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Nora B. Adams
Nora B. Adams, 86, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., formerly of Potterville, died Jan. 14, 2002.
Mrs. Adams was born Dec. 1, 1915 in Manton, the daughter of Sol and Brenice (Burdick) Mishler. She was married to Thomas Adams, who died in 1989.
She is survived by daughter, Sara (Roy) Adams of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; grandsons, Jeffrey (Paige) Adams of Ovido, Fla., Steven (Lonnie) Adams of Deland, Fla.; five great-grandchildren; sisters, Enid Geisenhaver of Potterville, Marian (Kenneth) Pfeister of Williamston; and brother, Carl Mishler of Florida.
Funeral services were held Jan. 18 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Rev. Rebecca Morrison officiating. Interment was at Deepdale Memorial Garden, Lansing.
Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home, Inc., Charlotte.
Stella F. Adams
Stella Francis (Cooley) Adams, 86, of Charlotte, died Saturday, June 29, 2002 in Lansing.
Mrs. Adams was born May 3, 1916 in Alpena, the fourth of 13 children of Stanley and Stella (Gutkowski) Toldsdors. She joined the workforce during World War II, earning the nickname of “Rosie the Riveter” because she worked on B-29 bomber wings at Oldsmobile in Lansing. Mrs. Adams retired from General Motors in 1966. She lived life to the fullest, always enjoyed her strawberries, and was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte.
She is survived by daughter, Joyce Harrington (Bruce) Fillmore of Charlotte; sons, Ron Cooley of Wacousta and Robert (Sandy) Cooley of Harrison; 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; brothers, Harry (Phyllis) Tolsdorf and Leo (Dorothy) Tolsdorf, both of Alpena, and Edward Tolsdorf of Pinegrove, Calif; sisters, Eleanor Fry of Wacousta and Cecilia Panknin of Florida; and sweetheart, Forrest Cole of Mason.
She was preceded in death by husband, Norbert Cooley.
A Parish Rosary was recited July 2 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with a funeral mass celebrated July 3 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte. Interment was at Delta Center Cemetery in Delta Township.
Francis H. Albert
Francis “Fran” H. Albert, 78, of Harbor Springs, died Friday, April 19, 2002.
Mrs. Albert was born Oct. 21, 1923 in Lansing, the daughter of Frank and Hazel (Carrick) Higby.
She is survived by her husband, Rob Albert; daughters, Barbara Lorenzen of Kalamazoo and Betty (Carl) Peterson of Lansing; grandchildren, Jason Peterson, Jody Peterson and Jamie Lorenzen; great-grandchildren, Zachary, Allison, Ryan and Kyle Peterson; and sister, Pat Endicott of California.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, James Bovill.
Private services were held.
Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home of Charlotte.
Iris Allen
Iris L. Allen, 79, of Charlotte, died Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2002.
Iris was born Aug. 7, 1923, in Grand Ledge, the daughter of Edward G. and Ina Belle (Watts) Johnson.
She grew up in Potterville, then moved to California at the age of 20. She returned to this area in 1966 and worked for Aluminum Extrusions for 30 years until her retirement.
She is survived by son Michael (Kathy) Allen of DeWitt, daughters Annette (Mike) Greenwood and Deborah Long, seven grandchildren; Susan Werner, Gary Firestone, Jr., Brett Greenwood, Tiffany Allen, Taylor Allen, Sgt. Eric Long and Marisa Long, and seven great-grandchildren, brothers Richard (Penny) Johnson and Jack (Betty) Johnson.
Funeral services were Saturday, November 23, 2002 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Pastor Pat Brooks officiating.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the DeWitt Redeemer United Methodist Church Garden Fund or to Sparrow Home Hospice Services. Further information available at www.prayfuneralcom.
Walter H. Allen
Walter H. Allen, age 93 of Eaton Rapids, died Thursday, August 22, 2002 in Dimondale. Walter was born October 25, 1908 in Eaton Rapids the son of Walter H. and Lillian (Shoup) Allen. In his earlier years he worked for Homer Woolen Mills, Reid Brothers Canning Co. in Lake Odessa, St. Lawrence Hospital as an orderly and operating room nurse, Oldsmobile, owned and operated the Eaton Restaurant in Eaton Rapids, managed the Guest Lodge and restaurant at the VFW National Home and retired from Michigan State University as the original head chef at Case Hall. Walter was a Past President, Vice President, and member of the board of the Eaton Rapids Senior Center, Rocking Chair Deserters; very active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows holding most positions including Grand Patriarch of Michigan, and was a life member of the Eaton Rapids Masonic Lodge #63 F&AM. He was preceded in death by his wives, Dorothy (Krumm) and Mildred (Reed).
Surviving are his sister, Florence Connelly of Eaton Rapids; daughter, Jo Ann E. Carpenter of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; son, Richard R. Allen of Kalamazoo; stepdaughter, Wilma Blatt of Florida; stepson, Russell Reed of Eaton Rapids; 4 grandchildren, Bradley Webb, Susan Moose, Alan Webb, Ryan Webb; 8 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Kay Krumm of Eaton Rapids.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids with Rev. Dr. David D’Arcy, Pastor of the Eaton Rapids First Congregational Church officiating. Interment followed at Munger Cemetery. Those desiring may make contributions to the Eaton Rapids Senior Center in memory of Walter Allen.
Martin “Marty” Ambs
Martin W. “Marty” Ambs, age 62 of Berrien Springs, died Tuesday, December 10, 2002 at home after a brief illness. Marty was born June 30, 1940, in Orlando, FL, to Karl F. and Glenna M. (Tatro) Ambs. He was a graduate of Enosburg Falls High School in Vermont and attended Andrews University and Western Michigan University. He was a proud and loyal member of the Operating Engineers Local 324 where he worked as a heavy equipment operator. He retired in 1994 as a result of being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He was an avid sportsman whose passions included both open water and ice fishing, and hunting. He loved woodworking and tinkering in his basement and garage in his spare time. HE was especially fond of his loyal dog, Daniel, who was his constant companion.
On January 6, 1968, in Eaton Rapids, he married Marge K. McManus, who survives. Additional survivors include a son, Timothy (Lacey) Ambs of Eaton Rapids; daughter, Michelle (Elwin) Smith of Galien; grandson, Matthew Smith, at home in Galien; his mother, Glenna M. (Tatro) Ambs; a sister, Carol (James) Gradfield of Berrien Springs; his mother and father-in-law, Alden and Maudie McManus of Eaton Rapids; brother-in-law, Jerry (Peggy) McManus of Eaton Rapids; and a number of nieces and nephews.
A funeral service celebrating his life was held December 14, 2002, at Legacy Family Funeral Services – Matthew R. Purchase Chapel, Berrien Springs. Memorials in his memory may be made to Multiple Sclerosis Society or to the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan.
Robert V. Anderson
Robert V. Anderson, age 78 of Eaton Rapids, died Thursday, November 14, 2002 in Lansing. Mr. Anderson (known as Rob or Andy to his family and friend) was born October 8, 1924 in Muskegon, the son of Verner and Helen (Bangren) Anderson. At the age of 17, he joined the Marine Corp and was in squad VMF 451 in WWII and Korea. He was a sergeant when he was honorably discharged of which he was very proud and lived his life with the regimental training he received there, contributing to his being an excellent employee and mentor to his family and friends. He moved to Lansing in 1959 and worked for Oldsmobile in Product Engineering for 39 years, retiring in 1999. There was nothing mechanical that he could not fix, the bigger the challenge, the better he liked it. Robert was an avid skier and skeet shooter when health permitted. He belonged to the Capital Area Sportsmen Club and Chief Okemos. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed their vacation home on Chippewa Lake, all seasons, especially boating in the summer. At one time he was a Harley enthusiast. Rob was a victim of Myasthenia Gravis for nine years with several complications at the end. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Virginia Jastrzembski and Barbara Garzelloni of Muskegon and son-in-law, Alan Lager of Kent Washington. Surviving are his loving and devoted wife of 20 years, Dolores; daughter, Loree Lager of Kent, Washington; brother, Kenneth (Catherine) Anderson of Muskegon; 2 stepsons, Jack Rose of Wallace, Idaho, Jeff (Brenda) Rose of Muskegon; 4 grandchildren, Katie and Jordan Lager and Jacob and Jeremiah Rose; step granddaughter, Leslie Lager; 1 step great granddaughter, Olivia Lager; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2002, 11:00 a.m. at the Eaton Rapids First United Methodist Church, 600 S. Main, of which both he and his wife are members, with Pastor Tom Evans officiating. A luncheon will follow the service for a time of remembrances. Those desiring may make contributions to either the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, Humane Society, or Mid-Michigan Hospice House in memory of Robert V. Anderson. Rob will be greatly missed by his wife, family, friends and his dogs, for which he had great love. Arrangements by the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids.
Marie K. Applegate
Marie K. Applegate, 91, of Charlotte, died May 9, 2002 in Holt.
Mrs. Applegate was born April 30, 1911 in New Brunswick, N.J., the daughter of John William and Clara Feller. She worked for Somerville Tax Office for 40 years, retiring to Lauderhill, Fla., and then to Charlotte. She was a past matron of the Century Chapter #100 Somerville and the Tri-Gate Chapter #276 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
She is survived by sister-in-law, Lillian Feller of Charlotte; nieces and nephews, Sharon Mensing of Scotts Bluff, Neb., Jon Feller of Clinton, N.J., Jean Martin of Olivet, Chris Feller of Lead, S.D., and Susan Galloway of Florida.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Applegate.
Funeral services will be held at a later date in Somerville, N.J. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home of Charlotte.
Virginia M. Atayan
Virginia Margaret “Ginny” Atayan was born Dec. 31, 1936 in Highland Park and passed away on Oct. 10, 2002 in Lansing. She had been a long-time resident of Delta Township.
Mrs. Atayan was chief executive officer of Davis Pontiac GMC of Charlotte from 1981 to the present. She received numerous awards over the years from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, and was an active board member of several industrial, real estate and financial companies. She was also passionate about helping others and proactively served the community in numerous activities: as an emeritus trustee of Sparrow Health System, she served with dedication for many years; as past president of Camp Highfields; as one of several founders of the Ararat Fund; and as a sustaining member of the Junior League of Lansing. Mrs. Atayan worked closely with many disadvantaged individuals and families on a private basis to help further their dreams and aspirations. She was a long-time parishioner of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lansing, were she sang in the choir, served on the vestry and worked diligently to bring the works of the church into the community. She was also an avid gardener and physical fitness devotee. Mrs. Atayan graduated from J.W. Sexton High School in 1954 and from the University of Michigan in 1958 with a bachelor of arts in education. After graduation, she served as a schoolteacher in Saline and a substitute teacher in the Waverly School District for several years. She was also a swimming instructor and taught many adults and children, including those with special needs, how to swim. Mrs. Atayan was a strong believer that education was a life long activity and applied her educational and motivational skills throughout her business and charitable careers. She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Leon Atayan; three sons, Christopher (Rene’) of Bronxville, N.Y., and Michael and Andrew, both of Lansing; two grandchildren, Alina and Ara of Bronxville; brother, Theodore (Sonya) Terzian of Lansing; and many nieces and nephews.
A special funeral service with choral accompaniment in celebration of Ginny’s life will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 218 W. Ottawa in Lansing at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, with Rev. Dr. Gordon Weller officiating. Interment will be at Deepdale Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or the Sparrow Health Foundation. Arrangements were by Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel in Lansing.
