Obituaries
Betty Jean Merrow
Betty Jean Merrow, 90, of Bluffton, South Carolina and formerly of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, passed away peacefully, Thursday, March 9, 2023, at her daughter’s home with her family by her side. She was born October 2, 1932, in St. Ignace, Michigan, daughter of Barney and Ollie (Stoll) McCuan. Betty is survived by daughters, Diane (Dennis Dull) Merrow of Bluffton, SC and Sharron (Doug) Mann of Islamorada, FL; grandchildren, Tasha McNerney, Matthew Dow, Christina Covell, Michelle Lape, Marie Dow, Aubrey Dull, and Nathan Dull; great grandchildren, Katelin Dow, Olivia Dow, Sabrina Dow, Kyle Bixby, Briana Bixby, Oliver McNerney, Alisyn Dow, Noah Dow, Baron Covell, Coral Covell, Brooke-lyn Kirsch, Grace Lape, and Lydia Lape; great-great granddaughter, Jupiter Milliron; brother, Billie McCuan of Springfield, MO; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dossie Merrow in 2013; grandson, Michael Dow in 2020; sister and brother in-law, Maxine and James Thompson; and in-laws, Gloria McCuan and Robert and Minne Merrow. A Funeral Mass for Betty was celebrated Thursday, March 23, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Beal City with Father Thomas Held as celebrant. Following Mass, Betty was laid to rest in Plains Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. On Friday, March 24, on what would have been the 72nd anniversary of her marriage to Doss, the family invited friends to a Celebration of Life Christmas Party and luncheon at 12 p.m. in Lincoln Reception Center, 2300 S. Lincoln Rd., Mt. Pleasant (attached to Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home). Betty’s request was to have a Christmas Party no matter what time of year it was to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Toys for Tots. To sign the online guest book or leave a condolence for the family please visit www.CharlesRLux.com.
Randall Gene Klink
Randall Gene Klink of Eaton Rapids, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends, March 9, 2023, at the age of 61. Randall was born in Merced CA, March 10, 1961, the son of William and Darlene (Higgins) Klink. He spent over 20 years working as the maintenance foreman at the VFW National Home for Children in Eaton Rapids. Randy loved cruising around in the car with the windows open, playing his favorite tunes on the radio and reminiscing about the good old days. He enjoyed watching the birds outdoors and growing plants which was a love that was nurtured as a young man on the family farm. More recently, he loved his “not so late night,” watching his sports, game shows and playing cribbage. Randy became a best friend to his grandchildren and the favorite Papa to the neighborhood children. All who knew Randy, knew him as the most kind-hearted, generous, positive, selfless, and hardworking man anyone would ever meet. Randy will also be remembered for the faith, peace, and hope he found in Christ. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Randy is survived by his daughters, Samantha (Ryan) Klink-Haindel of Onondaga, Autumn (Corey) Freeman of Springport, Ashley (Austin) Carmody of Lansing, Nicholas (Alexis) Turner of Eaton Rapids; honorary daughter, Jessica Shepard of Eaton Rapids; brothers, Mike (Beth) Klink of Middletown, CT, Jason (Amy) Garnsay of Eaton Rapids, Darrell Garnsay of Charlotte; sister, Dorothy Whitting of Springport; grandchildren, Britney, James, Aiden, Jeremiah, Haizy, Rayne, Dominic, Blake, Natalie, Bailee, Donovan and Everlei; nieces, Mistelle, Frankie; numerous great nieces, great nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; stepdaughter, Natasha Harrington; step-grandson, Dimitri Harrington; brothers, Rodney Klink, Bud and Curt Garnsay; sister, Sherry Klink; grandparents, Luman and Luella Klink, Elmer and Rachel Higgins.
Memorial services will be 12:00 p.m. Saturday, March 18, 2023, at the Eaton Rapids Community Christian Church, 2487 Michigan Rd., Eaton Rapids, MI 48827. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW National Home for Children. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel. To leave condolences for the family, please visit our website, www.millsfuneral.com.
Georgia Jean Feasel
Georgia Jean Feasel of Eaton Rapids, MI passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at the age of 85. Georgia was born on May 26, 1937, in Mason, MI the daughter of G.H. Foster and Lavonda (Raymond) Foster. She attended Dansville High School where she marched in the band as a majorette. Georgia married Richard Feasel on June 11, 1955. She worked as a nurse’s aide for the Mason hospital, and as a cook for Holley’s Bear Dean and most importantly as a mother and homemaker, raising her children and caring for her home. Georgia was a 4-H leader, member of the Goldwing Road Riders Association, and a volunteer aide for Eaton Rapids Public Schools and served as a foster home for the Animal Placement Bureau. She loved to travel with her husband, Richard and were able to see much of the United States and Canada from the back of their Goldwing Motorcycle. She also enjoyed riding and raising horses, painting, crafting, and racing open wheel sprint cars.
Georgia is preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister, Kay Kean and brother, Theodore Foster.
Surviving are her daughters, Annette (Robert) Adams, Terry (Win) Hobbs, Kathleen (David) Liepins; stepson, Charles Teague; grandchildren, Amber (Jason Church) Esterhai, Paris Hobbs, Kaiden Liepins; sister, Susan Bidelman and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 17, 2023, at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids chapel with visitation starting at 11:00 a.m. Following the graveside service at Rosehill Cemetery, the family hosted a luncheon at Eaton Rapids Community Christian Church, 2487 S. Michigan Rd., Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to Promedica Hospice or Wildside Rehabilitation in memory of Georgia. To share memories or leave online condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Ralph Edwin Griffus
Ralph Edwin Griffus, age 71, of Charlotte, passed away on March 4, 2023, after a long and hard-fought battle with cancer. In losing this earthly fight, he gained his Heavenly home. Ralph was born December 5, 1951, in Chesaning, Michigan, to Asa and Louise (Dingler) Griffus. He spent his growing up years in the same area and graduated from Chesaning High School with the class of ’70. On September 5, 1981, Ralph married Myra Brunt at the First Assembly of God Church in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Ralph worked at General Motors and retired after 30 years of faithful service. He kept busy in many different ways during his retirement years. He really enjoyed his stints of work for the Lansing Lugnuts and working at the MSU stadium. He was a huge MSU fan! One of Ralph’s hobbies was puzzles. He collected hundreds of large and difficult jigsaw puzzles and was known to stick with the puzzle he started until it was completely put together, even surprising his close friends with how quickly he accomplished the task. Ralph spent several years on the Board of Directors at the Charlotte Assembly of God Church. He was a faithful Christian who would do anything for anybody. Ralph was a family man and loved each and every one. The grandchildren knew they were special in their “Papa’s” eyes and that he loved them dearly.
Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Myra; children, Doug (Danielle) Griffus of Copemish, April (Alan) Landon of Charlotte, Ana Macomb of Arizona, Chris Griffus of Charlotte; grandchildren, Alyciana, Alexis, Bentley, Oakleigh, Deidric, Daden, Dixon, Demerle, and Callie; siblings, Marvin Griffus, Duane Griffus, Paulette (Larry) Zubek; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Melvin.
A celebration of Ralph’s life will take place on Friday, March 24, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. with Pastor Josh Goodman officiating at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home, 206 W. Lawrence Ave., Charlotte, MI. The family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. immediately prior to the service.
Those desiring to make a charitable contribution in Ralph’s honor may do so by donating to the charity of your choice.
To view Ralph’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 Lee Barth
Betty Lee Barth, 91 years of age, was called to heaven on the evening of Friday, March 3, 2023 after several years of battling cancer and always supported by her loving family.
Born on December 21, 1931, in Dundee, MI, she was the eldest of two daughters of Clarence and Ester Kraftchick. Betty and her mother were very gifted in playing piano and spent many hours playing and singing together. She also enjoyed singing in the choir. She graduated from Dundee High School in 1949, and the following fall she went on to Cosmetology School in Ann Arbor, MI where she earned her degree. She met her loving husband, Arthur Jr. Barth, who she later married on March 3, 1951. Betty enjoyed raising the animals and helping Art with the farm work; in addition to operating a beauty shop at their home. She was also a very successful and avid deer hunter. She later opened her own beauty shop, Betty Lee’s Hairstyles in Michigan Center, Mich., where she most appreciated the opportunity to meet new people and interact in their daily lives. Betty and Art enjoyed traveling the country in their RV, with a special fondness for northern Michigan. Her favorite pastimes were feeding and watching her hummingbirds, gardening, landscaping, working in her flower beds and making homemade German pretzels.
Waiting in heaven for Betty are her parents, Clarence and Ester Kraftchick: husband, Arthur Jr. Barth; and son, Doug Barth.
Living in loving memory of Betty are her sister, Ellen Kraftchick of Manchester, MI; two sons, Dale Barth (Tara) of Eaton Rapids, MI, and Jerry Barth (Jackie) of Onsted, MI; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services celebrating the life of Betty Lee Barth were held Friday, March 10, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. following visitation from 10–11 a.m., at Eineder Funeral Homes – Brooklyn Chapel. Interment was held Friday, March 10, 2023, at Norvell Cemetery, Norvell Township following the service. Charles Krugar and Anjil Tyler will be officiated.
The family would like to extend their extreme gratitude and thanks to Residential Hospice for their loving and compassionate care.
Memorial contributions in tribute to Betty’s life may be made to Residential Hospice.