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Russell Smith
Russell O. Smith, 92, of Vermontville, passed away Monday, Dec. 14, 2009 at his Vermontville home.
Russell was born in Vermontville on Dec. 16, 1916, the son of the late Frank B. and Sarah (Snore) Smith.
Russell was raised in the Vermontville area and attended Vermontville and Nashville Public Schools, graduating from W.K. Kellogg High School in 1933.
Russell began his working career working his family farm in Vermontville.
He later took over his father’s bus driving position with Nashville Schools.
In the early 1960’s, Russell began working in the custodial department where he faithfully served for 20 years before retiring in 1980.
He was the husband of Mary (Dillenbeck) Smith. The couple was married on June 22, 1941 at the Kilpatrick United Brethren Church in Woodland, Mich.
The couple made their home on Russell’s family farm in Vermontville where they raised their family together.
The couple has been married for over 68 years.
Russell loved to help others. His work ethic was more than evident in his willingness to help anyone who was in need.
After Russell retired in 1980, he and his wife Mary spent their winters together volunteering at the Youth Haven Ranch in Picacho, Ariz., where Russell contributed to countless hours doing volunteer work.
His volunteer work was not limited to just the winters; his summers in Michigan were spent volunteering his skills at Vermontville Bible Church, Youth Haven Ranch in Michigan, and the Ao-Wa-Kyia camps in Stoney Point, Mich.
Russell is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Mary; a daughter, Carolyn (Larry) Trumble; his sons, Doug (Sue) Smith, Donald (Joan) Smith, Dave (Sheryl) Smith, Duane (Rebecca) Smith; a foster son, John (Isla) Harris; four sisters, Marie Fisher, Madeline Davidson, Donna (Louis) Hickey, Sharon Helliwell; a brother, J. Edgar (Sandy) Smith; 13 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at The Vermontville Bible Church, in Vermontville, on Thursday, Dec. 17, with Pastor Daniel Smith officiating.
A private family interment took place immediately following the funeral service Hosmer Cemetery, Nashville.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Youth Haven Ranch 2796 Perrine Road, PO Box 97 Rives Junctions, MI 49277.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville.
Visit their web site at www.danielsfuneralhome.net for further details.
Marion Spence
Marion Champion Spence, 92, of Duck Lake, Mich., passed away Sept. 13, 2009 at Eaton community Hospice Home in Charlotte. She was born Jan. 26, 1917 in Luverne, Minn., to Ole and Maude (Brockway) Berg.
She was married to Donald Ellsworth Champion in Chicago, Ill., and later married George Franklin Spence Aug. 26, 1979 at Duck Lake. He preceded her in death June 15, 1988. She came to the Albion area in 1948. She was a WWII Army Nurse and later worked as a Registered Nurse in Chicago Illinois and in Albion at Sheldon Memorial Hospital and Albion Community Hospital and later at Tendercare of Marshall working until she was 80 years old. She is a member of the Olivet Congregational Church, Duck Lake Country Club, and the Duck Lake Association. She did volunteer work for the Red Cross at their Blood Drives. She enjoyed gardening, growing roses and antiquing. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by son-in-law, Ivan Sheets; and one sister, Florence Blinsmon.
She is survived by two daughters, Patricia Sheets of Olivet, Cathy (Dean) Williams of Shaftsburg, Mich.; four grandchildren, Heather and Jason (Abbie) Sheets, Stacey and Stephanie Williams; cousin, Terry (Mischelle) Blinsmon of Siler City, NC. Funeral services were held Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 at the J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home in Albion, Mich. with Rev. Jack Brown officiating. Burial followed at Clarence Center Cemetery, Clarence Township, Mich. The family requests that memorial contributions may be made to Olivet Congregational Church or Eaton Community Hospice Home. Assistance is available at the funeral home (www.kevintiddfuneralhome.com).
Eleanor Spotts
Eleanor Mary Spotts, 85, of Charlotte, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. Mrs. Spotts was born April 28, 1924 in Kalamo Township, the daughter of John and Emily (Robertson) Haley.
Mrs. Spotts worked as a telephone operator and later on the assembly line of Hoover/Aluminum Extrusions and she worked on the family farm.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Spotts in 1994.
She is survived by her sons, Russell Gary Spotts and David (Nancy) Spotts; daughter, Sandy Cook all of Charlotte; nine grandchildren, Jason Spotts, Garrett Spotts, Cara Spotts, Craig (Tiffany) Spotts, Darrick (April) Spotts, Alex (Julie) Cook, Jennifer Cook, Rachel (Corey) Church and Brad Cook; brothers, James Haley of Eaton Rapids, Louie (Gaynell) Haley of Charlotte, John (Pat) Haley Jr., Michael (Carolyn) Haley of Charlotte and sister, Josephine Roberts of Jenison.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 at Pray Funeral Home with Pastor Karen Wheat officiating. Interment was at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Hospice House. Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.prayfuneral.com.
Tabitha Ann Stanton
Tabitha Ann Stanton, born on Nov. 28, 1991, in Hohenberg, Germany, was sent to heaven to be with her Min-a-Maw and Gi-Gi Bob on Sept. 19, 2009 in Lansing.
Tabitha is preceded in death by Delores Bryan, Judy Medlock, Eleanor and Robert Bryan, Ron Romanek and Lawrence and Janine Brown.
Words cannot express how much Tabitha will be missed by her loving parents, Todd and Kathleen “Kate” Jo (DeFeyter) Stanton; siblings, Samantha and Zane; KaSandra (Aunt San) and Uncle Scott Ackley; cousin, Jacob DeFeyter.
Additional family members; Uncle Ron and Aunt Patty Norman; Mark, Laura and Judy Farone; Jack, Kelly, Trae and Van Norman; Aunt Nancy Romanek; grandparents, Nancy and Emmett Hoyland, and Howard and Sherry Medlock; grandfather, Richard Stanton; Uncle Scott Stanton and cousins, Natasha, Amber and Tyler; The Fabbo Family, Marc, Vickey, Joe and Chloe; the “Hogtons”, Paxton, Toby, Derek, Makenna, Parker and Karsyn Hoggard.
Tabitha had just begun her senior year of high school at Potterville. She was attending CAHEP classes to pursue a career in nursing after graduating in June 2010, was class president, fifth grade camp counselor and on homecoming court. Her precious life was taken at the tender and innocent age of 17.
To know Tabitha is to love her. More than anything, Tabitha loved her family and loved spending time with them. Tabitha was a daughter, sister, cousin, mother to all children and friend to everyone she met. Tabitha made lifelong friends during her time playing volleyball and softball throughout the years.
Heaven is a better place now that they have an angel like Tabitha. What she has shown us in 17 years takes others a lifetime to learn. Funeral services were Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 at Potterville High School with Reverend Rebecca Morrison officiating. Interment was in Benton Township Cemetery, Potterville.
The family would like to thank the Potterville Community for their on-going support and love that they have given the family. If desired, memorial contributions can be made to the Potterville United Methodist Church - Tabitha Stanton Scholarship Fund.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.prayfuneral.com.
Audrey Starr
Audrey Starr, 61, of Charlotte, died Tuesday, June 23, 2009. She was born Feb. 22, 1948 in Hastings, the daughter of Elam and Doris (Gusey) Rockwell. Audrey grew up in the Vermontville area and graduated as Valedictorian from Maple Valley High School in 1966.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years, David; sons, Shawn (Kellie Smith) Starr of Mason and Damian (Kelly) Starr of Howell; sisters-in-law; Diane Rockwell; Laurel (Joe) Pray and Jeannette Sommer; brothers-in-law, Jerry (Fern) Starr, Arthur (Gail) Starr; nephew, Kevin (Michelle) Rockwell and many other nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Elam “Rocky” Rockwell in 2005.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte, with Rev. Father Denis Spitzley officiating. Interment will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte, MI.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter. Arrangements were made by Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.prayfuneral.com.
Russell Steinman
Russell M. Steinman, 86, formerly of Ellenton, Fla., passed away on Aug. 22, 2009 in Perrysburg, Ohio. He was born in Buckley, Ill., on Feb. 16, 1923 to Delmar and Flora (Mileham) Steinman.
Russell grew up in Charlotte and enlisted in the Navy during WWII and was on active duty from 1944-1946 serving in Okinawa; Nansei Shoto, Japan; Philippine Liberation; American Theater and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. He married Joyce Wenger of Battle Creek on Dec. 1, 1946; she preceded him in death. During their marriage, they lived mostly in Michigan and Ohio settling in Toledo, Ohio, during 1964. Russell was employed at Railway Express Agency following the war until it closed in 1975; he retired in 1985 from Bender Loudon Trucking.
He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Lorene Lavengood and Sue Nevins.
He is survived by his children, Sherry (Mike) Ashenfelter, Waterville Ohio; Marvin (Patricia) Steinman, Escondido, Calif.; Thomas (Dung) Steinman, Wheat Ridge, Colo.; and Nancy Alto, Cranford, NJ; brothers, Edwin (Dorothy) Steinman, Chicago, Ill., and Frank Steinman, Avon Ind.; brother-in-law, Gordon (Elaine) Wenger, Ceresco, Mich., and Rex Nevins, Mesa, Ariz.; seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and friend, Joeanna Gulick.
Interment was held at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park, Toledo, Ohio. A celebration of life and lunch is being planned for Saturday, Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Zoar Lutheran Church, 314 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg, Ohio.
Memorial gift suggestions are Hospice of NW Ohio, 30000 River Road, Perrysburg, OH 43551; the American Heart Association; or a charity of choice.
Arrangements by Peinert Funeral Home, Waterville, Ohio.
Garry Stevens
Garry Allen Stevens, 57, of Bellevue, died Nov. 24, 2009 at home. He was born Dec. 27, 1951, the son of Paul and Marjorie (Rundel) Stevens in Marshall.
Garry graduated from Olivet High School and served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa, Japan.
When he returned he worked at Airway Manufacturing in Olivet for 35 years.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, cutting wood and attending has and steam engine shows. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Stevens.
Garry is survived by his wife, Jane (Malley) Stevens of Bellevue; children, Nicole (Matt) Leitch of Portage, Kevin Stevens of Lansing, Heather Stevens of Battle Creek and Heidi Stevens of Bellevue; grandchildren, Karina, Dylan, Chloe, Marissa, Cylee, Carsyn, Kaiden, Seth, Brooklyn, Sylas; his mother, Marjorie Stevens of Onstead; siblings, Norman (Denise) Stevens, Clair Stevens, Lynn (Saundra) Stevens, Maynard (Debbie) Stevens, Ronald Stevens, Sandra (Tom) Adams, Janice (Larry) Mahan and Lorraine Stevens; and brother-in-law Dan (Sue) Malley of Kalamazoo.
Services were held Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 at Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue with Dr. David R. MacDonald, Abundant Life Fellowship, officiating. Memorial donations may go to the family.
The family is being served by Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue.
Thomas “Tom” R. Steward
Thomas “Tom” R. Steward of Eaton Rapids, MI, age 55 died Thursday, December 17, 2009 at the Ingham Regional Medical Center with his family by his bedside. Born May 26, 1954 in Hastings, Michigan the son of Arthur and Betty (Wight) Steward. Tom served 19 years with the Department of Corrections as Food Service Director for the State of Michigan and had to retire from the State Police in Dimondale as Food Service Director with a medical retirement. Tom was a member of the Duck Lake Country Club, an avid golfer, boater, and camper who enjoyed cooking for his family. Tom was the definition of a family man, his life was driven by taking care of and loving his family. His few but significant words touched many even beyond his family. Tom’s ability to love unconditionally was inspirational and unforgettable. He was preceded in death by his sister, Geri Lynn Steward.
He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Sue; children, Annie of Raleigh, NC, Natalie of Eaton Rapids, Wayne of Austin, TX, Christopher of Eaton Rapids, John of Eaton Rapids and Lisa (Nathan) Pray of Dimondale; grandchild, Esek Pray; parents, Arthur and Betty Steward of Hastings; brother, Steven (Debbie) Steward of Hastings; and numerous nieces and nephews; Tom’s best friend and loyal companion, his dog Lucy.
Funeral services for Tom were held Sunday, December 20, 2009 from the Skinner Funeral Home at 315 S. River St. Eaton Rapids, MI 48827. For online condolences go to www.SkinnerFuneralHome.com.
Paul Timothy Strefling
Paul Timothy Strefling, age 19 of Eaton Rapids died Sunday, April 19, 2009 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Friday evening in Lansing Township.
He was born April 11, 1990 in Mishawaka, Indiana, the son of Timothy Strefling and Theresa Young. Paul lived at the VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids, and was a graduated of the Eaton Rapids High School, class of 2008. Paul had recently worked as a clerk for Quality Dairy in Eaton Rapids and was currently working for McDonald’s in Eaton Rapids.
Surviving are his mother, Theresa Strefling of Wayland; sister, Marie Strefling of Eaton Rapids; father, Timothy Strefling; several aunts, uncles and cousins and many friends.
Memorial services will be Tuesday evening, April 28th at 7:00 p.m. at the VFW National Home Auditorium at 3573 S. Waverly Rd. in Eaton Rapids with Rev. Marty DeBow, officiating.
