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Leon Plummer
Leon Plummer, 85, of Olivet died June 15, 1999 after an extended illness.
Mr. Plummer was born June 22, 1913 in Allegan, the son of Charles Aretas and Grace (Coney) Plummer and has been an Olivet resident since 1947, coming from Galesburg. He was a graduate of South Haven High School, attended Olivet College his freshman year, and attended Western Michigan University where he earned a bachelor’s degree and the University of Michigan where he earned a master’s degree. He was a school teacher, having taught in the Richland, Brethren, Shepherd and Belding public schools. He was a principal in the Galesburg Public Schools and served as superintendent of the Olivet Community Schools. He later was employed by the Churchhill Chemical Co. (Dexter Corp.) and retired from there. He is a past mayor of Olivet, former member and chief of the Olivet Fire Department and a former member of the Olivet Lions Club. He was also a member of the Olivet Congregational Church, Rotary Club; and Marshall Moose Lodge. He enjoyed Canadian fishing trips, woodworking and was an avid Olivet High School sports fan.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Roberta (Zibbell) Plummer; two daughters, Rachel (Ronald) Harvitt of Charlotte and Martha (Richard) O’Dell of Olivet; one son, Robert Plummer of Olivet; five grandchildren, Deborah (James) Wells, Pamela (Craig) Coombs, Michael (Lori) Harvitt, Jeffrey (Debra Konar) O’Dell and Gregory (Anna Critchlow) O’Dell; seven great-grandchildren, Melissa (Eric) Bolger, Daniel Wells, Rebecca Wells, Jessie Wells, Jacob Harvitt, Luke Harvitt and Caroline Harvitt; and one great-great-granddaughter, Emily Bolger.
He was preceded in death by one son, David Plummer in 1959.
Services were June 18 at the Olivet Congregational Church UCC with the Rev. Clark Hock officiating. Interment was in the Olivet Cemetery.
Arrangements were made by the Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Olivet Congregational Church Restoration Fund, the Olivet Rotary Club or the Olivet Sports Boosters.
Charles “Cy” Porter
Charles “Cy” Porter, 78, of Charlotte died March 8, 1999.
Mr. Porter was born July 1, 1920 in Carmel Township the son of Clarence and Ruby (Briggs) Porter. He was a truck mechanic for Fowler’s and an U.S. Army veteran of World War II, active at Team One Chevy-Olds in Charlotte and a life member of Charlotte Eagles Aerie #3522.
He is survived by his wife, Mary (Lowe); one daughter, Sherry Smith of San Jose, Calif.; two sons, Charles (Joyce) of Haslett and Bill of Denver, Colo.; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one sister, Maxine Griswold of Lansing.
Services were March 11 at the Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with the Rev. George Fleming officiating. Interment was in the West Carmel Cemetery, Eaton County.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hayes Green Beach Hospital Homecare, Charlotte.
Eldon Post
Eldon Earl Post, 88, of Charlotte, died Sept. 10, 1999.
Mr. Post was born in Belding March 20, 1911 and was a graduate of Spring Arbor High School and Spring Arbor Junior College. After receiving a business/teaching degree from Central Michigan College, he joined his father in business, owning and operating the Minor Walton Bean Co. with locations in Battle Creek, Charlotte, Chester, Corruna, and Mulliken. His love of travel led him across the oceans many times with family and friends. On each trip, he met new people and many became his friends. His motto might have been “Make new friends – keep the old. One is silver, the other gold.” He was a member of the Charlotte Free Methodist Church and the Board of Trustees at Spring Arbor College for 50 years.
He is survived by two daughters, Sharon Post of Charlotte and Elaine (Lee) Curtis of Pentwater; one grandson, David (Margie) Curtis of Allen, Texas; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Mary Post; one brother and sister-in-law, Henry and Edith Post; and his wife, Lucille (Yanz) Post.
Services were Sept. 14 at the Charlotte Free Methodist Church with Rev. Charles Krueger, pastor of the CFMC, and Dr. James Chapman, president of Spring Arbor College, officiating. Interment was in the Maple Hill Cemetery, Charlotte. Arrangements were made by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Community Hospice or the Charlotte Free Methodist Church.
Wayne Powell
Wayne Powell, 62, of Harrison, passed away Thursday, July 29, 1999 at Mid-Michigan Regional Medical Center, Midland.
Mr. Powell was born March 20, 1937, in Dimondale, the son of Kenneth and Beulah (Pomeroy) Powell, and resided in the Harrison area since 1983, moving from Sunfield. He attended the United Brethren Church of Harrison; was a self-employed re-upholsterer; and worked in maintenance part-time at the Wilson State Park, Harrison. He married Yvonne Rogers on June 9, 1956, in Sunfield.
Surviving are his wife of 43 years, Yvonne of Harrison; two daughters, Cheryl (Richard Jr.) Wallum of Tucson, Ariz. And Shelby (Michael) Crafton of Harrison; four sons, Steven (Carolyn) Powell of New Whiteland, Ind., David (Janice) Powell and Brent (Karen) Powell, all of Sunfield, and Kevin (Elizabeth) Powell of Havelock, N.C.; ten grandchildren; three sisters, Gloria (Richard) Maidens and Marilyn Currier, all of Bear Lake, and Judith (Dennis) Evans of Vermontville; two brothers, Ralph (Beverly) Powell of Jacksonville, N.C. and Charles (Sally) Powell of Mesick; and many other relatives and friends.
Services were held July 31 at Stocking Funeral Home, Harrison, with Rev. Lee Palmer officiating. Interment was a Pleasant Plains Cemetery, Hayes Twp., Harrison.
William Powers
William Powers, 88, of Charlotte died May 28, 1999 at his residence.
Mr. Powers was born Mar. 20, 1911 in Lansing, the son of Joseph and Villa (Oatman) Powers and was a lifelong Charlotte resident. He was a retired real estate and insurance agent, having owned and operated the former Powers Agency in Charlotte, from which he retired in 1970. He was a 1929 graduate of Charlotte High School and a 1933 graduate of Olivet College. He earned an Eagle Scout award in 1927, being the first scout up to that time to do so in Charlotte. He served as Charlotte City Clerk until 1940; 33 years on the Eaton County Board of Supervisors (Commissioners), and as its chairman in 1976; was a member, past president and served 17 years as secretary/treasurer of the Charlotte Rotary Club; member of the First Congregational Church UCC, Charlotte Lodge #120 F&AM, Saladin Shrine Temple, and Royal Arch Masons; he served on the board of directors of the Charlotte Friends of the Library, Tri-County Council on Aging and volunteered for the Eaton County Clothing Bank. During the 1940s and ‘50s, he was an avid flyer and had served on the Civil Air Patrol.
He is survived by one daughter, Linda (David) Smith of Duck Lake; two sons, John (Peggie) of Springfield, Ill., and David (Christyne) of Charlotte; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Gertrude (Hutchens) on Aug. 24, 1997.
Services were June 1 at the First Congregational Church in Charlotte, with the Rev. Dr. Peter Brenner and the Rev. Z. William Colson officiating. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery, Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Community Hospice, Charlotte Community Library or the First Congregational Church. Arrangements were made by the Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Elizabeth Pratley
Elizabeth (Betty) Pratley died Wednesday, January 6, 1999. Elizabeth was born on April 18, 1918 on the family farm in Smyrna, Mich., the oldest of three daughters of Carl and Letha Rasey.
She was married to Robert B. Pratley on May 12, 1939 in Albion, Mich. He preceded her in death on March 4, 1994.
Elizabeth earned a teaching degree from Western Michigan University and her masters degree from Eastern Michigan University.
She taught in the Marengo Brick School and Devereaux School in Calhoun County before beginning a 25 year teaching career with the Battle Creek Public Schools where she taught reading.
She served as regional president of the Michigan Read Association. Elizabeth also taught one summer at the University of Nova Scotia in Canada as a visiting professor.
Elizabeth and Robert raised their family on a farm southeast of Marshall where they had many special family outings, going on camping and canoe trips.
Elizabeth and Robert traveled extensively including several trips to Europe and England where they studied at the University of Birmingham. Their many travels included a trip to Alaska shortly after she retired from the Battle Creek Schools. She enjoyed flying with Robert in their Piper Club airplane in the early years and held a student pilot’s license. She particularly enjoyed her grandchildren and also enjoyed reading and crocheting.
Elizabeth is survived by her sons, Daniel (Patricia) of Lawton, Mich., Frederick (Linda) of Marshall, Michael (Wendy) of Frankfort, Mich., Philip (Nikki) of Marshall and Robert (Sandy) of Athens, Mich. She is also survived by grandchildren, Anthony (Mary), Andrew (Kristen), Rebecca, Chad, Greg, Debbie, Rachel, Jessica, Jennifer, Christopher; step-grandchildren, Melissa (Brian Lane), Elisha Stemaly and Amy Davis; a great-granddaughter, Keyarra Leigh Pratley; and a step-greatgrandson, Chase Christian Lane. She is also survived by a sister, Anna (John) Elliott of Abingdon, Virg.; brother-in-law, Phillip Bolinger of Vermontville, Mich.; a sister-in-law, Edythe Quick of Farwell, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Jan Bolinger.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at the Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home in Marshall on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 4 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Priscilla Ruth Circle of the Frankfort United Methodist Church, the Michigan Diabetes Association or the charity of one’s choice. Assistance with memorials is available at the funeral home.
Shirley Ellen Rahl
Shirley Ellen Rahl, age 71, of Golden Valley, ND passed away at her home on July 12, 1999. She was born on Sept. 8, 1927 in Lansing, MI the daughter of Clare and Jeanette (Ferris) Foster. She grew up and was educated in the Lansing area. Following her education, Shirley was united in marriage to Charles Stanley Rahl on Dec. 23, 1945. Together they lived in Paris Island, VA where Charles served his country in the Marines. Shirley and Charles moved to Eaton Rapids, MI where they lived for 20 happy years. During this time, their three children were born. In 1968 Charles died. Following his death, Shirley moved to Engadine, MI in the Upper Peninsula, where she owned and operated a gas station and grocery store. People would come from miles around to have Shirley’s hand dipped ice cream cones. Everyone was Shirley’s friend and she was known to many of the kids in the Engadine area as “Mom”. Shirley was also active in the Ambulance and Paramedics in Engadine. After a trip to North Dakota to visit her daughter, Shirley later moved to Golden Valley in 1989 where she lived until the time of her death. Shirley loved fishing and spending time with her special friend, George. She also loved beautiful flowers, fat birds and her wonderful friends wherever she lived.
She is survived by her special friend, George; one daughter, Peggy Huffman and her friend Ron Hovde of Golden Valley; one son, Tom Rahl and his wife Kim of Eaton Rapids; one brother, James Foster and his wife Betty of Fife Lake, MI; one sister, Marcia Priebe and her husband Kevin of Cornell, MI; six grandchildren, John Matchiniski, Jennifer Wing, Daniel Rahl, Michelle Rahl, Katie Rahl, and David Rahl; and one great-grandchild, Sabrina Wing. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and one son, Charles Stephen.
A memorial service was held Thursday, July 15, 1999 at the Seibel Funeral Home Chapel in Beulah. Interment of the ashes will follow at a later date.
