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Anna L. Best
Anna Lucy Best, 90, of Battle Creek, formerly of Charlotte, died March 16, 2002.
Mrs. Best was born Feb. 16, 1912 in Brookfield Township, the daughter of William and Elsie (Raymer) Clough.
She is survived by sons, Bruce Best and Dan (Barbara) Best of Charlotte; six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Mable Clough of Charlotte; brother, Harry Clough of North Carolina; sister, Olivet Finch of Florida; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband George and grandson Richard.
Mrs. Best wished to have her body donated to the Michigan State University Anatomy Department.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan State University Anatomical Gift Fund. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home of Charlotte.
Richard L. Betts
Richard “Dick” L. Betts, 48, of Charlotte, died Wednesday, March 27, 2002 after a battle with cancer.
Mr. Betts was born Dec. 11, 1953, the son of Elmer and Betty (Gemmill) Betts. He was a truck driver, currently working for USF Holland. He drove well over one million accident-free miles and attended numerous professional-training courses and programs for which he received many awards. He was a member of the Teamsters Union.
He is survived by his wife, Christine; daughter, Amy Lynn; his parents; brother, Robert; sister, Vickie; nephew, Rob (Amy) Harris, all of Charlotte.
Funeral services were held March 30 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Rev. George Fleming officiating. Interment was at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mid Michigan Hospice.
Mary E. Bidinger
Mary Elaine Bidinger, 62, of Charlotte, died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002.
Mrs. Bidinger was born Nov. 2, 1940 in Eaton County, the daughter of John and Thelma (Crandall) Dorman. She worked for over 20 years as the word processing coordinator for Michigan Miller Mutual Insurance Company. She was a member of the Charlotte Assembly of God Church and very much enjoyed gardening and cats.
She is survived by sons, Thomas of Charlotte, Charles (Patty) of Athens, Ga., and Stephen of Northville; daughters, Laura Kaminski of Albuquerque, N.M. and Melinda (Pedro) Vasquez of Mesa, Ariz.; five grandchildren; and brother, Carleton (Marilyn) Dornan of Scottsdale, Ariz.
Funeral services were held Dec. 12 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastor Mark Woodbury officiating. Interment was at Rosehill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids.
Memorial contributions may be made to Missions Program at the Charlotte Assembly of God Church.
Alma Bingham
Alma (Stults) Bingham, 83, of Nashville, died Friday, June 28, 2002 at Pennock Hospital in Hastings.
Mrs. Bingham was born July 27, 1918 in Convis Township, Calhoun County, the daughter of Adelbert and Catherine (Shope) Stults. She lived in Battle Creek for 35 years before moving to Nashville, Barry County, in 1971. Mrs. Bingham attended four one-room schools; Porter, Striped, Kibler and Section. She graduated from Olivet High School in 1935 and married Elmer Bingham in 1937; he preceded her in death in May 1992. She retired from Kellogg Company in 1976 with over 30 years of service. She was an active member of the VFW Auxiliary in Nashville. She loved her family and enjoyed her home, friends, fishing, camping and playing euchre.
She is survived by two sons, Charles (Gloria) Bingham of Battle Creek and James Bingham (Jocelyn Frankow) of the Netherlands; and two grandchildren, Charles Bingham of Battle Creek and Christopher Bingham of Grand Rapids.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Edna Masters and Thelma Allen; brothers, Lewis “Mike” Stults, Leslie (Tim) Stults and baby Seth.
Memorial services were held July 3 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with R. Raymond Rossell officiating.
Kathleen Bingham
Kathleen Bingham, 81, of Charlotte, died Oct. 29, 2002.
Mrs. Bingham was born Sept. 24, 1921 in Evart, the daughter of Harry and Beatrice (Montgomery) Custer. She was a partner in the family farm and trucking business, C. Dale Bingham Farm Supplies. She was also an active member of the Charlotte Free Methodist Church.
She is survived by husband, Dale Bingham; sons, Charles (Barb) Bingham and Michael (Delores) Bingham, both of Charlotte; four grandchildren, Michael J., Christina, Scott and Laura; sisters, Norma Rice of Rodney, Helen Cotton of Mulliken, and Betty Pedersen of Evart.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Forest Custer.
Funeral services were held Nov. 1 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastor Paul Davis officiating. Interment was at Clarence Center Cemetery.
Christina M. Bird
Christina M. “Birdie” Bird, 89, of Potterville, died Sunday morning, Dec. 29, 2002.
Mrs. Bird was born May 12, 1913 in Cadillac, the daughter of William and Mary (Gregg) Jenkins. She was a member of the Potterville Church of the Nazarene, Williamston W.C.T.U. and a past member of the Holt Church of the Nazarene. She graduated from Williamston High School in 1930, and attended Wexford County Normal and the practical nursing program at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac.
She was preceded in death by her husband, J. William Bird.
Mrs. Bird id survived by her children, Deana (Julius) Moore of Potterville, Jeanne Parker of Williamston, Bethel (Michael) Rickle of Potterville, and Richard W. (Edna) Wilson of Mabank, Texas; 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Jan. 2 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Rev. Mark Slocum officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Paul D. Bishop
Paul D. Bishop, 90, of Charlotte, died Nov. 24, 2002.
Mr. Bishop was born Dec. 2, 1911 in Eaton County, the son of Deloss and Lottie (Dean) Bishop. He was a schoolteacher for 30 years in Jackson County, eight years in Phoenix, Ariz., and 20 years in Charlotte, where he also served as a principal in Charlotte Public Schools. He served in the Army during World War II, with campaigns to Western Pacific and Southern Philippines.
He is survived by nieces, Alyce Ann Holmes and Phyllis Bishop; nephews, Rex Dean (Cindra) Bishop, Steven Charles (Danette) Bishop, George David (Jane) Bishop and Paul Merlin (Joan) Bishop.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Clarice (Howey) Bishop; sister, Alberta Schaaf; and a brother, Rex Bishop.
Funeral services were held Dec. 4 at pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Rev. Paul Davis officiating. Interment was at Cadillac Memorial Gardens East in Clinton Township.
Harold O. Blackmer
Harold O. Blackmer, 85, of Charlotte, formerly of Battle Creek, died Friday, April 12, 2002 at Eaton County Medical Care Facility in Charlotte.
Mr. Blackmer was born July 29, 1916 in St. Charles, the son of Oscar and Minnie (Frelizt) Blackmer and was a Charlotte resident for 20 years. He was a retired truck driver, having driven for Saginaw Transfer Co., Consolidated Freightways and Blue Arrow/Douglas Trucking Co., from where he retired in 1979. Mr. Blackmer was also an ordained minister. He was a member of Calvary Grace Church in Eaton Rapids, and a former member of the Charlotte Pentecostal Church of God. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, farming, and gardening.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Betty (Johnson); two sons, Matthew of Phoenix, Ariz., and David of Charlotte; stepson, Harry Lassen of North Carolina; brother, Gerald of Kalkaska; two sisters, Ilene Hill of Florida and Joyce Beckman of Chesaning; and children from a previous marriage, Karen, Joyce Ann ad Mark. He was preceded in by his parents; two sisters, Florence Weber and Geraldine Schenbelt; and two brothers, Robert and Charles.
At Mr. Blackmer’s request, cremation has taken place. Memorial services were held April 15 at Burkhead-Green Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Rockney Wing Sr. officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
