Obituaries
Jeri Allan
Jeri Allan passed away peacefully at Sparrow Hospital on June 11, 2023, while holding the hand of her beloved husband. Born on February 4,1954, she married her high school sweetheart, K.C. Allan in 1976 who was a faithful companion and loving husband for 46 years. Jeri channeled her love of reading into a fulfilling career serving as the Olivet High School Librarian. She enjoyed spending time in nature and taking walks around her pond.
Jeri is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Carolyn (Baldwin) Natusch. She is survived by her husband, K.C. Allan; daughters, Amber (David) Stiles, Bridget (Jeff) Boucher, Elizabeth (Jacob) DeMott; grandsons, Calum and Bryson Stiles; brother, David (Sandy) Natusch; sister, Joelyn (Lee Yonker) Aitken and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial gathering was held Friday, June 16, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids chapel. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to Pawsibilities of Olivet. To share memories or leave online condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Ray Lawrence
Ray Lawrence of Charlotte, Michigan, departed his life on earth on January 10, 2023, surrounded by his loved ones. His life on earth began November 18, 1934, in Miami, Florida.
A celebration of Ray’s life will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 12 p.m. at the Center Eaton Community Center, 2093 Narrow Lake Road, Charlotte, MI, 48813. The family received friends on Friday, June 16, 2023, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. just prior to the service at the Center Eaton Community Center. Burial will follow in the Center Eaton Cemetery.
To view Ray’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com.
The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home.
Betty Ann Cartwright
Betty Ann Cartwright, aged 93, died peacefully on Monday, May 29, 2023, after suffering a stroke. Betty was born Betty Ann Sophia Hulsmeyer on August 15, 1929, in Sidney, Ohio, to Silas and Eva Amalia (Metz) Hulsmeyer. She grew up in Anna, Ohio, and graduated from Anna High School in 1947. She married Charles Hugh Cartwright of Sidney, Ohio, on May 1, 1949. She and Chuck moved around for several years while he served in the Air Force before finally settling in Eaton Rapids, MI, in 1957. They spent the remainder of their 73-year marriage building their lives and raising their family in the Eaton Rapids community.
Betty was an accomplished seamstress and worked for Laura’s in Eaton Rapids for nearly a decade doing alterations. She also did work for individuals in the community as well as her family, including altering several of her granddaughters’ wedding dresses. Later, Betty sold Avon for more than 30 years, and she loved the connections it gave her to her friends and neighbors. She was an avid gardener, an enthusiastic fan of Spartan football and basketball, a loyal follower of Detroit Tigers baseball, and a devoted viewer of TV’s “Survivor.” Above all, Betty loved her family and friends.
After her husband Chuck died last year, she made the difficult decision to leave her home and move to StoryPoint Independent Senior Living in Rockford, MI. She quickly made many new and dear friends, and she eagerly joined in on a wide variety of activities, like cardio drumming, yoga, and balance class. Most days, you could find her playing game after game of euchre with anyone who would join her.
Betty is survived by her daughter, Lori (Eric) Maxey of Grand Rapids; her son, Bruce (Deb) Cartwright of Littleton, Colorado; her son-in-law, Andrew Curtin of North Yarmouth, Maine; her daughter-in-law, Peggy (Larry “Doc”) Mueller of Mason; her sister, Donna (Jim) Cowperthwaite of Cincinnati, Ohio; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Cartwright; her daughter, Cynthia Cartwright; her son, Craig Cartwright; and seven siblings.
A memorial service for Betty will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church at 600 S. Main St. in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, with a visitation from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., a celebration of life service beginning at 4 p.m., and a reception to follow. If you would like to honor Betty’s life with a donation, please consider contributing to the First United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids or the Eaton Rapids Senior Center.
Lois Marie Sensat
Lois Marie Sensat of Charlotte, a handywoman that could fix many things around the house, died June 5, 2023, at the age of 68. Lois was born August 31, 1954, in Lansing to Irvin and Joyce (Parks) Covell. She liked to stay busy, so was always doing things like crocheting, gardening, playing on the computer (especially Solitaire), taking road trips, watching her favorite TV shows, and finding the flaws in movies. She worked at GM for 30 years before she retired in 2007. Independent, head-strong, and funny are some of the words her family used to describe her.
Lois is survived by her children, Ricky (Corie) Parker, Donna Aeder, and Jennifer (Matthew) Hilton; nine grandchildren, Courtney, Sean, Aryan, Bazyli, Ѐamonn, Brittany, Dakota, Ryen, and Kaylee; three great-grandchildren, Annabelle, Eli, and Bryer; and her sister, Mary Jo Covell. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Lois’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was Thursday, June 8, 2023, 4-6:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with funeral services following at 6:00 p.m. The funeral will be webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Lois’ tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). If desired, memorial contributions are suggested to the family to help with final expenses. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Nancy Gloria Mayhew
Nancy Gloria Mayhew, 89, of Charlotte, died peacefully on Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Charlotte. Nancy was born October 17, 1933, in St. Clair Shores, MI, the daughter of Sicilian-born Giuseppe and Pietrina Galatioto. She graduated from St. Clair Shores High School before going to work in Detroit for Ma Bell Telephone Company. She soon met the love of her life, Donald Lee Mayhew, upon his return from service in the Korean Conflict. Nancy and Don married on August 6, 1955, in St. Clair Shores and raised two daughters. They soon moved to Charlotte, where Nancy went to work as a receptionist in the original Hayes Green Beach Hospital and a few years as a teacher’s assistant at West Windsor school. She then worked several years as an ad designer for the Charlotte Shopping Guide, before settling into her final career as a Para Pro with the Charlotte Public Schools. She worked at both Galewood and Parkview before her retirement. She and Don enjoyed travel in retirement and were lifetime members of the Eaton Area Senior Center. They took many memorable trips, including one to Hawaii. They enjoyed summers on Duck Lake and winters at Anna Maria Island, FL. Nancy especially loved time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who often visited in at the lake and in Florida.
Nancy is survived by her daughters, Pamela Wiener and Julie (Larry) Kramer; seven grandchildren, Sam (Ali) Wiener, Traci (Evan) Jones, Molly (Jake) Miller, Jake (Katie) Kramer, Becky (Zach) Gilliland, Ben (Laurel Burgam) Wiener, and Nick (Sydney) Wiener; ten great-grandchildren, Miles, Blake, Judah, Delaney, Madeline, Andrew, Keira, Emilia, August, and Ethan; brother, Joe (Karen) Gale; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Donald Mayhew in 2010; and her siblings and siblings-in-law, Sam and Marie Galatioto, Concetta and Kenny Kendall, Felix and Yvonne Gale, Sebastian Galatioto, Josephine and Sabby Portuesi, and Delores and Joe Bezel.
Friends are encouraged to support Nancy’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at Pray Funeral Home with Laura Cooper celebrating. Interment will take place in Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte. The funeral will be webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Nancy’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Eaton Area Senior Center or Eaton Community Palliative Care. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.