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Elsie M. Smith
Elsie Mary Smith, 73, of Charlotte, died Thursday, March 14, 2002.
Miss Smith was born Dec in Ionia, the daughter of Ferdinand and Augusta Tafel. On Aug. 28, 1948 she married Raymond Smith, making their home in the Grand Ledge area. A devoted wife and mother, she was a full-time homemaker and worked along side her husband, farming their land and helping tend their livestock. Mrs. Smith was a devoted Christian all her life, attending the Lutheran Church in Ionia. In her later years, she often attended with her husband the Oneida Gospel Church in Grand Ledge.
She is survived by two daughters, Annette Rae (Lester) Sugars of Orleans and Barbara Jean (Greg) Gibson of Vermontville; four grandchildren, Andrew (Joey) Gibson of Cynthiana, Ky., Tabatha (Gene) Baker of Charlotte, and Danny and Justin Shugars of Orleans; two great-grandchildren, Shelby and Madison Gibson of Cynthiana, Ky.; one sister, Anita (Larry) Tempe of Chicago, Ill.; and one brother, William (Loraine) Tafel of Florida.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Raymond on Sept. 21, 2002; brother and sister, Margaret, Edward, Evelyn, Florence, Lorraine, Ferdinand Jr., Nora, Raymond, Esther, Gerald, Arthur and Richard.
Funeral services were held Oct. 24 at the Peters & Murray Funeral Home in Grand Ledge. Interment was at Riverside Cemetery in Belding.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Elsie M. Smith
Elsie Mary Smith, 73, of Charlotte, died Thursday, March 14, 2002.
Miss Smith was born Dec. 4, 1928 in Benton Township, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Anna (Vrbensky) Smith. She graduated from Charlotte High School in 1946 and earned a degree from Lansing Secretarial School. Miss Smith was a bank teller for Union Federal Savings and Loan in Lansing before she retired in 1981. She was a former member of the Denise Business Sorority and a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. She took an interest in all of her great nieces and nephews.
She is survived by her mother, Mary A. Smith; sisters, Frances Madry of Charlotte, Anne (Gerald) Kent of Nashville and Mary (Donald) Wadsten of Southfield; nieces and nephews, Mary (Glenn) Shook, Kristine (Jeff) Hynes; Teresa (Tom) Gloden and John (Denise) Kent; great nieces and nephews, Joseph and Glenn Shook, Stephanie and Kelly Hynes, Rebecca and Jennifer Kent, and Kiel and Brett Gloden.
She was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Smith in 1957; and brother-in-law, Louis Madry in 2000.
Funeral mass was held March 18 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Charlotte, with Father Denis Spitzley celebrating. Interment was at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home of Charlotte.
Trevor John and Devon John Smith-Hayter
Trevor John and Devon John Smith-Hayter of Onondaga, twin sons of Katina Lee Hayter and Travis John Smith, were born and died on April 18, 2002 in Lansing. Also surviving are their grandparents, Keith and Diana Hayter of Eaton Rapids, Freda and Barry Lindsay of Onondaga, John Smith, Jr. of Mason; great-grandparents, Kenneth Maitland of Holt, Dixie Kunce of Richmond, KY, Fern VerPlank of Sebring, FL; aunts and uncles, Kevin (Kaelene Medeiros) Hayter of Eaton Rapids, Kyle Hayter of Onondaga, Joshua Hayter of East Lansing, Michelle (Tim) Davis of Mason, Randy (Jackie) Smith of Port Charlotte, FL; cousins, Kaelen and Katarina Medeiros, Ashley and Kaylyn Davis, Jennifer and Jessica Howell.
Graveside services were held on Saturday, April 20, 2002 at the Onondaga Cemetery with Pastor Marty DeBow of the Robbins United Methodist Church officiating. Arrangements were by the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids.
Lawrence Charles Snitgen
Lawrence “Larry” Charles Snitgen, 56, of Charlotte, passed away March 26, 2002 at home with his wife by his side.
Mr. Snitgen was born Nov. 6, 1945. He retired as a 1st sergeant from the Army in 1986, after 22 years of service. Mr. Snitgen’s Army career included two tours as a combat tracker in Vietnam with his War Dog, Goldie. His career also included several years in the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. He held many positions after retiring from the Army, the last of which was with the Eaton County Sheriff Department, working as an Animal Control officer and corrections officer until his death. His love of animals was known by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Linda; daughter, Allison Salazar; son, Larry Carl Snitgen; five grandchildren, Diana Salazar, Nick Salazar, Amanda Salazar, Miranda Salazar and Phelix Lauth; brothers, Robert Snitgen Jr., Jody smith and Dick Rush; sister, Peggy Burr and Sue Crain; mother-in-law, Joan Beck; father-in-law, Carl Beck; and brothers-in-law, Vance McCrumb and Mark McCrumb III.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Betty; and stepfather, Lionel Smith.
Family affirmation services were held March 29 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Travis Sybrowsky facilitating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Vietnam War Dog Memorial Fund or Sparrow Home Hospice Services.
Michael A. Sparks
Michael A. Sparks, 38, of Vermontville, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2002 at Pennock Hospital in Hastings.
Mr. Sparks was born March 12, 1963 in Florence, Ala., the son of Henry and Ann (Gautney) Sparks. On May 11, 1981 he married Jacqueline Norrell in Houston, Texas. Five years later the couple moved to the Vermontville area to be closer to their family. After completing high school, Mr. Sparks was employed as an iron worker for many years while he pursued his college education. In 1995 he earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Kellogg Community College and then began a career as the director of nursing for an area long-term care provider. Mr. Sparks was an avid hunter and fisherman who also enjoyed coaching hockey and softball. He was known as a great friend and a great father.
He is survived by his wife, Jackie Sparks and daughters, Tiffany Sparks and Stephanie Sparks, all of Vermontville; mother, Ann Symonds of Killen, Ala.; sister, Tammy Yates of Morristown, Tenn.; step-brothers, Bill Symonds, Mike (Beth) Symonds and Brial (Sally) Symonds; step-sister, Sharon (Richard) Craven; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Henry Sparks; brother, Marlon Sparks; and step-father, John Symonds.
Services were held Feb. 18 at Maple Valley Chapel, Nashville, with Pastor Don Roscoe officiating. Interment was at Lakeview Cemetery in Nashville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael A. Sparks Memorial College Fund.
Kenneth H. Spencer
Kenneth H. Spencer, age 92 of Eaton Rapids, died Thursday, February 7, 2002 in Charlotte. Kenneth was born May 23, 1909 in Hamlin Twp., Eaton County, Michigan the son of Rufus H. and Annette Mable (Onderdonk) Spencer. He was a barber for many years and a veteran of WWII. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters of Operations where he was the recipient of 2 Bronze Stars. Kenneth began his Masonic life journey and received his 32nd degree in the Eaton Rapids Masonic Lodge #63 F.&A.M. and was a life member and Past Master of Grand Ledge Masonic Lodge #179 F.&A.M., an honorary member of the Charlotte Lodge #120, Wacousta Lodge #359 and the Olivet Lodge #267, and a former member of the DeWitt Consistory and Saladin Shrine. Ken was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Eva (in 1989); second wife of one year, Nona (Brandon) Spencer (in 1993); and his sister, Evelyn Randall in 1990.
Surviving are his daughter, Kay Krumm of Eaton Rapids; 2 grandchildren, Steven (Jane) Krumm of Grand Ledge, Susan (Phillip) Bruce of Eaton Rapids; 3 great-grandchildren, Michael, John and Jennifer Decker.
Funeral and Masonic Memorial services were held on Monday, February 11, 2002, at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids with Rev. Stephen Klink officiating. Interment followed at Rosehill Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. Those desiring may make contributions to the Eaton Rapids Senior Center in memory of Kenneth Spencer.
Doris I. Southward
Doris I. (Moon) Southward, 77, of Charlotte, died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2002 at the Eaton County Medical Care Facility.
Mrs. Southward was born Oct. 31, 1924 in Walton Township, Eaton County, the daughter of James and Jennie (Tompkins) Moon, and was a life-long Eaton County resident. She had been employed as a laundry attended at the Felpausch Laundromat in Charlotte.
She is survived by son, Dennis Southward of Eaton Rapids; daughter, Jean Ann (Lester) Lake of Charlotte; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and sister, Edna Tomlinson of Charlotte.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Southward in 1995; daughter, Janet Colburn in 1985; and brothers, Harold and Leonard Moon.
Funeral services were held Jan. 22 at Burkhead-Green Funeral Chapel, Charlotte, with Pastor Mark Eckert officiating. Interment was at Perry Cemetery, Brookfield Township.
Memorial donations may be made to Eaton Community Hospice. Arrangements were by Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Josephine Clara Squires
Josephine Clara Squires, age 69 of Crystal River, Florida, died Sunday, January 20, 2002 at Woodland Terrace in Hernando, Florida. She was born March 20, 1932 in Holly Township, Michigan to Floyd and Stella (Schrette) Graves, she moved to Florida 5 years ago from Eaton Rapids. She was a member of the Kingdom Hall Jehovah Witness in Crystal River.
Survivors include two daughters, Lori (Robert) Hosmer and April Janye Aalfs both of Eaton Rapids; one sister, Betty Tommrell of Rosscommon, Michigan and 8 grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by the Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River, Florida.
Ken “Tim” Squires
Ken “Tim” Squires, age 41, died Saturday, July 27, 2002 after being stabbed to death in front of the downtown business plaza he patrolled late at night as an unarmed security guard. Ken loved golfing, fishing and woodworking. He was a member of a Baptist Church in Tucson and sang in the choir. He was active in helping the homeless in Tucson. Ken was preceded in death by his grandfather Russell Moffitt.
Surviving are his wife, Wendy; daughter Chandra (Cameron) Squires-Smith of Vandercook Lake; son, Timothy Squires of Rockmart, GA; mother and father, Carol and Earl Jones of Eaton Rapids; brother, Jeff (Dee) Squires of Eaton Rapids; 4 sisters, Robin (Terry) North of SC, Debbie (Steve Jecks) Lewis, Lisa (Nick) Franco both of Eaton Rapids, Cindy Jones of Portland; grandmother, Lillian Moffitt of Eaton Rapids; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 7, 2002, 2 p.m. at the Eaton Rapids Church of the Nazarene, 2225 S. Michigan, with Rev. Dallas McFarland officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the Church.
