Gerald "Jerry" Walton, age 62 of Flint died Sun. April 1, 2007 at McLaren Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wed. April 4, 2007 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Grand Blanc. Visitation will be from 2-9 P.M. Mon. and Tues. Mr. Walton was born in Flint on Oct. 26, 1944 the son of Joseph and Florence (Boggs) Walton. He was retired from Buick City, was a member of UAW Local 599, and was a member of the Shiawassee Harley Club. He loved his Harleys. Surviving are his wife Chris; 2 children, Kim (Brian) Wilson of Flint and Rich (the late Deborah) Walton of Davison; 5 step-children, Michele Burnett of KY, Wendy Kimball of KY, Michael Gerow of Au Gres, Cathy Brooks of KY, and Latasha Falaras of Grand Blanc; grandchildren Michael and Samantha Wilson and Aaron and Alex Walton; 11 step-grandchildren; brothers Tom (B.J.) Walton of Clio, Ed Piotrowski of AZ, and Don (Janet) Walton of AZ; sister Jeanne VanSchaick of TX. He was preceded in death by his mother Florence, father Joseph, step-mother Grace, and brothers James and Robert Walton. Memorials may be made to the family.
Irene M. Gordon, age 82 of Fenton died Wed. March 28, 2007 at Genesys Health Park. Private family services will be held at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly. Mrs. Gordon was born in Chicago, IL on Jan. 10, 1925 the daughter of Henry and Katherine (Newart) Schleicher. She is survived by 2 children, Ann (Tom) Cummings of Genesee and Glen "Cy" Gordon of Vernon Hills, IL; 2 grandchildren Troy David (Kathie) Cummings and Tracy Ann (Anthony) Fias; 4 great-grandchildren; Joseph, David, and Chancy Cummings, and Jacob Anthony Fias; and sister Gerry (June) Thompson of Clinton Twp. She was preceded in death by her husband David B. Gordon on March 23, 2007, and they would have celebrated their 57th anniversary on March 31. She is also preceded in death by her brothers Harold and Ernie Schleicher. Memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.
David B. Gordon, age 80 of Fenton died Fri. March 23, 2007 at Avalon Hospice. Private family services will be held at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly. Mr. Gordon was born in Fenton on Oct. 25, 1926 the son of Howard and Lola (Goodrich) Gordon. He graduated from Fenton High School in 1944 where he was President of the Student Council. He was active in the Fenton Alumni Association. He is survived by his wife Irene; 2 children, Ann (Tom) Cummings of Genesee and Glen "Cy" Gordon of Vernon Hills, IL; 2 grandchildren, Troy David (Kathie) Cummings and Tracy Ann (Anthony) Fias; 4 great-grandchildren, Joseph, David, and Chancy Cummings and Jacob Anthony Fias; and 2 sisters Vada "Tyke" Whalen of Waukegan, IL and Gloria Gordon of Pinellas Park, FL. The family gives special thanks to staff of Young at Heart and Avalon Hospice. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Assoc. or Avalon Hospice.
Michael Paul Crider, age 29 of Holly died Sun. March 18, 2007. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wed. March 21, 2007 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly with Pastor Ed Pedley officiating. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Holly. Visitation will be from 2-9 P.M. Tuesday. Michael was born in Flint on May 31, 1977. He was an employee of Twin Corp of Holly. Surviving are his mother Jewlee (Dale) Ward of Holly; 2 daughters, Ashlee and Chelse; sister Janal Davis of Holly; step-brother Corey Ward; grandmother Dorothy Crider of Holly; many aunts, uncles and cousins; cousin and lifelong friend John Iatonna; lifelong friend Crickett Austin; and special friends Dan, Sadie, James, and Joey. He was preceded in death by his uncles Kim and John Crider. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Margot M. Frick, age 77 of Grand Blanc died Sun. March 4, 2007 at home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thurs. March 8, 2007 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly with Pastor Ed Pedley officiating. Burial will be in Ortonville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-5 and 7-9 P.M. Wednesday. Mrs. Frick was born in Metamora on Feb. 22, 1930 the daughter of Kenneth and Lola (Rossman) Bliss. In high school she was a member of the Ortonville High School Glee Club and girls softball team. She married Donald Frick in Clarkston on Dec. 9, 1948. She retired as a medical secretary for Dr. Helmer after 25 years of service. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Holly and was a past president of the ABWA. Her whole life was devoted to her family. She is survived by 5 children, Diana (Wayne) Simons of Flint, Danny (Jacque) Frick of Grand Blanc, Steven (Deborah) Frick of Grand Blanc, Cynthia (Stuart) Sherry of Clio, and Kenneth "Jim" (Trisha) Frick of Grand Blanc; 6 grandchildren, Bradley Frick, Daniel (Kelly) Frick, Stephanie (Trevor) Albon, Jarred (Kourtney) Frick, Stuart (Leslie) Sherry, and Christina Sherry; 5 great-grandchildren, Madison and Gabrielle Albon, Reagan Frick, Andrew Frick and Marissa Sherry; sister Myrna (Robert ) Berg; brother Gary (Kathleen) Bliss; special adopted children Mary Dwyer and Artie Powers; brothers and sisters-in-law, Kenneth Morse, Clayton and Barbara Frick, Elizabeth Frick, and Robert and Reva Frick;numerous nieces and nephews including Kenny and Debbie Morse, Linda and Don Neises, Debbie and Perry Stevens, and many more; and special friend Zelda Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband Donald Frick on July 8, 2003, sister Ruby, and special great-niece Tanya Morse. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Holly.
Robert G. Floyd, age 76 of Fenton died Sat. Feb. 24, 2007 at Hurley Medical Center. Cremation has taken place. Interment will be in West Virginia National Cemetery, Grafton, West Virginia.
James Wheeler Sr., age 77 died Sun. Feb.18, 2007 at his home in Howell, MI. He was born April 15, 1929 in Highland Park, MI to James and Mabel Wheeler. He is survived by his five children, Chris (Eileen) Wheeler of Holly, MI, Dave (Linda) Wheeler of Fenton, MI, Jeanne' (Chuck) Morgan of Shelby, MI, James (Gail) Wheeler of White Lake, MI, and Tony (Karla) Wheeler of Fenton, MI; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two sisters. Memorial services will be held 2:00 P.M. Sun. Mar 4, 2007 at the American Legion Hall in Holly, MI, 408 S. Saginaw St. Holly, MI 48442. Military Honors and burial will be at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly, MI at 2:30 P.M. Fri. March 9, 2007. Arrangement by Dryer Funeral Home, Holly.
Bethany Francis McCartney, age 65 of Flint died Sat. Feb. 3, 2007 at home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wed. Feb. 7, 2007 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly with Hank Messing, Hospice Chaplain officiating. Burial will be in Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly. Visitation will be from 4-9 P.M. Tuesday. Mrs. McCartney was born in Flint on Aug. 23, 1941 the daughter of Frank and Bethany (Leach) Minarik. She was retired from Mott Community College. Surviving are her husband Don; 2 children, Jill (Eddy) McGinnis of TX and April (Tim) Donaldson of Flushing; 3 grandchildren, Lauren McGinnis of TX, Ryan (Heidi) Donaldson of Flushing, and Justin Donaldson of Flushing; sisters Marilyn (Ron) Nash of Flint, Janet (Tom) Clark of Holly, and Margaret (Mike) Schutz of Linden; brother Jerry (Tina) Minarik of Goodrich; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son Donn "Butch" McCartney. Memorials may be made to the Michigan Humane Society.
Harold E. VanBuren, age 93 formerly of Holly died Wed. Jan. 17, 2007 in Spring Lake , MI. Funeral services will be held at 5:30 P. M. Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly with Dr. Herb Swanson officiating. Visitation will be from 2-5 and 7-9 P.M. Sat and from 3:30 until the time of the service on Sun. A Masonic Memorial service will be held at 7:00 P.M. Sat. at the funeral home. Mr. VanBuren was born in Devils Lake, North Dakota on May 14, 1913 the son of Elwin and Margaret (Chapman) VanBuren. He began his working career as a pharmacist. He then was a free lance photographer for the Grand Rapids Press in the mid 1930's and finished his working career in electro plating. He was in the Civil Air Defense in the 1930's, was a former Holly Village Councilman, and was a life member of the Holly Masonic Lodge. Surviving are 3 daughters, Peggy (Lewis) Bensett of Gaylord, Kay (Joseph) Wright of Fenton, and Gene Ann (Robert) Schaefer of Grand Rapids; 2 sons, Stacy Van Buren of Spring Lake and Jon (Rhonda) VanBuren of Byron Center; 10 grandchildren, Van (Saira) Bensett, Amy Bensett, Jody (Morris) Ayliffe, Bradley (Jennifer) Wright, Elizabeth (David) Crosby, and Zachary, Stacey and Katherine Schaefer, Kaelynn and Shelby VanBuren: 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Betty. Memorials may be made to Harbor Hospice, Holly Masonic Lodge, or the Holly Presbyterian Church.
Hazel J. (Williams) Winglemire, age 76 of Holly, passed away at home on Friday, January 12, 2007. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Mon. January 15, 2007 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly. Visitation will be from 2-9 P.M. Sunday. Hazel was born in Flint on May 4, 1930 the daughter of Richard and Nellie (Johnston) Williams. Hazel grew up in the Holly area and attended the one room Stoney Run School on Dixie Hwy., and then graduated from Holly High School in 1948. She married Don Winglemire on Dec. 29, 1948 in Angola, IN. She enjoyed agate hunting and walking the beaches in Paradise, mushrooming in Sidnaw, reading western novels, watching the Detroit Red Wings, bird watching, and was an all around nature lover. She loved cooking, especially for her children and grandchildren. She was famous for her specialty pies and fried chicken -- which will be dearly missed. She is survived by her husband Don; children Lynn (Rick) Duberville, John (Audrey) Winglemire, Penny (Lorne) Raupp, and Richard (Jill) Winglemire; grandchildren Ryan, Dwayne, Maurice, Evan, Joseph, Anna, Alyssa, and Jacob; sister Mary Swartz; and brother-in-law Carl Kenyon. Memorials donations may be made to Holly Kiwanis. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Eustace and staff for their continued support during her illness.
Jean Meryl (Schelp) Free, age 88 of Holly, formerly of Flint died Sun. Dec. 31, 2006 in Holly at her childhood home from complications due to cancer. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thurs. Jan. 4, 2007 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly with Father Gary McGinnis officiating. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Holly. Visitation will be from 3-7 PM Wed. In lieu of flowers, the family is establishing a music scholarship in Jean's name to benefit a Holly graduate. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Born in Holly on June 27, 1918, the eldest daughter of Herman and Marion (Haddon) Schelp, Jean was a proud descendant of the McCarthy, Minock, Haddon, Howe, Osborn, Bauman, and Schelp families. She graduated from Holly HS in 1935 and attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Michigan State Normal (EMU), Ypsilanti; and Baker Conservatory of Music, Flint. During WWII while on holiday in New York City she met William O. Free of Athens, GA. They were married on March 3, 1945 and lived in Flint until moving to Holly in 2000. Jean was an accomplished pianist who participated in Flint area music activities her entire life. She played in churches, musicals, and dance bands and accompanied school productions, choirs, dance recitals, and instrumental musicians. Beginning in the Flint School District during the 1940's, her passion for teaching carried over 57 years as she mentored hundreds of young pianists. In 2006 at the age of 87 she was still able to play for the weddings of two granddaughters. She could take any two cupboard items and turn them into a dinner and loved Chopin, caramel corn, old movies, figure skating, baseball, and FDR. With equal intensity she disliked microwave ovens, answering machines, deadlines, cleaning, and criticism of FDR. She succumbed believing in the truth and resurrection of Christ and leaves behind her husband of 61 years, William O. Free of Holly; daughters Corajean (Larry) Gregory of Clio; Noralee Free of Harrisburg, IL; granddaughters Carlyn (Paul) McClelland of Kokomo, IN, Rachel (Petar) Jovanovic of Minneapolis, MN, and Lena Free of Harrisburg, IL; sisters-in-law Buell Yarbrough and Estelle Lloyd of GA; brother-in-law C.E. (Erma) Free Jr. of FL; cousin Beth Dryer and sister Lois Caryl both of Holly. She was preceded in death by her beloved grandmother Cora Ann Haddon, 1953; father Herman Schelp,1967; father-in-law Charley Free,1980; mother-in-law Minnie Free and mother Marion Schelp, 1986.
"Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower,
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind ...
William Wordsmith, 1807
