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Merle Getter
Merle “Vern” Getter, 80, of Eaton Rapids died Dec. 26, 1997, in Lansing.
Mr. Getter was born June 18, 1917, in Eaton County, the son of Bert and Delia (Weldon) Getter. He retired from Diamond Reo in 1974 after 31 years of service and he also farmed.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lena; one daughter, Shirley (Andrew) Gambino of Phoenix, Ariz.; one son, Richard (Joyce) of DeWitt; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one brother, Dale (Waneta) of Eaton Rapids; four sisters, Eva Jankovic of Marshall, Elsie Howe of Florida, and Hilda (Robert) Elston and Reva Peterson, both of Eaton Rapids.
He was preceded in death by one son, Stanley.
Services were Jan. 4 at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids, with Pastor Tom Evans officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or Alzheimer’s Association.
Fern L. Ghere
Fern L. (Hill) Ghere, 91, died Aug. 16, 1997, in Eaton Rapids.
Mrs. Ghere was born March 1, 1906, in Harper County, Kansas, the daughter of Melvin David and Rena Jane (Divine) Hill. She was a member of the Eaton Rapids First United Methodist Church and its Miriam Circle and past president of the Eaton Rapids Hospital Auxiliary.
She is survived by one son, John R. (Barbara) Ghere; and two granddaughters, Jean (Randy) Mayville and Karen Ghere, all of Onondaga.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George in 1986 and one brother, Guy Hill, in 1965.
Services were Aug. 19 at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids, with Pastor Tom Evans officiating. Interment was at Rosehill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church or Eaton Rapids Community Hospital Auxiliary.
James R. Gibson
James R. Gibson, 73, of Lansing died Sept. 12 after a lengthy illness.
Mr. Gibson was born in Gibson County, Tenn., the youngest child of John and Madeline Gibson. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, serving in Utah and Colorado. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and served as a gunner’s mate in the Naval Armed Guard aboard merchant ships. Following the war, he worked at Oldsmobile Division in Lansing, retiring in 1982 after 35 years. He also owned and operated Foster Avenue Grocery from 1956-62. He was a member of VFW Post 701, UAW Local 652, and the U.S. Navy Armed Guard Association.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margie (Polly) in 1994.
He is survived by his son, Lawrence Gregg (Nancy) Gibson of Charlotte; two grandsons, John and Keith Gibson; and two sisters, Catherine Algee and Francis Gibson, both of Ypsilanti.
Country Comfort AFC offered kind, loving and compassionate care over the past four years.
Funeral arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home.
Leona E. Giffen
Leona E. Giffen, 72, of Bellevue died Feb. 25, 1997, in the Battle Creek Health System.
Mrs. Giffen was born Feb. 13, 1925, in Sherman, the daughter of Charles and Bessie (Lake) Spellman. She married Homer W. Giffen April 18, 1942, in Sherman.
She is survived by her husband, Homer; one daughter, Romona LaPoint of Bellevue; two sons, James of Lansing and Donald of DeWitt; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Ethelda Hayes of Lansing, Millie Butcher of Mesick, and Charlotte Lake of Luther; and one brother, Charles Spellman Jr. of Holt. She was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Melissa Baker, and one sister, Hazel Baldwin.
Services were March 1 at the Olivet First Assembly of God with the Rev. Doug Hammond officiating. Interment was in the Bosworth Cemetery, Olivet. Arrangements were made by the Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Vera E. Gifford
Vera E. Gifford, 94, of Eaton Rapids died April 11, 1997, of natural causes at her granddaughter’s home in Alpena.
Mrs. Gifford was born July 24, 1902, in Eaton County, the daughter of William and Lillian (Willis) Owen. She joined the First Baptist Church when she was just a young woman. She and her husband, Gayle, were co-owners of the Eaton Rapids Journal from 1927 to 1954.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathie Foote of Eaton Rapids; three grandchildren, Nathan Foote of Grand Ledge, Gayle Betz of Alpena and Eddie Foote of Eaton Rapids; and seven great-grandchildren, Skye and Alex Brooks, Zach, Tessa and Zoe Betz and A.J. and Casey Foote.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gayle, in 1981; one great-granddaughter, Carly Foote in 1990; and one son-in-law, Dr. J.B. Foote in 1977.
Graveside services were April 14 at the Rosehill Cemetery, Eaton Rapids, with the Rev. Wayne Foote officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pied Piper Opportunity Center for playground equipment.
Anna L. Giles
Anna Leona Giles, 98, of Eaton Rapids died June 3, 1997, in Charlotte.
Mrs. Giles was born Nov. 12, 1898, in Lansing, the daughter of George and Cordelia (Nivison) Munson. She was a member of the First Congregational Church in Eaton Rapids, and retired from the Secretary of State office in 1965.
She is survived by one daughter, Roberta Mead of Crystal River, Fla.; one son, Calvin (Mildred) Richards of Eaton Rapids; three grandchildren, Bill (Marilyn) Richards of DeWitt, Kathy (Tim Maink) Richards and Barbara Alexander all of Lansing; and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were June 5, at the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Lansing, with Pastor Sharon Wozencraft officiating. An Order of Eastern Star Memorial service was June 4, at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton County Medical Care Facility.
Caroline Carper Gilkerson
Caroline Carper Gilkerson, 78, of Charlotte, died Oct. 2, 1997.
Mrs. Gilkerson was born Oct. 9, 1917, in Phoenix, Ariz., the daughter of Carl and Clara (Carper) Kunz.
She is survived by daughter Carolyn (Ken) Swanson of Charlotte; sister, Laura Katherine (George) Commenator of Tucson, Ariz.; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James T. Gilkerson, in 1992.
Arrangements were prepared by Pray Funeral Home.
Bertha P. Goodrich
Bertha P. (Schulze) Goodrich, 87, of Charlotte died Aug. 6, 1997, at a local adult foster care home.
Mrs. Goodrich was born July 11, 1910, in New England, N.D., the daughter of John and Pauline (Schindler) Debler. She was a long-time Eaton County resident.
She is survived by one daughter, Lillian (Harley) Eaton of Charlotte; one son, Larry (Rosella) Schulze of Charlotte; seven grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Edith Arndt of Grand Ledge and Mary Litchfield of Mulliken; three brothers, Ervin Debler of Paoli, Indiana, Robert Debler of Lansing, and Albert “Jim” Debler of Sunfield; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, William Schulze and Gerald “Charlie” Goodrich; one granddaughter, Barbara Conklin. and one great-grandson, Rhoby Conklin.
Services were Aug. 8 at the Barker-Leik Funeral Home, Mulliken, with the Rev. Arthur Salisbury officiating. Interment was in the Meadowbrook Cemetery, Mulliken.
