Dale Bryant

Dale Eugene Bryant, Sr., 84, of Benton Harbor, passed away Monday, November 21, 2016 at his home after an extended illness. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2:00 PM. Monday, November 28, 2016 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph with Rev. Greg Gordon officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens. Friends may visit from 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. Monday, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Service, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home. Those wishing to share a memory of Dale online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Dale was born October 10, 1932 in Dowagiac, MI to Chelsea and Eva (Pompey) Bryant. He attended school in Dowagiac and left to enlist in the Army in August 1950, serving in the Korean Conflict after which he was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat. Returning to Michigan he began working as a short-order cook at Chicken Charlie’s in Kalamazoo, going on to become head chef at Diamond Harbor Inn in Cassopolis MI and later at Point O’ Woods Country Club in Benton Harbor, MI. While at Point O’ Woods he served up-and-coming golf celebrities playing in the annual Western Amateur Tournament; Ben Crenshaw, Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, Tiger Woods, and Michael Jordon as well as boxing legend Muhammad Ali. After retiring from Point O’ Woods he served as head chef at the Round Oak in Dowagiac, MI. On the weekends, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing and always enjoyed feeding people no matter the setting, even catering the weddings of his children. He was a member of the Korean Vets of Berrien County, VFW Post 1137 Benton Harbor, MI, and the American Culinary Federation Southwest Michigan Chapter through which he earned a variety of medals and awards for his culinary skills. He married Yvonne (Willson) Bryant on May 16, 1977 and she survives. He is also survived by sons Dale (Lisa) Bryant, Jr. and Ricky Bryant of Decatur, MI, Jerry (Gwen) Bryant of Edmund, OK; daughter Ferlonda Evans of Decatur, MI; stepsons Gregg (Shelley) Gleason of Dowagiac, MI and Doug Gleason of Arizona; a brother Paul Bryant of Covert, MI; 15 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two daughters Julie Bryant and Dianna Bryant; two grandchildren Tamika Bryant and Abram Evans; sisters Carol Ivens, Barbara Nickles and Wanda Wares; brothers Gordon Bryant and Richard Bryant.