Search Archived Marriage Records
Gary Lee Skinner
Gary Lee Skinner, 52 of Charlotte, died Saturday, Aug. 18, 2007 at Ingham Medical Hospital in Lansing.
Mr. Skinner was born Nov. 9, 1954 in Elgin, Ill., the son of Robert and Ingrid (Niemi) Skinner. He was a meat cutter by trade, loved cooking, working on computers and working outside. He was an avid sports fan and never gave up on his beloved Chicago Cubs. He married Candalyne Admire on Nov. 15, 2003 and she survives him.
Also surviving are daughter, Tabatha, step-daughters, Meagon, Jennifer (fiance' Mike), Richelle; step-son, Dalton and step-grandson, Jarret; brother, Robert Skinner and sisters, Bobbie Roewer, Sandy Schrieber, Betty Holmes and Debbie Harbison.
A quiet memorial service will be held by the family. Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte. There will be no services.
Harold K. Shipman
Harold K. “Pete” Shipman, age 79, of East Tawas died Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at Tawas St. Joseph Hospital in Tawas City.
He was born in Oakwood March 10, 1928. Mr. Shipman was employed by General Motors Truck & Coach in Pontiac for 15 years. He and his wife Lucille then moved to Charlotte where he worked for Farm Bureau for 20 years retiring as foreman of the plant there in 1990. They lived in Charlotte for 33 years and moved to Arizona in 2003. They then moved to East Tawas in 2006.
Mr. Shipman served in the U.S. Navy for four years during the Korean War. He was an avid softball fan and enjoyed playing softball while he was in the Navy and also when he was employed at General Motors. He had many interests including traveling with his wife.
He was preceded in death by son, Paul in 2005, and brother, Donald.
Surviving are his wife, Lucille; sons, Duane (Nancy) Shipman of Charlotte, Terry Shipman of San Francisco Calif., and Steven (Karen) Shipman of Little Rock, Calif.; six grandchildren; two great grandchildren and sister, Marge (Cal) Pauloski of Sand Lake Heights.
A memorial service was held April 23 at the First Baptist Church in Tawas City with Rev. Rob Nordin officiating. Arrangements by Buresh & Kobs Funeral Home in Tawas.
Viola Shope
Viola Shope, 73, of Lansing, formerly of McMillan, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007. She was a retired supervisor from the Department of Human Services for the State of Michigan.
A graveside service was held Monday, Nov. 12, 2007 at McMillan Township Cemetery. Arrangements were made by Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte.
Thelma Simons
Thelma “Tudie” Corleen Simons, 73, of Charlotte, died June 15. Mrs. Simons was born Aug. 5, 1933 in Charlotte, the daughter of Fred and Beatrice (Paine) Raines.
A retired baker, cook and bartender, Tudie enjoyed spending time with her family, collecting cookbooks, reading mysteries, her flower gardens and bird feeders. In her spare time she also liked to travel.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Jodi.
She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Ronald Simons; and her sons, Aaron Simons of Allen, Texas; John Simons of Clinton Township, MI, and Bruce Robb of Dimondale; and daughter Kim Kramer of Nashville. Also surviving is her brother, John Raines of Charlotte; and sister, Valerie Lass of Dimondale.
Funeral services were held June 19, 2007 at Pray Funeral Home with Pastor Karen Wheat officiating. Interment was in Gresham Cemetery.
Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
John Smalley
John P. Smalley, 77, of Potterville, died March 13, 2007 at the Eaton Community Hospice House, Charlotte. John was born July 28, 1929 in Potterville the son of Kenneth and Merna Smalley and was a lifelong Potterville area resident.
He was a 1948 graduate of Potterville High School and had been employed in engineering at General Motors, Lansing with 51 years of service. He enjoyed hunting deer and pheasants, and his hobby was attending his grandkids’ sporting events.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty (Campbell) Smalley; two daughters, Melody (Jimmy) Townsend of Holt and Christine (Gary) Lake of Mulliken; one son, Steve Smalley of Potterville; five grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and sister, Joan Telchman of Charlotte.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. March 16 at the Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte with Pastor Israel Young officiating. Interment was in the Benton Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may go to the Eaton Community Hospice, Charlotte. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
Keith J. Smith
Keith J. Smith of Eaton Rapids, age 82, died Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007 in Lansing. Keith was born June 6, 1924 in Webberville, the son of James Lynn and Myrtle (Pardee) Smith. Keith was the owner and operator of Smith’s Jewelry Store in Eaton Rapids for many years, a former 32 Degree member of the Eaton Rapids Masonic Lodge #63 F&AM and past president of the Eaton Rapids Kiwanis Club. He was involved in Gideon’s International and sang in the Capitol City Chordsmen.
Survived by his daughter, Linda Strickland of MO; son, Russell (Toni) Smith of Eaton Rapids; 5 grandchildren, Jaye, Andrew and Sammantha Smith, Tyler and Miranda Strickland; sister, Phyllis Anderson of FL; several nieces and nephews and an endeared & devoted nephew, Mark Collins.
A memorial service was held on Monday, Feb. 26, 2007 at the Eaton Rapids Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Dallas McFarland officiating. Those desiring may make contributions to Gideon’s International in memory of Keith Smith. Arrangements are by the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids.
Leland Smith
Leland Frank Smith, 85, of Charlotte, died Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007. Mr. Smith was born March 9, 1922, in Eckford Township, MI, the son of Albert and Florence (Lord) Smith.
He worked as shipping clerk at Aluminum Extrusions for many years until his retirement in 1987. He was also a local farmer, a Jacques seed corn salesman; and owned and operated Smith Cage Layers Poultry Farm for over 20 years. He was a former Board Member for the Ainger Bible Church and was currently a member of the First Baptist Church of Charlotte. He was a regular member of a Thursday morning Prayer Breakfast group.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Wilene Ruth (Haun) Smith; daughter, Susan Ruth Smith; sister, Marguerite Boakes; and brother, George Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Lorena; daughter, Margaret (Loren) Dingman of Cedarville; sons, Richard (Christine) Smith of Nashville and Randy (Claudine) Smith of Battle Creek; stepdaughters, Debra (Jan) Benedict of Nokomis, FL and Sharon (Steven) Elzinga of Hastings; nine grandchildren, nine step-grandchildren; six great grandchildren; seven step-great grandchildren; and brother, Gaylord Smith, of Enid, OK.
Funeral services were held Oct. 24, 2007 at the First Baptist Church, Charlotte, with Rev. Loren Dingman officiating. Interment was in the Bosworth Cemetery in Walton Township, MI.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gull Lake Ministries, Hickory Corners, MI.
Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Loren Richard Smith
Loren Richard Smith, age 58, of Port Orange, FL, passed away June 5, 2007. He was born December 3, 1948, in Chicago, the son of the late George H. and Mary Smith of Eaton Rapids. He was raised in Michigan where he graduated from Niles Senior High in 1967. He enlisted in the Army and served as a Military Policeman. Following his discharge, he moved to Daytona Beach in 1974. Loren’s father was a Michigan State Trooper. He followed in his father’s footsteps in law enforcement in 1976 when he was hires with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Department. During his service he was awarded the Medal of Valor and the Merit Medal for his service to the department and citizens of Volusia County. He was a member of the Honor Guard for over ten years, and the SWAT team for 23 years, in which he received two unit commendations for actions taken during high stress SWAT responses. The SWAT team members have lost a friend and a brother. After 30 years of service, he retired with the rank of Sergeant. Loren loved being a dedicated and loving father. He enjoyed the beach and sail boarding. His most special times were with his family, camping at Disney World or spending time at the family cottage on Fishers Lake in Three Rivers, Michigan.
He will be sadly missed by his wife, Shirley; children, Kristen Bies and 12 year-old son, Loren M. Smith (Buddy); his three brothers, George (Maureen) of Daytona Beach, Dan (Kim) of Eaton Rapids and Mike (Julie) of Lansing.
There was a celebration of his life on June 11, in Daytona Beach. A trust fund has been established to benefit his son “Buddy”, c/o Landis Graham & French, 444 Seabreeze Blvd., suite 1001, Dayton Beach, FL 32118.
Marion Pauline Smith
Marion Pauline Smith of Eaton Rapids, age 91, passed away June 25, 2007 in Battle Creek. Marion was born September 3, 1915 in Barry County, Michigan, the daughter of Frank and Clara A. (Warner) Wilkes. She worked as a clerk in retail sales. Marion was preceded in death by her husband, Milford C. Smith (1987); brother, Clare F. Wilkes (1988); infant sister, Frances Wilkes; and step-son, Lloyd Smith.
She is survived by 1 step-son, Clare Smith; sister-in-law, Rhea Wilkes of Bellevue; and nephew, Chris Wilkes of Bellevue.
Funeral services were held on June 28, 2007 at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids with Rev. Darwin Kuhl officiating. Interment followed at Rosehill Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice in memory of Marion Pauline Smith.
Mary Smith
Mary Elizabeth Smith, age 92, of Bellevue, died Saturday, Aug. 11, 2007.
Mrs. Smith was born Feb. 6, 1915, Coronet, Florida, the daughter of Isaac "Ike" Shephard and Dippioca (Parker) Shephard.
She had worked for Wilcox Gay and was a member of Charlotte Church Of Christ. When she met her first husband, Harold Briggs, a sharecropper, she "knew she would marry him."
In order to get to Michigan, they hitched rides with moonshiners and other truckers, and a farmer they met in Indiana even gave her some long johns to wear because it was so cold.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 25 years, Bert DeMuth, last husband, Walt Smith; and siblings, Louis Shephard, Claudia Benton, Robert Willard Shephard, Hazel Prine, and Lucille Sebolt.
She is survived by beloved son, Daniel (Gloria) Cowden of Charlotte; three grandchildren, Randy Bryant, Daniel Boone Cowden II, Anthony Cowden; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Aug. 14, 2007 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Tom Haynie officiating. Interment was in Benton Township Cemetery in Potterville.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice who has provided such good care to Mary.
Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
