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William M. Adams
William Milton Adams, age 81 of Scottsdale, Ariz., died at his residence Sept. 4, 2003.
William, a long-time resident of Royal Oak and Rochester Hills, was a World War II veteran serving with the 10th Armored Division in Europe. After graduating from Michigan State College (University) in 1946 with a journalism degree, William spent his entire 34-year career in the field on industrial public relations and publicity. Eighteen of those years were spent with General Motors Public Relations. Bill and his wife were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak for over 40 years. Other past memberships included Sigma Delta Chi, Public Relations Society of Detroit, Detroit Press Club and the 10th Armored Veterans Association. He was born July 21, 1922, the son of the late Milton Pray Adams and Marian Adams of Lansing. He will be remembered for his love, quick wit and humanity.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Mary Gore Adams; a daughter, Mary Lynn (Brent) Wilcox of Brown City; two sons, William Milton (Patricia) Adams Jr. of Fountain Hills, Ariz. and Matthew Gore (Pamela) Adams of Bowling Green, Ky.; six grandchildren; and sister, Marilyn Britton of Beaverton, Ore.
A graveside service was held Sept. 11 at Munger Cemetery in Eaton Rapids. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation, 30161 Southfield Road, Suite 119, Southfield, MI 48076-9775. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home of Charlotte.
Adele P. Ackley
Adele P. Ackley, of Holt, formerly of Lakeland, FL, age 86, died Thursday, September 18, 2003 in Holt. Adele was born December 8, 1916 in Rockford, IL, the daughter of Harold Raymond and Clara (Prusakiewicz) McArthur.
Surviving are her sister, Dorothy (Bill) Allen of Holt; nephew, Kenneth Eaves of Mason; grandnephew, Nicholas Eaves of Ann Arbor; many cousins, including Richard & Betty McArthur of New Baltimore; companion of 23 years, Marvin L. Lang of Holt and his children, Leila (James) Matuscak of Durand, Peggy Foley of Texas, and JoAnn (John) Malaney of Belleville.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Sept. 22, 2003 at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids with Rev. Stephen Klink officiating. Interment followed at Oakland Hills Memorial Gardens, Novi. Casket bearers were Bill Allen, Dale Lang, Matt Matuscak, Jason DeLong, Justin DeLong and James Matuscak.
Florence I. Allen
Florence I. Allen, age 87, of Eaton Rapids, died Sunday, Nov. 23, 2003 in Charlotte.
Florence was born June 15, 1916 in Brookfield Township, the daughter of Jacob and Minerva (Midling) Powers Jr. Mrs. Allen was the former owner of Allen Packing Co. and a main street grocery store, both in Charlotte.
She was preceded in death by her husband Carl in 1972, and her son Richard, in 1983.
Surviving are her brother, Ernest (Arlene) Powers of Partello, and sister, Doris Oteney of Eaton Rapids.
Memorial services were held Dec. 1 at Shelly-Odell Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Interment of cremains was at Rose Lawn Memorial Garden in Brownsville, Texas.
Gailen Phillips Allen
Gailen Phillips Allen, age 85, of Eaton Rapids, was called to his heavenly home on Thursday, July 3, 2002. He was born July 23, 1917 in Lansing, the son of James and Effie (Cross) Allen. In his younger years Gailen liked to fish and hunt and being out-of-doors, enjoying his garden and sharing with neighbors. He worked for the Board of Water and Light in Lansing before serving in the Army Air Force in 1943 and after 4 ½ years of service, he returned to work, retiring March 1, 1978. He married Loris A. Disler on August 20, 1949 and they have 3 sons. Gailen and Loris joined the Spiritual Episcopal Church in Lansing in 1954 and moved to Eaton Rapids in 1957.
Surviving are his wife of 53 years Loris; 3 sons, Jimmie of Lansing, Gary and John of Charlotte; several nieces & nephews.
Memorial services were Monday, July 7, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. from the Spiritual Episcopal Church, 141 Frost St., Eaton Rapids. For those desiring memorial gifts may be made to the Eaton Rapids Spiritual Episcopal Church in memory of Gailen P. Allen. Arrangements were made through the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids.
Victor Hartson Alt
Victor Hartson Alt, age 96, of Eaton Rapids, died Saturday, October 11, 2003 in Lansing. Victor was born Sept. 30, 1907 in Mt. Pleasant, the son of John Thomas and Jane Marie (Hartson) Alt. Victor was a devoted Mason of the Eaton Rapids Lodge # 63 F&AM, Past High Priest of former Eaton Rapids Chapter # 24 and Past Worthy Patron of the Eaton Rapids Chapter #241 Order of the Eastern Star, he was the Past Director of 9th and 10th degrees in Scottish Rite, Valley of Grand Rapids. He was the recipient of the Eaton Rapids Lodge meritorious service award, Golden Spurs Award, Scottish Rite, Cornelius and Merit awards from Saladin Temple Shrine and the Gold Honor Award from York Rite College of North America. Additional affiliations are with the Leslie Chapter #100 Royal Arch Masons and Chapter #50 Royal and Select Masters, DeWitt Clinton Consistory, Scottish Rite Masons, Saladin Temple Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine Oasis of Grand Rapids, a plural membership in Wigton Lodge #251 of Hart and a life membership of all Masonic bodies. Mr. Alt was active in other community affairs in Eaton Rapids where he lived for 68 years.
He was the owner of Alt’s Men’s Wear for 33 years, was past president of the Eaton Rapids Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club and the Alumni Association. He was a member of the Flying Club, the Civil Air Patrol during WWII and Business Men’s bowling league and golf league.
Vic was a member of Scott Munn’s Band and played the trombone for 75 years. He also served four years on the City Council and served on various committees for charitable and community activities. In later years he was president of the Michigan unit of the Wally Byam Caravan Club, and Airstream travel trailer club. Vic was active in the Congregational Church where he served as moderator and treasurer. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Lucile in 1999.
Beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather to his 2 daughters, Mary Strang of Eaton Rapids, Ginny (Dick) Huntington of Holt; 5 grandchildren, Vicki Lease, Janie (Mark) Fitzgerald, Aaron Huntington, Amy (Tom Parsons) Huntington, Ann (William “Butch”) Schultz; 4 great grandchildren, McKenna and Alek Parsons, Tyler and Madison Schultz; 2 sisters, Jane Kilgour of Mayville, Maxine Magle of Arizona and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 14, 2003, 11:00 a.m. at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids, with Pastor Tom Evans officiating. Interment will follow at Rosehill Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Aaron Huntington, Mark Fitzgerald, Tom Parsons, William Schultz, Dick Gulliver and Jim Blauvelt. Honorary bearers will be Max Williams, George Pettit and Verlon Graham. Those desiring may make contributions to either Mid-Michigan Hospice House, First Congregational Church of Eaton Rapids, or the Eaton Rapids Masonic Lodge #63 F&AM in memory of Victor Alt.
Nellie Andreas
Nellie Andreas, age 84 of Eaton Rapids, died Sunday, February 16, 2003 in Dimondale. Nellie was born August 18, 1918 in Grand Rapids, the daughter of Anthony and Bridgette Theresa (Holmes) Van Gilst. She was the owner and operator of Nellie’s Beauty Shop in Eaton Rapids, later was employed at Jarvis Acres as a cook and at age 75 went back to work at the Eaton Rapids Community Hospital. Nellie was preceded in death by her daughter, Vicki Andreas in 1957; the father of her children, Gregory Andreas and her sister, Micky Clough.
Surviving are her daughter, Judy Andreas of Lansing; one niece; 2 nephews and a long time friend, Onalee Kyser of Eaton Rapids.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 19, 2003, 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter Church in Eaton Rapids with Fr. Bennett Constantine as Celebrant. Interment will follow at Rosehill Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. with a Rosary being prayed at 7:30 p.m. at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, 518 S. Main, Eaton Rapids. Those desiring may make contributions to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in memory of Nellie Andreas.
Virgil O. Archer
Virgil O. Archer, 75, of Charlotte, died Saturday, May 31, 2003.
Mr. Archer was born March 4, 1928 in Assyria Center, the son of Carl Archer and Lora Dryer Archer. He was a lifelong farmer and retired from Fleet Carrier of Pontiac in 1992. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Charlotte and Moose Lodge in Marshall.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Katherine; sons, Carl (Linda) of Bellevue, Jerry (Sandra) of Charlotte, Lawrence (Janet) of Potterville, Charles (Suzanne) of Charlotte, Jeffrey Scot of Sarasota, Fla., and Donald (Karen) of Gig Harbor, Wash.; daughters, LuAnn Archer of Charlotte and Carolyn Archer of Kalamazoo; 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Carl Eugene; and sons, Kenneth in 1973, William in 1987 and Robert in 1997.
Family graveside services were held at West Carmel Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Hospice; envelopes are available at the funeral home.
Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home of Charlotte.
Phyllis I. Aseltine
Phyllis I. Aseltine, 70, died Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003 in Lansing.
Mrs. Aseltine was born Jan. 28, 1933 in Barryton, the daughter of David and Grace (Holmes) Ruthruff. She married John Aseltine, Jan. 29, 1954 in Lansing. Mrs. Aseltine was a member of VFW Post #2406 Auxiliary, and past president of the American Legion Post #42 Auxiliary. She also worked on the local election commission. Mrs. Aseltine was a big bingo fan and loved the outdoors and going to their cabin in Fairview to enjoy all the outdoors.
She is survived by her husband of 49 years, John Aseltine; daughter, Cindy (Dennis) Stowell of Palo; two sons, John (Pat) Aseltine of Holt and Raymond (Lori) Aseltine of Charlotte; eight grandchildren, B.J. and Kate Parrish, Shaunie Aseltine, Jennifer Aseltine and Dallas Aseltine, Lisa, Jennifer, Christine Janz; one great-grandchild, Makala Brzezinski; five brothers, Donald Ruthruff of Las Vegas, Nev., Robert (Patsy) Ruthruff of Olivet, Carl (Ann) Ruthruff of Florida, Jimmy John (Marie) of Florida, and Ken (Diane) of Florida.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Rev. Darwin Kuhl officiating. Interment will be at West Carmel Township Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Pray Funeral Home.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Richard Asher
Richard “Rick” Clay Asher, 54, of Potterville died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2003. Mr. Asher was born Feb. 11, 1949, in Barbourville, Kentucky, the son of Aubrey Clay and Miriam (Tappan) Asher.
Rick was a Conservation Officer for the Department of Natural Resources for 29 years, and an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved outdoors, camping and reading.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Carol (Grahl), daughters Becky (Shawn Hope) Asher-Hope of Chicago, IL, Melissa Asher of Medford, OR, Amanda Asher of Potterville, mother Miriam Asher of Hope, MI, brothers Phillip (Toni) Asher of Houston, TX, Alan Asher of Southgate, MI, and sisters Joan (Stanley) Cieslak of Clarkston, MI, Jennifer (Dennis) Secord of Alan Park, MI.
Memorial Service was Saturday, Aug. 30 at Potterville United Methodist Church with Rev. Rebecca Morrison officiating.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the church, the American Cancer Society, or to the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association. Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Harry L. Augustine
Harry Lloyd Augustine, 93, of Bellevue, died Dec. 20, 2003 at home.
He was born May 21, 1910 in Bellevue Township, the son of Asa and Emma (Chalender) Augustine. He worked as a farmer and also worked for 20 years for Bellevue Community Schools in the maintenance department, retiring in 1975. Harry married Margaret Burkett on May 23, 1931; she died Jan. 1, 1995. He was a member of the Bellevue Lions Club, Kalamo Chapter, F.& A.M., Order of Eastern Star, and the Bellevue Commercial Club. He enjoyed working with wood and macramé, making bird and bat houses. Harry also enjoyed square dance clubs and travel trailer clubs.
He is survived by sons, James (Elaine) Augustine of Bellevue, Jerold (Mary) Augustine of Marshall; 12 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by daughter, Marilyn Thornton in 1997; brothers, George and Stanley Augustine; and sisters, Martha, Mildred, Gladys, Doris and Hazel.
Services were held Dec. 23 at Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue, with Pastor Mark Thompson officiating. Interment was at Riverside Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bellevue Memorial Scholarship Fund, Bellevue United Methodist Church or Bellevue Township Library.
