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Gary Lee Tyler
Gary Lee Tyler, age 60, of Lansing, formerly of Eaton Rapids, died Friday, April 9, 1999 at a Lansing hospital. He was born June 17, 1938 in Eaton Rapids the son of Claude and Lena Tyler. Mr. Tyler was a graduate of the Eaton Rapids High School Class of 1956. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1956-1959 as a submarine radioman. Gary was the co-owner and operator of Capital City Ceilings in Lansing. A former member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Lansing and a member of the M.S.U. Wrestling Boosters Club. Gary served for over 30 years in the Lansing area with youth sports and scouting programs.
Surviving are his wife Ellen of Lansing; 5 children, Lynette (Sid) Messer of Sunfield, Richard (Julie) Tyler of Herndon, VA, Michael Tyler of Okemos, Tanya Tyler of Lansing and Christopher Tyler of East Lansing; mother, Lena Gamble of Eaton Raids; sister, Joyce Warren of Lansing; half-sister, Karen Johnson of Penn.; big brother too; Jack Lynch and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 14th at 1 p.m. from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids with the Rev. Donald Green officiating. Burial will follow in the Rosehill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, a memorial contribution may be made to either the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Lansing or the M.S.U. Wrestling Boosters Club in memory of Gary Lee Tyler.
Floyd Upright
Floyd R. Upright, 80, of Lansing, formerly of Charlotte, died June 28, 1999.
Mr. Upright was born Aug. 2, 1918 in Benton Township, the son of George and Stella (Kingman) Upright. He retired from Sear’s in the Frandor Shopping Center, Lansing, and also held members in the Potterville Masonic Lodge and North Lansing Lions Club.
He is survived by his wife, Jeannette (Kerley); one stepdaughter, Jain (Thomas) Allbee of Potterville; one stepson, Kevin (Karin) Carver of Lansing; and five grandchildren, Zackary Allbee, Lorrin Allbee, Dustin Carver, Karli Carver and Tricia Holley.
Services were July 3 at the Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Minister Michael O’Berski officiating. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery, Charlotte.
Sarah Vahs
Sarah Bethel “Betty” Vahs, 85, of Charlotte, formerly of Olivet died March 30, 1999 at Hayes Green Beach Hospital, Charlotte, after an extended illness.
Mrs. Vahs was born in Kalamo Township, Eaton County, the daughter of Vernor and Myrtle (Talbot) Bradley. She was a 1931 graduate of Charlotte High School and attended Eaton County Normal School and Western Michigan University. She was a teacher in rural schools and substituted in the Olivet Community Schools during World War II. She worked for many years with her husband, serving as a bookkeeper at the service station in Olivet. She was a member of the Olivet Congregational Church where she served on many committees. She was a member of two special committees for hiring ministers for the church. She was a member and Past Worthy Matron of the church. She was a member and Past Worthy Matron of the Olivet/Bellevue Order of Eastern Star and a member of the Olivet College Women’s Board, holding many offices. She enjoyed playing bridge and traveling.
She is survived by her husband of 62 year, Ralph Vahs; one son, Richard (Letty) of Olivet; two grandchildren, Bradley Vahs of Olivet and Sarah (Tom) Buttrick of Gaylord; four great-grandchildren, Spencer and Page Vahs and Hilary and Stephanie Buttrick; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Susan Segar; one grandson, Mark John Vahs; her parents; one sister, Maxine (Philip) Park; and two brothers, Gerald and Burlynn Bradley.
Services were April 2 at the Olivet Congregational Church with the Rev. Clark Hock officiating. Internet was in the Olivet Cemetery. Arrangements were made by the Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Olivet Congregational Church or Olivet College Women’s Board.
James Van Buren
James Van Buren, 75, of Sunfield, died July 9, 1999.
Mr. Van Buren was born July 31, 1923, son of Martha (Peabody) and Leon Van Buren. He was a retired farmer, was a plant guard at Diamond Reo Trucks for many years, sold real estate, owned a local restaurant for many years, and was proud of having received an appreciation award from the Sunfield SPY’s during his years as a restaurant owner. He enjoyed visiting with people and took great pride in meeting people when he traveled, especially during his trip to England and Scotland, and then to Germany and the Netherlands with the Lakewood High School Band. He enjoyed being with his grandchildren and had taught many of them to drive and shared his love of fishing with them. For many years, he was a member of the Mid-Forest Hunting and Fishing Lodge near Houghton Lake. He was also a member of the Mason’s and the Lakewood United Methodist Church.
He is survived by three daughters, Kathleen (Marvin) Hengesbach, Nancy (Larry) Brown, and Carol (Tony) Santini; two sons, Lynn (Valerie) and David (Denise); 15 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Eunice (Edward) Black and Elaine (Forest) Nash; two sisters-in-law, Madilyn (Durwood) Mast and Barb Scott; and one brother-in-law, Don (Maxine) Hunter.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Marilyn; and his parents.
Services were July 13 at the Lakewood United Methodist Church. Interment was in the Sunfield Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to SPY’s Scholarship Fund.
Arrangements by Rosier Funeral Home, Sunfield.
Roberta VanDeMoortel
Roberta VanDeMoortel, 76, of Charlotte, died July 11, 1999.
Mrs. VanDeMoortel was born Dec. 4, 1922 in San Diego, Calif., the daughter of Robert and Alice (White) Thornton. She was active in Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts for many years.
She is survived by one daughter, Barbara (Chuck) Brandon of Charlotte; four sons, Larry (Ann) Becktel of Manchester, Gerry (Deanna) Becktel of Cloverdale, Dick Becktel of Lansing, Charles (Sally) VanDeMoortel of Marshall; 19 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and sister, Phyllis Grier of Charlotte.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; daughter, Bonnie Becktel; one son, Ron Helms; and one grandson, Ricky Becktel.
Graveside services were July 14 at the Maple Hill Cemetery, Charlotte, with Rev. Arthur Salisbury officiating. Arrangements were made by the Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to Eaton County Medical Care Facility, Charlotte.
Raymond VanDorpe
Raymond VanDorpe, 89, of Charlotte, died Monday, March 1, 1999.
Mr. VanDorpe was born Nov. 18, 1909 in Brussels, Belgium the son of Adiel and Julianna (De Sander) VanDorpe.
He is survived by two sisters, Alida (Bob) Starkweather of Cheyenne, Wyo. and Rosemary Michael of Olivet; a brother, Jerry (Corky) VanDorpe of Charlotte; two stepsons, Rex (Bonnie) Fredline of Charlotte and Wayne (Marsha) Fredline of Oklahoma; four step grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret; a sister, Ruby; a brother, Frank; and a sister-in-law, Betty.
Services were held March 4 at Pray Funeral Home with the Rev. Arthur Salisbury officiating. Interment will be at Maple Hill Cemetery, Charlotte.
Janis VanGelder
Janis K. (Pinch) VanGelder, age 39, of Charlotte died Friday, April 16, 1999 at the St. Lawrence Campus of Sparrow Health Care System in Lansing. Janis was born in Charlotte, the daughter of Richard W. and Deloris C. (Barber) Pinch, and had been a lifelong Charlotte area resident.
She was a 1977 graduate of Charlotte High School and had attended Lansing Community College. She enjoyed attending yoga classes. She had been employed for nine years as a patient-care technician at the St. Lawrence Campus of the Sparrow Health Care Systems in Lansing.
Surviving are her husband, Jake VanGelder, Jr.; one sister, Carol M. Seager of Charlotte; one brother, James R. (Lori) Pinch of Colorado Springs, CO; nephew, Jeff White, and nieces, Merranda and McAllysen Pinch. She was preceded in death by her parents and nephew. Chance Seager.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, 1999 at the Burkhead-Green Funeral Chapel, Charlotte, with Rev. Thomas E. Ball officiating. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society. The family received visitors Monday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Burkhead-Green Funeral Home.
Gretchen VanSkike-Campbell
Gretchen Nickie VanSkike-Campbell, 43, of Charlotte died June 30, 1999 at Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Ms. VanSkike-Campbell was born in Sturgis July 20, 1955, the daughter of Bryan and Nickie VanSkike. She was a graduate of Charlotte High School and member of the First Baptist Church, Charlotte, where she loved to sing in the choir and work with the Pioneer Club. She touched and influenced the lives of many children through providing day care in her home.
She is survived by two daughters, Lacy Jo and Mallory Campbell, both of Charlotte; her parents, Bryan and Patricia VanSkike of Charlotte; five sisters, Brynda (David) Filkins of Colorado Springs, Colo., Penny (Garth David) Pickett of Charlotte, Linda (Larry) Hahn, Mary (Don) Houser, and Katie Clemens, all of Sturgis; one brother, Nathan (Julie) VanSkike of Charlotte; and many close nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her first mother, Nickie, and two brothers, Monte VanSkike and Brian Kills Crow.
Cremation has taken place. Arrangements were made by the Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Visitation will be Saturday, July 10, at 1 p.m. in Fellowships Hall at the First Baptist Church, followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Charles Moore officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the charity of one’s choice.
