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Robert “Bob” K. Davison
Robert K. Davison, age 88, of Eaton Rapids died, Saturday, May 20, 2006 at the Eaton Community Hospice in Charlotte. He was born July 14, 1917 on the family farm in Hamlin Township, the son of F. Arthur and Helen Josephine (Jewell) Davison. Mr. Davison served in the army during World War II and was a member of the VFW Post #6056 in Springport. He was a lifetime farmer working the family farm and in 1945 married Wilma “Pete” Lasley of the VFW National Home. Preceding him in death were his wife, Wilma; brother, Donald; and 2 sisters, Genevieve Southwick and Kathryn Craun.
He is survived by 4 children, Marty (Gayle) Blackwell of Eaton Rapids, Ken Davison of Eaton Rapids, Wanda Davison of Lansing and Sue (Dennis) Vincent of Freemont; 6 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren; brother, Carl Washburn Davison of Jackson and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 26th at 1:00 P.M. from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, May 25 from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. For those desiring memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Community Hospice at 2675 S. Cochran R. Charlotte, Mi. 48813.
Lorna B. Dawson
Lorna Bernice Dawson, 87, of Sunfield, passed away Jan. 27, 2006 at Pennock Hospital in Hastings following a lengthy illness.
Ms. Dawson was born Feb. 20, 1918, in Climax, the only child of Rev. Myron Dawson and Maida (Allen) Dawson. Lorna attended Sunfield and Woodland grade schools, Lansing’s Pattengill Junior High and Eastern High School, and attended Huntington College (affiliated with United Brethren Church) in Huntington, Ind., where she served on the Huntington College women’s swim team. During the 1940s she owned and operated travel trailer dealerships with her first husband, Kenneth Dunham, in Phoenix, Ariz.; Fort Worth, Texas; Bismark, N.D.; and Ironwood, Mich. She then returned to Sunfield in the 1950s to help manage and operate the Allen/Dawson family farms. She later became a real estate broker and member of the Lansing Board of Realtors during the 1960s and 1970s. She retired in 1981 to the family farm in Sunfield, where she lived until June of 2005. Lorna enjoyed playing the piano for church, traveling, fishing, boating, nature and her beloved cats. She was a member of the Sierra Club and the Kilpatrick Church Missionary Society.
Ms. Dawson was preceded in death by: her parents, Rev. Myron and Maida Dawson; husbands, Kenneth Dunham and Rex Frink; and great-grandson Giosue Picinich.
She is survived by: her only daughter, Berenice Dunham of Hastings; granddaughter, Dana (Mario) Picinich of Solon Springs, Wis.; grandson Dean McVay of Upland, Calif.; great-grandchildren, Mario, Domenic and Ericka Picinich of Solon Springs, Wis.; step-granddaughters, Teresa (Howard) Crapser of Wyoming, Mich., Jane (Kenneth) Veldkamp of Lake Odessa, Joberta Converse of Hastings, their children and grandchildren; uncle, Lester Dawson of Clarksville; and a cousin, Arthur (Mary) Allen of Potterville.
Funeral services were held Jan. 31 at Rosier Funeral Home, Mapes-Fisher Chapel, Sunfield.
Memorial contributions may be made to Kilpatrick United Brethren Church in Woodland.
Merle A. DeGroot
Merle A. DeGroot, 70, of Olivet died unexpectedly on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006. Merle was born Oct. 21, 1935 in Lee Township, Calhoun County, the son of Arnold and Gladys (Welch) DeGroot and had been a life resident of the Olivet area.
He was a 1954 graduate of Olivet High School and had been employed at General Foods/Post Cereals from where he retired. He currently was co-owner of Pine Lake Resort and Fisherman's Cove Bait Shop. He was a member of the Nashville Baptist Church, Burnham Brook, the 25-year club at Post Cereals and the Olivet Country Club Thursday Morning Golf League.
Merle loved his family, loved all people and loved his Lord, Jesus Christ. Merle's children were important to him. He attended as many of their events as he could, fondly taking up his free time. This same interest carried over into enjoyment of his grandchildren's lives. It was important to him to make sure his grandkids had the opportunity to meet and know Jesus. Thus Grandpa Merle and Grandma Janet annually paid for each grandchild's summer church camp trip as a Christmas present. Merle had the "gift of gab" and made life happy for those around him. He had every man's "dream job," selling bait while sipping coffee and socializing at Fisherman's Cove Bait Shop, where Janet and he entertained and witnessed to many. He loved all kinds of organized sports, as well as hunting, fishing, golfing, traveling and playing cards.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Surviving are his wife of 26 years, Janet (Altenhein) DeGroot; children, Teresa (Michael) Thomson, Deb (Russ) Larimer, Jim (Colette) DeGroot, Christie (Jamie) Hanson, David Willis and Renee (Randy) Sampson; nine grandchildren; sisters, Joy E. (Joe) Mazurek and June A. (Don) France; sisters-in-law, Jean Ann Gibson and Judith Andersen.
Funeral services were held Aug. 24 at the Nashville Baptist Church with Rev. Lester DeGroot officiating. Interment was held at Bosworth Cemetery, Olivet. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Nashville Baptist Church Camp for Kids. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Dean C. DeLaMater
Dean C. DeLaMater, 88, of Charlotte, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. Mr. DeLaMater was born Feb. 28, 1918, the son of Frank and Myrtle (Person) DeLaMater.
He grew up in Gaylord and graduated from Gaylord High School. Mr. DeLaMater was an Engineer, Surveyor, Administrator-Negotiator, sportsman, father and friend. He served in the U.S. Navy Seabees during World War II surveying many sites for airstrip construction including Okinawa, Iwo Jima, and Tinian where the Enola Gay was launched from. He was a surveyor who owned his own business in Cheboygan after returning from the service and also worked as a Forestry Surveyor for the State of Michigan.
In 1967 Mr. DeLaMater came to Charlotte from Gaylord to be an Engineer Manager for the Eaton County Road Commission for 35 years. He was appointed by Governor Milliken to the State Board of Registration and named Michigan Engineer of the year in 1968. Mr. DeLaMater was a member of the Rotary, Order of the Mason's, Shrine, Order of the Eastern Star, VFW and American Legion. He was on the Church Board for the Charlotte United Methodist Church and past president of the Charlotte Country Club. He was a member of the Michigan Road Builders and the County Road Association and also a past president and lifetime member of Michigan Society of Registered Land Surveyors. Mr. DeLaMater was much loved by his family and friends, and was respected by everyone he met.
He was preceded in death by wife, Arliene Matzger; sister, Doris and brother, Glenn.
He is survived by his wife, Lois; son, John (Glenda) DeLaMater; daughter, Mary (Ron) Nogas; step-son, Wayne (Kathy) Hettler; Alex (Angie) Hettler; Holly (Kent) Shinners; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Gladys Toole, Joanne Zanter and Elsie Moorhead.
Family and friends gathered at the Charlotte Country Club Oct. 26 for a Family Affirmation Service. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital.
Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Jacalyn Dempsey
Jacalyn (Behnke) Dempsey, 52, of Austin, Texas, formerly of Charlotte, passed away July 4, 2006. Jackie was born April 19, 1954 in Marshall.
While in high school, Jackie played French horn and spent a summer as a foreign exchange student in Finland. She then attended Butterworth School of Nursing in Grand Rapids, where she graduated with honors as a registered nurse. Jackie worked as an RN at Oaklawn Hospital and on a peer review team in the mid-Michigan area and then in Texas.
Jackie loved spending time with her family, especially her daughter, Kristin. She loved her pets, helping others and all kinds of music. She had a great sense of humor and a contagious laugh.
Jackie was preceded in death by her father, William Behnke in 1992.
She is survived by her daughter, Kristin Dempsey; mother, Peggy Archie; siblings, Judy (Jim) MacInness, Jeri (Brian) Elliston, Bill (Lora) Behnke; nieces and nephews, Beth Oldfield, Kim Bankhead, Marci Bankhead, Jeff Whitely, Jamie Whitely, Erica Andreau, BJ Behnke, Meaghan Behnke, Alyson Behnke.
Graveside services will be held on Sept. 16 at Oaklawn Cemetery in Marshall at 2 p.m. A celebration of Jackie's life will be held on Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. at the home of Jeri and Brian Elliston. Memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society in loving memory of Jackie Dempsey.
Gladys Helen Denny
Gladys Helen Denny, 83, of Charlevoix, died Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006, at the Charlevoix Area Hospital. Helen was born May 22, 1923, in Colorado Springs, Colo., the daughter of Roland and Gladys (Sheldon) Roberts.
She graduated from Petoskey High School in 1941. Helen married Jack W. Cribb on May 16, 1947 in Charlotte. They made their home there and Helen worked as a bookkeeper for the Eaton County Health Department, Curtis Buick, and the GM Proving Grounds in Milford, Jack preceded her in death on Jan 17, 1962. Helen later married John H. Denny in 1963 in Charlotte. They moved to Charlevoix in 1974, and John preceded her in death on Jan. 31, 1990. Helen worked at the Bergmann Center in Charlevoix until retiring.
She is survived by her sons, Robert S. Cribb of Charlevoix and Gordon K. (Frances M.) Cribb of Boyne City; grandchildren, Laura M. (John) Sanford of Saugatuck, Dr. Jack (Stephanie) Cribb of Charlotte, John G. Cribb of Petoskey, Jessica M. Cribb and Ryan D. Cribb of Boyne City; great-grandchildren, Kaylea W. and Clayton E. Sanford, Garrett T., Sophia A.E., and Jacob Ryan Cribb, Preston Hughey; sister, Kathyrn Zirkle of Truckee, Nev.
Funeral services were held Dec. 28 at the Winchester Funeral Home in Charlevoix, with Rev. Nancy Rohde officiating. Burial followed in Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte with Rev. Karen Wheat officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bergmann Center in Charlevoix.
Leslie “Les” “Gramps” DeWaters
Leslie DeWaters of Eaton Rapids, age 78, passed away Sunday, August 20, 2006 in Eaton Rapids. Les was born January 4, 1928 in Eaton Rapids, the son of Melvin Curtis and Margaret Gertrude (Brininstool) DeWaters. He was a veteran of WWII, serving the U.S. Navy and in Korea with the U.S. Army, a past Post Commander and life member (50 years) of VFW Post 1283 and American Legion Post 15 in Eaton Rapids. Les was formerly employed with Fisher Body and hauled milk for several local farmers. He enjoyed fishing and hunting with his grandchildren. Preceded in death by 3 brothers, Marion, Floyd, and Melvin Jr.; and son-in-law, Duane Grubaugh.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Helen L., (McMann); 2 daughters, Bonnie Grubaugh of Springport and Rosemary (Ronnie) Smith of CA; 2 grandsons, Richard (Simone) Holman of Dimondale and Dennis (Donna) Holman of Evart; 2 great-granddaughters, Nikki and Hillary Holman; brother, Homer (Phillis) DeWaters of Charlotte; 2 sisters, Bera McMann of Eaton Rapids and Louise (John) Cousino of Olivet.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, 518 S Main, Eaton Rapids with Rev. Dr. Jesse James officiating. Interment and Military honors will follow at Rosehill Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. The family will receive friends tonight from 6-8 p.m. at the Funeral Home. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to Eaton Community Hospice in memory of Les DeWaters. Special thanks to Charlie Cuddeback & family for their help and support for Les & Helen in his last days.
Christine O. Dickerson
Christine O. Dickerson, age 65, of Charlotte, died Saturday, May 27, 2006. Mrs. Dickerson was born Oct. 27, 1940 in Marion, Kentucky, the daughter of Clyde and Lillian (Conder) McFall.
Mrs. Dickerson was a homemaker who was dedicated to her Heavenly Father.
She is survived by her husband, Virgil.
Graveside services were held June 1 at MapleHill Cemetery, Charlotte. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte.
