Obituaries

Jody Vaughn Byland, 78, passed away peacefully with family present on April 26, 2026.
Born on April 6, 1948, Jody devoted his life to education and his family. A compassionate elementary principal at Fremont Public Schools for 37 years, he shared his love of learning with countless students. Upon leaving school...

Melvern Earl Windnagle, 91, of Traverse City, formerly of Grawn, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 21, 2026. He was born December 24, 1934, in Detroit, the son of Melvern and Ida (Lorenz) Windnagle.

Earl Windnagle was a devoted husband and father who led a life marked by dedication and hard work. He...

Miriam Nancy Taschner Bach, 80, of Traverse City, passed away April 28, 2026. She is now at rest after a long battle with chronic illness.

Miriam was a kind and gentle soul. She loved peace and quiet. She had a deep love for nature in all its forms: going for walks and bike rides, gardening, raising chickens, and...

William "Will" McCreery Davison, age 85, passed away on April 21, 2026.
Will was born on March 9, 1941, in Flint, Michigan, to Matthew Davison Jr. and Margaret (Non) Cumings Davison. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve before building a career as a real estate attorney, though anyone who knew Will...

Bill White, 69, of Traverse City, Michigan, passed away on April 25, 2026.

Bill was born on June 23, 1956, in Garden City, Michigan, to Albert and Bernice White. He dedicated his life to caring for and providing for his family, which remained his greatest pride.

He is survived by his former spouse, Rose (Wencil)...

Carol Mae (Strand) Smith, 89, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026, in Williamsburg, Michigan. Born on January 21, 1937, in Detroit, Michigan, Carol lived a life filled with love, dedication, and an enduring commitment to her family and faith.

Carol earned her bachelor's degree in economics from the University...

Tony Joseph Nelson - a man of unwavering faith, boundless generosity, and a legendary sense of humor, passed away in his home on March 26, 2026.

Born on November 12, 1958, in Escanaba, Michigan, Tony was the second of four sons of the late Ronald and Lois (Karnitz) Nelson. Tony grew up on Sharkey Road in Flat Rock,...

Diana Shirley Thorpe, born February 21, 1949, passed away on April 19, 2026, in Traverse City, Michigan.
Her deep love for family was only rivaled by her love of traveling, with Hawaii and Las Vegas holding a special place in her heart as her favorite destinations. She also enjoyed collecting antiques of all kinds....

Elisabeth "Granny" L. Barraw, age 87, of Traverse City Michigan, passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her loving family and friends. Granny was born on May 8, 1938 in Mainz, Germany to the late Wilhelm Rotger and Emma Daub.
On September 11, 1956, in Russelheim, Germany, she married...

Sharon Amelia Oxley
July 12, 1943 - April 14, 2026
Sharon Amelia Oxley, a lifelong resident of the Grand Traverse area, peacefully passed away on April 14, 2026, at her home, surrounded by the love of her family.
Born on July 12, 1943, in Antrim County, Michigan, she spent her life embodying the warmth and...

Michael Wayne Couture, 71, of Grawn, passed away April 21, 2026, at Munson Medical Center with his family at his side.
Michael was born on September 19, 1954, in Pontiac, Michigan, to the late Alfred Eugene and Betty Cleone (Fox) Couture. Following high school, he proudly served his country in the United States Army...