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Funeral Services:

Treva Elnore Drake, 97, of Charlotte, died peacefully on Friday, April 6, 2018 in Charlotte. Treva was born February 28, 1921, the firstborn of 13 children born to Charles and Laura Wood. She grew up in Clare County, Mich. before marrying Prentice Albert Drake in 1939 and starting their family. Treva worked more than 20 years as a cook at Central Michigan College (now CMU) and loved time spent with her family fishing. In later years, she enjoyed visiting her cottage on Chippewa Lake, where she would crochet special items for her grandchildren, and for charity, including Helping Hands and Ronald McDonald House. Above all, Treva loved her family.

Treva is survived by her daughter, JoAnn (Ed) Dehnert; son, Prentice “Bud” (Gail) Drake, Jr.; eight grandchildren; several step-grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren.
She is predeceased by her husband, Prentice Albert Drake, Sr.; daughter, Janet Carrick; and all 12 of her siblings.

Funeral services were held Thursday, April 12, 2018 at Pray Funeral Home, with Pastor John Bailey officiating. Private interment will take place in Sibley Cemetery, near Riverdale, Mich. Memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Palliative Care. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Treva on her Tribute Page at PrayFuneral.com.

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Funeral Services:

Toni Renea Mann passed away in her home on April 10, 2018 after a courageous five-year battle with cancer, surrounded by her loving family and friends. Toni was born February 28, 1957 to Robert and Roseanna (Finch) Mann in Eaton Rapids. She graduated from Charlotte High School in 1976. Toni Retired from GM after 21 years, member local #652 then #602 at the Lansing Delta Plant.

Toni lived her awesome 61 years enjoying many things; first and foremost, her family, and family gatherings. Her nieces and nephews and their children were treated like they were her own. She loved them very much. Toni loved roller skating at the old Adams Rink in Charlotte, playing poker at family parties, bon fires, hanging at the Old Alpine, and Zauners Bar, fishing, bowling and watching NASCAR and the Food Network. Toni was also a faithful “Young and the Restless” fan, and she loved her Spartans. Go Green! She loved flowers and was looking forward to mushrooming this spring. She had a love for all animals.

Left behind to miss her are her dogs Tucker, Max, and cats, Mr. Whiskers, Binx and George.

She is survived by her Brother, Rex (Shelly) Mann of Olivet, her faithful friend and partner in crime, Tracey Brown of Sunfield, and her lifelong friend, Kathy Smith of Charlotte. Her many nieces and nephews loved her dearly, Jason (Amanda) Mann of Wisconsin, Jen (Brent) Knoll of Olivet, Sarah (Earl) Mann of Charlotte, Justin Mann of Marshall, Ryan Mann of Arizona, and Cody Mann of Hastings; her great-nieces and nephews Liliana, Cameron, Ethan, Lorelei, Gracie, Jayden, Navaeh, Camden and Connor.

She was predeceased by both parents, Roseanna (1990) and Bob (2015); and her brother, Rodney Mann (2017).

The family wishes to thank the many people who called or stopped to visit Toni during these last weeks. We also give a special thanks to Tracey for caring for her and making it possible for Toni to be home where she wanted to be. She knew she was loved by all of us very much. We were so blessed to have her as part of our lives.

Those wishing can make donations to Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth, Scholarship Fund (AKA, SPYs) or Hospice and Palliative Care Compassus of Lansing.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 16, 2018, at the Sunfield United Brethren Church, 8436 Grand Ledge Hwy. Sunfield, MI.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 17, also at the Church, with Pastor Chuck Jensen officiating. Interment will be in the Sunfield Cemetery.

Please visit a special tribute page at RosierFuneralHome.com, set up in memory of Toni R. Mann, to light a candle, or leave a condolence. The family has entrusted the arrangements to the Independent Family Owned Funeral Home in Sunfield: Rosier Funeral Home.

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Funeral Services:

Robert Eugene Wood was born July 16, 1944 to James and Donna Wood of Charlotte. He passed away on April 5, 2018. He served 3 ½ years in the United States Marine Corp, and was a loyal employee of General Motors for 36 years. Robert enjoyed being an active Boy Scout leader with his three sons in troop #654. On March 14, 1969 he married the love of his life, Sandra Dickinson of Potterville. He will be remembered fondly by fellow Marines, Orioles, poker and cribbage players and his dialysis family.

Robert is survived by his wife, Sandra; their four children, Jason (Angie), Justin (Jennifer), Jameson Wood, and Amanda (Nick) Pocalujka; eight grandchildren, Brandy, Hilary, Abigail, Shelby (Coty), Kody, Hope, Ella and Camille; five great-grandchildren, Billy, Megyn, Brynlee, Ezra and Braelyn; six siblings, Norm (Jackie) Wood, Nancy Adams, Wilmont (Deborah) Wood, Sarah Nichols, Edgar Wood, and John (Nicky) Wood; and mother-in-law Lila Dickinson.

He was predeceased by parents, Jim and Donna Wood; father-in-law, Howard Dickinson; niece, Mary Nichols; and brothers-in-law, Chuck Adams and Harold Nichols.

A memorial service was held Monday, April 9, 2018 at Pray Funeral Home.

If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the “Mary Nichols Fund”-For the Good of Others. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Robert E. Wood on his tribute page at PrayFuneral.com.

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Funeral Services:

Sui Kabuki Shepherd, 84, of Charlotte, passed away Saturday, April 7, 2018, at her home. She was born August 15, 1933, in Kagashimi-Ken, Japan, the daughter of Toda and Hichiro (Watanabe) Kabuki. Sui married the love of her life, Thomas L. Shepherd on February, 20, 1954, in Japan. In October of 1957 the family moved to Michigan. Sui enjoyed playing Bingo, trips to the casino, and gardening. She adored her family and loved spending time together.

Sui is survived by her children, Linda (Mark) Royston, Robert (Debra) Shepherd, Larry Shepherd, Susan Shepherd; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Thomas in 2006.

A memorial service was held Thursday, April 12, 2018, at Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home in Charlotte. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment took place at Fort Custer National Cemetery.

Those desiring may make contributions in Sui’s memory to the American Cancer Society.

To view Sui’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family, please visit burkhead-greenfuneralhome.com.

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Funeral Services:

Wilmena “Billie” Ruth Carpenter of Charlotte passed away on Monday, April 2, 2018 at the age of 80.  Billie was born on August 9, 1937, the daughter of William and Eve (Brown) Lyons in Tacoma, Wash. She was raised, in part, by her grandmother, Edna Brown and attended Auburn Adventist Academy in Auburn, Wash., and attended Pacific Union College. She moved to Royal Oak, Mich. in 1960, then to Clawson, Mich. and eventually to West Branch in the late 1960s. While in West Branch she sold books, worked for a pallet company, drove a school bus and worked as a treasurer for the West Branch Seventh Day Adventist Church. Billie moved to Downers Grove, Ill. for a few years to serve as an infant formula representative before returning to Michigan. She has spent the last 13 years in Charlotte, where she is a member of the Charlotte Seventh Day Adventist Church. Billie loved to travel, she loved people, but most importantly she loved her family. In 2000 Billie set off on an amazing journey to walk Route 66 from Santa Monica, Calif. to Chicago, Ill. to raise funds and gain awareness for birth defects. She completed her journey in about five months traveling an average of 20 miles a day.

Billie is preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Ray E. Gardner Jr.; second husband, Herbert Riemann; grandson, Zane Gardner; stepson, Mike Carpenter; stepfather, Raphael Nichols; and son-in-law, Jon Kallioinen.

Surviving are her husband of 13 years, Bruce Carpenter; children, Cindy (Dennis) Kempl, Dean Gardner, Todd (Lynette) Gardner, Julie (Mike) Matyasic; stepchildren, Nancy (Cory) Sheppler, Cathy Kallioinen, Cris Carpenter; grandchildren, Scott Gooch, April Simpson, Wyatt Gardner, Logan Gardner, Sierra Gardner, Savahanna Matyasic, Jeremy Mortenson, Mike Mortenson, Nathan Heinrich, Mandy (Duane) Evans, Mindy (Jonathan) Durner, Tristan Sheppler, Molly Sheppler; great grandchildren, Alexis Simpson, Hunter Simpson, Ashton Rutledge, Brayden Durner, Liam Evans and Gage Evans.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at the Charlotte Seventh Day Adventist Church.

To share memories or condolences please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.

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Funeral Services:

Roberta “Berta” Cartwright, 74, formerly of Charlotte, died peacefully in her sleep on March 10, 2018 in Chevy Chase, Md., after a long illness. She had a sharp, dry sense of humor and will be sorely missed.

She is survived by her ex-husband, Lawrence “Larry” R. Cartwright of Washington, D.C. (formerly of Charlotte); her brother, Richard T. Jamsen; sister-in-law, Jane (Marinelli) Jamsen of Marquette; her daughter, Sarah Cartwright, son-in-law, Scott McDermott Cartwright; and granddaughter, Shan Shan L. Cartwright of Washington, D.C.; and nephew, Kris M Jamsen, his spouse, Michelle, and their daughter, Mae of Melbourne, Australia.

She is predeceased by her sister, Patricia A. Jamsen (in childhood); her father, Richard “Dick” Jamsen of Copper Harbor, Mich.; and her mother, Lillian A. (Johnson) (Jamsen) Richards of Copper Harbor, and Fort Myers Beach, Fla.

Roberta Lynn Jamsen was born Sept. 20, 1943 in Hancock, Mich., to parents, Richard “Dick” and Lillian A. (Johnson) Jamsen. She earned her B.A. in special education from Eastern Michigan University in 1965. “Miss Bert” moved to Bay City where she taught deaf and hard-of-hearing children and was active in community theater. She married Lawrence Robert Cartwright on March 16, 1974, in his hometown of Unionville, Mich. They moved to St Louis, Mo., where they had their only child, daughter Sarah Elisabeth Cartwright. They returned to Michigan in 1976 and lived in Charlotte until 2012. Berta and Larry legally separated in 2012, and Roberta moved to Montgomery County, Md., to be closer to her family.

Roberta’s career and volunteer work focused on early childhood development. She was particularly proud of her position as the home visitation liaison for the early childhood intervention program at Eaton Rapids Public Schools. Roberta’s role was to visit preschoolers and their families in their homes. She truly treasured each relationship and was proud of her colleagues’ teamwork. Roberta retired in 2010.

A memorial open house will be held on Sunday, August 5, 2018, from noon to 4 p.m., hosted by Janet and Dennis Hogan, 2221 Grass Lake Ave, Lake, MI.

Memorial contributions may be made to montgomeryhospice.org, your local hospice, or your local elementary school.

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Funeral Services:

Merlin F. Guilford, Sr., 93, of Charlotte, died April 1, 2018 in Portland. He was born February 7, 1925 in Mulliken, a son of Russell and Agnes (Holbrook) Guilford. Merlin was an Army veteran of World War II, a P.O.W. and a retired employee of Lindell Drop Forge.

He was preceded in death by his wives, Dorothy and Mary; and his son, Merlin F. Guilford, Jr.

Surviving are his daughters, Brenda Harper, Barbara (Paul) Holland and Janet (Tom) Wohlscheid; nine grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 15 great great-grandchildren; sisters, Faye Foltz, Sue (Bob) Walker and Linda (Pat) Patton; brother, Greg Guilford; several nieces and nephews.

Services were held Thursday, April 5, 2018 at Barker-Leik Funeral Home in Mulliken, with Pastor Ross McElroy officiating.  Interment followed at Meadowbrook Cemetery with military honors provided by the U.S. Army and the Portland V.F.W.  Pallbearers were Brian Holland, Paul Holland, Jr., Randy Raines, Brian Richards, Scott Webert and Trenton Webert.

Memorial donations may be made to Great Lakes Caring Hospice.

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Funeral Services:

Dale Miller, born December 13, 1948 to Charles, and Betty (Clark) Miller in Hay Springs, Neb., passed away at his home in Bellevue on March 10, 2018.

He grew up on the family farm in Hastings and attended Durfee (One room) School House. He graduated from Hastings High School in 1967. Dale married the love of his life, Cynthia Lou (Smith) on April 28, 1969. They were blessed with three children, Shane, Tammy and Merrie.

He was a Journeyman Sprinkler Fitter (Penn. State) for over 45 years. He was a hard worker and could just about fix anything, and get it done. Over the years he built his own house, was the Baltimore Township Supervisor (Hastings) during the 197’s. He was a State- Hastings High School Wrestler, played on many company ball teams, raised cattle, and hogs (with twin brother “Don”), assisted with coaching wrestling, trained/rode horses, gave roping lessons, and enjoyed the outdoors.

Dale’s passion was Team Roping, which he won many awards for over the years. Also, he was on the board, and belonged to the M.R.A (Michigan Ropers Association). He was an avid reader, and considered a lifelong learner. He particularly enjoyed playing cards “Mississippi Stud,” doing crossword puzzles, mushroom hunting, and camping/ horseback with wife Cindy, and friends for years.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Robert, Donald (twin), Ronald, and recently oldest brother Gerald Miller.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Cynthia of Bellevue; sister, Charlene (Daniel) Cheney; sisters-in-law, Christine, Linda, and Lorna Miller all of Hastings; sister-on-law, Diane, and Valery Miller; son, Shane (Joan) Miller all of Battle Creek; daughters, Tammy (Scott) Flower of Charlotte, and Merrie Miller of Bellevue; eight grandchildren, Brooke, Cash, Heath and Clay Flower. Sarah, Olivia, Brayden (Degris), and Luke Miller; many special nieces, nephews, and good friends.

In recent retirement, Dale liked making “Lucky’s” wine, canning, helping his brother Gerald on the family farm, growing flowers, and watching his grandchildren play sports, as well as horse events.

He will be remembered most for his quick wit, and his determined spirit. He voiced his great appreciation for being given a good life. Dale went home to be with his lord and savior with his loving family by his side on March 10, 2018.

There will be a “Celebration of Life” memorial service in his honor for family and friends on April 28, 2018 at his home in Bellevue at 4 p.m. You can find details for the celebration on Facebook @ Dale Miller Celebration of Life/Memorial

Memorial contributions can be made to the Michigan Ropers Association in Dale’s honor in memory of his love of Team Roping and particularly Novice/Youth classes. Donation information: M.R.A. Office, 12100 Fairbanks Rd., Linden, MI 48451 (Send note designating who donation is for), or contact 810-223-4045.

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Funeral Services:

William “Bill” Joseph Morey, a jack of all trades and loving family man, died unexpectedly at home on Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Bill, 56, of Hastings, was born September 6, 1961 in Charlotte, the son of Joseph and Mary (Williams) Morey. He graduated from Charlotte High School before marrying Johanna “Joni” Royston on April 24, 1982 in Charlotte. The two moved to Freeport to start their family and Bill took a job with the City of East Grand Rapids, working as a foreman at the city garage, and as a reserve police officer for the village of Freeport.  He received the Freeport reserve officer of the year for his efforts in stopping a bank robbery.

Bill loved time spent with family in the outdoors, especially fall salmon fishing up north along the Manistee River. He loved fishing, hunting, working on his cars and trucks, and racing. Bill built the cars for the county fair races for his son, Joe, to drive, and sometimes wreck. Bill coached his kid’s sports teams and would do anything to help others and lend a helping hand. Above all, Bill loved time spent with his family and friends, especially his best pals, his grandchildren.

Bill is survived by his wife of 35 years, Joni; daughter, Kari (Dustin) VonItter; son, Joe (Kimberly) Morey; six grandchildren, Wyatt, Hazel and Josie VonItter, and Carter, Ethan and Levi Morey; parents, Joe and Mary Morey; brother, Don (Jan) Morey; and his mother and father-in-law, Joan and Duane Royston; siblings-in-law, Arvid and Katie Salisbury and Greg and Marilyn Royston; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at the New Faith Church of the Nazarene in Charlotte with Bill’s father-in-law, Pastor Duane Royston officiating. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 6, 2018 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of Johanna Morey. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Bill on his Tribute Page at PrayFuneral.com.

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Funeral Services:

Robert (Bob) Frank Burkett of Charlotte passed away on March 28, 2018 at the age of 84. He was the son of the late Mildred Proctor Burkett Forent and Joseph Franklin Burkett. Bob was born on June 29, 1933 in Lansing. He married Mary Matheney on September 27, 1952. They were married for 56 years, before she predeceased him in 2008.

Bob graduated from Bellevue High School and immediately began working three jobs, Wilcox-Gaye in Charlotte, excavation, and Kellogg’s. He worked at Kellogg’s for 37 years before his retirement in 1988. In 1954 Bob joined the Navy, but before he was called to service, he was drafted into the Army and served in the Korean War. For one month he was in the Navy and Army at the same time.

After the Army Bob returned to work at Kellogg’s and purchased the family farm in Kalamo Township. He was the third generation to own the farm. Currently it is owned and operated by his son, Dan and grandsons, Tyler and Brandon. The business is known as Burkett Farms.   

Bob had many, many hobbies over the years, including: a speedboat, hunting, snowmobiles, motorcycles, antique tractors, an MG car, and a Model A car and truck. He joined several clubs to enjoy the activities more. He also restored many antique tractors, cars, and trucks. Bob enjoyed telling stories. He would ask if we wanted to hear a ‘true story,’ of course how true was always up to the listener to determine. His last project was restoring a doodle-bug and grinding whole-wheat flour and giving it away to friends and family.

In addition to owning the family farm for many years, he owned a cabin on the Chippewa River while his children were young. Canoeing, tubing, and swimming in the river, while mini-bikes and bon-fires were enjoyed on land. In 1993, Bob and Mary moved to Charlotte. In recent years he has enjoyed dancing and going to the casinos with partner Jackie Morris. He attended the Nashville Baptist Church.

Bob is survived by his three children, Dena (Tedd) Hendon, Denise Burkett, and Dan (Jackie) Burkett; four grandchildren, Dr. Courtney (Gavin) Acton, Tyler Burkett (fiancé Brittany Crittenden), Dr. Ainsley Hendon (Navy Chief Petty Officer Spencer Flynn), and Army Specialist Brandon Burkett.

He was predeceased by wife, Mary; son, Joey; and sister, Bonnie Everhart.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date for the immediate family.  Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Eaton Community Palliative Care, website: echospice.org.

The best word to describe Bob’s life is active. Bob was always busy doing, and thinking of the next adventure.  This is the way we will remember him.

You can share memories of Bob on his tribute page at PrayFuneral.com.