monday, July 14, 1997, in Plainwell. She was born Feb.

25, 1902, in North Dakota to John and Margaret (Anderson) Tobin and moved to the area in 1941. She was a homemaker and formerly sold Stanley Home Products for 25 years. She married Bernard Tobin on Aug. He died Feb. 27, 1967.

Surviving are a son, John Tobin of Plainwell; daughters, Bernice Han-kerd of Jackson, Beverly Reynolds of Granger, 111., and Mary Lou Handley of Lisle, 22 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; a great-greatgrandchild; and a brother, Alan Halloran of Wayland. Community involvement, hobbies: Member of St. Ambrose Church in Delton and the Helping Hand and Sunshine clubs. Enjoyed crocheting and flower gardening. Visitation: 2 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday at Williams Funeral Home, Delton, where a vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Services: 1 1 a.m. Thursday in St. Ambrose Church, Delton, with the Rev. William Crenner officiating.

Dorothy F. Wade Battle Creek Dorothy F. (Clark) Wade, 73, of Battle Creek, died Sunday, July 13, .1 M.J. without a driver's license?" Andros said. Callahan said that while personal watercraft account for 5 percent of watercraft registered in Michigan, they are responsible for 46 percent of the accidents.

DEATH NOTICES Francis M. Buckingham Battle Creek Francis M. Buckingham, 64, of Battle Creek, died Monday, July 14, 1997, in Batde Creek Health System. Arrangements are pend- ing at Farley-Estes Dowdle Funeral Home. Elmas Zobian Union City Elmas (Sunukjian) Zobian, 97, of Union City, died Monday, July 14, 1997, in Laurels of Arrangements are pending at Spencer Funeral Home, Athens.

1997, in Docsa Home. She was born Feb. 24, 1924, in Battle Creek to Leslie J. and Minnie (Messenger) Clark. She was a homemaker.

Surviving are her husband, Herbert Wade; a brother, Cassius Clark of Battle Creek; sisters, Geraldine Dunkelberger of Bellflower, and Gilberta Schmidt of South Bend, andla special friend, Mona Lowe. Community involvement, hobbies: Active member of the Morgan Road Church of the Nazarene. Enjoyed reading, bus trips into town to visit friends and spending time with her husband of more than 20 years. Visitation: 3 to 8:30 p.m. today at Farley-Estes Dowdle Funeral Home.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Young; Cemetery with the Rev. Samuel Gowan officiating. Memorials: Docsa Home Activities Fund. AS Mandatory No Fault Coverage Each Month 75 years.

-IATTIE CREEK Replacement for stolen bike is stolen Monday A three-wheeled bicycle pur chased last week by co-workers for a visually impaired Battle Creek woman to replace one stolen earlier was stolen. Bessie Keehl. 54, told Battle Creek police Monday that she parked the bicycle in a rack outside the rederal Center when she went to work, but when she k-ft work at 4 p.m. the bike was gone. Police re covered it shortly afterward.

The $500 bike had been pur chased by other workers at the Federal Center to replace Keehl's three-wheeled bike stolen from her Emmett Township home two weeks before. She uses the bicy cle to commute to work, shop and nde for recreation. Keehl, who rode the bike to work for the first time, said she parked it near the security guard station but didn't lock it Investigating Officer Steve Kinne located the bike near ilubbard Street and Bernardo Place about 10 minutes after Keehl reported it missing. He returned it to her undamaged. Section of Hamblin to close Wednesday Hamblin Avenue between Division Street and East Michigan Avenue will close to traffic at 7 a.m.

Wednesday as part of continued work on the $22 million Main Street reconstruction project The Hamblin Avenue section will reopen to traffic Monday. For more information, call David Bell, project engineer with the Battle Creek Public Works Department at 966-3343. SPRINGFIELD Donations sought for trailer-fire victims A fund has been started for a family whose mobile home burned last week. Kim Stafford and Tony Millsap and their two children lost their mobile home at Thunderbird Mobile Village in a fire Thursday. The couple didnt have insurance.

Terry Koch, whose husband works with Millsap's father, opened an account to aid the family. Donations are being accepted at the United Savers Federal Credit Union at 247 Avenue Springfield. The account 7(KXXi37. is in Koch's name or the Kim Stafford Donation Fund. Koch said she is also collecting clothes for the couple and the children: Trisha, 10, and Justin, 8.

Anone who would like to make donations or wants more information can call Koch at 9680686. CALHOUN COUNTY 2 area farms get historical markers Two Calhoun County farms are among 23 recently certified by the Michigan Historical Commission as Centennial Farms. One is a 77-acre farm at Drive South, Tekonsha, owned by Rolene A. Blashfield. It's been in family since 1843 and produces corn and soybeans.

Also, a 33.75-acre farm at 23424 21-Mile Road near Olivet was certified. The farm, owned by Sterling and Arloucne Treadwell, has been in the family since 1897. The Centennial Farm Program, started in 1948. is intended to recognize farms that have remained in the same family for generations and highlight the family farm's contributions to Michigan's development Farm owners receive a Michigan Centennial Farm Certificate from the Department of State's Michigan Historical Center and a metal display marker. REGION Census Bureau to be in the area this week U.S.

Census Bureau employees will visit the area this week to conduct a population survey of selected households. Data on characteristics of the labor force, including employment status, hours worked and earnings, will be collected. By law, the Census Bureau keeps all information about sample respondents and their households strictly confidential Local households chosen for the survey receive a letter from Martha F. Riche, director of the Census Bureau, informing them fcf the survey. Census Bureau interviewers carry an official identification card with their photo and signature.

On Aug. 1. the US. Department of Labor will release national labor-force statistics based on the data provided by local households in this survey. personal watercraft.

The seven-member House Personal Watercraft Subgroup begins its work after an accident June 29 at Four Bears Water Park in Macomb County left six children hurt one with a serious head injury after a man apparently lost control of a rented watercraft and went through a swimming area. No one has died in a personal watercraft accident so far this year, state officials said. But because of accidents such as the one at Four Bears, boat patrol offr rials say they won't support new laws unless die regulations require safe boating courses and something akin to a driver's license. Boat dealers who sell personal wa-tercrafts aren't sure about licensing. They say they want regulations to focus on education that applies to all watercraft, including sailboats and yachts.

The subgroup plans to travel the state this summer, taking testimony and going out on the lakes to see the problems firsthand as they write rules. Personal watercraft operators must near Coldwater from 1959 to 1962, when they returned to Beecher. 111. They moved back to Randall Lake in 1976 and to Coldwater in 1986. She was employed at Sears, Roebuck Co.

and the J.C. Penney Co. in Coldwater, retiring in 1986. She married Ralph Hanson in Steger, 111., on Aug. 19, 1950.

He survives. Also surviving are a son, Raymond Hanson of Pearland, Texas; a daughter, Susan Waggner of Pearland, Texas; two grandchildren; brothers, Charles Begesha of Crete, 111., James Begesha of Monroe City, and John Begesha of South Chicago Heights, and a sister, Theresa Del-lore of South Chicago Heights, m. Community involvement, hobbies: Member of the Coldwater Moose Lodge auxiliary. Enjoyed crocheting. Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m.

Thursday at Heck Funeral Home, Beecher, III. Services: 1 1 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial: Skyline Memoriol Park, Beecher, III. Local arrangements: Putnam Funeral.

Home, Coldwater. Leota J. Hawthorne Bellevue Leota J. (Woods) Hawthorne, 66, of Bellevue and formerly of Battle Creek, died Sunday. July 13, 1997, in Pennock Hospital, Hastings, after being stricken at home.

She was born Dec. 11, 1930, in Battle Creek to Howard C. and Martha (Pitt) Woods. She attended Hastings Public Schools. She was employed for 24 years by the Battle Creek Public Schools at Wilson Elementary and Southwestern Junior High schools and in adult education at the Miller Stone Building, retiring in 1995.

During the 1950s, she worked at the Date Bar. She married Russell H. Hawthorne on Oct 11, 1952, in Angola, Ind. He survives. Also surviving are twin sons, Russell C.

and Charles H. Hawthorne of Battle Creek: daughters, Cynthia S. Rolfe and Teresa Staib of Battle Creek; nine grandchildren; and sisters, Fern Lind of Nashville and Eleanor Bernard of Hastings. Community involvement, hobbies: Enjoyed birdwatching and other wildlife in her yard, gardening and caring for her grandchildren. Visitation: 9 a.m.

to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Farley-Estes Dowdle Funeral Home, where the family will be present from 2 to 4 p.m. ond 6 to 8 p.m. Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev.

David D. Young officiating. Burial: Bedford Cemetery. Memorials: Diabetes Children's Fund in care of Bottle Geek Health System. Charles Mayo Battle Creek Charles "Mike" Mayo, 72, of Battle Creek, died Sunday, July 13, 1997, in Evergreen Manor.

He had been ill since September 1996. He was born April 2, 1925, in Nashville to Charles and Alice (Green) Mayo and attended Battle Creek Public Schools. Charles Mayo He served in the U.S. Navy Seabees from 1941 to 1946 in the South Pacific during World War II. He was employed by Associated Truck Lines for 38 years before retiring in 1984.

His first wife, the former Betty Jane Thornton, died in 1980. His second wife, the former Norma Jean (Stetler) McCormic, survives. Officials want courses, certification to ensure safety education Greta Gi est Associated Press LANSING Any time Sgt Michael Andros pulls over a personal water-craft rider hotdogging on Lake St Clair, he knows what hell hear even before the motor stops roaring. "I can honestly say 50 percent of the time when I stop somebody they say they didn't know they were doing something wrong and they honestly donV said Andros of the Macomb County Sheriffs Marine Patrol division. "Tm not saying they're a menace.

It's a great recreational sport But they've only been taught how to turn it on. how to put on the life jacket and told, There's the lake. Have fun." State lawmakers who share Andros' concerns are preparing to tike the first steps to craft new laws regulating OBITUARIES Roger F. Ames Delton Roger F. Ames.

76. of Delton, died Sunday, July, 13, 1997, at home. He was born Jan. 16, 1921, in Kalamazoo to Charles E. and Dorothy (Pennington) Ames.

He served with the U.S. Navy during World War IL He was employed for 262 years as a boiler operator at National Gypsum Co. in Kalamazoo and worked for several years as a courier for Federal Armored Services in Grand Rapids. He married Naomi Davidson on Oct 1. 1950.

She died July 13, 1993. Surviving are sons. Fred Ames of Kalamazoo, Robert Ames of Delton and Roger, Dolph and Stephen Ames of Oregon; daughters, Carol J. Ames and Robin Elwen of Delton; many grandchildren; three brothers; and five sisters. He was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters.

Ctwity hvolvMat, bobbies: Post Master of Richland lodge 217, ond post patron of Richland Chapter 253, Order of the Eastern Star. Member of Disabled Amerkon Veterans Chapter 7. Enjoyed fishing, comping, traveling ond watching football. Mtsoik HMMrial services: 7 p.m. Thursday in the Richland Masonk Temple.

MeMorids: Roger Ames Memoriol Fund. Williams Funeral Home, Delton. Sharon A. Bell Leroy Township Sharon A. (Hanna) Bell.

52. of Leroy Township, died Sunday, July 13, 1997, at home. She was born Nov. 14, 1945, in Chicago to John W. and Elaine R.

(Miller) Hanna. She graduated from Union City High School in 1963 and moved to Leroy Township in 1964. She was em ployed at the J.C. Penney at Redwood Ross Sharon A. Bell for 10 years in al terations, at United Steel Wire Co.

and at Hudson's as alterations supervisor. She married Kenneth R. Bell on June 13, 1981, in Athens. He survives. Also surviving are a son.

John F. Dowd of Lexington, a stepson. Benjamin J. Bell of Leroy Township; a daughter, Laura A. Dawes of Battle Creek; a stepdaughter, Cheryl Lynn Bell of Fulton; three grandchildren; her father and stepmotiier, John W.

and Jeannette Hanna of Union City, brothers, David Hanna of Battle Creek and Daniel Hanna of Union City; and sisters, Susan Frook, her twin, of Battle Creek and Lorna Fuller of Quincy. She was preceded in death by her mother. CommmHv hvetveawflt, hobbies: Attended Urbondale Baptist Church. Was on oc-compiished seamstress. Enjoyed crafts, oil and watercolor pointing, woodcrafts ond gardening.

VbitatiMB Alter 2 p.m. today at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home, where the forrary wl be present from 6 to 8 p.m. Services: 1 p.m Wednesday Urbondale Baptist Church with the Rev. Louis Lowndes of ficiating.

Mriac Leroy ungregcmonal Cemetery. Mary H. Hanson Coldwater Mary H. (Begesha) Hanson, 64. of Coldwater, died Sunday, July 13, 1997, at home after a long illness.

She was born Aug. 17, 1932. in Wilmington, to Charles and Susan (McConolog) Begesha. She and her husband lived in Wilmington, 111., then at Randall Lake follow the same rules as boaters. But with no laws spelling out what safety knowledge an operator should have, accidents continue to happen, said state Rep.

William Callahan, D-St Clair Shores, who heads the subgroup. Andros wants to see a licensing or Also surviving are a son, Donald M. Mayo of Battle Creek; daughters, Cynthia A Mayo of Climax and Mary Alice Neubaum of Battle Creek; stepsons, Michael D. McCormic of Ceresco and Scott D. McCormic of Battle Creek; seven grandchildren; and a brother, Kenneth Mayo of Battle Creek.

He also was preceded in death by several brothers and sisters. Community involvement, bobbies: Enjoyed meeting with friends at Sweetwater's Donut Mill and Arlene's Truck Stop, fishing, skin diving, boating, camping, playing cards, especially cribbage and poker. Visitation: After 4 p.m. today at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home.

Services: 1 1 a.m. Wednesday at the fu neral home with the Rev. David Morton officiating. Burial: Floral Lawn Memoriol Gardens. Memorials: Good Samaritan Hospice Care or Cancer Glema P.

Porter Coldwater Glema (Markley) Porter, 91, of Coldwater, and formerly of Bronson, died Monday, July 14, 1997, at home. She was born May 17, 1906, in Slagle Township to Charles and Ruby (Weage) Markley and moved to Branch County as an infant with her parents. She had lived in Coldwater since 1952. She retired from Douglas Manufacturing Co. in Bronson in 1972 after 20 years of employment She married Clarence Porter on Oct 23, 1926, in Coldwater.

He died Jan. 7, 1965. Surviving are a son, Merlin Porter of Coldwater; a daughter, Gertrude Kregger of Colon; 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Dean Markley of Bronson; and sisters, Zertha Crites of Sturgis and Maxine Bercaw of Florida She also was preceded in death by a son, M.C. Porter, daughters, Patty Deter, Beverly Goshorn and Imogene Hallberg; grandchildren; Roger Hallberg, Dale Deter, Sandra Goshorn and Randy Goshorn; brothers, Raymond Markley and Arland Markley; and a sister, Vesta Bercaw. Community involvement, hobbies: Enjoyed making candy, especially at Christmas, crocheting afghans arid toweb and traveling to Northern Michigan.

Visitation: 2 to 8 p.m. today at Kola Funeral Home, Bronson. Sendees: 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial: Bronson Cemetery.

Memorials: Branch County Meals on Wheels. James Pranke Battle Creek James Pranke, 70, of Battle Creek, died Thursday, July 10, 1997, in the Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He was born May 31, 1927, to Anna Marie Reilly. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a prisoner of war.

He was preceded in death by his mother. Servkes: Private services were held in Fort Custer National Cemetery. Memorials: Charity of one's choice. Arrangements: Royal Funeral Home. Evelyn A.

Reist Charlotte Evelyn Amanda Reist 71, of Charlotte, died Monday, July 14, 1997, in Charlotte. She was born Dec. 11, 1925, in Lansing to Lillian Pearl (Forbes) and Samuel Reist and graduated from high school. She was employed in title review by the Michigan Secretary of State. Surviving are nephews and nieces.

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