Joseph Edwards
15806 - Oct. 25, 1971

Bodies Of Missing Covert Men Are Recovered In Lake

HARTFORD - The bodies of two Covert men were recovered Sunday afternoon from Sassafras Lake, two miles north of Hartford, according to the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department.

Ernest Davis, 43, and Joe Edwards, 28, both of M-140, had been missing since they went fishing at 2:30 p.m. last Monday.

Friends of the victims, Johnny Dukes of Battle Creek and Oscar Woody of Covert, found the bodies at 4 p.m. about 20 feet from shore In 10 to 15 feet of water. The men had been using fishing poles with grappling books in an attempt to locate the victims.

Police were first notified by Mrs. Davis on Monday night after her husband failed to show up for an 11 p.m. work shift at a local factory.

On Tuesday morning Van Buren Sheriff's deputies and State Police skin divers located an empty boat, oars, and fish net believed to have been used by the two men. In addition, a jeep registered to Davis had been found parked near the lake.

Edwards was born April 10, 1943 in Pontotoc, Miss. He was employed at National Motors Casting Co. in South Haven. He was an Army veteran and member of the First - Baptist Church of Covert. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; a son, Joseph Jr., at; home; his mother, Ossie Burlington of Covert; two brothers, James Edwards of Holland, Eddie Burton Jr. of Covert; and maternal grandparents, Marl, Smith of Covert and Richard Floyd of Tupelo, Miss.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Finch Funeral Home in Benton Harbor.

Joseph Edwards

COVERT - Funeral services have been scheduled for Joseph Edwards whose body was recovered from Sassafras Lake near Hartford Sunday afternoon. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Covert with the Rev. Sherman McClain officiating.

Burial will be in Covert Cemetery.

Edwards, 28, M-140, Covert, had been missing along with his companion, Ernest Davis, 43, also of Covert, since they went fishing that previous Monday Oct. 25. Funeral services were held today for Davis.

Friends may call at the Finch Funeral Home in Benton Harbor beginning Friday afternoon