Rex M. Valentine
Rex M. Valentine, age 85, died May 26, 2005. Beloved husband of the late Trudy for 57 years. Dear father of Joan (Terry) Geha and Jean (Ron) Bayes. Loving grandfather of Brandon, Wendee, Erik and Aaron, and great-grandfather of Audrey, Alex and Adam.
The funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1, at 11 a.m. (In-state at 10 a.m.) at First United Methodist Church of Farmington, 33112 Grand River Avenue, Farmington. Visitation Tuesday 2-9 p.m. at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home, 33603 Grand River Ave., downtown Farmington (one blk. West of Farmington Rd.). Memorial contributions may be made to the church.
Bud Wayne Branham
Bud Wayne Branham, 40, of Counce, Tenn., died Tuesday, May 24, 2005 in Memphis, Tenn., from injuries received when he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle earlier that day in Savannah, Tenn. He was born Sept. 6, 1964 in Saline, Mich., and grew up in the Clark Lake, Mich., area and attended Columbia Central High School. He moved to Tennessee last year.
He is survived by one son, Tyler, of Jackson, Mich.; his mother, Sharon Jones of Clark Lake, Mich., and Counce, Tenn.; father, Larry Branham of Brooklyn, Mich.; sister, Gayle Weck and her husband, Ed, of Clark Lake, Mich.; brother, Andy Branham and his wife, Ariane, of Fenton, Mich.; grandmother, Ethel Jones of Jackson, Mich.; nieces, Amanda and Andrea Weck of Clark Lake, Mich.; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his sister, Deann; his maternal grandfather Forest Wayne "Bud" Jones; and his paternal grandparents.
He has been cremated and a memorial service will be held later in the year in the Clark Lake, Mich., area.
Edna L. Ranney
Edna L. Ranney, age 96, died April 14, 2005 in Knoxville, Tenn. A graveside service will be held at Highland Cemetery on June 9, 2005 beginning at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Christine Barnes officiating.
Edna is survived by her daughter, Sharon Logan of Blairsville, Ga.; one son, Jack Ranney of Knoxville, Tenn; grandchildren, Laura Murray of Centennial, Colo., Doug Logan of Atlanta, Ga. and Brooke Ranney of Knoxville, Tenn. Edna's sister, Pauline Wenham and husband, Vere Ranney preceded her in death. Edna was born Feb. 4, 1909 in South Bend, Ind. to Paul Reyer of Brooklyn and Edna Edith Marquette of Schoolcraft, Mich.
Edna, her family and her husband's family grew up in Brooklyn graduating from Brooklyn High School. In 1929 she worked at the Clark Lake Pavilion, a highlight in her memories. Edna went to Western Michigan and later taught at Brooklyn High School (4th and 5th grades) for several years through the Depression. Teaching without pay, out of dedication during the hardest years of the Depression, she became endeared by the community and students alike. She married Vere Ranney of Brooklyn in 1933 moving to Kalamazoo where Vere worked as an accountant with the Upjohn Company. They moved several times over the next 35 years and retired to Punta Gorda, Fla. in 1972 where Vere died in 1988 and Edna resided until 2003.
Her son moved her to Knoxville where assisted living could be provided. Edna's father was well-known in Brooklyn during the 1930's through 1950. At his death, all the Village stores closed for the day. Paul Reyer was the Village Clerk, telephone exchange manager, and postmaster in addition to farming. Edna's stepfather was Ray Watts who owned and operated the town's grain elevator, chaired the Brooklyn State Bank, and earlier delivered mail. Edna's mother was related to the Marquettes and Conants in Brooklyn and was an accomplished pianist. Edna Ranney's husband's father Norman Ranney used to run the Brooklyn Railroad Depot during the 1930's. Edna was the last of the family that played a significant part in Brooklyn's history during the 1930's and 1940's.
Interment arrangements entrusted to the Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Braun Chapel.
Mary Jane Baxter
Mary Jane Baxter, age 60, of Jackson passed away at her home May 19, 2005.
She is survived by her two children, Phillip (Amy) Baxter of Marysville and Anne (Ivan) Graham Sr. of Jackson; her father, Arnold W. Graves of Brooklyn and five grandchildren, William and Ethan Baxter, Kathryn, Rachelle and Ivan Jr. Graham.
She was preceded in death by her husband Alvin, mother Ruth and sister Margaret. She was a loving daughter, mother and grandmother, very involved with her family and loved to cook.
Services were held at Nichols-Arthur Funeral Home on Monday, May 23, with Rev. Andrew J. Dunne officiating. Interment was at Oak Grove Cemetery, Napoleon. Contributions in her memory are directed to the Sisters of St. Joseph in care of Fatima Parish.
Kevin David Greer
Kevin David Greer, age 45, joined the Lord on May 17, 2005 at the V.A. Hospital in Washington, D.C.
He was born Dec. 25, 1959 in Trenton, MI the beloved son of Vernon and Rose Marie (Noller) Greer and they survive. Kevin is also survived by his brothers, Dennis M., 50, of Jerome, Richard V., 48. of Aiken, S. C., and James A., 38, of McDonough, Ga.
Kevin graduated from Flat Rock High School in 1978 and proudly served our country in the Army. He was preceded in death by his brother, Gary P. in 1995.
A Memorial service to celebrate Kevin's life will take place at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Braun Chapel in Brooklyn.
Kay M. "Mama Kay" Vasilopus
Kay M. "Mama Kay" Vasilopus, age 95 of Jerome, died on Saturday, May 21, 2005, at her home.
Kathleen M. Seaman
Kathleen M. Seaman, age 61, passed away Thursday, May 19, 2005 at Val Verde Regional Medical Center in Del Rio, Texas.
She was born Nov. 9, 1943 in Detroit, Mich. She is survived by her husband, James Seaman of Comstock, Texas; daughter, Karen and husband Andrew Hiss of Jackson; sons, Michael Seaman and Fiancée Tigger of Mt. Pleasant, John Hutson and wife Kathi of Horton, J. Todd Hutson and wife Janelle of Brooklyn, and Jeffery T. Hutson of Brooklyn; nine grandchildren, Shane Hodges, Codi Hodges, K.C. Hiss, Amanda Hiss, Chelsea Hutson, J.T. Hutson III, Janessa Hutson, Janeana Hutson, and Jada Hutson; two sisters, Evelyn Digiovanni of Fort Gratiot, Mich. and Mary Davis and husband Gary of Smiths Creek, Mich.; three brothers, Frank DeJohn and wife Judy of Hillman, Mich., William DeJohn and wife Jaye of Rives Junction, and Paul DeJohn and wife Joyce of Kimball, Mich.
A Memorial Chapel Service "Celebration of Her Life" will be at the Cement City Baptist Church at noon on Saturday, May 28, officiating will be Pastor Drew Woods. In lieu of usual remembrances donations can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Society, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., St. 7000, El Segundo, Calif., 90245 or the Myasthenia Gravis Association, 1821 University Ave., W., N Suite, S 256, St. Paul, Minn. 55104.
Eldora M. Griffin (Lombardo)
Eldora M. Griffin, age 85, died in the Herrick Hospital in Tecumseh, on Wednesday morning May 11, 2005.
Eldora owned the Eldora Beauty Salon in Toledo at Reynolds Corners for 17 years. She enjoyed traveling, painting, playing cards with family and friends, wintering in Florida and living on Loch Erin in Onsted, Mich.
Eldora was preceded in death by her grandson, Robert Piniazkiewicz, and her eight siblings. She is survived by her loving husband John Griffin, daughter Judith Sypucinski, grandchildren Beth Pinney, William (Cathy) Pinney, Lisa Piniazkiewicz, step-children Sheila (Norman) Falkenberg, Katherine (Richard) Rajner, Janice (Kevin) Tidd, Mary (Michael) Tate, grandchildren John, Mary, Katrina, Kelly, Megan, Patrick, nine great grandchildren, sisters Myrtle Vanderhorst, Mildred Kirk and sister-in-law Christine Hohenshell.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 14, and intermenty at Woodlawn Cemetery. Funeral arrangements provided by Coyle Funeral Home, Toledo, Ohio. Memorials may take the form of a contribution to the Onsted, Michigan Senior Center.
Doris A. Welihan
Doris A. Welihan, 82, of Brooklyn died on May 14, 2005 in Jackson.
A memorial service will be held for her on Monday, May 23, at 1 p.m. at the Jackson County Park on Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake.
Survivors include one daughter, Molly Lowe of Oxbow, Ore.; one son, Timothy of Greater Cincinnati, Ohio; several grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; one brother, Robert Ansteth of Las Vegas, Nev.; nephews and nieces.
Born in Lockport, N. Y. on May 16, 1922 she began her florist career in Chicago, Ill. and moved to Michigan in 1948. She worked in a number of shops in the Jackson area and at one time had her own shop. In the late 1980's she brought her talents to Brooklyn, working at Flowers Unlimited and then continued to work with Flowers 'n Things until that store closed in 2000. She moved on to a florist in Grass Lake before completing her career with J Alexanders in Jackson.
Funeral arrangements were made by Desnoyer Funeral Home in Jackson.
Alice Gary Barnes
Alice Gary Barnes, a former resident of Brooklyn, died in Hoffman, Minn. on April 29, 2005. She was born to Bruce and Bertha (Aten) Gary on May 9, 1911.
Alice graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She was preceded in death by her mother and father and her husband, Howard, who passed away March of 1998. She was also preceded in death by her three brothers: Donald, Gordon and Victor; and her son, Gary Barnes. Alice is survived by her son, Curt (Catherine) Anderson-Barnes and her daughter, Eileen (James) Casarez; eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Private services have taken place. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Braun Chapel.
