Obituaries

Charles “Chuck” Ray Kirts

Charles “Chuck” Ray Kirts, 63, of Bellaire, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 16, 2026. He was born on September 20, 1962, the son of Marvin and Judy (Watrous) Kirts. Charles attended Bellaire Public Schools before moving downstate for a number of years. He returned to Bellaire to care for his mother and worked at several local restaurants, most recently BC Pizza, which he considered his...

Sonja Anne Cain

Sonja Anne Cain, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, was born on August 10, 1947, in Dryden Township, the daughter of William Shafer and Emma Childers. She passed away peacefully on July 14, 2026, surrounded by the family she loved so dearly, following a brief illness. Sonja will be remembered for her loving heart, her kindness, and her devotion to her family. She had a gentle way of...

Judith E. Spires

Judith E. Spires, 86, passed away comfortably on June 11, 2026, at Eden Care. She was born on July 29, 1939, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Murphy and Evelyn (Johnson) Clark. She moved to Michigan in her teenage years, but she never lost her beloved southern accent. She was a talented and creative woman who enjoyed cooking, sewing, quilting, crafting and working in her flower beds. Over the years...

Gerald Lee “Jerry” Delling

Celebrating the Life of Gerald Lee “Jerry” Delling. Gerald Lee “Jerry” Delling passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility in Bellaire. Jerry’s journey began on June 6, 1935, in Birmingham, Michigan, where he was born at home to Harvey Edwin and Norma Delling. A proud 1953 graduate of Farmington High School, Jerry immediately felt the...

Ramona L. Bancroft

Ramona L. Bancroft, 74, of Mancelona, passed away on July 15, 2026. She was born on April 4, 1952, in Petoskey, MI, the daughter of Guy and Mary (Haddix) Mosley. On June 30, 1969, in Ft. Worth, Texas, she married Jack C. Bancroft Sr. Her priority in life was her family and spending time with them. She enjoyed gardening, rock collecting, especially Petoskey stones, as well as playing cards. Ramona...

Victor “Sam” Kosc

Victor “Sam” Kosc, 84, of Boyne Falls, Michigan passed away on July 19, 2026, at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, Michigan after courageously battling complications from knee replacement surgeries and subsequent infections for more than two years. A funeral officiated by Pastor Jeff Ellis will be held on July 24, 2026, at the Walloon Lake Community Church at 11 a.m. Visitation will...