Ardell Mahone

Ardell Mahone, Sr., peacefully departed this earthly life on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. He was born on September 19, 1927 in Gary, Indiana to Thomas and Estella (Ellison) Mahone.
For many years Ardell would come to Covert, Michigan to spend the summers with his friend Joe Knox and his family. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1947. In 1948 he moved to Covert where he met the love of his life, Idella Goodwin. They were married on September 8, 1951 and to this union six children were born.
A
rdell worked at Auto Specialties in St. Joe for 32 years. He retired in 1983 and then worked at South Haven Community Hospital for five years until he fully retired in 1989. He was a member of the Covert Community Church under the leadership of Pastor Alvene Grice.
Ardell was a member of the American Legion for 23 years; he served as finance officer of the American Legion Post 209 and was a current member of the American Legion Post 49. Some of Ardell’s hobbies were boxing, bowling and watching Sledge and the fellas play horseshoes at the Whitfields.
Ardell is preceded in death by his beautiful and loving wife of 35 years: Idella, his parents: Thomas and Estella Mahone; two siblings: Karl Mahone and Lee Ella (Mahone) Cleveland; one grandson: Preston and two great grandchildren: Brandon and Nastachia.
Ardell leaves to cherish his memory six children: Teresa Mahone-Jordan of South Haven, Ardell Mahone II and Debra Martin of Grand Rapids; Velma Cunningham, Jerry Mahone, Sr. and Quentis Mahone, Sr. of South Haven; twenty-five grandchildren: Angelique, D’Andrea’, Tameika, Terry, Christina, Ardell III, April, Shawnte, Justin, Rachell, Christopher, Darnet, Darnell II, Darwin, Jerry II, Jerome, Jermaine, Aaron, Falisha, Quentis II, Chauncey, Ebony, David, Charlene and Wanda; forty-five great grandchildren; extended family members: William and Ida Sledge; one sister: Dorothy Jean Mahone of Atlanta, GA; two daughters-in-law: Eva Mahone of Covert and Debra Lee Mahone of South Haven; one son-in-law: Darnell Cunningham Sr. of South Haven; four sisters-in-law: Betty (Simon) Harrington of South Haven, Pastor Janet Goodwin, Velma Martin Mays, Shirley Wahls-Goodwin of Chicago; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 8, 2008. Family hour will begin at 11:00 a.m. and funeral services will begin at 12:00 noon at Lily of the Valley Church in Covert where Bishop L.C. Berry is Pastor. Elder Darryl Williams will officiate and Elder Simon Harrington of Solomon’s Temple COGIC will do the eulogy. Burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in South Haven.
The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven (637-0333). Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family’s online guest book at www.FilbrandtFFH.com