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Dewey J. Musser
Dewey J. Musser, 99, of Hastings died April 9, 1998 at Thornapple Manor.
Mr. Musser was born Aug. 22, 1898 in Wood County, Ohio, the son of Johnathan and Electa (Robinson) Musser. He was an automobile mechanic. He farmed for many years. He married Leah Viaches in 1930 and Mabel Brininstool in June of 1936.
He is survived by three daughters, Elaine (Kenneth) Foote of Battle Creek, Anita Boutwell of Grand Ledge, and June (Don) Shellenbarger of Lake Odessa; three sons, Dewey L. (Elaine) Musser of Lansing, Lawrence (Barbara) Musser of Vermontville, and Arnold J. (Pat) Musser of Hastings; one step-daughter, Ruth (Mark) Roberts of Austin, Texas; 24 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Leah Viaches; and second wife, Mabel Brininstool.
Services were April 13 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte. Interment was in Fairview Cemetery, Dansville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Maple Valley Scholarship Fund.
Alice M. Neff
Alice M. (Shellenbarger) Neff, 97, of Charlotte died Feb. 8, 1998, at the Eaton County Medical Care Facility, Charlotte.
Mrs. Neff was born in Sunfield Township, Eaton County, the daughter of Linus and Ruth (Bywater) Shellenbarger. She lived most of her life in Eaton County. She was a graduate of Olivet High School and attended Eaton County Normal. She was a schoolteacher and later employed by G. C. Murphy Co. in Charlotte. She was a member of the Charlotte Pentecostal Church of God and the Charlotte Senior Citizens group, where she had been a member of the Kitchen Band. She won many ribbons and awards due to her involvement in the activities at the Eaton County Medical Care Facility.
She is survived by her son, Harold Neff of Polk City, Fla.; six grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Otto Neff; son, Karl Neff; sister, Myra Mincey; and two brothers, North and West Shellenbarger.
Services were Feb. 12 at the Burkhead-Green Funeral Chapel, Charlotte, with the Rev. George Fleming officiating. Interment was in the Sunfield Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton County Medical Care Facility Activities Department.
Charles B. “Chuck” Nicholas
Charles B. “Chuck” Nicholas of Eaton Rapids, died at age 70, on Wednesday, June 10, 1998, at his home. Chuck was born on October 4, 1927, in West Union, W.VA. He was raised at the VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids with his mother, brother, and sister from age 6 months to 17 years. In 1945, Chuck attended and graduated from Coyne Electric School, then joined the US Navy where he served until 1949. After the service he became a Master Electrician and founded Nicholas Electric in Eaton Rapids which he operated the rest of his life. Chuck was a past President of the Eaton Rapids J.C.’s, and attained the position of JCI Senator VP. Mr. Nicholas was the founding President of the Eaton Rapids Chamber of Commerce and was voted the “Young Man of the Year: in 1963, was a member of the Onondaga Masonic Lodge, and a past President of the Duck Lake Country Club. Chuck was a Life Member of the Eaton Rapids VFW Post #1283. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Margaret; brother, William; and his mentor, John Bentley.
Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Shirley; daughter, Kathy Ann (Don) VanderVeen of Mason; 2 sons, Kevin (Mary) Nicholas of Grand Rapids, Ken (Marsha) Nicholas of Eaton Rapids; 7 grandchildren, Tim, Trisha, Bethany, and Caryn Nicholas, Kailee, Jarred and Jenna VanderVeen; and 1 sister, Jackie (Ray) Johnson of CA.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 13, 1998 at the Shelley-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids, with Rev. Robert Betts, officiating. Interment followed at Rosehill Cemetery. Casket bearers were Jack Harris, Ed Montello, Jim Kenoyer, Greg Southwell, Tom Swan, and Jim Cataline. Honorary bearers were Bud Haley, Halley Pettit, George Pettit, Max Williams, Doug Furgason, Claude Basing, Doc Hastay and Ken Goodnoe.
Those desiring may make contributions to either the American Diabetes Assoc. or the American Heart Assoc. in memory of Charles B. Nicholas.
Evelyn Washburn Nielsen
Evelyn Washburn Nielsen, age 85, of Avilla, Indiana formerly of Eaton Rapids died Saturday, October 17, 1998 at the Sacred Heart Nursing Home. Born March 13, 1913 in Goshen, Indiana the daughter of Edythe and Delmer Washburn. Evelyn moved with her family to Eaton Rapids from Goshen at the age of 13. She had attended and graduated from the Eaton Rapids High School class of 1931. Evelyn’s parents owned and operated Washburn Flower Shop located on Hamlin St. where she assisted them and from her efforts had received several State swards for various flower arrangements that were presented to her in Lansing. Evelyn’s late husband Al Nielsen was the manager of Haffner’s Five and Dime in Eaton Rapids and in 1947 they had moved to Garrett Indiana. She entered the Sacred Heart Home in 1992 where she resided until her death. Evelyn was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids where she taught Sunday School and sang in the Church Choir. Evelyn and Al had one child, a daughter, Mary Jo, born at the old brick hospital on Main St. Preceded her in death are her parents and husband all buried in the Rosehill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids.
Surviving are her daughter, Mary Jo Gillespie of Coyote, New Mexico; 4 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren; half-sister, Jane Stuart of Chicago, Ill.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, October 21st at 1:00 p.m. at the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids with the Rev. Tom Evans of the First United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be next to her husband Al in the Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Funeral Home.
Edward E. Oberlin
Edward E. Oberlin, of Venice, Florida, age 83, formerly of Eaton Rapids, passed away on June 18, 1998. He was born in Eaton Rapids on August 28, 1914. He worked as a farmer and as a quality control inspector at Eaton Stamping before retiring and moving to Florida. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Carrie Heisler.
Surviving are his wife, Jean of Venice, FL; children, Richard (Tootie) Oberlin of TX, Sandra Deupree of Eaton Rapids, Stephen (June) Oberlin of Marshall, MI, Sally Warner of Eaton Rapids; step-daughters, Karole (Roy) Bartlett of Charlotte, MI, Barbara (James) Rieben of Clay, NY; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Elanore Anderson and Norma Dykster, both of Venice, FL; and 1 uncle, Harley Oberlin of FL.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 1998, at Rosehill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids. There will be no funeral home visitation. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association in memory of Edward E. Oberlin. Arrangements made by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.
Elizabeth A. O’Brien
Elizabeth A. O’Brien, 67, of Hastings, formerly of Charlotte, died Jan. 22, 1998.
Mrs. O’Brien was born March 12, 1930, in Grand Ledge, the daughter of Edward and Fern (Sweet) Atherton. She had worked most of her life as a nurse’s aid.
She is survived by four sisters, Nora Dietrick of Nashville, Mary Lou Dean of Delton, Kathy Peterson of Las Vegas, Nev., and Eleanor Newcomer of Shelbyville; and five brothers, Edward Atherton of Grand Ledge, Robert Atherton of Portland, Ralph Atherton of Barryton, Michael Atherton of Lake City, and Clair Atherton of Grand Ledge.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James O’Brien.
There will be no funeral service or visitation. Arrangements were made by the Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Louise M. Olmstead
Louise M. Olmstead, 90, of Bellevue died Feb. 10, 1998, at the Battle Creek Health System.
Mrs. Olmstead was born Jan. 31, 1908 in Assyria Township, the daughter of Fred and Mary (Case) Brandt. She graduated from Bellevue High School in 1925. She married Rex. S. Olmstead in Kalamazoo on August 3, 1926.
She is survived by her son, Rex. E. Olmstead of Bellevue; daughter, Beverly I. Hess of Bellevue; 14 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Mildred Kokz of Bellevue and Irma Aronstein of St. Petersburg, Fla.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rex Olmstead; three sons, Allen, Gerald, and David; brother, Wesley Brandt; and sister, Leatha Rundle.
Graveside services were Feb. 12 at Riverside Cemetery, Bellevue, with the Rev. Darwin Kuhl officiating.
Arrangements were made by Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or to the American Diabetes Association.
Shirley J. Olsen
Shirley J. Olsen, 74, of Des Plaines, Ill., formerly of Charlotte, died Sunday, Aug. 30 at the Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines.
Mrs. Olsen was born in Detroit and lived most of her life in the Charlotte area. She was a member of First Congregational Church United Church of Christ and it’s Blanche Moyer Circle. She was a longtime volunteer at Hayes Green Beach Hospital, active in the Mobile Meals program, and interested in the restoration of the 1885 Eaton County Courthouse.
She is survived by one daughter, Jeri (Mark) Papuga of Berwyn, Ill.; two sons, John (Kim) of Des Plaines and Karl (Laura) of San Diego, Calif.; six grandchildren, Brandon and Kyle Olsen, Michael and Valerie Papuga, and Rachel and Angela Jeane Olsen; three nieces; and one nephew.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Karl; her parents Milo and Helen (Martin) Osborn; and one daughter, Jeane Olsen.
Cremation has taken place.
Memorial services were Sept. 5 at the First Congregational Church, Charlotte, with the Rev. Dr. Peter Brenner and the Rev. Z. William Colson officiating. Interment was in the Bosworth Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church, the Eaton County Historical Society, or Hayes Green Beach Hospital.
Arrangements were made by Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte.
