Barry BeDour

Barry BeDour

Mackinac Island resident Barry BeDour, who fought a long battle with leukemia, succumbed early Saturday, March 31, 2007, at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. The 53-year-old owned BeDour Construction, which restored many of the Victorian cottages on the bluffs.

He also served on the Mackinac Island Board of Public Works, was an honored member of the National Home Builders Association, and was active in the Mackinac Island Ski Club. He was also a member of the Mackinac Island Chamber of Commerce.

Flying small aircraft was one of Mr. BeDour's favorite hobbies, and he owned his own plane for many years and was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Mr. BeDour was born September 17, 1953, in Toledo, Ohio to DeVere and Peggy BeDour, both now deceased.

He married Betty Smith on Mackinac Island April 6, 1991, and she survives.

Also surviving are a son, Paul, of Mackinac Island; a daughter, Caralyn, of Belleville; two brothers and their families, Lance and Janice BeDour of Toledo and Wayne and Holly BeDour of Canton; a sister and her family, Penny and Ted Keyser of Harrison; his motherin law, Patricia Smith of Harrison; four sisters-in-law and their families, Victoria and Ray Gleason of Emmett, Patricia Hlubic of Capac, Barbara and Robert Smith of Harrison, and Tammy and Thomas McLaren of Chesterfield Township, and a brotherin law and his family, Robert and Karen Smith of Harrison Township.

The family would like to recognize a surviving friend, Phillip Brock of Tennessee, who donated bone marrow to Mr. BeDour July 23, 2004, to help him recover from leukemia.

A Rosary service was held at Ste. Anne's Catholic Church on Mackinac Island Monday, April 9, at 5 p.m., with a reception following.

A funeral mass was held at Ste. Anne's Tuesday, April 10, at noon with Father Jim Williams officiating.

His ashes will be buried in Ste. Anne's Cemetery later in the spring.

Memorials may be directed to:

University of Michigan Hospital, BMT Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center

Development Office 301 E. Liberty, Suite 400

Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2251

checks to Graft vs. Host Research;

Dr. Jim Fund to provide assistance to adult cancer patients undergoing bone marrow transplants, at the same address as above, checks to Dr. Jim Fund;

or to the Mackinac Island Medical Center.

Envelopes are available from Dodson Funeral Home in St. Ignace, which assisted the family with arrangements.