Baylas C. Bright

Baylas C. “Mike” Bright, 84, died Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 7:00 pm at his home in Bristol.

He was born February 22, 1925 in Muncie, IN to Vergie Bright. He married Jewel P. Nichols on November 24, 1951 in Jolietville, IN. She died February 12, 1987. He is survived by 2 daughters, Bonnie (Clyde) Barrett of LaGrange, IN, and Bobbi Morris of Beverly Hills, FL; 5 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and his companion Arlene “Shorty” Hutton of Elkhart.

Following his retirement from Adams & Westlake as a locksmith, Mr. Bright worked for Lux Company as a driver. For the past 15 years, he worked at Boardwalk Studios in Bristol. He was an avid fisherman and a pilot, building his own airplanes and ultra-lites. He was a member of Air Aviation and flew out of Midway Airport in Goshen. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the US Navy on the USS Santa Fe.

Visitation will be Sunday from 2-6 pm at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart where funeral services will be held Monday at 1:30 pm. Rev. Lloyd Montgomery will officiate. Military graveside services will be rendered by the US Navy Honor Guard and the DAV #19 at Oakridge Cemetery in Bristol. A dinner for family and friends will immediately follow at the American Legion in Bristol.

Memorials may be given to the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care or the Humane Society of Elkhart County. Visit www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com to sign an online guestbook.