Life Stories

Deems T. Gallimore, 83, of Elkhart, passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2024. An obituary will be posted soon. A Celebration of Life for Deems will be held at a later date. Burial of his cremated remains will be at 10:00 am on Friday, April 26, 2024 at Rice Cemetery in Elkhart. Memorial Contributions may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. For those that wish to send a condolence, share a memory or order flowers may do so at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.

Margie L. Patterson, 76, of Elkhart, passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Elkhart General Hospital.  Arrangements are pending at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, IN 46514

David "Dave" John Clingerman, 65, of Elkhart, passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Elkhart General Hospital. Arrangements are pending at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, IN 46514.

Daniel B. "Dan" Cavanaugh, 81, of Elkhart, passed away on Friday, April 12, 2024, at home with his loving wife by his side.  Arrangements are pending at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St, Elkhart, IN 46514. 

Patty Lou Sharkey, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away on Saturday afternoon, April 6, 2024, at her home. She was surrounded by love, laughter, and a bucket of tears. At 89 years old, Patty had seen it all and left a trail of joy wherever she went. Born in Goshen, Indiana on December 29, 1934, Patty came into this world ready to spice things up. She was the offspring of Carl and Alberta Sharkey, who surely never had a dull moment with Patty around. Patty married...

Mr. Rodney Knoll Strang, 86, passed away Friday, April 5, 2024 at Elkhart General Hospital.  Arrangements are pending at Billings Funeral Home

Flora “Ann” Sowers, 82, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully at the Center for Hospice Care in Mishawaka on April 4, 2024 at 2:32 pm while convalescing there. She was born in Muskegon, Michigan on September 12, 1941 to the late William and Doris (VanHook) Bate and is preceded in death by her brother Richard Bate and her sister Linda Obert, as well as a granddaughter, Elizabeth Sowers. Surviving Ann are her sons George W. Sowers of Granger and Michael R. Sowers of LaVergne,...

Lewis Phillip Rich, 75, of Elkhart, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at home surrounded by loving family. He was born on October 11, 1948, in Elkhart to the late Roscoe and Helen (Tallman) Rich. Lewis is survived by his loving wife, Pam Rich; children, Tricia Rich, Kimberly (Andy) Martin, and Ryan Shenefield; 12 beautiful grandchildren; 7 beautiful great-grandchildren; and a loving host of extended family, friends, and acquaintances. In addition to his parents, Lewis was preceded in...

Jeannie Marie Shaw, 77, residing in Elkhart, passed away peacefully with family by her side, early Tuesday morning, April 2, 2024, at Elkhart General Hospital. Jeannie was born on June 2, 1946, in Oroville, California to the late Vernon and Genevieve (Tousignant) Smith. In addition to her parents, a son Joshua H. Shaw, two brothers, Vernon Smith Jr., Michael Smith, and her sister Mary (Michael) Lee, preceded her in death. She is survived by her loving daughters Heather Joy (Patrick) Hummer,...

June E. (Swinehart) Nihart, 95, of Elkhart, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Center for Hospice Care's Esther House.  Arrangements are pending at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St, Elkhart, IN 46514. 

Glenn Foster Emmons, 60, of Elkhart, passed away on Monday, April 1, 2024 surrounded by his close family. Glenn was born on January 10, 1964 to Glenn F. Emmons and Maryann (Springer) Stroup in Allegan, MI. He is preceded in death by his father, Glenn; brother, George Sweezy and sister, Roberta Sweezy. Glenn is survived by his mother, Maryann Stroup of Elkhart; sister, Susan (Steve) Windsor of Mishawaka; nieces, Leeah (Derek) Killingbeck of Niles, MI and Bekka Oxley (Austin Kunze) of...

James Neal “Jelly” Jellison, 80, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Easter Morning, March 31, 2024 at 3:33 am while convalescing at Eastlake Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Elkhart. He was born in Elkhart on May 27, 1943 to the late Wavelyn D. “Donald” Jellison and Evelyn Lucille Cartwright. He is also preceded by his step-mother, Helen Marcile (Flanding) Jellison. He is survived by his close friend Gary (Debra) Vyse of Lafayette, Gary’s...

Carlor Yvonne “Tiny” Carroll, 59, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully but suddenly at her home on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 9:36 pm following a probable cardiac event. Born in Chicago on May 10, 1964, she was the daughter of the late Anderson Kyle, Jr. and Alma Pullian. Surviving Tiny is her beloved significant other Melvin Williams, who survives at home; her beautiful daughters Ieasha (Cordarrll) McFee and Sharmayne Jones, both of Elkhart; her precious grandchildren...

Justin Myers “Justy Burger” Badman, 47, of White Pigeon, Michigan, passed away Thursday morning, March 28, 2024, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo. Justin was born on November 08, 1976 in Elkhart, Indiana to Craig Allen and Sandra Lynn “Sandy” (Myers) Badman. They survive, as well as his brother Nathan Allen Badman; niece, Brittney (Brandon) Shriver; two loving uncles and aunts; Mike (Deb) Badman, Eddie (Vickie) Badman, Wendy K. Stevens and Sally A....

Tracy C. Kirts, 59, of Bristol, passed away on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at her residence. She was born on September 12, 1964, in Bremen, IN to Richard and Sandra (Crane) Baughman. Tracy is survived by her loving husband of 35 years, Thomas Kirts; her children, Thomas L. Kirts III and Mackenzie (Ryan Smythe) Prathaftakis; grandchildren, Kameron Prathaftakis, Chase Prathaftakis, Bradley Prathaftakis, Bently Smythe, Lilly Smythe and Maverick Cockrill; father, Richard Baugham; and brothers Ty...

Mr. Robert L. “Bob” Kuhn, 81, of Edwardsburg, passed away peacefully of natural causes at his home on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 9:07 am. He was born in Elkhart on July, 11, 1942, to the late William L. and Lillian F. (Stryker) Kuhn, and is survived by his sister, Linda Vore. Bob worked the majority of his life as a commercial and residential grade electrician and contractor. He also served his country as an honorably discharged US Army veteran. In accordance with Bob’s...

Doyne Franklin “Speedy” Parker, 88, of Elkhart, passed away on Monday, March 25, 2024, at East Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation. He was born on October 4, 1935, in Cotton Plant, AR, to the late Benjamin Franklin and Mattie Lillian (Crafford) Parker. On June 29, 1958, Speedy married the love of his life, Addaline Heffner, in Elkhart. Speedy is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Addaline Parker; children, Carrie Miller and Randy Parker; grandchildren, Felicia “Little...

Mary E. (Watts) Clemans, 86, of Elkhart, passed away on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at her home. Mary was born on November 9, 1937 in Elkhart to the late, Charles and Wenonah (Atkinson) Mabie. Mary was married to Louis K. Watts for 35 years and following his death on November 23, 1989, she re-married Robert Clemans, Sr., whom passed away on August 6, 2019. Mary is also preceded in death by her son, Louis L. Watts, daughters, Carol Carleson, Terri Littlefield and Michelle Mares; brother, Arden...

Christen (Chris) S. Michael, 64 of Elkhart, passed away on Friday, March 22, 2024. He was born on July 8, 1959 in Bryan, OH to the late Richard D. Michael and Linda R. (Stauffer) Sponseller. Chris was a former resident of Ney, OH and graduated from Fairview High School. Chris is survived by his wife of 37 years, Jody; daughters, Katherine (Ryan) King, Sarah, and Elizabeth; sisters, Shelley (Ronnie) Gebhart, Angie (Scott) Hall, and Holly (Bill) Wendling; his father- and mother-in-law, Jerry...

Patricia, “Packrat Pat” Yeater left this Earth in the same divine way she lived her life-gently and peacefully. Pat was born in Elkhart on September 24, 1941 to Stella and William Crain. Her grandparents Easter and Fred Wigent loved and cared for her while her dad Bill served in the war and earned his college degree. In 1955 Pat attended a high school football game where she met the love of her life, Larry D. Yeater, or as she called him, “Lard”. Be it fate or call it...