Obituaries

Garold L. Smith

Garold “Gary” L. Smith, age 61, of Thomson, Illinois, died Sunday, October 2, 2011, at his home in Thomson. Cremation rites will be accorded and private family burial will be held at Greensky Hill Indian Mission United Methodist Church Cemetery in Charlevoix, Michigan. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences and tributes maybe shared with the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com

Gary was born September 1, 1950 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Cornelius and Mary Elder (Kahgee) Smith. He attended school in Detroit. Gary married Angela Bruce in 2006 at Oregon, Illinois.

Gary worked as a roofer for Turtle Roofing in Detroit for twenty-five years. He enjoyed hiking and being outdoors and attended the Berryman Church in Mt. Carroll, Illinois. Gary loved his dogs, but his children and grandchildren were the most important part of his life.

Gary is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife Angela Smith of Thomson, Illinois; his children, Gary Glenn (Tina Elder) Smith of Clinton, Iowa, Shelley (Brian) Buchholz of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, Stephanie (Tracy) Seidemann of Mt. Carroll, Mark Lee (Abby) Smith of Thomson, Hawke Smith of Canada, Luwan of Michigan, Danny Ray Beasley Jr. of Thomson, and Geniva Beasley of Thomson; sixteen grandchildren, two great grandchild; two brothers, Michael Smith of Harbor Springs, Michigan, and Ronald Smith of Detroit, Michigan; Gary’s first wife, Melody Talley and her children, Tamara, Wendy, and Thomas Talley III of Thomson; his father-in-law, Everett Bruce of Thomson; and his long lost friend, George McMahon of Detroit.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Starr; one sister, Joyce Jemcort; and his mother-in-law, Helen Bruce.

Marliss M. Bonnell

Marliss M. Bonnell, 81, of Pearl City, died on Friday, Oct. 7, 2011 at FHN Memorial Hospital. She was born on Dec. 13, 1929 at Lanark, the daughter of William Nelson and Fern (Finifrock) Applegate. She married Raymond “Red” Bonnell on Oct. 23, 1949 at the Cherry Grove Church of The Brethren. Marliss enjoyed ceramics.

Surviving are four children, Rita (Keith) Davis of Pearl City, Randall (Carole) Bonnell of Mt.Carroll, Michael Bonnell of Forreston, and Elaine (Randy) Geerts of German Valley, ten grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, one sister, Lorna Applegate of Lanark, and one brother, Ellis (Linda) Applegate of Shelbyville.

Preceding her in death were her husband on Dec. 1, 1990, her parents, one brother, George Applegate, and one sister, Myrna Applegate.

Funeral services will be on Wed. Oct. 12, 2011 at l:30 P.M. at the Offenheiser-Schwarz Funeral Home in Pearl City. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from four to seven p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.

A memorial has been established in her memory.

Eugene Joseph Diephuis

Eugene Joseph Diephuis, 79, of Thomson, Illinois, died Tuesday, October 5, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center North, Clinton, Iowa. A funeral service will be held 11:30 a.m., Saturday, October 8, 2011 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, 1854 Illinois Route 84, Thomson. Burial will follow in the Lower York Cemetery, Thomson. Visitation will be held from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m., prior to the service at the Funeral Home. A memorial fund has been established in Gene’s memory.