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Dorothy Evans
Dorothy Ann Evans, 83, of Charlotte, died Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2002.
Mrs. Evans was born Oct. 7, 1918 in Lansing, the daughter of Albert L. and Anna (Haak) Hart, the oldest of seven children. She attended Nashville Baptist Church. Mrs. Evans enjoyed arts and crafts and loved her children and grandchildren. She was very proud of her husband’s paintings.
She is survived by sons, Howard (Connie) Evans of Dowling, Dean (Annie) Evans of Houghton Lake and Alan (Rose) Evans of Middleton; daughter, Judy (Calvin) Oles of Dowling; nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; brother, Dayol Hart of Phoenix, Ariz.; sister, Darlene Cook of Dimondale; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Evans in 2000; grandson, Daren in 1986; her parents; and three brothers and one sister.
Funeral services were held Sept. 27 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastor Lester DeGroot and Pastor Dino Lamphere officiating. Interment was at Union Home Cemetery in St. Johns.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Samuel Fajnor Jr.
Samuel Fajnor, Jr., age 85 of Eaton Rapids, died Thursday, May 23, 2002 at his residence. He was born October 24, 1916 in Chicago, Ill., the son of Samuel and Katherine (Zovodny) Fajnor. Mr. Fajnor served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He was a Aircraft Mechanic and stationed in England from 1943-1945. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corp. during the Roosevelt era, where he learned to love “The North” and nature. A farmer for most of his life, he farmed mint with his brothers and later had dairy cattle. While farming he was employed with R.E.O. for 10 years, until their closing. Sam loved flying and was an accomplished pilot who taught many including family how to fly. He had an airstrip on the property at the farm and his hobbies included rebuilding aircraft and building his retirement home at Grand Marais. He was a member of the F. & A.M. Lodge #439 and Past Patron of the O.E.S. #352 both of Brookfield. Preceding his min death were his parents; sons, Jerry and Sammy; grandson, Jeremy; brother-in-law, Maurice Wade.
Surviving are his English Bride of 57 years, Florence; son, Robert (Roberta) Fajnor of Eaton Rapids; daughter, Katherine (Bobby Owens) Allen of Lansing; 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; brothers, Milton Fajnor of Eaton Rapids and Steve (Joyce) Fajnor of Charlotte; sister, Olga Vitovsky of Rantoul, Ill.; many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Saturday, May 25, 2002 from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids with Rev. Tom Evans, officiating. Burial followed in the Center Eaton Cemetery in Charlotte. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Samuel Fajnor, Jr.
Leo C. Farr
Leo Charles Farr, 55, of Vermontville, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2002 at his residence.
Mr. Farr was born in Charlotte, the son of Leo Charles and Betty (Pruden) Farr. He worked at Indu-Comm Construction of Battle Creek.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Farr; five daughter, Tracy Farr (James Simons) of Hastings, Tina (Larry) Dawe of Wyoming, Mich., Bobbie Jo Welch of Hasting, Sgt. Charron Holcombe of Ft. Drum, N.Y., and Katheryne Holcombe of Monroe, N.C.; four sons, Marty Farr of Georgia, Freeman Holcombe of Fountain Inn, S.C., Leo Charles Farr III (Annette) of Monroe, N.C. and Shaw (Kris) Farr of Hastings; nine grandchildren; and four brothers, Walter Farr of Vermontville, Charles Farr of Texas, Roger McCartney of Lansing and Rick McCartney of Charlotte.
Funeral services were held Jan. 31 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Rev. Mark Woodbury officiating.
Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home, Inc., Charlotte.
Jonathan H. Ferree
Jonathan Howard Ferree, 26, of Charlotte, died Sunday, Oct. 20, 2002 as the result of an automobile accident.
Mr. Ferree was born Oct. 1, 1976 in Lansing, the son of Darrell and Julia (Gladding) Ferree. He was a customer service manager with Micro Tech Services in Holt.
He is survived by his wife, Deidre (VanDyke) Ferree; 2 year-old daughter, Julia Rosemarie Ferree; his parents; stepsons, Nathan and Tyler Silverthorn; sister, Christy Ferree; and in-laws, Richard and Mary VanDyke.
Funeral services were held Oct. 25 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastors Larry Yeagley and Michael Conley officiating. Interment was at Needmore Cemetery in Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ferree family.
Edward E. Ferris
Ed Ferris was born to Ora (Shred) and Harry Ferris on August 29, 1909 at the family farm in Onondaga, Michigan. He was the only son of five children. His sisters were Helen (Barnes), Lucielle (Mangles), Harriett (Leach) and Frances (Hamling). After graduation from Eaton Rapids High School, he attended and graduated from Tri-State College in Indiana with a degree in Civil Engineering. He worked his way through school as a ranger at Glacier National Park in Montana. It was here that he met his life-time sweetheart, Ruth (Salo) Ferris. They were married for 64 years and of that union came Betty (Sprague) Ferris and Richard Ferris. With their children, they moved back to Mason, Michigan where he became Ingham County Road Commissioner and later started his own road building business, The Ferris Company. With his interests in engineering and as an inventor, his entrepreneurial skills led him to land development in Florida. He also dabbled in prospecting and mining. A lifelong resident of Mason, Michigan he built a log cabin on the east side of town where he resided with is family for over 50 years. He dedicated his life to family and community. With his children and grandchildren, Markus, Scott and Craig Held, he farmed the land he grew up on, and developed an organic grain and bean business and Health Feed Distribution business (Harvest Time) where he worked until 3 weeks prior to his death. He also has a grandson through his son Richard, Nicholas. He was committed to his faith as he exercised his dedication to God in his daily life and as Deacon of his Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Lucielle and Helen and most recently his wife, Ruth.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 16, 2:00 p.m. at the Gorsline-Runciman Co. Ball-Dunn Chapel, 621 S. Jefferson, Mason. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Leslie. The family will receive friends at the Chapel Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Those desiring may make contributions to the Charity of their choice in memory of Mr. Ferris.
Ray H. Firebaugh
Ray H. Firebaugh, age 77 of Eaton Rapids, died Saturday, May 4, 2002 at a Lansing hospital. He was born June 8, 1924 in Detroit, the son of Samuel and Amie (May) Firebaugh. Mr. Firebaugh was an area farmer who worked on his farm until shortly before his death and was a member of the Eaton County Farm Bureau. He was raised at the V.F.W. National Home in Eaton Rapids and was a graduate of the Eaton Rapids High School, class of 1944. Ray served as an M.P. in the U.S.A.R., ready reserve, and later in the Army Reserve from 1949 through 1954.
Surviving are his wife of 48 years, Grace (Mock); daughter, Deb Tigner; son, Sam Firebaugh; granddaughter, Amanda Tigner all of Eaton Rapids; sister, Phyllis (Robert) Marklewitz of Okemos; brothers, William and Herbert both of California and 3 nieces.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, May 7, 2002 at 1 p.m. from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery in Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, a memorial contribution may be made to the V.F.W. National Home, in memory of Ray H. Firebaugh.
Douglas K. Fletcher
Douglas Kenneth Fletcher, 78, of Farewell, died Monday, Oct. 28, 2002.
Mr. Fletcher was born Feb. 5, 1924 in Charlotte, the son of J. Kenneth and Bernice (Trescott) Fletcher. He served in the Navy and was a member of Charlotte American Legion #42 and Farwell Masonic Lodge #335. Mr. Fletcher was a real estate salesman in Farewell.
He is survived by sons, David (Laura) Fletcher of Flint and Mark (Joanne) Fletcher of Mulliken; daughter, Cheryl Lee Wilkie of Traverse City; five grandchildren; sisters, Donis Miner of Owosso and Frances DeBar of California; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Nov. 1 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Rev. Thomas Ball officiating. Interment was at Gresham Cemetery in Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte.
Dena Marie Florian
Dena Marie Florian, age 97 of Eaton Rapids, died Friday, January 4, 2002. She was born May 20, 1904, the daughter of Harvey and Barbara (Lechler) VanDeusen. Mrs. Florian was a member of the First Congregational Church in Eaton Rapids. Preceding her in death were her husband Leo in 1996; and a brother Wesley “Ted” VanDeusen.
Surviving are 2 sons, Richard (Marilyn) Florian and Carl (Marie) Florian both of Eaton Rapids; 8 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 7th from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids with Rev. Dr. David D’Arcy officiating. Burial followed in the Rosehill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, a memorial contribution may be made to the First Congregational Church in memory of Dema M. Florian.
Virginia M. Florine-Dobberstein
Virginia M. Florine-Dobberstein, age 65 of Grand Ledge and formerly of Eaton Rapids, died Thursday, November 28, 2002 at a Lansing hospital. She was born October 10, 1937 in Hesperia, Michigan, the daughter of George and Gertrude (Robertson) Carson. Virginia owned and operated Florine’s Nursing Home in Eaton Rapids for many years. She was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Eaton Rapids for over 20 years. Preceding her in death were her husband, Art; 2 brothers, Calvin and Marvin Carson.
Surviving are her husband, Earl Dobberstein; 3 children, Mark (Debbie) Lilly, Kenneth Lilly and Timothy Lilly; 3 step-children, Joyce (Dan) Docker, Cindy (Joe) Miller and Dale Dobberstein; several grandchildren and step grandchildren; 12 brothers & sisters; James Carson, Betty (Chuck) Hicks, Charles (Marge) Carson, Mary Ileen Bennett, Rich (Ruth) Scarborough, Clare Williard Carson, Norman (Joan) Carson, George (Lillian) Carson, John R. (Mary) Carson, Fred (Sue) Carson, Kit Carson, and Ivan (Alice) Carson; sister-in-law, Delores Carson; numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday, December 2, 2002 from the Eaton Rapids Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Dallas McFarland officiating. Arrangements were made by the Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, a memorial contribution may be made to the Church of the Nazarene, in memory of Virginia M. Florine-Dobberstein.
