Joseph R. Davis, Jr.
Joseph R. Davis, Jr., 38 of Hudson, died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, in an automobile accident in Woodstock Township. He was born Oct. 26, 1968, in Hudson, the son of Joseph Sr. and Betty (Tanner) Davis. He was a lifelong resident of Rollin Township and was a 1988 graduate of Addison High School. He enjoyed listening to country music and watching old movies.
He is survived by his parents, Joseph Sr. and Betty Davis of Hudson ; two brothers, Arthur Davis of Jackson and Norman Davis of Hudson; one sister, Penny (Shane) Cox of Hudson; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services were held on Nov. 10, 2006, at Brown-VanHemert Funeral Home in Addison with Pastor E. Keith Corbin officiating. Memorials are suggested to the family to help with funeral expenses.
Roger Scott Field
Roger Scott Field, 57 of Brooklyn, walked on in spirit on Nov. 1, 2006, under the care of Hospice and at home with his family in Brooklyn.
He was born the son of Roger Sidney Field and Melvene (Sally) Mary Sparks on Jan. 26, 1949, in Ann Arbor. Brothers Ronald and Randy and nephews Robert and Douglas survive him. His mother preceded him in passing.
He married Kristie Lynne Eberts in 1969 and they had three daughters, Shana (Scott) Figures of Livonia, Mich., Stephanie (Ryan) Feeback of Ft. Wayne, Ind. and Sarah Field of Kalamazoo. He had seven grandchildren, Casey, Jocelyn and Sam Figures, Tristen and Colin Feeback and Annika Field Pollard. His first grandchild, Rebecca Field, preceded him in death.
Roger was a 1967 graduate of Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, and then was a pipe fitter in Local 190 in Ann Arbor. He retired from Boone and Darr, Inc. this year.
Besides his family, Roger’s other passion was anything to do with guns. He was a member of the NRA and the Goodrich Shooting Range in Alma.
His body was cremated according to his wishes after donating what was needed to John Hopkins Hospital in their effort to find a way to fight Pancreatic Cancer.
The family held a celebration of life gathering on Saturday, November 4. His daughter, Shanna Field Figures, 34259 Bretton, Livonia, MI, 48152, will oversee donations in his memory. They will be forwarded to the Foote Home Healthcare Services in Jackson and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
Adriana (Heckaman) Fuller
Adriana (Heckaman) Fuller, age 92 of Napoleon, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006, at Faith Haven Senior Care Centre.
Surviving are her son, David (Helen) Heckaman Sr.; two grandchildren, David (Laura) Heckaman Jr. and DaVette (Dennis) Butcher; six great-grandchildren, Dennis and Melissa Butcher, Jennifer Hamby, Bonnie Conley, Robert Thompson and Sarah Robertson; and three great-great-grandchildren, Michael, Kassidy and Brandi. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Donald Heckaman and Clifford Fuller; two sisters, one brother; and a grandson, David R. Heckaman III.
Adriana was a retiree of Ford Motor Company, was a Life Member of Napoleon Chapter #328 Order of the Eastern Star and a member of TOPS MI #386 for many years. According to her wishes, cremation has taken place and no service will be held at this time. For those who wish, contributions in Adriana’s memory to the charity of one’s choice would be appreciated. Arrangements were entrusted to Nichols-Arthur Funeral Home in Michigan Center.
Harold L. Guminski
Harold L. Guminski, formerly of Brooklyn, passed away at home on Nov. 4, 2006. He retired from the United States Air Force and the State of Michigan. He was a member and past president of the Michigan Center Eagles #3634 for 30 years.
Harold is survived by his wife, Dorothy Guminski; 10 children; 22 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren, three sisters; and one brother. Services will be held at Michigan Center Eagles, 302 Fifth Street in Michigan Center, on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006, at 4 p.m.
Jennifer Lynne Murphy
Jennifer Lynne Murphy, age 18 of Lake LeAnn, Jerome, passed away on Thursday evening, Nov. 2, 2006, as a result of an automobile accident in Somerset Township.
She was born on June 30, 1988, in Toledo, Ohio, to Michael P. and Alice W. (Pytel) Murphy. She was raised in Toledo, before moving to the Lake LeAnn area in 2000. Jennifer graduated from Addison High School in 2006. She played for the Addison girls’ junior varsity basketball team and then the varsity basketball team. She also played on the travel basketball team her junior year. She played for the Addison girls’ junior varsity softball team and then the varsity softball team, where she was captain of her team her senior year. She was an assistant coach of the Addison girls’ varsity basketball team this fall. She was a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions and was on the Addison Homecoming court her senior year. Jennifer was attending Jackson Community College, where she was recently notified she would receive a full scholarship to the school.
Jennifer is survived by her parents Michael P. and Alice W. Murphy of Lake LeAnn,; her brother, William Murphy of Lake LeAnn; paternal grandparents, Robert L. and Lorraine Murphy of Venice, Fla.; maternal grandmother, Regina Pytel of Hudson, Fla.; aunt and uncle, Monica and Brad Bankowski of Port Clinton, Ohio; and aunt, Linda Pytel of Hudson, Fla. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Donald E. Pytel and paternal grandmother, Mildred L. Murphy.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Nov. 6, 2006, at the Somerset Beach Campground with Pastor David Luke officiating. Burial took place at Somerset Cemetery. Jennifer was a Gift of Life Donor.
Services were provided by Brown-Van Hemert Funeral Home in Addison.
Martha G. Nichols
Martha G. Nichols, age 90 years of Onsted, passed away Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006, at Lynwood Manor in Adrian.
Martha was born on Nov. 19, 1915, in Hopwood, Pa., the daughter of Jacob and Mary Jane (Spears) Dymond. She moved to the Lenawee County area in 1935. Martha married George E. Nichols in 1946 and he passed away in 1985. Together they owned and operated The Irish Hills Grill. Martha was a very generous person, always willing to help someone who needed a hand. She was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Shrine Church, with the Altar Rosary Society and the choir.
Surviving Martha are her children, Sue (Gary) Coats of Jackson, Judy (Robert) Randall of Indianapolis, Ind., Tony Nichols of Mandeville, La., Ed (Suzy) Nichols and William Joe Nichols all of Covington, La., and Peggy Nichols of Manitou Beach; 12 grandchildren; several great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, at St. Joseph Catholic Shrine Church in the Irish Hills with Rev. Father Carl Simon officiating. Interment followed at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Services were provided by Brown-Van Hemert Funeral Home Dunn Chapel in Onsted.
Aki Nelson
Aki Nelson, age 68 of Cambridge Township, passed away Oct. 31, 2006. Aki was born in Siapan on May 8, 1938. She married Thomas Nelson on Aug. 7, 1958, in Okinawa, and moved with him to the United States where she became a naturalized citizen in 1963.
She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Thomas; son, Thomas A. (Frances Lynn) Nelson of Seattle-Tacoma, Wash.; two grandchildren, Curtis Benjamin and Taylor Shae. Aki was preceded in death by Tom’s parents, Curtis D. and Mahala Pauline Nelson.
Memorial donations may be given to Hospice of Lenawee County or the American Cancer Society. Envelopes are available at Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Braun Chapel. A healing farewell took place on Saturday at noon at Maple Grove Cemetery in Harrison, Mich. Arrangements in Harrison were entrusted to Stocking Funeral Home.
Martha A. Carter
Martha A. Carter, age 56 of Somerset Center, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006, at her home. She was born on July 30, 1950 in Jackson, Mich. to Guy L. and Beatrice M. (West) Carter.
Martha lived in Liberty, Mich., for 41 years, and then lived in Somerset Center for the past 15 years. She graduated from a local high school in 1968 and was a cosmetologist for many years, and then she was employed at the New Jerusalem Christian Fellowship as food director. She was a nanny for the past 20 years, and a member of the New Jerusalem Christian Fellowship in Somerset.
Surviving are her mother, Beatrice M. Carter of Somerset Center; one sister, Mary (Larry) Slatten of Amarillo, Texas; two nephews, Josh (Britt) Slatten of Amarillo and Jeremiah (April) Slatten of Chula Vista, Calif.; special friends, Todd and Cassie Inman of Lake LeAnn. She was preceded in death by her father and one sister, Annette.
Funeral services were held on Dec. 22, 2006 at the New Jerusalem Christian Fellowship, Somerset, with Pastor Robert P. Norman and Pastor Linn Otto officiating. Burial took place in Roseland Memorial Gardens, Jackson. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Brown-Van Hemert Funeral Home in Addison.
Virgil A. “Bud” Hawley
Virgil A. “Bud” Hawley, age 88, formerly of Boulder Colo., died on Dec. 8, 2006, in Colorada. The son of Dite and Elizabeth Hawley, he was born at Grass Lake on March 19, 1918 and lived in Napoleon. His great-grandparents were among the first settlers in 1832 and helped build the Napoleon Methodist Church in the 1840’s.
Bud grew up working with his father and brother laying stone walks and rock gardens using Napoleon Sandstone. He formed Star Stone Company which produced building and landscape stone for more than 30 years.
He married Shirley Anne Campbell on Oct. 4, 1941. During World War II, Bud trained in the Army Tank Corps of the 3rd Armored Division and was assigned to Climax Molybdenum Mine in Leadville Colo. as a soldier-miner for more than a year. He resumed his Michigan quarry business after the war and was active in the Napoleon United Methodist Church, Lions Club, civic projects and was a life member of both the Napoleon Masonic Lodge and Order of the Eastern Star. In his free time he enjoyed riding horses, swimming and flying.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; son, Kevin of Wisconsin; sisters-in-law, Rosalind Hawley and Maxine Dialogue; nieces, Marilyn (John) Anderson, Rosanne Hawley and Linda (Timothy) Groesbeck; nephew, B. Lewis (Doris) Hawley; and cousin, Marlys (William) McGaughey and Ihde cousins in Iowa. He was preceded in death by brother, Erwin; and sister, Marion.
An evening service was held December 11 at Crist Mortuary in Boulder, Colo. Virgil was laid to rest on December 18 at Green Mountain Cemetery in Boulder. Memorial gifts in his name may be sent to Napoleon United Methodist Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 337, Napoleon, Mich., 49261, or to Native America Emergency Relief, P.O. 131570, Carlsbad, CA, 92013.
Betty Jo Pate
Betty Jo Pate, age 68 years of Addison, formerly of the Detroit area, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006 after a courageous battle with cancer at her home.
Born on November 13, 1938 in Logan, W. Va., she was the daughter of Joe and Della (Smith) Webb. She married Riley Edgar Pate in 1956 and he preceded her in death on April 17, 1974. Betty enjoyed gardening and traveling.
Surviving are her children, Charlotte (Dave) West of Onsted, Marinda ‘Gail’ Pate of Addison, Billy (Holly) Pate of Rome Center, Wanda Pate of Dearborn, Wayne Pate, Carol (Don) Mitchell of Mississippi; brothers and sisters, Carl Webb of Indiana, Peedle, Hester, Tuck, Annis and Charles Webb; grandchildren, Cindy, Kevin, Dewey, Angel, Sarah, Chris, Crystal, Christy, T.J., Karmen, Nicole, Christopher, Mitchell, Shavon, Jason and Justin; great-great-grandchildren, Ryan, Marcus, Isabella, Brittany, Devin, Shyanne, Anthony, Cameron; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, son, Charles Pate; daughter, Beverly Pate, and 10 brothers and sisters.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006 at the Brown-Van Hemert Funeral Home in Addison with Pastor Jeff Dillon officiating. Interment followed at North Rome Cemetery in Manitou Beach.
