Gladwin County, Michigan obits:
Johanna M. Laskey, 68, of Gladwin, died Christmas day at Bortz Health Center in West Branch, after a long illness.
She was a homemaker and a restaurant manager.
Surviving are three sons, Daniel of Ypsilanti, Randy and wife Brenda, and Barry and wife Trina of Dearborn Heights; several grandchildren; one great-grandchild; three sisters, Shirley and husband Jay Gagne, Betty and husband Don Kingery, all of Gladwin, and Donna and husband Bob Vlach of Kentucky; two brothers, William and wife Velma Ellsworth of Westland, and Thomas Ellsworth of Inkster; and several nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph and brother, Jay Ellsworth.
Services will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday) at Sacred Hearth Catholic Church. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation will be today (Wednesday) from 1 to 8 p.m. at Sisson Funeral Home in Gladwin. There will be a prayer service today (Wednesday) at 7:30 p.m. Friends may also visit prior to the funeral service, beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday) at Sacred Heart Church.
Leo F. Peters, 69, of Alger and formerly of Bath, died Thursday, Dec. 23, 1999 at his home. He had lived in Alger since 1984.
He was a life time member of the North American Hunt Club and a member of the Secord Lake Eagles #4121.
Surviving are his wife Agnes Peters of Alger; his children, Gary and wife Doris Peters and Randy and wife Janet Peters, all of Bath, and Pamela Peters of Tustin; six grandchildren, Jeremy, Bill, Kari Jo, Jayson, Brandi, and Sara Joy; five great-grandchildren; his mother, Reva Peterson of Eaton Rapids; and one sister, Donna Reed of East Lansing.
A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Lansing.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Helping Hands, 335 E. Houghton Ave., West Branch 48661.
Leonard E. Pettit, 76, of Rhodes, died Friday, Dec. 24, 1999 at Bay Medical center, following a brief illness.
Born Feb. 21, 1923 in Flint, he was the son of the late Clarence and Ada (Rabidue) Pettit.
Leonard was a member of Hope Lutheran Church and served as Gladwin County Road Commissioner for several years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and enjoyed hunting and the out-of-doors.
He is survived by his stepchildren, Edward and Joan Shepherd of Waterford, Judy and John Switalski of Mason, Tom and Darlene Shepherd of Rhodes, Mary Lou Barringer of Linwood, and Gary and Joann Shepherd of Linwood; 11 stepgrandchildren; several stepgreat-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Marion Pettit of Rhodes; a good friend, Betty Kielpinski; nieces and nephews, Tom and Gail Pettit, Gordon and Diane Petitt, and Bob and Cyndy Pettit, all of Rhodes, Mitzie and Al Hewitt of Bay City, Richard and Pat Pettit of Gladwin, and Larry Pettit of Sheridan.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mildred; and two brothers, Leslie and Arthur Pettit.
Services were held at 11 a.m. Monday from the Lee-Ramsay Funeral Home in Pinconning with Pastor Reed Schroer presiding. Burial will be in Gibson Township Cemetery.
Meghan K. Erwin, 23 days, of Harbor Springs, infant daughter of Matthew and Rebecca (Stutzman) Erwin, died Monday, Dec. 20, 1999 at the U of M Medical Center in Ann Arbor. She was born Nov. 27 in Petoskey.
Surviving are her parents; grandparents, Charles and Jeanette Stutzman and Thomas and Mary Erwin, all of Gladwin; great-grandparents, Helen Erwin of Florida, and Anna Grondzeil of Gladwin.
Services were held at noon Thursday at the Sisson Funeral Home in Gladwin with Rev. Robert Marshall officiating. Burial was in Ridge Cemetery.
Thomas E. Searson, 76, of Birth Run, died Tuesday, Dec. 21, 1999 at home. He was born Oct. 1, 1923 in Oklahoma.
Thomas married Frances Reed, Sept. 15, 1945 in Towanda, Kan. She preceded him in death. He had been employed by The Dow Chemical Company, retiring in 1980. He loved to fish, especially with his family.
Surviving are one daughter, Polly and husband Jim Ryan of Birch Run; two sons, Thomas and wife Diana of Birch Run, and Merton and wife Christine of Burt; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Patsy and husband Rev. Alton Brewer; and two brothers, James and wife Audrey, and Donald and wife Crystal.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Michael and Ronald.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Krauss-Torhan Funeral Home in Birch Run with Rev. Cyril Haines officiating. Burial was in Dale Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the VNA/Hospice.
L. T. "Tom" Largent, 76, of Gladwin, died Monday, Dec. 20, 1999 at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.
Born Aug. 31, 1923 in New Port, Ark., he was the son of Thomas P. and Luella (Howardton) Largent. He lived in Gladwin since 1958 and also resided part time in Pangburn, Ark.
Tom married Evelyn Graham, Oct. 2, 1948 in Muncie, Ind. He was a mill wright from 1952 until his retirement in 1977 and a member of the Mill wright Union Local #1102 of Warren.
Besides his wife he is survived by the following children: Kathleen (Dan Merill) McCormick and Thomas L. (Lisa) Largent, all of Gladwin, Margaret A. (Fred) Lee of Pangburn, Ark; grandchildren, Jennifer, Melissa, Catherine and Thomas; one brother, B. D. 'Red' Largent of Pangburn, Ark; and one sister, Mary Ellen Peters of Searcy, Ark.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday from the MacDonald's Funeral Home in Howell. Memorial contributions may be made to Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, 3000 Monroe, N.W., Grand Rapids 49505.
