Search Archived Marriage Records
Martha Rose
Martha J. (Mahaffey) Rose, 78, of Charlotte, died Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 at the Eaton County Medical Care Facility after a lengthy illness. Mrs. Rose was born June 18, 1929 in McDowell County, West Virginia, the daughter of John E. and Myrtle M. (Stump) Mahaffey and had been a resident of the Lansing and Charlotte area for about 50 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Grat Rose, Jr. in 1984.
Surviving are three children, Linda Sue Sober of Morris, MI, Janice Marie Croll of Charlotte and Frederick (Diane) Rose of Lansing; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and two sisters, Sylvia McPeak of West Virginia and Elsie Bartlebaugh of Ohio.
Cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation.
Private services will be held. Arrangements by Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Barbara Ross
On Monday, January 14, 2008, Barbara Sexton Bannister Ross was released from her cancer and pain leaving her earthly bonds. She bravely battled breast cancer for five years.
She was preceded in death by a son, Michael and a daughter, Terri, her mother Lula May Branner Sexton and youngest sister, Christine Hope Sexton Bellows.
As she continues her journey, she leaves behind her husband Steven Ross and daughters Sandie (Dirk) Griffin and Susan Bannister, Louisville, Kentucky, step-daughter Carissa Ross, Delaware; granddaughters, Kayleigh Griffin, Athena Bannister, Aurora Ross and grandson Nathan Short; brother John (Susan) Sexton, Elberton, Georgia; sisters Katherine McGarry, Eaton Rapids and Marie (Bill) Howe, Bath; nephews Johnny (Kristen) Sexton, Willow Creek, California; Timothy Howe, Holt and Christopher (Susan) Howe, Grand Rapids; John, Steve, James Robert (JR), Phillip McGarry and niece Ann McGarry Griffith, Eaton Rapids; along with special great-nephews Ezra and Elijah Sexton; Jacob and Ryan Howe and great-niece Meredith Howe who loved visiting their Great-Aunt and cousins in Kentucky.
Barbara was born in Bethesda, Md., but after the death of her father, George Norrell Sexton, she and her brother and sisters moved, with their mother to the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home (VFW) where she lived until her graduation from Eaton Rapids High School. She attended MSU and later married Kenneth Bannister. Early in their marriage, they moved to Louisville, Kentucky. While she worked as an admissions counselor, Barbara’s passion for mathematics allowed her to tutor and mentor college students at Spalding and Bellarmine Universities. Kenneth and Barbara divorced in 1984 and in 1986, she married SFC Steven Ross. With Steve, she lived out of the country for a few years and when they came home, Barbara decided to work within the home-schooling community.
She will be missed by many who benefited from her knowledge and passion for learning. Her family will miss her daily hugs and constant reminders that she loved them dearly. She would want everyone to know not to grieve for her, for now she is free and if her parting has left a void, then fill it with remembered joy.
Donald D. Roush
Donald D. Roush, a long-time resident of the Bellevue and Olivet area, passed away Aug. 22, 2008.
A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at the First Baptist Church, 122 S. Main, Bellevue.
Margaret Rowland
Margaret Elizabeth Rowland, 98, of Hastings and Gun Lake, passed away Monday, Dec. 29, 2008 at Woodlawn Meadows in Hastings. Margaret was born Dec. 20, 1910 in Marshall, MI, the daughter of Claude S. and Blanche M. (Long) Weaver.
She attended grade school and high school in Lansing. She married Sherman Rowland in 1939 and they moved to Charlotte from Lansing in 1952. Margaret and Sherman co-owned from 1957-1968 Rowland-Partridge Ford Dealership in Charlotte, where she worked in the office for several years. They also co-owned VanSickle-Rowland Ford in 9152. Margaret was a volunteer for the American Red Cross at Hayes Green Beach Hospital in Charlotte. In 1970, she retired with her husband Sherman to Gun Lake and lived there for 35 years. Sherman died in 1991.
She is survived by her daughter, Pamela (Gene) Bacher of Vienna, VA; and granddaughter, Emily Bacher of Atlanta, GA. Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009 at the Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings with Pastor Robert Clinton officiating. Burial was at Evergreen Cemetery in Lansing.
Memorials can be made to the Barry County Humane Society, P.O. Box 386 Hastings, MI 49058. Arrangements by the Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings. You may leave a message or memory to the family at girrbachfuneralhome.net.
Milton “Milt” Royston
Milton “Milt” Royston, age 84, of Eaton Rapids died Friday, April 18, 2008 at the Eaton Community Hospice in Charlotte. He was born December 28, 1923 in Lansing the son of Milton and Alma (Tadi) Royston Sr. Mr. Royston served in the Navy during WWII as a Sea Bee stationed at the Meriana Islands in the South Pacific. He retired from the City of Lansing with Parks and Recreation after 29 years of service. Milt enjoyed woodworking, mowing and was a sports enthusiast. Preceding him in death was a brother, William Royston.
Surviving are his wife of 42 years, Pauline; 2 daughters, Coreen (William) Harder of Springport and Sandra (Omer) Tekin of Okemos; 4 grandchildren, Stephanie and Bill Harder and Belin and Sera Tekin; brother, Richard (Lillian) Royston of Eaton Rapids and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 22nd at 11:00 a.m. from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids with burial following in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Lansing.
Shannon Royston
Shannon Vee Royston, 20, of Charlotte, died Thursday evening, April 17, 2008 as a result of an automobile accident. Shannon was born Oct. 15, 1987 in Lansing.
While attending Maple Valley High School, she was active in F.F.A., band and basketball. Shannon was currently employed at Twenty-first Century Plastics in Potterville and Arby’s in Charlotte.
Surviving are her mother, Robin (Frederic) Rodriguez of Bellevue; father, Ricky Royston of Florida; brothers and sisters, Andrew Royston of Kalamazoo, Samuel Royston of charlotte, Alecia (William) Priesman of Eaton Rapids and Ashley Rodriguez of Nashville, Jeffrey Rodriguez of Arizona and Crista (Nick) Kibby of Holt; grandparents, James (Joyce) Lott of Tennessee, Ila Mae Royston of Florida, Charles Halsey of Charlotte and John and Mary Rodriguez of Wayland; aunt, Pamela Nierenberger of Jackson, Tennessee, two nieces and several cousins.
Services were held Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at Barker-Leik Funeral Home, Mulliken, with Dr. David R. MacDonald of Abundant Life Ministries officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Maple Valley High School – Scholarship Fund in her memory.
David Rugg
David H. Rugg, 81, of Vermontville, passed away Monday, July 28, 2008 peacefully at his home. David was born in Battle Creek, MI on Dec. 10, 1926, the son of the late Ora and Kathrine (Tesch) Rugg. He was raised in the Climax and Battle Creek areas and attended area schools there.
He was the widower of Elizabeth M. (Crago) Rugg. The couple made their home together on the family farm in Vermontville which they worked until moving into town in 1969. Together with his beloved wife and their family, the couple loved to spend time at Sugar Island. Elizabeth passed away in July 1987.
David served in the U.S. Army achieving the rank of corporal. He served in Germany with the 10th Constabulary Regiment as a squad leader of a four-man horse squad which patrolled the border maintaining security and raiding black market and underground activities. He was responsible for the condition of the men, horses and equipment in his squad. While serving in Germany he was decorated with the Victory Medal and Army of Occupation Ribbon – Germany.
David worked as a logger, and at the age of ;78 was teaching his grandchildren his trade. In his earlier years he also worked the family farm.
David was always ready for a game of Euchre or Cribbage and looked forward to the Saturday night family poker nights. David enjoyed spending time with his brothers, sisters and other family members visiting the various Michigan Casinos. When he was younger he loved to participate in pony pulling events and still enjoyed watching horse racing with his family as he got older. He also enjoyed fishing at his daughters pond; even when his health deteriorated, David’s grandchildren would help him get set up for a few hours of fishing.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth (Mary) who passed away in 1987; his sons, Gordon and Mark; grandson, Lloyd; nine brothers and four sisters.
David is survived by his four daughters, Michele Schaffer, Sheila (Steve) McDiarmid, Helen (Patrick) Diamond, and Toni Rugg; five sons, Terry (Lorry) Rugg, Darrel Rugg, Mike (Sharon) Rugg, Ed (Karen) Rugg, Brian Rugg; two sisters, Clara Rathburn, Henrietta Hamacher; two brothers, Bob Rugg, Max Rugg; 27 grandchildren, Mary (Brad), Cindy (Troy), Willis (Karrie), Amanda (Steve), Jamie (Steve), Dan (Becky), Vickie, Sarah, Erin (Jake), Kerri (Lester), Edwin II, Alicia, Tara, Christopher, Tonya (Chris), Steven, Jarrod, Stephanie, April, Teri (tony), Mark (Heidi), Jeff, Dustin, Melisa, Michelle, Jenny, Ryan; 27 great grandchildren, Nicole, Samantha, Tyler, Clayton, Sara, Rachelle, Jayson, Katie, Steven, Brenden, Sara, Patrick, Jakob, Parker, Brenna, Kenzie, Alexander, Jennifer, Summer, Brandan, Dylan, Dakota, DylanJay, Marissa, Landon, Ian, and Adam; and eight great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the Daniels Funeral Home, Nashville, MI, on Thursday, July 31, with Rev. Don Francis officiating. Interment took place immediately following the funeral service at Woodlawn Cemetery in Vermontville.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville.
Katy Ruhf
Katy Ruhf, 51, of Potterville, died Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008. Mrs. Ruhf was born Feb. 12, 1956 in Lansing, the daughter of Martin and Esther Shellito.
Katy was very proud to be a volunteer at school covering many positions with various teachers, and special education aide. She loved to crochet and do craft projects, and her biggest gift was that she loved to help others.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Martin.
She is survived by her husband, Earl; children, Eric (Ashley) Ruhf of Lansing, and Daniel (Jackie) Ruhf of California; four grandchildren, Brendon, Collin, Kaydence, Sebastian and the fifth grandchild is expected in March; sisters, Mary Stampski, Marjorie Christle, Janet (Dan) Donovon, all of Lansing, and Donna Morgan of Charlotte; and brother, Marvin (Melvia) Shellito of Houghton Lake.
Funeral services were held Jan. 9, 2008 at Church of Jesus Christ of LDS with President Dave Judd officiating. Interment was in Benton Township Cemetery.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association.
Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Beatrice Russell
Beatrice L. (Bea) Russell, 94, of Bellevue, died Sept. 27, 2008 at her daughter’s home. She was born June 3, 1914, in Ann Arbor, MI, the daughter of Freeman and Elsie (Cook) Samson.
Beatrice graduated from Mendon High School in 1932 and was active in the Mendon Girl Scouts and United Methodist Church. She married Lawrence K. Russell of Schoolcraft in November of 1933. They moved to Bellevue and she lived in the same house for 75 years.
Bea recently received the Golden Cane Award from the Bellevue Lion’s Club because she was the oldest female in the Village of Bellevue. She also was the oldest member of the congregation of Bellevue Christian Center (formerly Bellevue Assembly of God). She attended for 69 years. She helped with the Sunday School, belonged to The Women’s Missionary Society and served on the Kitchen Committee for 35 years.
Bea loved flowers. She loved to grow and arrange them into bouquets and centerpieces. She loved pretty things and had an artistic eye. Her house was always decorated at holiday times. She was also proud of her vegetable garden. Bea was an excellent housekeeper. She kept the homes of many Bellevue residents clean and organized. Bea had a twinkle in her eye and a smile that warmed the hearts of her friends. She will be missed.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence; brothers, Floyd, Freeman, and Forrest Samson and a sister, Maxine (Samson) Mitchell.
Beatrice is survived by children, Joyce Russell of Bellevue and James (Jim) Russell of Sioux Falls, SD; special friends, sister-in-law, Mildred Russell of Mendon and Betty Harrison of Bellevue. She also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins and her kind friends from Bellevue Christina Center and Bellevue United Methodist Church.
Funeral services were held Friday, Oct. 3, 2008 at Bellevue Christina Center with Pastor Danesh Manik officiating. Interment, Riverside Cemetery, Bellevue.
Memorials may go to Bellevue Christina Center or Bellevue Scholarship Fund. The family is being served by Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue.
