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Matthew J. Pennington
Matthew John Pennington, 22, of Nashville, died Wednesday, March 27, 2002 at Spectrum Health-Blodgett Campus in Grand Rapids.
Mr. Pennington was born May 27, 1979 in Battle Creek, the son of John and Katherine (Buckland) Pennington. He was raised in the Nashville area and attended Maple Valley school, graduating in 1997 from Maple Valley High School. He was married to Melissa Reynolds on Sept. 22, 2001. He was employed at Pennington’s Bobcat and Backhoe Service in Nashville. Mr. Pennington attended Charlotte Assembly of God and was a long-time 4-H participant, receiving numerous awards, including the Jesse Snow Memorial award. He was an FFA member, receiving the Star GreenHand award, was an avid outdoorsman, participated in ninth-grade baseball, and enjoyed working with tools and various equipment.
He is survived by his wife, Melissa; an unborn child, due in September; parents, Kathy and John Pennington of Nashville; sisters, Jessica and Amy Pennington of Nashville; grandparents, Mary and Gary Buckland of Dowling; great-grandparents, Marciel and Wayne Buckland of Dowling; mother- and father-in-law, Diane and James Reynolds of Charlotte; sisters-in-law, Stephanie, Michelle and Jessica Reynolds; aunt and uncles, Marlowe and Suzanne Burns, Glen and Julie Stoneburner, Patrick and Cindy Buckland; Gerald “Jack” and Gloria Pennington, James and Pat Pennington, Steven and Jeri Powell, and Gordon and Janet Miller; many cousins; and grandmother by marriage, Catherine Rowden of Charlotte.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jack and Madelon Pennington.
Services were held March 30 at the Charlotte Assembly of God, with Pastor Mark Woodbury officiating. Interment was at Lakeview Cemetery in Nashville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Barry County 4-H or the Matthew John Pennington Memorial Fund. Arrangements were by Wren Funeral Home of Hastings.
Lee Perkins
Lee Wayne Perkins, 57, of Charlotte, died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002.
Mr. Perkins was born May 17, 1945 in Eaton Rapids, the son of Wayne and Dorothy (Tripp) Perkins. He was a production worker for Owens Illinois for 22 years, and an avid Nascar race fan.
He is survived by his wife, Linda (Root); sons, Loran (Terri) Perkins of North Carolina and Lonnie (Beckey) Perkins of Charlotte; daughter, Loretta (Jerry) Smith of Vermontville; 10 grandchildren, Brandon, Chris, Tierra, Ryan, Ronnie, Taylor, Kade, Jesse, Austin and Owen; and brother, Gerald Perkins.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Nov. 18 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Chuck Jenson officiating. Interment will be at Maple Hill Cemetery. Visitation is Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Hospice.
William Petro
William “Merle” Petro, 88, of Nashville, passed away Sunday, April 28 at his home, with his family at his side.
Mr. Petro was born March 2, 1914 in Madison County, Ind., the son of Clare and Emma Petro. He graduated from Swayzee High School and served his country in the United State Navy during World War II. He married Ada Kelly in Indiana on Aug. 7, 1936. Mr. Petro was well-known as a carpenter in Swayzee, Ind., where he also purchased land and built and sold houses. He brought his family to Michigan in 1954, settling in the Hastings area. He worked as a registered nurse at Kalamazoo State Hospital for over 20 years, retiring in 1976. Mr. Petro eventually moved to the Bloomingdale area where he developed and sold lots on Little Eagle Lake, later moving to the Delton area where he continued developing and selling land. After retiring, he and his wife enjoyed spending winters in Bradington, Fla. He loved fishing in the rivers and bays surrounding the Bradington area. He also found a new passion while in Florida when friends invited him to bingo. After his first experience, Mr. Petro was hooked and could be found many evenings in his favorite “lucky” chair at local bingo games. He also became a champion shuffleboard player and was proud of the many trophies that line his shelves. He was an avid outdoorsman, spending countless hours hunting and fishing. Many nights were spent following his coon hound, and he once appeared on the Michigan Outdoors TV show with antlers from the 12th largest deer taken in Michigan that year.
He is survived by his daughter, Carylen (Gene) Spidel of Nashville; grandchildren, Sherry (Scott) Russell of Battle Creek, Karen Ackley of Nashville, Jerry (Mary) Fager of Delton; eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death in 2000 by Ada, his wife of 64 years. He was also preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and one sister.
Funeral services were held April 30 at Nashville Baptist Church, with Pastor Deno Lamphere officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Barry County Hospice. Arrangements were by Maple Valley Chapel in Nashville.
Margaret Phalen
Margaret (Spears) Phalen, 87, of Norwalk, Ohio, formerly of Potterville, passed away Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002.
Mrs. Phalen was the oldest daughter of Carmi and Marjorie (Fordham) Spears. She graduated from Potterville High School in 1934. She married John “Jim” Phalen and made their first home in LaGrange, Ohio, later moving to Jeromesville, and then Norwalk, Ohio, after retiring from the farm. Mrs. Phalen was a farm wife, mother, mail carrier, school bus driver, a great cook and always on the go.
She is survived by son, John (Cheri) of Pueblo West, Colo.; two granddaughters and their husbands; one great-grandson; sister, Freda (Clyde) Downey of Bentonville, Va.; brother, Frank (Sandy) Spears of Cahokia, Ill.; and nieces and nephews and their families.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jim in 1987; brothers, Clarence and Fred Spears; and twin sisters, Ruah and Ruby Spears.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 29 at 10 a.m. at the Potterville cemetery. Arrangements were by Evans & Groove Funeral Home in Nowalk, Ohio.
Howard B. Pierce
Howard B. Pierce, age 87 of Eaton Rapids, died Sunday, October 20, 2002 in Lansing. Howard was born April 9, 1915 in Harlowton, Montana the son of William H. and Agnes E. (Hogan) Pierce. He retired from the Eaton County Road Commission. Mr. Pierce was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret in 1988 and his daughter, Agnes.
Surviving are several nieces and nephews. A graveside service was held on October 24 at Rosehill Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. Arrangements were by the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids.
Robert Pierpoint
Robert E. Pierpoint, 63, of Charlotte, died Friday, Dec. 20, 2002.
Mr. Pierpoint was born in Redstone, Pa., the son of Elsie and Christine (Cobb) Pierpoint. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and was currently employed as a truck driver for Schultz-Snyder/Steele in Mason.
Surviving are his wife, Mary (Riordan) Pierpoint; two sons, Donald Pierpoint of Palm Harbor, Fla. and Douglas (Michelle) Pierpoint of Garden City; five grandchildren, Ashley, Ian, Alex, Heather and Henry Pierpoint; one sister, Betty Laudenbach of Ashland, Ky.; and one brother, Herbert Pierpoint of Eaton Rapids.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Dawn Marie Pierpoint; and a brother, John Pierpoint.
Mass of the Christian Burial was held Dec. 24 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Charlotte, with Rev. Fr. Denis Spitzley officiating. Interment was at Maple Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hayes Green Beach Hospital Auxiliary. Arrangements were by Burkhead-Green Funeral Home in Charlotte.
Annie M. Porter
Annie M. Porter, 72, of Nashville, died Monday, March 18, 2002 at Pennock Hospital in Hastings.
Mrs. Porter was born Jan. 12, 1930 in Sandusky, the daughter of Peter and Isabella (Innis) Ferguson. She attended Deckerville Schools and graduated from Hastings. She married Howard Porter in Jackson on May 14, 1950. She moved to Nashville in 1971 and worked at the Bahs Dairy Farm and Kentwood Packing in Grand Rapids. Mrs. Porter was a past member of the Nashville VFW Auxiliary. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, playing games and spending time with her grandchildren.
She is survived by daughters, Ruth (Ron) Smith), Mary Fueri, Mildred (Walt) Thurlby and Brenda Downing, all of Nashville, Janice White of Smiths Creek, Karen (Rodney) Wallace, Cherly (Tony) Woodmansee and Flora (Al) Thornton, all of Hastings; sons, Howard Porter Jr. of Iona and Bill Porter of Nashville; brother, James Ferguson of Kansas City, Mo.; son-in-law, DJ White; 23 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Porter in 1987; son, Arthur Porter; grandson, Kenny Wallace in 2000; and brothers, Keith and Kenneth.
No services were held. Arrangements were by Maple Valley Chapel in Nashville.
Russel C. Potter
Russel C. Potter, 86, of Charlotte, passed away Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002.
Mr. Potter was born Oct. 20, 1915 in Jamestown Township, the son of Arthur and Cora (Walton) Potter. He graduated from Lee High School in Grand Rapids in 1935 and had been employed by N.Y. Central Railroad in Albion. He then owned and operated a gas station in Albion for several years. Mr. Potter enjoyed fishing and camping.
He is survived by his wife, Mae (Eldridge) Potter; son, Tom (Ruth Ann) Potter of Grand Rapids; daughters, Ardis Perkins of Union City, Carolyn (David) Fenley of Albion, Joyce (William) Ewing of Montgomery, Ala.; step-children, Raleigh Eldridge of Charlotte, John Eldridge of Albion, Dorlis Tooker of Georgia and Phyllis Eldridge of Charlotte; 11 grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; sisters, Joyce (Edwin) Smith of Cedar Springs, Avis Stoffels of Wyoming, Mich., and Anita Gay of Greenbriar, Tenn.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Johanna (Koopman) in 1986; brother, Clifford Potter and sister, Thelma Dannenberg, both in 1997.
Funeral services were held Feb. 12 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Pastor Mark Booth officiating. Interment was at Georgetown Cemetery in Hudsonville.
Memorial donations may be made to Hayes Green Beach Hospital Memorial Hospital EMS or the Calvary Baptist Church in Charlotte.
Lorraine Kay Powers
Lorraine Kay Powers, age 88 of Lansing, died January 9, 2002. She was born October 26, 2002 in Lodi, Illinois, Mrs. Powers was very active in the P.T.A., school activities and boy and girl scouts in the early years while raising her family. In later years, Lorraine worked for Arbaugh’s and Knapp’s Department Stores, retiring from Knapp’s after 15 years of service. Lorraine greatly enjoyed traveling, especially to visit her children and grandchildren. She will be fondly remembered for her adventurous spirit and dedication to her many friends. She was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul W. Powers in 1980.
Surviving are her children, William P. (Sharon Rouse) Powers of Boulder, CO, Janet R. (Ronald S.) Perrin of Missoula, MT and Richard F. Powers of Denver, CO; 3 grandchildren, Bonnie J. (William W.) Thompson of Butte, MT, Ronald S. (Corie M.) Perrin of Bozeman, MT and Polly Powers of Los Angles, CA; 3 great-grandchildren, Bailey M. and Brooke N. Thompson and 1 great-grandchild due to arrive in August; 2 brothers, Samuel F. McFarland of Eaton Rapids and Jack J. McFarland of Georgetown, FL; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Saturday, January 12, at the Gorsline-Runciman Co. Lansing Chapel with Rev. Jane Duffy, Pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment followed in Plains Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. Those desiring may make contributions to the Calvary United Methodist Church, 1919 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing 48910 or Hospice of Lansing Residence, 3411 Stoneleigh, Lansing, MI 48910 in memory of Mrs. Powers.
