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A.F.Lucas, Supt.
Mildred Blumenthal, Principal
Charles White, Class President
Thelma Burns, Class Sponsor
George R. Hyry, Sponsor
* * * * * *
Marguerita Stillwagon Mills
Warren Reetz
Nola Ewing Martin
James Sheppard
Beth Hodgins Ehinger
Richard Blancher
Judith Hall Embury
Bob McCormick
Nellie Candy Pray
Leith Curtis
Dora Michnick Humprey
Karlton Gillespie
Barbara Couture Witzke
Elmer McPherson
Genevieve Benjamin Bemis
Joe Atherton
Doris Dunn Poling
Burt Martin
Lois Baird Moulton
Max Ferguson
Norma Vosburg Sutton
Phillip Cole
James Parker
Crystal Kimball Sanford
Harvey Deuel
Arthur Clark
Marjorie Christopherson Wight
Margaret Ann Rau Cox
Genevieve Nauman Williams
Charles White
Dora Schliter Olsway
Jean Lally Thompson
Helen Jane Weiler Smith
Robert Switzer
Barbara Miller Welsh
Bill Jennings
Earl Hicks
Ralph Steinhauser
Helen Jane Shortt Wall
Max Edwin Ferguson, class of 1941 West Branch High School, passed away on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at The Villa at West Branch.
He had recently celebrated his 95th birthday. Max was born on March 3, 1923 in Alto, MI to Owen and Leita (Bunker) Ferguson.
He had lived in West Branch since he was a young boy. He married Alice (Rosebrugh) Ferguson on October 15, 1955. Max was a
dairy farmer with his brother, Bryce, until his retirement in 1977. In his retirement, he and Alice volunteered at the food
pantry weekly for several years.… Max enjoyed watching sports, especially the Detroit Tigers, hunting, fishing and
riding his golf cart. His greatest enjoyment was spending time with his family.
Max is survived by his daughters, Joni (Chuck) Snyder and Jill (Al) Derocher; grandchildren, Ryan (Lisa) Bragg, Jason
(Stephenie) Bragg, Allison Bragg (Brian Bowen), Kelley (Curt) Evans, Tonya Snyder, Tammy (Mike) Broderick, and Kevin (Melissa)
Snyder; great grandchildren, Aelyn, Leah, Jesse (Mallissa), Joe, Jen, Justin, Courtney, Conner, Kelsey, Alex, Lucas, and Evan;
great great grandchildren, Perryn and Thorin; and brother, Gordon (Pat) Ferguson. He is preceded in death by his wife, Alice;
daughter, Joyce; and brothers, Wendell and Bryce.
The family of Max would like to thank The Villa at West Branch for the wonderful heartfelt care given to our dad/papa.
Also thanks to Heartland Hospice for the compassionate care given to dad.
Per his wishes no service will be held.
Helen Jane Shortt Wall, 93 of Midland, MI passed away surrounded by her family on Friday,
February 10, 2017 at Woodland Terrace of Longmeadow, Niles.
Helen was born on January 27, 1924 to Dr. C.A. and Jane
Shortt in West Branch, MI. She had many fond memories of growing up in West Branch and graduated from West Branch High School
with the class of 1941. She always loved going “home” for a visit. During WWII, Helen was in the Cadet Nurse
Corps training to become a registered nurse, a degree of which she was very proud. She had many stories of her time at Michigan
State and her training at Saginaw General Hospital and Detroit Children’s Hospital. After the war, she met and married
William Wall on October 11, 1947 and they enjoyed 69 years of marriage. Together they made their home in Midland, MI where
they raised two children.
Helen was a tremendous animal lover from a very young age. She had many cats who “followed”
her home, a mail order dog and numerous rescue dogs. She was also an avid gardener and her yard was her sanctuary. She would
head out with a cup of coffee at 7 AM to see what plants and rocks needed to be moved. Many days she would not stop gardening
until after dark. But most of all, Helen loved her family. She was the happiest when she was busy preparing meals for family
dinners and then enjoying the conversation and laughter that would ensue.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents
and one brother Dr. Lee Shortt and his wife Beverly Shortt. Numerous aunts and uncles and many beloved pets.
Helen
is survived by her husband William Wall of Midland, MI. One daughter Dr. Jane (Ron) Lacher of Midland, One son Jim (Chris)
Wall of Bridgman, MI, one granddaughter Roberta Wall of Grandville, MI one grandson Doug (Jennifer) Wall of Stevensville,
MI, two great grandchildren, Maddox and Lillian Wall, one niece Rev. Mary Shortt and one nephew Dr. William Shortt and family
and her beloved rescue dog Emma.
| James W. Sheppard Class of 1941 |
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UNKNOWN ADDRESSES
Arthur Clark
Judith Hall Embury
Helen Jane Weiler Smith
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DECEASED CLASSMATES
Robert "Bob" James McCormick (January 7, 2017)
Doris Dunn Poling
Genevieve Benjamin Bemis
(January 7, 2010)
Crystal Kimball Sanford
(August 2003)
Lois Baird Moulton
(July 23, 2002)
Richard Blancher
Mellie Candy Adams
Marjorie Christopherson Wight
Phillip Cole
Harvey Deuel
Nola Ewing Martin
(1999)
Karlton Gillespie
Earl Hicks
(1997)
Beth Hodgins Ehinger
Jean Lally Thompson
(1987)
Burt Martin
(March 2002)
Elmer McPherson
(December 2004)
Barbara Miller Welsh
James Parker
Warren Reetz
(1993)
James Sheppard
(October 3, 2005)
Ralph Steinhauser
(2003)
Robert Switzer
Norma Vosburg Sutton
(1992)
Bill Jennings
(March 26, 2004)
Joe Atherton
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************
Deceased
Genevieve Nauman Williams
Margaret Ann Rau Cox ("Dee Dee") of Ridgecrest died on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. She was 92 years old. Dee Dee was born to parents Florence and Thomas Rau on
July 14, 1924 in West Branch, Michigan, where she and her older sister Barbara spent their childhood. Following in the footsteps
of her mother, Dee Dee played golf at West Branch Country Club and basketball at West Branch High School. In
1941, Dee Dee began her nursing degree at Michigan State University and completed her schooling at the University of Michigan
in 1945. Following school, Dee Dee moved to Modesto, California to serve in the Army Nurse Corps at Hammond General Hospital.
After transferring to the Naval Ordinance Test Station in Pasadena, she met civil engineer John L. Cox, whom she married in
1953. Soon after, the Cox couple moved to China Lake where John worked on the Naval Base while Dee Dee devoted herself to
raising their two children, Margaret and Barbara. She returned to her nursing career at Ridgecrest Regional Hospital in the
early 1970s. Dee Dee was an active member in the Ridgecrest Community, devoted parishioner and choir member
of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, and well-respected colleague to other nurses. She was known for her consistent kindness,
generosity and devotion to family and friends.
Dee
Dee is survived by her daughters Margaret Cox of New Sharon, Maine and Barbara Miras of Los Angeles; and granddaughters Beverly
Miras of San Diego and Erika Miras of Miami. She was preceded in death by her husband, John L. Cox, and sister, Barbara Rau
Evans. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to causes Dee Dee was passionate about: St.
Michael's Episcopal Church, Indian Wells Valley Concert Association, Doctors Without Borders or the ASPCA.
Mr. Robert "Bob" James McCormick,
93, of Dalton, passed away Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017.
Robert was born Aug. 5, 1923, in Flint, Mich. He was the son of the
late James Francis and Lucile Olmsted McCormick.
He proudly served his country in World War II in the United States Army.
He was awarded several medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart. Upon his return home he met and married
Elizabeth (Betty) Baibos. They celebrated 70 years of marriage in July 2016. He earned degrees in chemical engineering and
engineering administration, with honors, from Michigan Tech. He worked for the Dow Chemical Co. for 35 years. After living
in several cities he was transferred to Dalton. He loved it and after his retirement lived there the rest of his life.
He
was an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and active in the Knights of Columbus where he served as Grand Knight
and Faithful Navigator. He enjoyed golf, fishing, world traveling, woodworking and especially being with his family.
He
is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth (Betty) McCormick; daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Allan Meyer; sons and daughter-in-law,
James and Melissa McCormick, John McCormick and Kathleen Malloy; and brother and sister-in-law, Patrick and Betty McCormick.
He is also survived by four grandchildren, Elizabeth Meyer (Mark) Ehrler, Jeffrey (Jessica Halliwell) Meyer, Katie McCormick
(fiance Michael Macfarlane) and Erin McCormick (Nathan) Davies. He was also blessed with six great-grandchildren, Nathalie
and Sylvie Ehrler, Leah, Lindsay, Robert and Nicholas Meyer. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, cousins and dear
friends.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Lowell (Betty) McCormick, and
sisters, Mary Jane (Kenneth) Sapp, and Natalie (Fran) Livsey.
*****
| Genevieve Benjamin Bemis |
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| Class of 1941 |
Genevieve Benjamin Bemis, WBHS Class of 1941, passed
away Thursday January 7, 2010 at the age of 89 at at Bortz Health Care in West Branch.
Genevieve returned to West Branch in 1983 upon her retirement from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
At the college she was a secretary in the Geological and Environmental Sciences department. There she was considered the “Guardian
Angel” often working with department chairpersons and several professors on projects. She was also personal assistant
to the founders of then “Harper College”, Dr. and Mrs. Glenn W. Bartle.
After returning to West Branch, she was one of the founding members of the Ogemaw County Historical and Genealogical
Society. She loved to research history. Her learned knowledge and life experiences made her a great research source for several
books about West Branch and surrounding areas. For years you could see her selling cutlery and talking about local history
at the historical society’s booth at the Ogemaw County Fair.
She was a volunteer at the Hospice of Helping Hands. There she worked in the office and also went to help patients
and their families through the most difficult times. Sometimes these patients were also friends.
She loved to camp. Many times “Red” (class of 1939) and “Scat” would be gone for days,
even weeks camping all over Michigan and visiting the various lighthouses along the shores of the Great Lakes. They also spent
many days camping in the Pigeon River Forest. She is now with her husband at their eternal campsite.
Genevieve is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Rod and Eileen Bemis, granddaughters, Christen (Jason)
Roerk, Kimberly Bemis and Erin Bemis, her great-grandson, Keith Roerk and her great-granddaughter, Gabriella Roerk, due in
early March, all of Binghamton, New York. Also surviving is her brother, Dan Benjamin (class of 1957) of Rose City, her
sister Betty Richardson (class of 1942)of West Branch and several nieces, nephews and numerous friends. She was preceded
in death by her husband of 58 years, Keith “Red” Bemis, her parents Edward and Eva Benjamin and her sisters, Thelma
Nollsch, Emma McGowan and her brother Frank Benjamin.
Visitation at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch will begin on Friday, January 15, 2010
from 6-9 p.m. The Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Pastor Lisa Cook will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made sent to the Ogemaw County Historical and Genealogical Society,
P.O. Box 734, West Branch or to Hospice of Helping Hands, 335 E. Houghton Ave. West Branch, MI 48661.
| Marguerite Stillwagon Mills |
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| Class of 1941 |
To the WBHS Alumni Association
I am sorry I cannot attend the 70th reunion of my class,but
would like to correspond with anyone of the class of 1941. There are not many of us left.
I went online at the website and found that many are deceased,
including my cousin Leith Curtis and other friends.
I am in good health, bowling, cards and swimming keep me
busy. I am involved with my community and the historical society
After teaching for thirty years in Michigan as well as Florida,
I enjoy writing and will be happy to answer. I can be contacted at mmolive83@yahoo.com
Have a wonderful reunion!
Sincerely yours...
Marguerite Stillwagon Mills, Class of 1941
*****
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