Brevort
By Lois Movalson 292-5581

Wednesday, January 10, friends, family, and neighbors gathered at Trinity Lutheran Church to bid Curt "Casey" Coffey a sad farewell. The church was filled. Casey's cousin, Aaron Dodge, gave a heartrending eulogy, remembering the many things Casey meant to him and to all of us who knew him well and loved him. We will miss him.

How do you like it now? White stuff falling, and now this Monday afternoon, January 15, starting to blow about. Many of the neighbors must have been out and about this morning shoveling and plowing, as not many were home when I called.

Congratulations to the Saints boys basketball team on the win Friday evening over Rudyard. I've enjoyed sitting next to Cindy Nelson on the top row of the bleachers the past few games. She and her husband, Jim Nelson, will be leaving for their home in Arizona next week.

Donna Cryderman informed me that Chris Hagen has been a top row fan for more than 13 years.

The fans certainly enjoy the pep band and the dancers. It gives us a relaxing period before the fastpaced action begins with the basketball game.

Joe Chalmers was walking his white furry dog, Coco, Saturday, January 13. She sure showed up against the grass. Today she would be almost invisible in the fresh snowfall.

Get well wishes go out to Sally Conklin of Shelby Township and the condominiums. Lara Gustafson underwent surgery Monday at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey. Get well soon.

Crystal Giordani will be starting back to school this coming week at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey.

Dot Glashaw traveled to Grand Rapids last week. She visited with her brother, Jack, and they attended funerals of friends who had passed away.

I think all the business people here in the village and the surrounding area are happy to see the snow. Bring on those snowmobiles. Hopefully, ice will be made on Big Brevoort Lake for the ice-fishing enthusiasts.

Jamica Diamond and Gary Revord are working this winter on replenishing their inventory for the upcoming season.

Sharon and Kenny Smith are home from a month-long vacation visiting all of their children. First stop was Mindy Smith in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grandson Brian Sullivan, 19. It was then on to Kansas City, Missouri, for a couple of days with Carol Faye and John Watson. Sharon informed me they were ahead of all the terrible weather, no matter where they went. The next stop was Denver, Colorado, where Mark and Jennifer Smith live with Logan, Jacy, and Emily, who are all eight years old. After an overnight stay in Albuquerque, New Mexico, they arrived at the home of Tom and Lisa and their daughter, Elizabeth, in Tucson, Arizona, for a two-week stay. They celebrated Christmas with them. Tom's son, Ryan Smith, flew down from New Hampshire for the holidays. Ryan is 17 years old. Sharon and Ken toured the Davis-Monthan Air Base that brought back memories of living on base while Kenny was in the U.S. Air Force. On the way home to Michigan, they stopped by many other air bases. Nostalgia was really kicking in.

Kurt Knowles bought a pair of ice skates during Thanksgiving and finally had a chance to use them in the past few days. Kurt found some ponds on the beach to try out the skates. He can't play hockey, but skated long enough that the ankles were sore the next day. You go, Kurt.

Happy birthday to Thora Shepard January 10. Family and friends celebrated with a dinner out. Mike and Helena Shepard and family, Mike and Lara Gustafson with their daughters, Morgan and Kristi, and Denny White all joined them.

Thora and Jack Shepard are dogsitting for Bear and Fisher Foster/ Truman this week. They're the pets of Pattie Truman and Melissa Foster.

Please keep Alicia Garen, her brother, Cole, and her parents, Nicole and George, in your prayers. Alicia, 9, has undergone bone marrow transplant surgery at DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids. Cole, the donor, is 11. Please keep this family in your thoughts. Alicia will be hospitalized for quite some time.

Happy birthday to former Brevort resident Joe van Troostenburghe of Rotunda, Florida, and to Levi Rogers January 23.

Tracy Movalson of Neenah, Wisconsin, was home last week for the Coffey funeral. While here, she attended the Saints basketball game at Cedarville and the Rudyard game in St. Ignace.