Melvin I. Blunk
age 88, of Plymouth, died October 5, 2003. He was born August 2, 1915, in Plymouth. Born and raised in Plymouth, Mel met his wife, Roberta, while in Kindergarten. They walked to school together for many years. They enjoyed 50 years of marriage. Mel was a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and received a Masters degree from the University of Michigan. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He belonged to the First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth. He retired in 1973 as Assistant Superintendent of Business in the Plymouth community school district. He was a lifelong member of the Plymouth Kiwanis Evening Group. He was a Mason with Plymouth Rock 47, a member of the Plymouth Tax Appeals Board, and involved with Michigan School Business Officials. He loved watching collegiate sports and the Indy 500, fishing, and playing cards. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Roberta. He is survived by his daughter, Janet (Doug) Jaskierny of Plymouth; and his granddaughters, Julie (Jeffrey) Linn of Carleton, MI, and Holly Jaskierny of Lake Orion, and her fiance, Matthew Leuchtmann. Funeral from Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 S. Main, Plymouth, Wednesday 1pm. Visitation Tuesday 4-9pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Plymouth Kiwanis Mel Blunk Scholarship Fund or the Humane Society of Washtenaw County.
Clara L. Alexander
age 104, lifelong Plymouth resident, died October 6, 2003. She was born September 27, 1899, in Plymouth. She lived her entire life in Plymouth within a one-mile radius of her birthplace. Clara was the granddaughter of one of the founders of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Plymouth. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth for many years. She was employed for 27 years by the National Bank of Detroit (formerly Plymouth United Savings Bank). She was Past Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star No. 115, Plymouth. She is survived by her brother-in-law, John Conley of San Diego, CA; her nephew, William (Carolyn) Gayde of Royal Oak; her niece, Loralee (Charles) Gurley of Colorado; eight grand nieces and nephews; and numerous great grand nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Lisle Alexander; her parents, William and Emma Gayde; her sisters, Sarah Gayde, Helen Gayde Conley, and Elsa Gayde Krause; and her brother, Peter Gayde. Funeral from Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 S. Main, Plymouth, Thursday 11am. Visitation Wednesday 3-9pm. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Plymouth.
Ruby P. Wright
age 73, of Canton, died October 6, 2003. She was born June 21, 1930, in China. She came to the United States in 1948, from China, in order to study at Nazareth College in Kalamazoo. In 1951, she was married to Christopher Sieh. She was remarried in 1989, to Frank E. Wright. A longtime resident of Livonia, she then lived in Plymouth for seven years, and lived most recently in Canton. She was a retired registered dietician in local nursing homes, and was office manager for Ob-Gyn Dr. Joy Wong and Dr. Eduardo Phillips. She was an active parent supporter for the Garden City Swim Club and the Livonia Spartans Aquatic Club. She taught Chinese cooking classes in Garden City and Northville. She was an avid amateur artisan in stained glass, needlepoint, and sewing. She is survived by her children, Christina (Roland) Hwang of Northville, Gerald (Colleen) Sieh of Rochester Hills, Theresa (Tom) Zeug of Cincinnati, OH, and Jacqueline (Richard) Gordon of San Francisco, CA. She is also survived by six grandchildren. Funeral from Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 S. Main, Plymouth, Saturday, October 11, 11am. Visitation Saturday 9-11am. Memorials may be made to The Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Inc., Woodholme Medical Building Ste. 515, 1838 Greene Tree Road, Baltimore, MD 21208.
Mervin "Ky" Willman
age 66, of Salem Twp., died September 28, 2003, with his family and friends at his side, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital from complications due to a spinal cord injury sustained in 1995. He was born March 28, 1937, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Ky was an active member of Local #190 Gas Distribution Division, serving on the Executive Board and Contracts Negotiating Committee, as an instructor of welding at Washtenaw Community College, and administering the Journeyman Welder’s tests. He was quick to mentor those who sought his knowledge. A United States Marines Corps Sergeant, Ky served his country during the Cold War and witnessed the Nevada A-Bomb tests. He earned Sharpshooter and Expert Marksman medals, and was a member and instructor on the National Marine Corps Pistol and Rifle Team. Ky was a founding parishioner of St. Alexander Church in Farmington Hills, where he also taught catechism class. The most important things to Ky were his family, his job, and his love of the outdoors. Proud of his part-Seneca heritage, he was a supporter of Native American Rights and the preservation of the American Land. He was sustained by his strong belief in God and a moral compass that never wavered and was never known to judge a book by its cover. Ky is survived by his beloved wife, Marianne, with whom he would have celebrated 44 years of marriage this November; his children, Jeffery Ky (Rosemary) of Plymouth, Scott, and Daniel, both of Salem; his grandchildren, Missy, Katie, Emily, Jeffery Ky II, Alix (Sasha), Haley, Corey, Amber, and Jozi Willman; his great granddaughter, Hope Willman-Davidson; and his sister, Lee McClish of Lakeland, FL. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Alessandra. Memorial service at St. Alexander Church, 27835 Shiawassee, Farmington Hills, Saturday, Oct. 11, at 12noon. Memorial contributions may be made to Craig Hospital, Spinal Cord Injury, 3425 Clarkson St., Englewood, Colorado, 80113. Arrangements entrusted to Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, (734)453-3333.
Dr. H. James Veryser
age 87, of Northville, died August 26, 2003, in Livonia. He was born February 2, 1916, in Detroit. Dr. Veryser graduated from Detroit’s Eastern High School in 1935. He attended the University of Michigan as an undergraduate student, and later graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. He served in the armed forces as a Major in the Dental Corps of the United States Army. A prominent dentist on the East Side of Detroit from 1943-1969, he also had a private practice in Ubly, Michigan, which is located in the thumb area. Dr. Veryser was also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. He later retired to Port St. Lucie, Florida, where he spent 18 years with his wife prior to returning to Northville in 1998. He was a life member of the Michigan Dental Association and a member of the OKU National Dental Honor Society. He was also a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Northville. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; his son, Dr. Thomas (Karen) Veryser of Plymouth; his grandchildren, Jeffrey (Kiesha) Veryser of Manistee, and Renee (Jeremy) Johnson of Royal Oak; and his great-granddaughter, Kamryn Veryser. A Memorial Mass will be held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church,47650 N. Territorial, Plymouth, on October 11, 2003, at 11am. Memorial contributions may be made to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 1740 Mt. Elliott Avenue, Detroit, MI 48207. Arrangements entrusted to Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, Plymouth, (734)453-3333.
Hazel M. Hogan
age 76, of Plymouth, died October 2, 2003, in Livonia. She was born September 25, 1927, in Detroit.She came to the Plymouth community in 1927, from Detroit. She was a homemaker, and spent her life taking care of everyone around her. She is survived by her son, Roger (Rita) of Plymouth; her grandchildren, Jessica and Jacob; and her brothers, Orville Wells of Livonia, Gary Wells of Livonia, Dale Wells of the Irish Hills, MI, and James Wells of Las Vegas, NV. Private services will be held. Arrangements entrusted to Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, (734)453-3333.
Virginia Graybeal
of Hartland, age 82, a longtime resident of Hartland, died on Thursday, October 2, 2003 of injuries sustained in an auto accident near her home. She was 82 years old. The daughter of Ralph & Lauretta (Nowak) Trites, she was born on July 21, 1921 and raised in Milford. She graduated from Milford High School and on March 24, 1956 she married John Wesley Graybeal and moved to the dairy farm on M-59 in Hartland they operated for many years. Her husband preceded her in death in December of 1976. Virginia loved to browse what the family lovingly nicknamed “Sally’s” (The Salvation Army), or treasure hunt through local garage sales and flea markets where she would always pick up “what-cha-ma-call-its” and everyone would have to guess just “what” the item was. As one napkin-ring dealer wrote, “one never knows what one will find.” Virginia’s napkin-ring collection was one of a kind. She had many interesting stories to tell about each piece she collected. In recent years, movies and music became more of her life and she loved her visits from family and friends, whether it was a short phone call or a longer visit. She was always interested in what was going on in your life. She is survived by her daughters and sons, Bonnie (Bob) Runyan of Howell, Carolyn VanNorwick of Royal Oak, Judy Brown of Lansing, Donna McClellan of Texas, Dorothy (Pete) Gannon of Florida, Warren (Nancy) Graybeal of Lansing, Harold (Dorothy) Graybeal of Virginia, David (Jody) Graybeal of Milford, Sue (Mike) Raiford of Georgia and John (Joann) Graybeal of Milford. Also surviving are her brothers, Don and George Trites, 19 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and loving friends. Friends may visit at Lynch & Sons (Richardson-Bird Chapel) 404 E. Liberty, Milford, Sunday 2-9PM. Funeral services will be held on Monday at 11 AM at the funeral home. Pastor Frank J. Pies, Jr. will officiate. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army. For further information phone 248.684.6645
Martin Miller
age 71, of Sun City Florida Miller, Martin age 71 of Sun City, FL October 2, 2003 Loving father of: Susan (Thomas) Hinton of Holly Sally Watson of Maryville, TN Martin Ernest Miller of Highland Robin Scheffler of Saint Johns Christopher (Kara) Miller of Howell 6 Grandchildren Also survived by dear friend Kathe Koenig of Sun City, FL A memorial service to held at Lynch & Sons (Richardson-Bird Chapel) 404 E. Liberty, Milford Wednesday 7PM. The Reverend Frank Pies to officiate. Friends may visit 6PM until time of service.
Myrna Jean Robbins
a resident of Highland Township, died at her home on Duck Lake on October 7th, 2003, after a battle with liver cancer. She was 68 years old. Born on February 7th, 1935 in Bumpus Mills, Tennessee, she was one of four daughters of Robt Ezell and Geneva Harris Ezell. Myrna grew up in Tennessee, and moved to Michigan, after her marriage to Henry C. Robbins on December 28th, 1951, in Smyrna, Tennessee. As their family grew, they lived in several homes in the Detroit Metro area, including residences in Southfield and Brighton. They moved to Highland Township just over eight years ago, where they built a new home on their Duck Lake property, where they had maintained a log cottage for many years. Myrna was a great mom and grandma, and her home on the lake allowed her to be near the family she loved so much. Throughout her life, she enjoyed keeping a garden, and each year canned a variety of vegetables, fruits, jellies, and jams. She also loved to bowl and play bingo, and was a “regular” at Brighton bingo halls when she was a resident there. In addition to Henry, her husband of fifty-two years, she is survived by her daughters, Debbie (Greg) Sievert of Highland Township, Kathy (Paul) Dugener of Farmington Hills, Kim (Joe) Clark of Pinckney; son, Robert “Carl” Robbins of Highland Township; twelve grandchildren and her great grandson. Also surviving are her sisters, Clara (Tom) Wallace, Juanita Damron, & Frankie (Joe) Blahnik; brother-in-law, Jerry Robbins, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. Funeral from Lynch & Sons (Richardson-Bird Chapel) 404 E. Liberty, (4 blocks east of Main St. in downtown Milford) Friday 11 AM, Chaplain Mary Wilkinson officiating. Burial in Highland Cemetery. Friends may visit on Thursday 3-9PM.
Margaret Bourns
a life-long resident of Milford, Michigan, died October 5th, 2003 at her family home on Pearson Road in Milford. She was 98 years old. Born on December 10th, 1904 in Commerce Township, Michigan, Margaret was the oldest of four children raised by Frank and Mary Ann (Caufield) Sanders. After graduating from Milford High School, class of 1924, she went on to study at Cleary Business School and would later meet, fall in love, and marry Cecil Frederick Bourns on the 28th of June 1927. The newlyweds went west and honeymooned in Yellowstone National Park and returned to Milford after a three-month sojourn. They built their home on the family property at the west end of Milford Township where they raised their four sons. Long days farming with her husband and boys were an addition to the full time care she gave as a good homemaker, loving mother and devoted wife. Mrs. Bourns was a long time member of the Milford Monday Literary Club and was a charter member of the Milford United Methodist Church. She loved flowers, gardening and any opportunity to be outdoors. Margaret Bourns was a “farm girl” at heart, and saw in the yearly changing of seasons, and in the generations rising up around her, the loving and orderly hand of God. In addition to her four sons, Gerald (Joann) Bourns, Joseph (Dorothy) Bourns, Norman (Gail) Bourns and Charles Bourns, Margaret is survived by her 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, her sister, Nola Peterson and brother, George Sanders. She was preceded in death by her sister Lula Miller (d.2002) and her husband of sixty-six years, Cecil F. Bourns (d.1994). Many friends join with her family to remember her life and mourn her passing. Funeral Service from Milford United Methodist Church, 1200 Atlantic Street, Milford, Thursday, 11AM. The Reverend Gregg mayberry will officiate. Burial Milford Memorial Cemetery. Friends may visit at Lynch & Sons (Richardson-Bird Chapel) 404 E. Liberty St., Milford, Tuesday 5-9PM and Wednesday 3-9PM. Memorials may be made to The Milford United Methodist Church. For further information please phone 248-684-6645.
