Kaye Jean Spearing
8/11/1999
Funeral services were held Saturday at the Suttons Bay High School gymnasium for Kaye Jean Spearing, 56, of Suttons Bay, who died Aug. 11 at Munson Medical Center after a long battle with cancer.
She was born in Cadillac on Dec. 21, 1942, to Wendell R. and Clara Elizabeth (Hatlem) Mellberg.
Mrs. Spearing graduated from Central Michigan University in 1964, earning a bachelor of music education degree. In 1990 at CMU, she received a master of classroom teaching degree. During her career, she taught elementary and junior high school music in the Traverse City and Suttons Bay schools, and first, second and third grades in Suttons Bay.
She was a charter member of the Leelanau Community Choir, director of Trinity Church Choir in Northport and private teacher of voice, guitar and piano. Mrs. Spearing was a featured soloist with many instrumental and vocal groups, and recorded two CDs with local guitarist Doug Hansen.
In recognition of her teaching career, she received numerous awards including Who's Who of American Teachers, Who's Who of American Women and Who's Who of Women of the World. Mrs. Spearing was a member of the Alpha Kappa Gamma Honorary Society and enjoyed baking desserts, using traditional Norwegian recipes, crafts, music and shopping.
Mrs. Spearing is survived by two children, Charles J. (Tonie) Spearing of Grand Rapids and Jennifer E. (Bill) Schaub of Suttons Bay, in addition to her mother and brother, Wendell C. Mellberg, both of Traverse City.
Memorials may be directed to the Kaye J. Spearing Scholarship-Suttons Bay Bingham Fund, c/o the Grand Traverse Regional Foundation, Munson Hospice or American Cancer Society's Reaching for Recovery Program.
Jerry D. Harmon
9/14/1999
Graveside memorial services have been held for Jerry D. Harmon, who died Sept. 14 in his Suttons Bay home. He was 61.
Mr. Harmon was born on Jan. 15, 1938, in Easley Township, the son of Paul and Mary (Deckard) Harmon. On Aug. 2, 1958, he married Vida Revold, who survives.
Mr. Harmon was a 41-year resident of Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. He worked for Cherry Bend Tool & Die as a tool-and-die maker for 23 years.
A member of the Eagles Aerie No. 383, he enjoyed bowling, woodworking and watching football. Mr. Harmon was an avid fisherman who enjoyed deer hunting and rabbit hunting with his two beagles, Mindy and Molly.
Other survivors include a daughter, Tonia (Steve) Brow of Norway, Mich.; his mother, Mary of Hillman; two brothers, Jack (Debbie) Harmon of Knoxville, Tenn. and Denny (Judy) Harmon of Valdosta, Ga.; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father and a sister, Pauline Weaver of Atlanta, Mich.
Memorial contributions may be made to Suttons Bay Fire and Rescue Squad.
M. Edna Peck
8/20/1999
M. Edna Peck of Northport died Aug. 20 at Leelanau Memorial Health Center's long term care. She was 98.
Mrs. Peck was born in Traverse City on Sept. 17, 1900, the daughter of Allen S. and Sarah J. (Vance) Barber. On Nov. 11, 1920, in Chicago, Ill., she married George E. Peck, who preceded her in death in 1969.
She moved to Northport in 1920 and lived in the area most of her life with the exception of 14 years on Marco Island, Fla. She returned to Northport in 1994. A former teacher, Mrs. Peck worked at the drug store in Northport.
Survivors include two daughters, Mary Jean Marsh of Knox, Ind., and Sally Butz of Marco Island, Fla.; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Also preceding her in death was a sister, Margaret Barber.
At Mrs. Peck's request, no services will be held. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Traverse City. Memorials may be directed to The Cherryland Humane Society.
Hazel M. Bernard
10/4/1999
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hibbard Funeral Home in Traverse City for Cedar resident Hazel M. Bernard, who died Oct. 4 at a local nursing home. She was 96.
Mrs. Bernard was born in Badger, Iowa, on Dec. 20, 1902, the daughter of Owen and Cordilia (Gord) Thompson. Her first husband, Ted Heath, preceded her in death in 1961. She married her second husband, Thomas Bernard, in 1963, and he preceded her in death in 1983.
A homemaker, she lived in Bay City in the 1930s before moving to Roscommon and eventually to Cedar in 1973. She enjoyed bowling and fishing.
Surviving are several nieces and nephews, including Deanna (Ken) Warren of Cedar. She was also preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oakridge Cemetery in Bay City. Memorials may be directed to the Father Fred Foundation.
Felix J. (Phil) Foley
12/29/1999
A funeral Mass was celebrated Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Union Lake for Elmwood Township resident Felix J. (Phil) Foley, who died Dec. 29 at Munson Medical Center. He was 83.
A World War II veteran, he had a life-long interest in electronics, technology and tinkering. He worked on radios, then the first televisions at RCA and on to troubleshooting computers for the federal government and Unisys.
Mr. Foley was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Men's Club, Video Ministry, president of the 50-Up Club and a Meals on Wheels volunteer. He enjoyed organizing creative Easter egg hunts for his grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen (Bodnar). Surviving are three daughters, Linda (Richard) Carlisi, Phyllis Foley (Rick) Wanroy and Donna (Micheal) Sobier; a sister, Lilian Sitarek; and five grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels or Wheels for the World organizations.
John 'Jack' Appel
7/15/1999
Funeral services were held yesterday for Indianapolis, Ind., resident John Carey "Jack" Appel, who died July 15. He was 83.
Mr. Appel retired in 1992 as chairman and president of Gregory & Appel Ins. after 50 years. He was a graduate of Princeton University, where he was captain of the basketball team, and a captain in the Army Air Force in Okinawa during World War II. He held several offices within services organizations in Indiana. He was also a summer resident of Leelanau County.
Surviving are his wife, Jane (Adams) Appel; sons John S., Fred S. and Stephen C.; stepsons Steve Lanthrop, John and Jim Thompson; stepdaughters Rae Wilson, Sally Stephens, Julie Moses, Jane Stephens, Jean Corey and Julie Steck; a sister, Eleanor Golden-Hitz; 35 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Noble of Indiana or The Orchard School. Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery.
James Alan Mattson
1/1/2000
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Gertrude's Catholic Church for James Alan Mattson, who died Jan. 1 at his Northport home. He was 50.
Mr. Mattson was born in Detroit on March 29, 1949, the son of Lillian P. and Theodore M. Mattson. He graduated from Ferndale High School and attended Central Michigan University. He lived in Northport since 1971, working at Suttons Bay Recycling and Thomas and Milliken Millworks.
Surviving are his mother, Lilian P. Mattson of Northport; a sister, Mila Mattson (Warren) Neeks of Columbia, Md.; brothers John T. (Janet) Mattson of Moraga, Calif. and Steve Mattson of Northport. He was preceded in death by his father, Theodore M. Mattson; and an infant brother, Theodore W. Mattson.
Memorials may be directed to the Leelanau Conservancy.
Betty Lee Roeser Sells
4/11/2003
A private burial service will be held at Beechwood Cemetery in Leland for former Leland resident Betty Lee Roeser Sells who died April 11 in Tucson, Ariz. She was 84.
She was born on Dec. 21, 1918, in Chillicothe, Ill. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce F. Sells.
Mrs. Sells was a summer resident of Leland and later a year-round resident from the mid 1960’s until 1980. She was a founder of the Little Garden Club, a member of the Leland Country Club and active in the founding of the Leland public library.
She is survived by her sons, James F. Sells of Piedmont, Calif., and Bruce F. Sells of Grosse Ile, Mich.; her daughter M.B. Susan Sells of Harper Woods; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Leland public library.
