Obituaries
Kathleen Dornan
Kathleen Dornan, 89, of Traverse City, joined her husband Victor Dornan in Heaven. He passed away in 2015.
Kathleen was born on September 15, 1935 to Gerald and Ina (Hoke) Shumaker in Vermontville. On June 14, 1952 she and Vic married, and they shared many wonderful times together.
For many years, Kathleen loved working in retail, first at Millikens and later at Pranges/Younkers.
She was a member of Living Hope Church in Traverse City. Her faith was always very important to her. She was passionate about her love for our Lord Jesus Christ. Her favorite scripture was Psalm 23, and it gave her great comfort in her final days.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Patrice; and siblings, Bob Shumaker, Gerald “Junior” Shumaker, Elaine Harmon, and Carol Ann Landes. She was also preceded in death by her little dog, Sophie, whom she loved very much.
She is survived by her children: Michael (Paula) of Louisiana, Gregory (Carol) of North Carolina, Victoria (Bruce) Brown of Traverse City, and Susan (Michael) Stacey of Mississippi; many grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
A private family graveside service will be held at a later date at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte.
Memorial contributions in her honor may be directed to Samaritans Purse. Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your memories with her family.
Charles Edward Hadley
Charles Edward Hadley, age 89, surrounded by his loving wife and children and the love of our Lord passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in Charlotte, Michigan. We were blessed that close family and friends were able to say good-bye during the two days before he passed. He was a wonderful son, brother, uncle, husband, father, grandfather and friend. Charles was born on September 17, 1935, in Lansing, Michigan to Daniel and Fern (Dorr) Hadley. He was the fourth child of six children. Charles married the love of his life, Beverly Jean Wright, on August 5, 1956, and they were married for 68 years and they had four loving children. Charles (Charlie) will be remembered for many things. Coming from meager beginnings, he began working as a produce manager at Maker’s IGA to learn the family skill of meat cutting. Charlie became the owner of his own corner store, the South End Grocery, in Charlotte, Michigan and at one time the Thriftway market in Mulliken. He taught his children and several young people the skill of responsibility and working with people. He also managed to purchase a farm and became a crop farmer and later owned a peat farm. Later in life he worked at General Motors for twenty years and retired. Charlie and Beverly moved to Zephyrhills, Florida where he learned to golf for the first time. They enjoyed being retired and returned to Michigan during the summers. He learned the love of fishing and hunting at an early age and it made him happy to share his knowledge and experiences with his children, grandchildren and many friends throughout his life.
Charles is survived by his wife of 68 years, Beverly Jean Hadley (Wright); four children Kim (Bud) Kruszka, Chuck (Tiva) Hadley, Sally (Rod) Magoon and Scott (Bonnie) Hadley. Charlie and Beverly have sixteen grandchildren, Charles (Chuckie) Edward Hadley III, Marshall Magoon, Jeremiah Hadley, Christopher (friend Tonya) Magoon, Jessica Hadley, Mitchell (Jen) Magoon, Tia (Ray) Armstrong, Ty (Brianna) Hadley, and Nikolaus (friend Eliza) Kruszka and Tim Lenhard, Samantha Dumond, Kaity Loveland, and Alex Cummings; thirteen great-grandchildren, Charles Edward Hadley IV, Olyvia Magoon, Annabelle Magoon, Brody Choinski, Harper Choinski, Maylee Hadley, Maddyn Hadley, Kollins Armstrong, Estin Hadley, Emily Lenhard, Maddie Armstrong, Noah Armstrong, and Ilitah Simmons; five great-great-grandchildren, Alaric, Malikye, Novaleigh, Delylah and Genicys, and children Sophia and Manoah.
He is also survived by his brother, David Hadley; sisters-in-law, Janet Bryner and Sally Buckley; brother-in-law, Richard Phelan; and many loved nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Fern Hadley; brothers, Daniel Hadley, Clarence (Bill) Hadley; sisters, Barbara Corrigan and Carol (Dee-Dee) Phelan; sisters-in-law, Arlene Hadley, Joyce Hadley, Mary Hadley; and brothers-in-law, Chuck Corrigan, Roger Bryner, and Dick Buckley; and his three grandchildren, Charles (Chuckie) Hadley III, Jeremiah Hadley and Charles Edward Hadley IV.
He is also remembered by special friends, Robert and Diane Lake, Randy Grundstrom, and Steve (Ted) Dotts. Special thanks to cousins, Dick and Linda Balzer who tended to their care while in Florida.
Friends are encouraged to support Charles’ family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was from 2–5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte. Funeral services were at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 25 at Pray Funeral Home with grandson, Ty Hadley, officiating. Interment will take place at Deepdale Memorial Gardens in Lansing with a luncheon to follow. 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 Charles’ tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Larry Earl Walker
Larry Earl Walker, 81, a kind-hearted “strong man” of deep love for his family, died peacefully at his home on Thursday, November 21, 2024. Larry was born November 17, 1943, in Lansing, the son of Earl and Leona (Smurr) Walker. He graduated from Charlotte High School in the class of 1961 and shortly after married the love of his life, Roxanne Pruden on August 10, 1963. He worked many years at GM, retiring in 1995, but farming was his lifelong passion, which he did right alongside his family until his retirement in 2002, when he slowed down only slightly. Larry and Roxanne worked hard, but they played hard, too.
Every summer holiday weekend, they hosted a huge campout with friends and family at the park they worked hard on at the back of the farm. Larry and his grandsons eventually even built a small log cabin shed on the property. Larry’s grandchildren were his world. He loved time spent with them, especially outdoors working, cane pole fishing, or on trips up North riding dirt bikes. His grandkids will remember him as a soft-spoken “super grampa” who attended all their sporting events and made sure to make a big family dinner for them each and every Sunday. No one left Larry and Rock’s house hungry. Larry lived his life by the Golden Rule – “treat others as you would want to be treated.”
Larry is survived by his son, Chad (Carolyn) Walker; grandsons, Benjamin (Lindsey) Walker and Christopher (Alexa) Walker; seven great-grandchildren, Jetzen, Dawszen, Ellyszen, Boszen, Hutzen, River Roxanne, and Ember Lynn; and several nieces and nephews and extended family. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Roxanne; their daughter, Trina; and his sisters, Donna Johnson, Joyce Johnson, and Shirley Van Auken.
Friends are encouraged to support Larry’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. followed by a reception 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 1, 2024 at Hidden Creek Farms, 2181 E. Vermontville Hwy., Charlotte, MI. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Elara Caring Hospice in lieu of flowers. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Daniel W. Bargy
Daniel W. Bargy, 63, a generous man with a big heart, died unexpectedly at his home in Brighton on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. Dan was born May 15, 1961, in Lansing, the son of Donald Wellington and Dorothy (Walker) Bargy. He graduated from Potterville High School in 1979 before earning a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. Dan started his career during his high school years working co-op for the State of Michigan Driver’s License Bureau. His first full-time job with the Defense Department in Grand Rapids only briefly held his interest before he moved into internal auditing for several organizations throughout the years, including Michigan National Bank, Domino’s Pizza, American Community, Tecumseh Products, the Teamsters, and most recently the Detroit VA, where he retired from a few years ago.
Dan was a proud member of the Potterville Masonic Lodge and the First Presbyterian Church of Brighton. He was an active member of his neighborhood and both the communities of Brighton and Potterville. Dan’s generous nature led him to constantly be looking out for others, whether it be bringing meals or offering thoughtful gifts or flowers to friends and family. He had a special place in his heart for cats. He housed several rescues throughout the years, took in his mother’s cat after she passed, and loved his three fur babies, Annabelle, Leah, and Freddie as if they were his children. Above all, Dan loved his family. Dan, also, had a love for collecting antiques and reselling them at his three antique mall locations.
Dan is survived by his sister, Debra (Terry) Shaver of Charlotte; niece April (Zachary) Dillinger of Charlotte; nephew, Andrew (Kaleigh) Shaver of Eaton Rapids; great-nieces and nephew, Abigail Dillinger of Charlotte, Noah, Clementine, and Terri-Anne Shaver of Eaton Rapids; his beloved cats; and a host of close friends and colleagues. He was predeceased by his parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Dan’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was on Monday, November 25, 2024, from 3–5:00 p.m. and 7:30 – 9:00 p.m., with a Masonic Service at 7:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte. Funeral services were at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church of Brighton with Pastor Scott Phillips officiating. Interment will take place at 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 Dan’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 Eaton County Humane Society or Michigan Humane – Livingston County. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Richard Carl Wood Jr.
Richard Carl Wood Jr., 68, of Charlotte, Michigan, passed away on November 21, 2024. Richard was born November 14, 1956.
A celebration of life is being planned for a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Vickers Springport Funeral Home, 121 Pearl Street/PO Box 235, Springport, MI 49284. 517-857-4848.