Eight Cunninghams' obituaries, Tamarack and Woodland, Barry County, Michigan Copyright © 1998 by Debra Stadel Eddy. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. _____________________________________________________________________ BARRY COUNTY OBITUARIES Submitted by Debra Stadel Eddy, 3/7/98 LAURA (MYERS) CUNNINGHAM ["Lake Odessa Wave-Times," Friday, November 21, 1919] ANOTHER OLD FRIEND PASSES TO REWARD Mrs. Laura Cunningham, mother of Ed and Seymour Cunningham of Tamarack, died last Monday. Mrs. Cunningham was 83 years old and was a pioneer resident of Odessa Township, coming from Kalamazoo to the Tamarack at the age of six years. She was widely known, being the mother of six children, all living near her with their families. The children are Addie Lear of Grand Ledge, Rilla Smith, Elizabeth Haskell, George, Seymour and Ed Cunningham. The funeral was held Wednesday at the Tamarack church, Rev. Beadle officiating and burial was in Lakeside cemetery. --------------------------------- [Lake Odessa Wave-Times, Friday, November 28, 1919] OBITUARY OF MRS. LULA [sic] CUNNINGHAM Lula [sic] Myers, second daughter of George and Polly Myers was born in Eva [Erie] County, New York, September 2nd, 1836, died November 17, 1919, age 83 years, 2 months, 15 days. She was united in marriage to Patrick Cunningham April 30th, 1854, who passed away October 31st, 1900. To this union nine children were born, three dying in infancy. Those who lived to mourn her departure are Edwin, Seymour, George, Mrs. D. Haskell, Mrs. John Smith, and Mrs. E. Lear, twelve grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Lizzie Durkee and Mrs. Anna Curtis of Woodland, two brothers, Frank Myers of Lake Odessa and D. M. Myers of Detroit, Michigan, and a large circle of relatives and friends. She came to this state with her parents when very young, settled in Kalamazoo County, moving to this vicinity when fourteen years old. She endured the hardships of the early pioneer life, living here when this was a vast forest. Deceased was a kind and loving mother and friend to all who knew her and was called upon to care for the sick when doctors were almost unknown in this neighborhood. By this kind act she will be remembered by many. EDWIN CUNNINGHAM [Obituary from the Lake Odessa Wave-Times, Fri., Nov. 12, 1920, pg. 1] OBITUARY Edwin Cunningham was born January 28th, 1859, and passed away Nov. 5th, 1920, at his home in Woodland township, age 61 years, nine months and eight days, spending his entire life in Woodland township. In the month of November 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Ianthie [sic] King. To this union two children were born, one son, Ernest, and one daughter, Valenta, now Mrs. Chas. Kink [sic], who both live near the old home. He was converted during the winter of 1874, at a meeting conducted by Rev. D. H. Shelly, and has since been a faithful member of the United Brethren church, always taking much interest in the choir of the church. Mr. Cunningham will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He was of a happy, sunny disposition, his pleasant smile and hearty laugh, and high christian character will not be forgotten. He was a kind and loving husband and father. He leaves to mourn their loss, a wife, two children, and four grandchildren, also a very large circle of friends. Funeral services were held at the Tamarac church, Sunday afternoon, Rev. V. H. Beardsley officiating, assisted by Rev. I. H. Mourer. Burial was made in Lakeside cemetery. SEYMOUR CUNNINGHAM [The Lake Odessa Wave and ---The Lake Odessa Times, Lake Odessa, Michigan, Wed., May 12, 1926] PASSES SUDDENLY AT DINNER TABLE Seymour Cunningham Apparently Getting Better From a Period of Illness, Expires of Heart Failure The family of Seymour Cunningham were shocked when on last Thursday just as he had finished his dinner he expired of heart trouble. For some time Mr. Cunningham had been poorly and unable to do much but of late his family thought he was getting better when the end came so suddenly. He has lived in his vicinity in the nearby township of Campbell, probably nearly sixty years. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. OBITUARY Seymour Cunningham, son of Patrick and Laura Cunningham was born in Woodland township, Barry County, Michigan, November 13, 1862. Died May 6, 1926, at his home in Campbell Township, Ionia County, age 63 years, 5 months, 23 days. He was united in marriage to Blanche Lovewell, April 25, 189l. To this union were born three children, Celia, Cecil and Phebe. His entire life has been spent in this vicinity. He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife, one son Cecil, near home, two daughters, Mrs. Hugh DeCamp of Imlay City and Mrs. Luman Blount of Grand Haven, five grandchildren, three sisters and one brother George who has been his inseparateable (sic) companion and a great many relatives and friends. He will be remembered as a good man to every one, very generous and of a cheerful disposition. The funeral services were held from the First U.B. church Sunday, 2 P.M., May 9, 1926. Rev. J. A. Blickenstaff officiating, after which the body was laid to rest in the Lake Side cemetery, there to rest until the coming of his Lord and Master. BLANCHE (LOVEWELL) CUNNINGHAM LOCAL WOMAN DIES AT HOME OF DAUGHTER [This was in a scrapbook made by Climena Schaibly, now in possession of George Schaibly of Woodland, MI. It appeared in the "Lake Odessa Wave-Times, Thurs., July 27, 1939] Mrs. Blanch Cunningham, Who Recently Went from Son's Home to Daughter at Imlay City, Buried Tuesday. Mrs. Blanch Cunningham, a resident of Lake Odessa since the death of her husband Seymour Cunningham, until poor health obliged her to spend her last years at the home of her children, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Hugh DeCamp at Imlay City, Saturday. Mrs. Cunningham suffered a stroke about four years ago, since this time she has been in poor health unable to live by herself. The body was brought to the home of the son Cecil, Tuesday morning and the funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at the First U. B. church with the pastor R. E. Uhrig officiating. Burial was at Lakeside. Obituary Blanch Stella Lovewell was born in Campbell township, February 11, 1870 and passed away at the home of her daughter Mrs. Hugh DeCamp in Imlay City, at the age of 69 years, five months and 11 days. She was united in marriage to Seymour Cunningham of Woodland in 1891, who preceded her in death 13 years ago. To this union were born three children, Mrs. Celia DeCamp of Imlay City, Cecil of Lake Odessa, and Mrs. Phoebe Blount of Durand. Nearly her entire life has been spent in and around Lake Odessa. She was always busy and cheerful, willing to help wherever needed. She leaves to mourn their loss the three children, seven grandchildren, one sister Mrs. Eva Sears and one brother Orson of Lake Odessa, also many other relatives and friends. RUTH (WORTLEY) CUNNINGHAM [The Hastings Banner, Wed., March 15, 1978, pg. 2, col. 3] RUTH CUNNINGHAM Mrs. Ruth A. Cunningham, 93, of 7900 Cunningham Road, Lake Odessa, died Sunday evening, March 12, at the Barry County Medical Facility where she had been a patient for one week. Services are to be Thursday at 1:30 PM at the Zion Lutheran Church in Woodland. Rev. Timothy Rothfuss is to officiate with burial in Lakeside Cemetery. She was born December 10, 1884 in Campbell Township, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Lepard) Wortley. She attended Beard School and married Earnest A. Cunningham August 26, 1906, in Lake Odessa. He died May 29, 1955. She worked at the McCartney Grocery store in Lake Odessa for six years prior to her marriage. She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Woodland. Surviving are a son and daughter, Dean and Viola Cunningham of Lake Odessa and three sisters, Mrs. Mary Campbell of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Glendora Sears of Lake Odessa and Mrs. Lelah Lundberg of Flint. She reposes at the Pickens Koops Chapel in Lake Odessa Wednesday evening from 7-9 PM. RONALD S. CUNNINGHAM [The Hastings Banner, Thurs., July 22, 1948, pg. 4, col. 3] RITES FOR CRASH VICTIM TO BE HELD FRIDAY AFTERNOON Funeral services for Ronald S. Cunningham, 23, of R1, Lake Odessa, who was instantly killed Tuesday morning when the truck he was driving rolled over and crashed into a ditch three miles west of Mulliken, will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Evangelical United Brethren church in Lake Odessa. The pastor, Rev. O.L. Heltzel, will officiate and burial will be in Lakeside cemetery. According to Eaton county authorities, Mr. Cunningham lost control of a Lake Odessa Cooperative Company stock truck which rolled over and went into a ditch on a hill. Although the truck was loaded with cattle, only one of the animals was killed. The young man, well known in Barry county and who has been active in Jr. Farm Bureau activities both here and in the Lake Odessa group of which he was president, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Cunningham. In addition to his parents, he is survived by 3 brothers, Dareld, of Lansing, his twin brother, Arnold, of Holt, and Dale, at home. The body will repose at the Pickens funeral home in Lake Odessa until tomorrow morning. TERRY L. CUNNINGHAM [The Hastings Banner, Thurs. Sept. 16, 1982, pg. 5] SPRINGS, TX--Mr. Terry L. Cunningham, 27, of 160 Magic Oaks St., formerly of Lake Odessa, died Friday, Sept. 10 at his home. He was born Feb. 22, 1955 in Hastings, the son of Arnold and Audra (Sears) Cunningham. He was a graduate of Lakewood High School in 1973 and attended Lansing Community College. Mr. Cunningham s survived by his parents; three brothers, Lloyd and wife Diane, Roland, and Alan, all of Lake Odessa; three sisters, Mrs. Thurman (Judy) Howard of Dimondale, Gwen Cunningham of Manchester NH, and Dana Cunningham of Ypsilanti; grandmother, Glendora Sears of Lake Odessa; two nieces and one nephew, and aunts and uncles. Funeral services were held Wed., Sept. 15 at 1:30 PM from the Pickens-Koops Funeral Chapel of Lake Odessa. Rev. James Hulett officiated. Burial was in Lakeside Cemetery. dz