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Darwin Shunk
Darwin Shunk, 52, passed away on August 25, 2010 after a brief fight with cancer. He was born in Lansing, Mich. on June 9, 1952 to Max and Mary Shunk. Darwin was employed by the State of Michigan. He was an avid lover of the performing arts, especially music, with sound engineering his passion. He was an active member of Mount Hope Church in Lansing, with many years involved in the music and media ministry.
Darwin is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 38 years, Wanda; children, Jennifer (Eric) Vorm, Jonathan Shunk, Bethany (David) Gerstner; grandchildren, Morgan, Isabelle and Joshua; father, Max (Darlene) Shunk; sisters, Debbie Gillam, Teri Frasier; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Shunk. Visitation and funeral services will be arranged by Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Home in Lansing.
Ed Simek
Ed Simek, 86, died Friday, December 17, 2010. Mr. Simek was born November 18, 1924 in Charlotte, MI the son of Joseph and Katerina (Sochor) Simek.
Mr. Simek retired fro Consumers Power Company as a lineman. He was a past VFW Commander serving in 1963, ’64 and ’66 and a member of the Buck Club. Mr. Simek loved hunting, gardening and fishing on Hubbard Lake.
He is survived by his second wife, Bonnie who he met in high school and reconnected with her in Nashville, TN after they were both widowed; step-daughter, Marlyn Uhl of Glendale, AZ; step-son, Bill Klei of Rives Junction; step-daughter, Jeanne Hickman of TN; step-son, Mike LeDoux of OR; 12 grandchildren; brother, Joseph Simek of AZ; sister-in-law, Kay (Wayne) Dunn of Charlotte and sister-in-law, Colleen Gingrich of Charlotte and brother-in-law, John (Kay Dawn) Gingrich of Charlotte. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia (Sayles) Simek and step-son, Chris LaDoux.
A Family Affirmation service took place 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, MI. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society. Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, MI.
Carolyn “Connie” Skinner
Carolyn “Connie” Skinner, age 86 of Eaton Rapids died Saturday, November 6, 2010 at the Eaton community Hospice following a severe heart attach 13 days earlier. Born November 2, 1924 in Onondaga Township; the daughter of Glen and Gladys (Neff) Stimer. Connie worked along side her husband Max in the family business for 45 years. She enjoyed shopping, dewing and keeping connected with friends. For the last two years she resided at the Eaton county Medical Care Facility and made many new friends with residents and staff. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, Max; and brother, Keith Stimer.
She is survived by her loving daughter, Sharon (Chris) Bigelow and son, Larry (Jill) Skinner all of Eaton Rapids; 7 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Family suggest memorial contributions be made to the Eaton Community Hospice 2675 S. Cochran Rd. Charlotte, MI 48813 in memory of Connie Skinner.
Delos W. Skinner
Delos W. Skinner, age 97 of Eaton Rapids, died March 9, 2010 at the Eaton Community Hospice in Charlotte, MI. Born March 8, 1913 on the family farm in Delta Township, the son of Guy and Bertha (Wolpert) Skinner. Delos was a retired Dairy Farmer, a member of the Michigan Milk Producers Association, the Eaton County Farm Bureau, and a member of the Eaton Rapids Wesleyan Church. He was preceded in death by his wife Avis (Holbrook); granddaughter, Camille Skinner; brothers, Leland and Max Skinner.
He is survived by 5 children, Philip (Carol) Skinner of Manton, MI, Stephen (Charlene) Skinner of Eaton Rapids, Christine (Don) Cooley of Grand Ledge, Timothy (Cheryl) Skinner of Eaton Rapids and Kathy Fuller of Eaton Rapids; 12 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren; sister, Mildred (Richard) Carrigan of Nashville; numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Friday, March 12, 2010 from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Burial followed in the Oakwood Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton community Hospice at 2675 S. Cochran Rd. Charlotte, MI 48813 in memory of Delos W. Skinner.
Max Robert Skinner
On Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010 at 5:45 a.m. Max took his final flight, departing from the Eaton community Hospice in Charlotte. Born May 16, 1921 on the family farm in Delta Township, second to the youngest of four children born to Guy and Bertha (Wolpert) Skinner.
Max graduated from the Eaton Rapids High School class of 1937 at the age of 16. Prior to graduation he worked for Stewart Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. It was then when he decided to become a licensed funeral director. He returned from Wayne State University and founded the Skinner Funeral Home in 1952. He built this business with nothing more than love and compassion for his friends and for his community.
Max finally gave up his occupation after 56 years of serving the Eaton Rapids community, when a heart attack made him unable to serve others. Max was a former Master of the F.&A.M. Lodge 63 in Eaton Rapids; a Charter member of the Eaton Rapids Rotary Club; a charter member and former secretary of the Eaton Professionals Flying Club; former member of the Professional Hunter’s Inc. in Eaton Raids and a former member of the daily morning pitch games at Seaks Insurance.
Preceding him in death were he parents; brother, Rev. Leland Skinner; brother-in-law, Keith Stimer.
Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Carolyn “Connie” Skinner; daughter, Sharon (Chris) Bigelow of Eaton Rapids; son, Larry (Jill) Skinner of Eaton Rapids; eight grandchildren, Annette Hernandez, Carrie (Jeff) Nohel, Holly (Josh Cooper) Bigelow, Sara Bigelow, Nathan Skinner, Jonathan Skinner and Sarah Skinner; six great grandchildren, Kayla and Jordan Hernandez, Cameron Bigelow, Jace and Jeffery Nohel, Cassidy Cooper; great-great granddaughter, Kiara Lloyd; brother, Delos Skinner of Eaton Rapids; sister, Mildred (Dick) Carrigan of Nashville, Mich., sister-in-law, Lucy Stimer and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Friday, Jan. 8, 2010 from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to Max’s favorite charity, Eaton Community Hospice at 2675 S. Cochran Rd. Charlotte, MI 48813.
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Anna Mae Slone
Anna Mae Slone, 85, of Springport passed away Monday December 6, 2010 at Pines Health Care Center in Lansing. She was born December 22, 1924 in Prestonsburg, Kentucky to Talt and Nancy (Dingus) Webb. On February 20, 1943 she was married to Winford Slone in Prestonsburg, Kentucky and he preceded her in death October 31, 1997.
She was a homemaker and she enjoyed her children and was easy to make friends with.
She is survived by 5 daughters, Wanda Wentworth of Lake of Lakes, FL, Nancy Slone of Garland, TX, Ethel Reynolds of Athens, MI, Anita Sue Slone and Tina Marie Slone both of Phoenix, AZ; 2 sons, Wilbert Slone of Charlotte, MI and Gilbert Slone of Phoenix, AZ; 21 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; son, Terry Slone; daughter, Evelyn Slone and triplets, Ailene Slone, Sherrl Dean Holibough and Julene Bailey; 7 sisters, Ina Owens, Belva, Juel Marie, Mary Jane and Helen Grace Webb, Emma and Estie Brown; and 1 brother, Ralph Webb.
Visitation for family and friends will be Thursday December 9,2010 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Friday December 10,2 010 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the Grace Free Will Baptist Church, 16680 East Michigan Avenue, Albion, MI 49224. Funeral services will be Friday December 10, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the church with Pastor Earl Martin officiating. Burial will follow at Clarence Center Cemetery.
Assistance with Memorial Contributions to: Grace Free Will Baptist Church is available at the Funeral Home.
Grace Catharine Rice Smith
Former Logansport resident, Grace Catharine Rice Smith, age 86, of Zephyrhills, Fla., passed away March 2, 2010, in Florida Hospital of Zephyrhills. Born on September 10, 1923, in Logansport, she was the daughter of John Earl and Lulu Kroft. On December 25, 1941, she married Charles Richard Rice who preceded her in death in 1986. In March of 1991, she married Rev. Ellis Smith, who survives in Zephyrhills. She worked at Columbia Elementary School as a teachers’ assistant for four years, before returning to school. She earned her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in elementary education from Indiana University, Kokomo Campus. Grace taught third grade at Caston Elementary School for 19 years, before retiring to Zephyrhills. While living in Logansport; Grace was an active member of the Third Street Evangelical United Brethren Church and later, the Helm Street Church of God where she enjoyed participating in the music program at each of those churches.
Surviving with her husband are three daughters: Susan Catharine Taylor (Jack) of Charlotte, Mich., Saybra Rice Chapman of Ridge Manor, Fla. and Heidi Rice Shriver of Denver, Colo. She also leaves five grandchildren with wonderful memories, John Richard Taylor (Kim), Sharee Cathleen Burdick (Fred), Shanna Colleen Strader (James), Zachary Paul Chapman (Maria), and Casey Ryan Chapman; and 10 great grandchildren, as well. Also surviving are six step-children and their families. She was preceded in death by her only son, Richard Kent Rice; and two brothers, Earl and John D. Kroft.
Funeral services were held Thursday, March 11 at Fisher Funeral Chapel with Rev. John Aukerman officiating. Interment followed in Mount Hope Cemetery, Logansport. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that contributions be made to the Eaton County Medical Care Facility where Grace received such loving and compassionate care.
Louis B. “Louie” Smith
Louis B. “Louie” Smith of Manistee and formerly of Eaton Rapids, age 84 passed peacefully in hospice care at his home with his family by his side on Thursday, October 21, 2010. Born May 23, 1926 and raised in Eaton Rapids and in later years retired to Manistee spending winters in Arizona.
Louis is survived by his wife of 64 years, Geraldine (Gerry), sons, James (Jan) Smith, Reg (Pam) Smith, daughter, Dusty Sue (Reg) Hamilton, 7 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren. Survived by brother, George (Shirley) Smith, sister, Linda (Cliff) Kivinen and Harold Rose. Louis was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Bruce and sister, Elizabeth. He is a WWII Navy veteran serving aboard the USS Gladiator (AM-319) in the South Pacific. He is a life member of VFW Post 2406, and Masonic Lodge #63; member of DAV and American Legion. Louis retired from Consumers Energy in 1981. He became a private pilot after the war; Louie enjoyed salmon fishing and motor cycle riding in Arizona. He was a man of integrity with a very friendly personality, once a friend, always a friend.
Funeral services were held Monday, October 25, 2010 from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Rev. Stephen Klink, officiated. Burial followed in the Bunker Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Charlotte VFW. Family suggest memorial contributions be directed to Sparrow Hospice in memory of Louie Smith.
Mary J. Smith
Mary Jane (Lea) Smith, 89, of Farwell, Mich. died Sunday, November 14, 2010. She was born July 5,1921 in South end, Wash., the daughter of Charles and Mable (Zauner) Armstrong. Mary was a homemaker who met and wed her husband, Donald Lea, a young soldier from Michigan in 1942. She never forgot her roots and journeyed back many times to Westport, Wash. and Shoalwater Bay. As a Shoalwater Bay Indian tribal elder, their stories will be greatly missed. In 2009 she realized her dream of writing a cookbook.
She is survived by her second husband, Norman Smith; sons, Donald Zauner (Jill) Lea of Charlotte and Charles E. (Deborah) Lea of Rockford; daughter, Kathleen Lea McCoy of Mt. Pleasant; four grandchildren, Travis (Lisa) Lea, Stacey (Michael) Mroczkowski, Justin McCoy and Megan (Cody) West; four great grandchildren; sisters, Betty Condon of Seattle, Wash. and Charlene Nelson of Tokeland, Wash.; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Donald E. Lea in 1968; son-in-law, Douglas McCoy; sisters, Dorothy Matthews and Lois Cooper.
Funeral services were held Thursday, November 18, 2010 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Rev. Father Francis Mossholder officiating. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the family.
