Finding a name in the Bay City Times obits is about a lot more than just checking a date. It’s about a community’s memory. For folks in Bay County, those tiny columns of text are essentially the final draft of a life story, printed for everyone to see.
Honestly, the way we find these records has changed a ton lately. You used to just walk to the end of the driveway and snap the rubber band off the Sunday paper. Now? It’s a mix of digital archives, social media shares, and legacy websites. It’s kind of a mess if you don’t know where to look.
Where the Bay City Times Obits Actually Live Now
If you're looking for someone who passed away recently, like within the last few days or weeks, you’re almost certainly going to end up on MLive. They own the Bay City Times now. It’s part of that big Advance Local network that covers most of Michigan.
They’ve got a dedicated section for "Today’s Bay City Times Obituaries." It’s updated constantly. You can filter by the last 24 hours, the last week, or even search specifically by a last name. It’s efficient, but it feels a bit more corporate than the old days.
Most of these digital notices are actually powered by Legacy.com. That’s why you’ll see the same layout whether you’re looking at a notice in Bay City or all the way over in Grand Rapids. The cool thing about the digital shift is the guest books. People from twenty years ago can pop in and leave a note.
But what if you need the old stuff?
📖 Related: The Galveston Hurricane 1900 Orphanage Story Is More Tragic Than You Realized
Digging Into the Deep Archives
Let’s say you’re doing genealogy. You aren't looking for a notice from 2026; you need something from 1954 or 1890. The Bay City Times has been around since 1873. That is a massive amount of paper.
GenealogyBank and the Paywall Struggle
For the serious history hunters, GenealogyBank is basically the gold standard for Bay City records. They claim to have digitized over 330 years of newspaper history across the U.S., and their Bay City Times collection is pretty deep.
You’ve gotta pay for it, though. That’s the catch.
The Local Library Hack
If you’re local or can make a trip, the Bay County Library System is your best friend. They have microfilm. Yes, it’s old school. Yes, it makes your eyes hurt after twenty minutes. But it’s the most authentic way to see the "Bay City Times obits" exactly as they appeared to people generations ago.
- Alice & Jack Wirt Public Library: This is the main hub in downtown Bay City.
- Sage Branch: Over on the West Side, they’ve got great local history resources too.
The librarians there are honestly wizards. They know how to navigate the index files that aren't even on Google yet.
👉 See also: Why the Air France Crash Toronto Miracle Still Changes How We Fly
How to Submit a Notice Without Losing Your Mind
If you’re the one tasked with writing an obituary, it can feel incredibly heavy. You're grieving, and now you have to be an editor.
The process for the Bay City Times usually goes through the funeral home. Places like Gephart Funeral Home or Trahan Funeral Chapel handle the logistics for you. They have direct portals to MLive.
If you're doing it yourself?
- Go to the MLive/Legacy submission portal.
- Verify the death. They won't just print anything; they usually need a death certificate or a call to the mortuary to make sure it's real.
- Watch the word count. These things get expensive fast.
The current starting price for a basic notice in the Bay City Times is around $230. That includes the print run and a permanent online memorial. If you want photos or multiple days of printing, that price climbs pretty quickly.
Common Mistakes People Make When Searching
I see people get frustrated all the time because they can't find a record. Usually, it's a simple fix.
✨ Don't miss: Robert Hanssen: What Most People Get Wrong About the FBI's Most Damaging Spy
Misspellings are the number one killer. Back in the day, names were often taken over the phone. "Smithe" becomes "Smith." "Mac" becomes "Mc." If you can't find someone, try just the first few letters of the last name.
Check the "Saginaw News" too. Because the papers are sister publications, sometimes an obituary for someone who lived in Zilwaukee or Essexville might end up in the Saginaw edition instead of the Bay City one. They share a lot of the same staff and coverage area now.
Also, remember that the print schedule isn't daily anymore. The Bay City Times prints on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. If you’re looking for a physical paper, those are your windows.
Actionable Steps for Your Search
If you need to find a record right now, don't just wander around Google. Use this sequence:
- Start at MLive.com/obituaries/baycity. This is the fastest way for anything from the last year.
- Search by the funeral home name. Often, the funeral home website (like Squires or Stapish Cederberg) will have the full text for free before it even hits the newspaper.
- Use the "Place Search" on FamilySearch. It’s a free tool that can point you toward where specific obituary records are housed if they’ve been indexed by volunteers.
- Call the Sage Branch Library. If you are stuck on a record from the 1900s, their local history department can sometimes do a quick look-up for you if you have a specific date.
The Bay City Times obits are a bridge to the past. Whether you're mourning a friend or tracing a great-great-grandfather who worked the lumber yards, these records are the heartbeat of the valley. Keep the search simple, double-check the spelling, and don't be afraid to use the library's microfilm if the digital world fails you.