Arthur Luther Covell

Arthur L. Covell, 100, of Kingsley passed away early Saturday morning at his home. Arthur was born February 26, 1919 in Carversville, Pennsylvania. The son of Fay and Lillis (Halbert) Covell. On September 1, 1940 in Trenton, New Jersey, he married the former Mary Fink who preceded him in death June 12, 2012. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Alfred and Leslie Covell and his daughter, Debra Poston. "Art", as he always referred to himself, was raised in Trenton, New Jersey and in his early years was employed by American Steel and Wire Company in Trenton, where in addition to his work there, made lifelong friends, Walter and Eleanor Sayre. No matter where geography would change in the future, they remained friends with them and their family throughout their lives.

Although gainfully employed at American Steel, he felt that he had a different calling. A member of the Trenton Seventh-Day Adventist Church, he was very active in the Lay Ministries of the church, but felt he needed to take it further, thus pursuing his ultimate career as an ordained minister. He served two churches in Perth Amboy and Jersey City, New Jersey prior to moving to Michigan in 1963. During his Ministry in Michigan, he has served churches in Coldwater, Burlington, Jackson, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing. His final appointment was Director of Personal Ministries for the Michigan Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, from which he retired in 1984. He has been a member of the of the Traverse City Seventh Day Adventist church since that time. His retirement was short lived as he was called on to various churches as interim pastor over a period of several years. He and Mary also assisted their sons who at the time owned Covell Funeral Homes in Traverse City, Elk Rapids, and Kingsley.

Surviving are two sons, Douglas Covell of Bradenton, FL and Dennis (Ann) Covell of Kingsley; six grandchildren, David Covell of Los Angeles, CA, Daniel (Natali) Covell of Las Vegas, NV, Cassidy (Rosa) Covell of Ellenton, FL, Nikole (Paul) Channels of Hudson, MI, Thomas (Patrice) Stebner of San Tan Valley, AZ, and Kenneth Stebner of Traverse City; four great-grandchildren, Morgan Channels of Jupiter, FL, Ben and Mark Channels of Hudson, MI, and Debra Stebner of San Tan Valley, AZ.

We wish to extend special thanks to nurse Kitty and the entire Heartland Hospice team for their extraordinary care and assistance with caring for our father.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, August 7, at the Traverse City Seventh Day Adventist Church located at the corner of Hammond and Four Mile Rd. with Pastor Jeff Akenberger and Pastor Wes Peppers officiating. Burial will follow at the Barnum Cemetery, Mayfield. Visitation will be from 4-8 pm Tuesday at the Covell Funeral Home, Kingsley, and at the church Wednesday from 10 am until time of services.