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Donna T. Gilkerson
64, of Eaton Rapids, MI died July 31, 2002. She was born July 1, 1938 in South Arm Township (Charlevoix County) to Claud and Bertha (Sloop) Gilkerson. She was a school teacher for over 36 years at Public Schools in Springport and Eaton Rapids and spent one year teaching Navajo children in Cuba, New Mexico. She was a member of Wesleyan Church of Eaton Rapids, Sunday School teacher, CYC director, Sunday School Superintendent and church pianist for many years. Her life was teaching and her students were her life. She is survived by sisters Ina Slough of East Jordan, Lena Brown of Roseville and Kay (Jim) Spence of Eaton Rapids, brothers Claude (Jean) Gilkerson of Bellaire, William (Donna) Gilkerson of Granville, OH, and Dean (Marlene) Gilkerson of Fostoria, 27 nieces & nephews, 54 great nieces and nephews and 5 great great nieces & nephews, and also several close friends including Doris Wonser with whom she shared a home & 3rd grade teacher-buddies Cindy Holm & Gina Rocca. Funeral services will be Saturday, August 3, 2002 at 11:00 a.m. at Pray Funeral Home with Pastor Frank Klassen officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery, East Jordan on Monday August 5th at 1 p.m. Visitation will be Thursday 7-9 p.m. and Friday 2-4 p.m. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Northwestern Elementary School nature project in Eaton Rapids.
Sandra Jean Cain
60, of Davenport, Florida, formerly of Eaton Rapids, died Wednesday July 31, 2002. Mrs. Cain was born December 30, 1941, in Charlotte, MI, the daughter of Ion and Anna Baker. She is survived by her sister Gloria Smith of Hastings; sons David Cain of Eaton Rapids and Doug Cain of Davenport, Florida; daughter Tammy Piper of Spring Lake. She was preceded in death by her husband Cliff. Memorial services will be 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at Pray Funeral Home with Duane Royston officiating. Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 7 at Pray Funeral Home.
Ruby C. Whitlock
78, of Charlotte, died Sunday, August 4, 2002. Mrs. Whitlock was born in Cock County, Tennessee, the daughter of David and Zona (Miller) Maness. She had retired from the Eaton County Medical Care Facility. She is survived by her daughter, Betty (Wayne) Webb of Charlotte, and granddaughters, Betty Maria Brown of Oklahoma, Peggy Sue (Dave) Gardner and Carla Rae (Mike) Fell of Charlotte; grandsons, Thomas Lee Winters of Charlotte, Matthew Russell Ashley of North Carolina; 9 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Fletcher Lee Ashley, and her second husband, Franklin L. Whitlock; son, Bob Ashley and great grandson, Daniel Fell. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday at Pray Funeral Home with Pastor Timothy Olson officiating, with burial in Maple Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
Carl Smith Jr.
of Potterville, died Monday, August 5, 2002. Mr. Smith was born June 11, 1930, the son of Carl and Sylvia Smith Sr. He is survived by his wife Joyce of 55 years and children: Anne (Allen) Aseltine, David (Grace) Smith, Brian Smith, Jill (Philip) Roehl, Judy (Larry) Zakora, Gary Smith (Karen Vallance, special friend), Debbie (Todd) Mannor, Jerry (Nikki) Smith; 24 grandchildren, and 18 great grand children; brother, Myles (Ruth Anna) Smith; sister, Alice Mills; mother-in-law, Vernie Edington; brother-in-law, Clyde (Carol) Edington; nieces and nephews. Carl worked at Motor Wheel for 38 years, and retired in 1985. Visitation will be Wednesday 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. with funeral services Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at the Pray Funeral Home with Rev. Tom Peters officiating. Burial will be in Benton Township Cemetery. If desired memorial contributions may be made to Special Day Camps for children with cancer, P.O. Box Lambertville, MI 48144.
Edward Potter McKinstry
age 86, of Hastings, died August 5, 2002. Mr. McKinstry was born April 21, 1916, the son of Vern E. and Katherine E. Potter. He served with the U.S. Army during WWII and completed ten years of serving his country. He was a member of the American Legion and enjoyed bowling and golf for many years. Mr. McKinstry had been a civil engineer with the city of Lansing for 15 years, retiring in 1974. He is survived by his wife, Jean; daughter, Gail P. (Cliff) Perkins, Dimondale; 2 sons James E. (Janet) McKinstry, Hastings, and Ronald R. McKinstry, Mason; 8 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; sister, Betty Dohr, Portland. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, August 9, 2002, at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, Michigan, with Pastor C. Greene officiating with interment following in Chapel Hill Cemetery.
Delores Yvonne Stanton
62, of Charlotte, Michigan, died August 12, 2002. Delores was born March 2, 1940, in Charlotte, Michigan, the daughter of Leonard and Betty (Beals) Gitchell. She loved music and enjoyed playing the guitar and organ. She raised two of her grandchildren, Andrea and Mia Williams. She is survived by her fifteen year companion, James Haley of Charlotte, sons; Daniel Griffin and David (Jane) Griffin all of Portsmouth, Virginia, daughters; Deanna (Phillip) Hebenstreit of Olivet, Michigan, Darlene Griffin of Hastings, Michigan, Dawn (Jerome) Howlett of Charlotte, Ariane (Daniel) St Johns of Grand Rapids, Michigan, 14 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 15, 2002 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, Michigan with Rev. William Sullivan officiating. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte. Visitation will be 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 p.m. Wednesday at Pray Funeral Home. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society or American Diabetes Association.
Deborah Elaine Chingman
48, of Owosso, Michigan, died Friday, August 16, 2002. Ms. Chingman was born May 11, 1954, in Lansing, Michigan, the daughter of Berton and Pauline (Palmer) Eaton. She is survived by her mother Pauline of Charlotte, Michigan, daughters Melissa (Mike) Moon, Skeeter (John) Campbell all of Jackson, Michigan, sons Andrew (Tammy) Chingman Jr., Bryan Chingman all of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, 10 grandchildren, sister Sheila (Robert) Hall, brother Kevin Eaton, uncle Arlo Eaton all of Charlotte and aunt Dolores McGee of Eaton Rapids, Michigan. Funeral services will be 1:00 pm Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, Michigan with Rev. Jeff Williams officiating. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids, Michigan.
Roy Edwin Davis
72, of Charlotte, Michigan, died Friday, August 23, 2002. Mr. Davis was born October 18, 1929, in Bellevue, Michigan, the son of George H. and Minnie (Modlin) Davis. Roy was a lifetime member of UAW Local 602 and worked as an Inspector for General Motors for 31 years before retiring in 1978. He served with the US Army during WWII and Korean Conflict. He was married to Reiko (Okano) on December 2, 1954 in Tokyo, Japan and she survives, also surviving are sons; Michael (Joyce) Davis, Mitchell (Carol) Davis all of Charlotte, daughter Michella (Mike) Wheat of Houston, Texas, 9 grandchildren: Shawn, Scott, Dyanne, Marilyn, Rayce, Alex, Alana, Amy, and Carolyn, and great granddaughter Alaina. Family and friends are invited to a Family Affirmation Service 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with R. Raymond Rossell officiating. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte. Visitation will be 7 - 9 p.m. Sunday, 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 p.m. Monday at Pray Funeral Home. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Capital Area Humane Society.
Frances Helen Eaton
(nee Welshon), 78, of Charlotte, Michigan, and Venice, Florida, died August 31, 2002 in New Jersey. Born in Jackson, Michigan, October 2, 1923, Frances lived in Michigan for most of her life, wintering in Venice, Florida, before moving to New Jersey last year. Frances was in the real estate, insurance and home building business with her husband for many years building, many houses throughout Eaton County. She was also an avid Michigan State football fan. Frances was predeceased by her husband of 45 years, Lloyd J. Eaton, in 1999. Surviving are daughter and son-in-law Charla and Robert Newland of Sewell, New Jersey; son Lloyd James Eaton III of Charlotte, daughter Holly Eaton of Attleboro, Massachusetts; daughter Carol Patrick of Charlotte, 5 grandchildren, and numerous great grandchildren, and lifelong friend Clara Fast. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 6, 2002 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Rev. Patricia Stirling officiating. Visitation will be held at Pray Funeral Home from 7 - 9 pm Thursday, September 5, and 9 - 10 am Friday, September 6, 2002 followed immediately by funeral services. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to Maple Valley Memorial Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 715, Nashville, MI 49073.
Evelyn June Lovell
83 of Houghton Lake, Michigan, formerly of Houghton/Hancock, died Sunday September 1, 2002 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Mrs. Lovell was born March 5, 1919 in Houghton, Michigan, the daughter of Chester and Grace (Marlor) Karr. She married Ellis Ray Lovell of Vermontville on June 17, 1942. She is survived by daughters Judy (Larry) Swartz of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Jeanne (Richard) Pray of Ann Arbor, 3 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and brother Nathan Karr of Hancock, Michigan, brother-in-law Gordon Lovell of Lake, Michigan and sister-in-law Ruth Wright of Potterville, Michigan. She was preceded in death by husband Ellis in November 1991. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 6, 2002 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastor Bryan Thompson officiating. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Vermontville. Visitation will be Thursday, 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 p.m. at the funeral home. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Michigan Parkinson Foundation or American Lung Association.
Erma Parr Dankenbring
88, of Grand Ledge, Michigan, passed away September 9, 2002. Mrs. Dankenbring was born December 31, 1913 in Benton Township, Michigan, the youngest child of Charles William Parr and Hattie (Barthlomew) Parr. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Charlotte and active in the Fidelis Class also the Mary Murry Circle. Erma graduated in the class of 1932 from Charlotte High School and also the Eaton County Normal. In her later years she volunteered for the Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital for 26 years. Most of her life was spent on a farm with her husband Clair in Oneida Township, Michigan. He preceded in death in 1985, also her brother Max Parr passed away in 1977. Surviving are son David (Joyce) Dankenbring and grandson Kent, brother Robert Parr, sister-in-law Luella Kemp and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, September 12, 2002 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, Michigan with Rev. Robert Crouch officiating. Interment will be in Deepdale Memorial Park in Lansing, Michigan. Visitation will be 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Pray Funeral Home. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Gladys Lavonne Williams
79, of Lansing, Michigan, died Thursday, September 12, 2002. Gladys was born January 12, 1923, in Obion County, Tennessee, the daughter of William A. and Novi (Heathcock) Ring. She enjoyed playing Bingo. She is survived by son Ed (Elaine) Williams of Big Rock, Illinois, granddaughter Tara of California, 2 great grandchildren and great niece Julie (C. J.) Van Syckle of Charlotte. She was preceded in death by sister Ophie Perry, brothers Ernest Ring and William Ring and grandson Tim Williams in 1985. Visitation will be 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Saturday, September 14, 2002 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, Michigan.
Robert Marvin Julian Fuller
43, of Mulliken, Michigan, died Saturday, September 14, 2002. Mr. Fuller was born June 22, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan, the son of Robert Marvin Julian Fuller, Sr. and Patricia (Drown) Fuller. Mr. Fuller was an assembly worker at B.O.C. in Lansing until his retirement in 1993. He is survived by his loving wife and caregiver, Deborah; daughter, Tara; son, R. J.; father, Robert, Sr.; brother, William Fuller and fiancé, Sue Tice of Lansing; and sister, Janice (Robert) Brewster of Indiana, 9 nieces, 5 nephews and many friends and family. He was predeceased by his mother, Patricia, in 1990. His interests included computers, books on tape, and playing with his two dogs. He was a long term patient of the kidney dialysis unit at Mid Michigan Dialysis Center and appreciated the care and kindness of the many doctors, nurses and staff there. Memorial services will be held at a later date. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to The American Diabetes Association, Brass Works Bldg, 648 Monroe Ave, NW, Suite 004, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
Denise Marie Wells
went home to her loving Lord and Savior Jesus on Monday, September 23, 2002. Mrs. Wells was born March 10, 1952, in Detroit, Michigan. She moved to the Vermontville area in 1980 and proceeded to make the entire community her friend. Helping others was her greatest pleasure including, Christmas baskets, Vermontville Fire and Ambulance as a First Responder, room Mom, baseball Mom, many will remember her 7 years at the Ole Cookstove alongside her husband Nyle, and the list goes on. She is survived by her best friend and husband Nyle, children Annie Wells of Lansing, Ryan (Michelle) Wells of Charlotte, Dena Burton of Lansing, the joy of her life 5 grandchildren Ravin, Kali, Brian, Austin, Cameron, parents Fred and Maryann Gagne, sisters Peggy (Gary) Peterman, Teresa (Bryan) Hall, Eva (Mark) Wozniac, Maryann (Terry) Walter, brothers Paul and Freddy Gagne, Father-in-law Laws Carroll, mother-in-law Phyllis Wells, sister-n-law Sally (Steve) Remple, brother-in-law Robert (Sandi) Wells, sister-in-law Faith (Chris) McDowell, grandfather William Skelly, special Aunt and Uncle Betty and Sterling Wells, 23 nieces and nephews, as well as an innumerable host of friends. She was preceded in death by her son David in 1976. Visitation will be Wednesday and Thursday 7 - 9 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, Michigan. Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 27, 2002 at Pray Funeral Home, with Rev. Glenn Litchfield and Rev. Don Roscoe officiating. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Vermontville, Michigan. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Community Church Building Fund.
