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Funeral Services:

It is with deep sorrow and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandpa and papa, Herman Eugene Cousins, who left us on December 18, 2024 at the age of 92. Herman passed peacefully at his home in Parrish, Florida. Herman was a devoted man, a selfless provider, and a cherished friend. His legacy will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know him.
Born on March 3, 1932, in Dowagiac, Michigan, he was the son of Laverne and Thelma Cousins. Throughout his life, Herman demonstrated what it truly meant to work hard and give endlessly. As a heavy equipment operator, he worked tirelessly to provide for his family and ensure their happiness and well-being. His commitment to his work was only surpassed by his love for his wife, children and family, to whom he was both a pillar of strength and a source of boundless support.

He worked for Kramers Construction in Plain, Wisconsin and Brown Brothers Construction in Lansing, Michigan before working for himself many years before moving to Florida. His passions were horses, working in heavy equipment, friends and family.

Herman is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy (Hallead) Cousins; children, Brenda Glynn, Jodie (Tony) Roberts; grandchildren, Eric Curtis, Terry Glynn, Andrew Glynn, Tommy Cousins, Nancy Branscum, Victoria Teubert, Brady Roberts and Kelsie Roberts.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Laverne and Thelma Cousins; brother, Leroy Cousins; sister, Virginia Staton; and son, Kenneth Brian Cousins.

Above all, he cherished the time spent with his wife, children and loved ones. Whether it was sharing a beer, offering words of encouragement, or simply spending a quiet evening together, Herman made sure his family felt loved, valued, and cared for. Herman touched the lives of so many, and his memory will forever remain in our hearts. We find comfort knowing that his legacy of love, hard work, and devotion will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to know him.

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Funeral Services:

Lloyd Herman Simmons, age 80, of Dowling, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2025. He was born October 5, 1944, in Little Fork, Minnesota, the son of Hugh and Dorothy (Fiedler) Simmons. Lloyd attended Hastings Schools and graduated from Hastings High School. Soon after graduation he enlisted in the United States Army and was honorably discharged after several years of faithful service. Lloyd had a passion for steam engines. He enjoyed going to the local tractor and steam engine shows and was a member of the Michigan Steam Engine and Threshers Club. He also enjoyed running his portable sawmill and milling logs for others. Lloyd was a member of the American Legion Post 42 in Charlotte and the Charlotte Moose Lodge #2565. He will be dearly missed by his family and countless friends.

Lloyd is survived by his son, Dean Simmons of Dowling; sister, Carol (David) Patrick of Charlotte, Judy Hose of Charlotte; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Howard Allen Simmons; brothers, Will Simmons, Earl Simmons, and Art Simmons.

A private graveside service with military honors will be held at Fort Custer National Cemetery.

Those desiring may make contributions in Lloyd’s honor to the Michigan Steam Engine and Threshers Club, P.O. Box 104, Mason, Michigan 48854.

To view Lloyd’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.

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Funeral Services:

Jill Michelle (Van Daele) Webb sadly passed away in the morning of Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Jill, the daughter of Albert and Clarissa Van Daele was born on July 26, 1948, growing up in Arizona and graduating from Battle Creek Central with the class of 1967.

With the help of her mother, Jill met Billie Joe Webb and the two married on August 3, 1968. Together Bill and Jill, with the help of their fathers, built the home where they raised their boys and established the “Pork and Bean Farm.” In their early years, Jill and Bill enjoyed square dancing, playing cards, and bowling with friends. Jill was mostly a homemaker, feeding her family well with breakfast after milking the cows and tending to the pigs. She did spend time working at Archway, Galloup Pipe and Supply, Snyders, as a Home Interiors consultant, babysitting her grandchildren, and eventually retiring from Edward Jones. Jill enjoyed gardening both vegetables and flowers, supplying the family with canned goods, storing potatoes for the winter, and creating delicious desserts (especially during the holidays). Everyone looked forward to her peanut butter Texas sheet cake at the Webb family gatherings or other special occasions. One of her greatest joys was cooking breakfast for the Webb boys on the opening day of deer season.

Jill is survived by her four boys: Doug (Anjanette) Webb, Tracy (Lisa) Webb, Steve (Jodi Poyer) Webb, and Nathan (Kateri) Webb. She is also survived by her 13 grandchildren: Ryan (Amber) Coats, Branden (Eva) Webb, Ethan (Mattison) Webb, Blake Webb, Victor Harris, Clinton Harris, Zach (Megan) Webb, Whitney (Ryan) Lowe, Lucy Webb, Carson (Jace) Heinze, Alex Webb, Wyatt (Brittanie) Webb, and Chloe Webb and 9 great-grandchildren: Lane, Odin, Abel, Weston, Camden, Wrenly, Lakelynn, Emerson, and baby Webb due in June. Jill is also survived by her sister June (Dave) Jones and brother/sister-in-law Gary and Judy Webb, best friend of over 50 years Carla (Tom) Flemming, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jill was predeceased by her husband of 48 years Billie Joe Webb; her parents Albert and Clarissa Van Daele; Bill’s parents Lester and Mattie Webb; sisters and brothers-in-law Betty and Kermit Denton, Joyce and Mike Randall, and Wanda Gilbert; and good friend Mike Brighton.

The family would like to thank the staff at Stoneridge, as well as Hospice of Lansing nurses for their support and loving care for Jill over the past year and appreciating her “Spicy” attitude.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Huntington’s Disease Society of America at https://hdsa.org/ or envelopes are available at the funeral home.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 20, 2025 at 12:00 p.m., with Pastor Deano Lamphere and Keith Corts speaking, at Daniels Funeral Home – Nashville, conveniently located at 9200 E M79 Hwy, Nashville, MI.

The family will receive visitors from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Monday, January 20, 2025 for the hour prior to the memorial service.
Family and friends are invited to remain at the funeral home following the memorial service for a time of food and fellowship in celebration of Jill’s life.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home – Nashville, conveniently located at 9200 E M79 Hwy, Nashville, MI. For more information, please visit our website at www.danielsfuneralhome.net.

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Funeral Services:

Betty Lou Hooghouse, an outgoing, loving, and smart, mother, sister, and friend, died on Friday, January 10, 2025. Betty, 85, of Charlotte, was born on August 26, 1939, in Hastings, MI. the daughter of Harry and Rachel (Smith) Beard. On August 28, 1959, Betty married Earl “Butch” Hooghouse and together they started their family. With having 3 boys, Betty was very good at taking jokes and was always down for a good laugh. Her working career started out at the Eaton County Medical Care Facility where she worked for several years. She later worked at EATRAN where she retired in the mid 80’s as a Dispatcher. Hobbies that she enjoyed included knitting, she made her children’s clothing, she also enjoyed pottery, doing puzzles, crossword puzzles, and most importantly playing B!NGO. Above all her family brought her the most enjoyment in life.

Betty is survived by her sons, Lewis, Gary, and Terry Hooghouse; grandson, Terry Lewis Hooghouse; sister, Janet (Jim) Jarman; and her beloved cat, Smokey. She was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Butch; siblings, Barb Sitzman, Kate Painter, and Phil Beard; and her parents.

Friends are encouraged to support Betty’s family by sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.

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Funeral Services:

Duane Allen Whaley, 72, of Charlotte, MI, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 9, 2025. Born on May 17, 1952, in Michigan City, Indiana, he was the beloved son of Lyle and Beulah (Shepherd) Whaley.

Duane’s early years were spent in Michigan City, Ithaca, and Comstock Park, MI, where he graduated with the Class of 1970. He dedicated 41 years of his life to Meijer Warehouse, retiring as a respected forklift driver.

An avid sport shooting enthusiast, Duane had a passion for trapshooting and cowboy action shooting, serving as an instructor for both. He was a proud, longtime member of the Chief Okemos Gun Club, where he also held the position of President for two years. Duane cherished the great outdoors, enjoying hunting and fishing whenever he could.

Blessed with remarkable talent and skill, Duane had a knack for fixing just about anything. He was an accomplished woodworker who built his own home with his wife, Sharon, a testament to his craftsmanship and dedication.

Duane is survived by his devoted wife of 38 years, Sharon (Chaddock) Whaley; his loving children, Marcus (Kelley) Whaley and Dawn (Timothy) Hayes; his cherished grandchildren, Hunter Hayes, Vincent Hayes, and Michael Whaley; and his great-granddaughter, Leona Whaley. He is also survived by his brothers, Richard (Diane) Whaley and Douglas (Vicky) Whaley, along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

In honor of Duane’s memory, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. To share memories or leave condolences, please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.

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Funeral Services:

Daniel E. Gearhart, age 64, of Charlotte, MI died January 11, 2025 at his home. He was born November 6, 1960 in Charlotte, the son of Harvey and Shirley Gearhart. He was raised in Charlotte and attended Charlotte High School, graduating in 1979. He married Kelly Eldred on October 23, 1982.

Dan was a family man who had a love for the outdoors. He enjoyed bee keeping, camping in the mountains of Wyoming, and hunting, especially with his grandkids. He was a proud grandpa of five. He was present for every milestone and in the stands at every sporting event possible. His strength and love for his family was immense. His passing leaves a hole in our hearts, but we have a million memories that we will all hold close to our hearts.

Daniel is survived by his wife, Kelly; son, Michael Gearhart; daughters, Sarah Dahlem and Kristi Bullard; and grandkids, Abby, Caleb, Jasmine, Carson and Kaitlyn. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Shirley Gearhart.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 14, 2025 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a bonfire to follow at the home of his daughter, Kristi, 4245 Maple Grove Road, Hastings.

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Funeral Services:

William Frederick Foster, December 12, 1941 – January 1, 2025. God, in his almighty wisdom, called William (Bill) Frederick Foster, to his heavenly home on January 1, 2025. Husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away quietly after a long-fought battle with cancer at the age of 83. His wife Joan, sons James and Philip and their children were at his side throughout his final days.

Bill was born on December 12, 1941, in Lansing, Michigan, the son of Earl L. and Elizabeth C. (Kloepfer) Foster. He attended Bretton Woods, a Delta Township grade school, C.W. Otto Middle School, J.W. Sexton High School and Lansing Community College.

Bill was a part-time mechanic at Stevens Garage in Delta Mills in his early years and in 1965 started working for REO Motor Car Company. After 10 years of working there, the then, Diamond Reo Truck bankrupted. By the fall of 1975, together with a group of ex-Reo personnel, Bill started to build trucks as a subsidiary of Form Rite in Charlotte, Michigan. A little over a year later, Bill, together with three (3) others, approached a group of Charlotte businessmen to back a small business loan to build Spartan Motors’ first plant building in Charlotte, Michigan. Bill would continue to build Spartan Motors through years of hard work, passion for the industry and perseverance serving as Vice-President and member of the Board of Directors for over 30 years.

Bill married Joan Westmoreland on June 17, 1967, at Emanual First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lansing, MI. Together they had two sons while living in Delta Township where Bill served on the Delta Township Fire Department. He held many ranks up to and including Assistant Chief before retiring from active fire service after 27 years. In 1982, the family moved to Grand Ledge, where he lived for the remainder of his life.

Bill was passionate about firetrucks, fire safety vehicles and training firefighters and mechanics within the fire industry. However, he was also passionate about his family and his personal relationships with everyone he met. He loved spending time with his family and friends at their cottage in Sault Ste. Marie, watching iron ore freighters. He loved traveling and would always find a fantastic place to get wonderful food from coast to coast. If he knew you were going on a trip, he might even suggest a restaurant to visit while you were gone and tell you exactly how to get there.

He was also passionate about sharing his knowledge with anyone interested in the fire industry. Even after 60 years, until he would be hospitalized for a blood clot in the fall of 2023, he could be found driving a fire truck chassis to a fire show, sitting on the bumper telling stories while greeting his friends and customers while updating them on the newest Spartan Motors products.

Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joan, their two sons James (Tammy) and Philip (Deborah), grandchildren Brooke (Rory), Joshua, Benjamin (fiancée Grace), Rebecca, Peter, Christopher, and Lynn, and great-granddaughter, Adelaide.

Christian funeral were held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Emanuel First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Interment will be in Delta Center Cemetery. His family received friends at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m., Monday, January 6, 2025, and also at the church 1-hour prior to the funeral service on Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to Emanuel First Ev. Lutheran Church Restoration Fund.

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Funeral Services:

Ellis J. Sanders was born in Eaton Rapids on November 9, 1932, and was the eldest son of John and Berthal Sanders. Surrounded by his loving family, he left this world to be reunited with his beloved wife Eva on January 13, 2025.

Ellis was a proud US Army veteran having served during the Korean War and earned the rank of Sergeant in the Army Corps of Engineers. While on leave, Ellis and Eva tied the knot on March 19, 1953, and were happily married for 68 years. Their marriage served as a shining example for everyone who knew them. Ellis worked at GM as a supervisor and retired in 1986. Friends and co-workers from GM will remember the annual pig roasts at their cottage in Walhalla, where there were good times, good food and lots of beer. After retirement, Ellis teamed up with his brother Norm to provide landscaping and lawn maintenance services to the community and helped with home remodeling and repair projects to those who needed a hand.

In his spare time, Ellis loved golfing with his buddies, meeting friends for coffee to solve the world’s problems and looked forward to deer hunting. A true sportsman and firearms expert, he bagged his last deer at the young age of 91. He would jump at the chance to travel to be with family or friends and cherished those special times at Tallman and Loon Lakes, trips to California, Florida, Arizona and around the globe. He was a prolific storyteller and was happy to share his knowledge and experiences. His family and friends will hold close to their hearts his words of wisdom.

Ellis is survived by his children, Steve (Ann) Sanders, Rick (Jackie) Sanders, Julie (Jim) Hannon. Ellis was very proud of his grandchildren; Allison (Josh) Hummel, Jessica (Erik) Smith, Kelsey (Aaron) Look, Zach (Kasidy) Hannon, Stephanie (Jimmy) Wood, Grant Sanders (Haley Standage) and Gabrielle (Tyler) Witte. These grandchildren gave him 11 wonderful great-grandchildren; Owen & Blake Smith, Eva and Sutton Hannon, Chloe and Dakota Look, Holden and Parker Hummel, and James, Brooklyn and Logan Wood. He is also survived by his brother Norm and sister Evelynn (Doug) Stall, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends.

A celebration of life is being planned for later this spring.

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Funeral Services:

Patsy Ann Hayhoe, of Eaton Rapids, MI, after a long and courageous battle against early-onset Alzheimer’s passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the age of 71. Patsy was born on October 16, 1953, in Charlotte, the beloved daughter of Harold and Barbara (Purdy) Gillett.

She grew up in Kinneville, just outside Eaton Rapids, and was a proud graduate of Eaton Rapids High School, Class of 1971. Patsy dedicated 39 years of her career to the State of Michigan, working for the Secretary of State’s office before retiring in 2016.

A woman of faith, Patsy was an active member of Mt. Hope Church in Lansing for many years. She had a passion for travel, with a special love for Walt Disney World, which she visited many times, San Diego, CA and for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, particularly Detour Village where she loved to spend time with her family at her beloved in-laws, Don and Dorene Hayhoe’s Cottage.

Patsy was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Barbara Gillett; her sisters, Darlene Romano and Sue Heaton; her granddaughter, Hannah Harris; her nephew, David Barres; and her father-in-law, Donavan Hayhoe.

She is lovingly remembered by her husband of 44 years, Doug Hayhoe; her children, Donavan (Clair) Hayhoe and Heather Harris; her cherished grandchildren, Kayla, Shyla, Tim, Victoria, and Corin; her siblings, Harold Gillett, Nina Barres, Marian Ward, and Robbin Gillett; mother-in-law, Dorene Hayhoe as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

At this time, no services are planned. To share memories or leave condolences, please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.

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Funeral Services:

Carol Ann Williams, 82, of Eaton Rapids, MI, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. She was born on August 2, 1942, in Corunna, MI, to Howard and Isabelle (Foster) Slaght. Carol spent her early years in Indian River, MI, before settling in Eaton Rapids, where she graduated with the class of 1960.

Carol dedicated more than 20 years to Eaton Rapids Public Schools, retiring as the secretary for the intermediate school. In her retirement, she remained deeply engaged with her community. She served as treasurer of the Eaton Rapids Historical Society, was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, BPW, Junior Women’s Club, and participated in a weekly golf league at Bonnie View Golf Course. Carol found joy in her monthly bridge gatherings and dedicated many years as a valued volunteer for the Eaton Rapids Township Elections. She cherished her coffee gatherings with high school friends, traveling with her beloved husband, Keith, and supporting her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews at their sporting events.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, her stepfather Floyd Ferris, and her sister Joyce Comer. She leaves behind her husband, Keith Williams; daughter Shawn Morgan; son Tony (Nicole) Williams; grandchildren Michael Morgan, Rachel Morgan, Keith Morgan, Hunter Williams, and Garrett Williams; sister Jacki Worden; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Chuck and Phyllis Williams; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. The family welcomed visitors on Monday, January 6, from 2:00–4:00 p.m. and 6:00–8:00 p.m., as well as one hour prior to the service on Tuesday.
Memorial contributions in Carol’s honor may be made to the Eaton Rapids Historical Society. To share memories or express condolences, please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.