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Raymond R. Jenkins
Raymond Richard Jenkins, 80, of Bellevue, died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004 at home.
Ray was born Jan. 2, 1924, in Bedford, to Arthur Cleveland and Bessie Mae (South) Jenkins. He attended Bellevue schools and served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the American, Asian and Pacific theaters. He retired as a machinist from the American Fire Pump Company in 1979. Ray enjoyed hunting and fishing, was an avid bowler and Detroit Tigers fan, and was a regular at Roger the Chef’s restaurant for more than 20 years. He enjoyed spending time with his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Mae Jenkins, in 1900; his parents, and nine brothers and sisters.
Surviving are sons, Charles (Gayle) Jenkins of Battle Creek and Richard Raymond (Jan) Jenkins of Mishawaka, Ind.; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild; sisters, Virginia Smalley of New Jersey and Bessie Mae Stewart of Nashville; and brother, Clyde Jenkins of Bellevue.
Services were held Oct. 19 at Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue, with Rev. Virginia Heller of Bellevue United Methodist Church officiating. Interment was at Riverside Cemetery, Bellevue.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Good Samaritan Hospice Care or American Cancer Society.
Chris A. Jensen
Chris A. Jensen, 77, of Vermontville, died Tuesday, March 30, 2004 in Lansing.
Mr. Jensen was born Nov. 19, 1926 in Lakeview, the son of Albert and Marie Jensen. He married Phyllis Schultz, Dec. 1, 1951. Mr. Jensen had been an employee of Fisher Body for 34 years, retiring in 1989, and served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He enjoyed a variety of interests including bingo, fishing, gardening and puzzles, and thoroughly enjoyed his family and life.
He is survived by sons, Charlie (Lynn) of Sheridan, Ernest (Tammy) of Gowen, Larry, Michael (Marianne) and John (Janice) of Vermontville; daughters, Christine (James) Turner and Rebecca (Shawn) Scott of Vermontville, Susan (Jon) Villanueva of Tennessee, and Sally (Brian) Symonds of Nashville; 25 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis (Schultz) Jensen on May 4, 1997; and two sons Donnie and Patrick.
Funeral services were held April 2 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Rev. Duane Royston officiating. Interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery in Vermontville.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home of Charlotte.
Carroll Johnson
Carroll (Casey) Johnson was born Oct. 30, 1932 in Charlotte and died July 29, 2004 at his home in Bradenton, Fla. Mr. Johnson retired as a Master Chief from the U.S. Navy in 1972 after 20 years of service. He is survived by his wife, Billie (Brock) Johnson, whom he married in Charlotte on Oct. 11, 1953. Other survivors are his daughter, Teri Sue Johnson; sons, Steven, Patrick and Curtis of Bradenton, Fla., and Larry of Utah; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was the son of Leonard Sr. (deceased in 1984) and Isabel Johnson. Also surviving are his sisters, Peggy Moon of Olivet and Pat Langmaack of Charlotte; and brothers, Leonard Jr. and Richard Johnson, both of Charlotte; mother-in-law, Iva Brock; sister-in-law, Lorna (James) Brock of Charlotte; and brother-in-law, Terry Brock of Wayland; and many nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place. Burial of cremains was held Aug. 4 in the rose gardens at Christ Episcopal Church in Bradenton, Fla. Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled Veterans. Card may be sent to Billie Johnson, 2715 48th St. West, Bradenton, FL 34209.
James William Johnson
James William Johnson, age 67, of Eaton Rapids, died Saturday, July 3, 2004 in Eaton Rapids. James was born July 10, 1936 in Omaha, NE, the son of James R. and Ruth N. (Lasley) Johnson. Jim was a retired Service Technician for Highland Appliance in Lansing. A graduate of the Eaton Rapids High School Class of 1955, he joined the U.S. Air Force following graduation. He was an avid pool player and enjoyed frequenting Abie’s Bar. Preceding him in death was his mother Ruth and brother, Bud.
Surviving are his Soul-mate of 27 years, Dawn Edwards of Eaton Rapids; 7 children, James, Ken, Jeff, Norman, David, Tammy Johnson and Kathy Andrews all of California; father, James R. Johnson of Charlotte; 14 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; 5 sisters and a brother, Jayne (Jerry) Lane of Naperville, IL, Regina (David) Harwood of Ohio, Robert (Carol) Johnson of Texas, Michelle (Mike) Spense of Virginia and Carolyn Manns of Lansing; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 6, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Honorary pallbearers were George Deroshia, Gary Deroshia, Larry Edwards Jr., Robert Johnson, Jerry Lane and Mike Aleo. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice, in memory of James W. Johnson.
Geraldine J. Jones
Geraldine J. “Gerry” Jones, 76, of Charlotte, died Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004 at Moore’s Foster Care Home in Charlotte.
Mrs. Jones was born March 6, 1928 in Charlotte, the daughter of Elbridge and Irene Ruth (Hubbard) Harmon. She volunteered at the Eaton County Medical Care Facility for many years and enjoyed crocheting , playing cards, crossword puzzles, bingo, and lunch with cousins.
She is survived by sons, Terry (friend Donna) Jones and Garry (Carla) Jones, both of Charlotte; daughter, Joyce Ann Hotchkiss of Las Vegas; step-son, Wayne L. (Cathy) Jones of Litchfield; step-daughter, Karen (George) Whitcomb of Olivet; 11 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne C. Jones on July 31, 1981.
Funeral services were held Oct. 6 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Chuck Jensen officiating. Burial was at Gresham Cemetery in Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
Theo F. Jones-Martin
Theo F. Jones-Martin, 89, of Eaton Rapids, died Wednesday, June 30, 2004 in Lansing.
Theo was born Feb. 19, 1915 in Climax, the daughter of Francis and Elsie (Holt) Roe. She was formerly employed with Eaton Stamping in Eaton Rapids and spent her later years enjoying Northern Michigan.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Neil Jones; second husband, Charles Martin Sr.; son, Neil Jones Jr.; and brother, Harold Heritz.
Theo is survived by one son, Dale D. Jones of Lansing; two daughters-in-law, Patricia Jones of Lansing, Sharon Jones of Grand Ledge; four grandchildren, Terry Jones, Brian Jones and Mindy Jones, all of Lansing, and Ted Jones of Grand Ledge; four great-grandchildren, Christopher, Joshua, Nicholas and Samantha Jones; one great-great-grandson, Anthony; brother, Frank (Margaret) Heritz of Indiana; sister, Violet Jarboe of Sterling Heights; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were held July 5 at Shelly-Odell Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids, with interment following at West Pennfield/Hicks Cemetery in Calhoun County.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Capital Area Humane Society.
Helen Karpi
Helen Karpi, 89, of Charlotte, formerly of Dearborn, died Sunday evening, May 23 at the Eaton County Medical Care Facility in Charlotte. Mrs. Karpi was born Feb. 14, 1915 in Vandergrift, PA, a daughter of John and Mary Sterbis.
She retired fro Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn as a licensed practical nurse following 20 years of service and was a member of St. Albert the Great Catholic Church.
Mrs. Karpi was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen, in 1984.
Surviving are her daughter, Pat (Rene’) VanNeste of Charlotte, two grandchildren, Stephen VanNeste and Lisa (Ray) MacNamee, and two great-grandchildren, Jeff and Mac MacNamee.
Memorial mass will be celebrated Saturday, June 5 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Charlotte with Fr. Denis Spitzley as celebrant.
Arrangements by Barker-Leik Funeral Home, Mulliken.
James W. Keasler
James W. Keasler, age 52, of Vermontville, went to be with his lord unexpectedly on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2004 at his home.
Mr. Keasler was born June 23, 1951 in Shreveport, La., the son of William and Jo (Vinson) Keasler. He was raised in the Shreveport area and attended area schools, graduating from Byrd High School. After graduating from high school, he continued his education at LeTourneau College in Texas. On Aug. 25, 1979 in Little Rock, Ark. He married Lynn Bytwerk. The couple spent the early part of their married lives in the Shreveport area, moving to the charlotte area in 1987. In 1995, Jim founded J & J Appliance in Lansing. He enjoyed playing basketball with friends, hunting deer with his family and collecting stamps. For the past 15 years, he met annually with his hunting companions to travel all over the country hunting whitetail and mule deer.
He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Lynn; his beloved children, Carissa, Micah, Meghan, Fawn and Savanna; his parents, Bill and Jo Keasler; brothers, Bob and Dan; and a sister, Joanne; and a large extended family, which he loved dearly.
Funeral services were held Jan. 28 at Grace Community Church in Nashville, with Pastors Don Roscoe and Douglas Bytwerk officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Spanish American Mission. Arrangements were by Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville.
Verna M. Kelly
Verna Marie Kelly, born March 31, 1921 in Eaton Rapids, the daughter of Harry and Eva (Bradford) Thuma, went home to be with her Lord on Jan. 14, 2004.
Verna was a student of the word of God and served the church as Sunday school superintendent, and taught adult Sunday school class for several years. She organized and taught women’s neighborhood Bible studies and had articles published in the monthly church magazine called the Gospel Banner at that time. Verna was a member of Mt. Hope Church in Lansing for the past 20 years and enjoyed a tour to Israel with her daughter and other members in 1994. Verna was also a member of the Eaton Rapids Senior Center and had written monthly articles for the Rocking Chair Deserters. Verna leaves behind to her loved ones and friends a legacy and spiritual heritage of her love, strength and devotion to God.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Norma Smith in 1986, her parents, and brother Dean Thuma.
Surviving are her husband of 63 years, Richard; son, Larry (Carol) of Leslie; daughter, Sharyn (Jim) Eaton of Duck Lake; and son, Rick (Dennise) of Victoria, Texas; 16 grandchildren and 20 great0grandchildren; sister, Arlene Towns of Jackson; sister-in-law, Betty Thuma of Eaton Rapids; and several nieces and nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were held Jan. 16 from Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids, with Pastor Kevin Berry of Mt. Hope Church officiating. Burial followed at Oakwood Cemetery in Eaton Rapids, with grandsons, Tag Kelly, Travis Kelly, Kris Gieske, Luke Kelly, Jacob Kelly, Kevin Kelly, Scott Eaton and Jim Eaton as pallbearers. Honorary bearers were Rocky Kelly and Matt Kelly.
For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Hope Church in memory of Verna M. Kelly.
