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Event

Percy James Buster Elms dies at 92, 2011

Also Percy James Buster Elms obituary 2011

Draft — sources verified, prose evolving

TypeEvent
Date2011-12-30
WithinBeaver Island
ErasModern era
On this page
Event
Date
2011-12-30
Kind
Death
Eras
Modern era
Concepts
deathmaritimemilitaryreligionfamily
Within
Beaver Island

Summary

The February 2012 Beaver Beacon remembers Percy James (Jim) “Buster” Elms, who died December 30, 2011, at age 92. The obituary connects his World War II Coast Guard service on Beaver Island with his marriage to Rita LaFreniere and his later Beaver Island community ties.

Evidence limits

This record follows the obituary and does not infer a burial place or complete service history.

Sources

  1. Family/community posts report Percy James (Buster) Elms' death on December 30, reproduce a Holland Sentinel obituary, and preserve local memories of him and Rita working in the Ludington dock office. The forum copy supports the date and family/community context; the held Beaver Beacon remains the stronger source for his Beaver Island history.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 04 · t004460
  2. The notice announces a funeral Mass at Holy Cross Church, burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, and a luncheon at Holy Cross Hall. It is a community logistics notice; it does not independently establish the identity of the deceased beyond the notice or document attendance.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 05 · t005054
  3. Beaver Beacon, February 2012, "In Memory: Buster Elms."
    Reports that Percy James (Jim) Elms, age 92, died December 30, 2011, served in the Coast Guard on Beaver Island during World War II, met Rita LaFreniere, married her on Beaver Island on July 23, 1942, and was connected with Shillelagh and Holy Cross Church. No public copy of this file is known; the archive holds one and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 2012-02_Beaver-Beacon
  4. The held February issue scan confirms the obituary and Beaver Island connections.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 2012-02_Beaver-Beacon

Added 6 August 2026. Recent changes

Cite this article

Beaver Island Archive, “Percy James Buster Elms dies at 92, 2011”, https://beaverislandarchive.org/events/beaver-island-buster-elms-death-2011/, accessed [date], citing Beaver Island Forum, “Buster Elms RIP,” December 31, 2011–January 4, 2012. (and 3 further sources listed on the page).

Last revised 2026-08-06. Fill in [date] with the date you read it — this page is static and cannot know that.

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