Search Archived Marriage Records
Wilma M. Coplin
Wilma M. (Taylor) Coplin, 83, of Battle Creek, formerly of Olivet, died Friday, Feb. 22, 2002 at Mercy Pavilion in Battle Creek.
Mrs. Coplin was born Sept. 27, 1918 in Battle Creek, the daughter of Lester and Flossie (Chase) Taylor, and lived most of her life in the Ainger/Charlotte/Olivet area. She was a 1936 graduate of Olivet High School and was a founding member of Ainger Bible Church, where she taught Sunday school, worked with the youth group and the Awana children’s group.
She is survived by two sons, Duane (Patricia) Coplin of Lansing and Marvin (Linda) Coplin of Dunkirk, Ind.; one daughter, Elaine (James) Baker of Battle Creek; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and brother, Donald (Bonnie) Taylor of New Port Richey, Fla.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lansing Coplin on July 18, 1994.
Funeral services were held Feb. 25 at Burkhead-Green Funeral Chapel, Charlotte, with Pastor Scott Brood officiating. Interment was at Bosworth Cemetery in Olivet.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ainger Bible Church.
Flossie B. Corey
Flossie B. Corey, 80, of Vermontville, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002 at her residence. Mrs. Corey was born May 4, 1921 in Chester Township, the daughter of Lloyd and Edith (Smith) Case. She served with the U.S. Army during World War II and was a bookkeeper for the Department of Military Affairs for 26 years, retiring in 1972. Mrs. Corey was a life member of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter 399 of Kalamo, and American Legion Post 222 of Vermontville.
She is survived by son, Roger Corey of Vermontville; sister, Frances Shetenhelm of Hastings; sister-in-law, Mary Weiss of Ft. Collins, Colo.; cousins, Helen Campbell and family of Angola, Ind., and Lynn Brooks and family of Auburn, Ind. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marion Corey on Aug. 27, 1997.
Funeral services were held Jan. 9 at the Vermontville United Methodist Church, with Rev. David Johnston officiating. Interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery, Vermontville. Memorial donations may be made to the Maple Valley Scholarship Fund. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home, Inc., Charlotte.
Geraldine Cornwell
Geraldine Cornwell, 68, of Olivet, died Friday, Dec. 20, 2002 at Hayes Green Beach Hospital in Charlotte.
Mrs. Cornwell was born March 19, 1934 in Morgan County, Ky., the daughter of Shermie and Virgie (Cole) Watson, and was a lifelong resident of Lee Township. She was a 1952 graduate of Olivet High School, a member of Faith Assembly of God in Olivet, and had been employed at Corning Glass in Albion, Schulers of Marshall, and at Olivet College for 15 years.
Surviving are her daughter, Kathy (Robert) Lambka of Olivet; two sons, Greg Cornwell and Richard Alan Cornwell, both of Olivet; three grandchildren; her father, Shermie Watson of Miss.; brother, Woodie Watson of Alabama; three sisters, Fern Coats of Marshall, Jean Morrison of Charlotte and Joy Chambers of Ohio.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Cornwell in 1985; her mother, Virgie Watson; and two sisters.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Assembly of God. Arrangements were by Burkhead-Green Funeral Chapel in Charlotte.
Mayn E. Cortright
Mayn E. “Muscles” Cortright, 69, of Olivet, died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2002 at his residence. Mr. Cortright was born May 15, 1933 in Eaton Rapids, the son of Ralph and Juanita (Johnson) Cortright, and lived most of his life in Olivet.
He was a U.S. Army veteran, had owned and operated a Gulf Service Station in Olivet, and worked at Owens-Illinois in Charlotte and Air-Way Mfg. in Olivet, from where he retired. He enjoyed mechanics and working on cars.
Surviving are his wife, Marty (Pierce) Cortright; children, Clarence (Becky) Hebenstreit of Grand Ledge, Peggy (Roger) Canterbury of Olivet, Samuel Hebenstreit of Orlando, Fla., Phillip (Deanne) Hebenstreit of Olivet, Sally (Ralph) Moscoso of Orlando, Fla., and Michael (Iris) Hebenstreit of Olivet; 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; sisters, Rosalie (Edwin) Schneider of Charlotte and Juanita Brassell of Bronson; brothers, Ralph (Rose) Cortright of Olivet and Cleo Cortright of Charlotte; and half-brother, Kenneth (Ruth) Cortright of Eaton Rapids.
Funeral services were held Dec. 31 at Burkhead-Green Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastor Marten Saunders officiating. Interment was at Bosworth Cemetery in Olivet.
Helen J. Cotton
Helen Jean Cotton, 77, of Mulliken, died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002.
Mrs. Cotton was born Dec. 26, 1924 in Evart, the daughter of Harry and Beatrice (Montgomery) Custer.
She is survived by daughter, Helene (David) Larson of Eaton Rapids; sons, Harry (Brenda) Cotton of Montpelier, Ohio, and Howard Cotton of Mulliken; granddaughter, Michelle Larson; sisters, Norma Rice of Rodney and Betty Pederson of Evart. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; grandchildren, Dale, Becky and Susan Cotton; sister, Kathleen Bingham; and brother, Forest Custer. Funeral services were held Dec. 11 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastor Brain Sheen officiating. Interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery in Vermontville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Woodlawn Cemetery.
Dorothy G. Cox
Dorothy Grace Cox, 87, of Delta Township, died Sunday, March 17, 2002.
Mrs. Cox was born April 28, 1914 in Grand Rapids, the daughter of William Thomas Cavanaugh and Grace (Berry) Cavanaugh. She graduated from St. Alphonse Grade School, Creston High School and Grand Rapids Business College. She was a member of St. Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church, Naomi Circle, and Maple City Chapter 218 Order of Eastern Star.
She is survived by daughter, Diane (Richard) Larder of Livermore, Calif.; three grandchildren, Debra Larder of Westbend, Wis., Richard Larder of San Francisco, Calif., and Jennifer Larder of Stockton, Calif.
She was preceded in death by a husband of 57 years, Allen Cox in December 1996, and a brother, Donald Cavanaugh.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church or Maple City Chapter 218 Order of Eastern Star; envelopes are available at the funeral home. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home of Charlotte.
Ralph G. Crafts
Ralph G. Crafts, 62, of Charlotte, formerly of Battle Creek and Agoura Hills, Calif., died Monday, May 20, 2002 at Eaton County Medical Care Facility in Charlotte.
Mr. Crafts was born July 9, 1939 in Adrian, the son of Harold and Nan (Gayar) Crafts. He was a 1957 graduate of Olivet High School and also attended some classes at the University of Michigan. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1957 to 1961 and was stationed in Greenland. Mr. Crafts was a station manager for Union Pacific Railroad for 15 years and later was director of operations for Retix Corporation for 14 years, retiring in 1995.
He is survived by twin sisters, Martha (Gary) Deuel of Lawton and Mary (Barry) Hart of Charlotte; brothers, Donald (Sue) of Stomping Ground, Ky., and Brian (Debra) of Benson, Ariz.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services were held May 22 at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, with Rev. Tim Gunderson officiating. Military honors were by Fort Custer Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salem Children’s Home Care of Lawton EMC, P.O. Box 909, Lawton, MI 49065 or to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements were by Farley-Estes and Dowdle Funeral Home in Battle Creek.
Elaine Cramer
In the presence of her husband and family, Elaine (Colthorp) Cramer, of Mattawan, Eaton Rapids and Lansing, went home to be with her savior on Wednesday, July 24, 2002.
Born Elaine Joyce Edgar on Dec. 30, 1928 in Wells, near Escanaba, Elaine lived most of her life in Lansing and Eaton Rapids. On Dec. 1, 2001, Elaine married Gerry Cramer of Mattawan, and had a lovely eight-month honeymoon.
Prior to that, married to Ted Colthorp, she raised seven children and the business, Tops in Toys Home Parties. Elaine’s faith in the Lord gave her strong moral values, which she imparted to her children. These same values made it easy for her to reach out in love to other women with children, who became part of the Tops in Toys Fun Family. Starting in the family basement in 1960, Tops in Toys moved to Eaton Rapids and eventually the business expanded over four states. Elaine has been a lifelong member of the Community of Christ Church.
Surviving are her husband, Gerald Cramer of Mattawan; sister, Mildred (Millie) Nuoffer, sister-niece, Barbara Hernly, both of Eaton Rapids; seven children, Terri Johnson of Eaton Rapids, Ricci (Mike) Wetzel of Kalamazoo, Todd (Michelle) Colthorp of Haslett, Tim (Jill) Colthorp of Grand Rapids, Jan Bozeman of Dimondale, James (Suzanne) Colthorp of East Lansing, and Elizabeth (Mark) Trawczynski of Eaton Rapids. Elaine also leaves behind 16 grandchildren, Jill and Jodi Johnson, Ross and Jori Wetzel, Drew, Ryan, and Jenna Colthorp, Andy and Christopher Martin, Nichole Niblock, Dustin and Lindsey Colthorp, Jon Bozeman, and Kristen, Kelly and Daniel Trawczynski. She also leaves two great-grandchildren, Isaac David Pratt and Christian Scott Johnson.
A memorial service in celebration of her life and successes is planned for Tuesday, July 30 at 6 p.m. at Community of Christ Church, 1514 W. Miller Rd., Lansing, MI 48911. A “Tops in Toys-style” luncheon will follow.
Donations may be made to Elaine’s favorite charity, Outreach International, which serves needy children worldwide. The address is: Outreach International, P.O. Box 210, Independence, MO 64051.
