Obituaries
Mandy Marie Norris
Mandy Marie Norris, age 46 of Charlotte, passed away at home surrounded by those she loved most on Thursday, April 27, 2023, after a long and courageously fought battle with cancer. Mandy was born to Toby and Cindy Burnett on May 10, 1976. She graduated from Olivet High School with the class of ’94. Mandy married Chester Norris on August 9, 2008. They were anticipating celebrating their 15th anniversary in just a few months.
Mandy was a loving person in the fullest sense of the word. She absolutely adored all children. For many years, she ran a daycare business in her own home. As those children have grown older and into adulthood, they still kept in touch with her. Mandy loved to bake and decorate cakes for “her children’s” birthdays. She was a huge animal lover also. She was fond of her flock of chickens, her peacocks, her cats, and her dog. Since childhood, Mandy has been an avid collector of all things Mickey Mouse. She loved to display her vast collection of Mickey Mouse memorabilia. Yet another of Mandy’s loves were her flowers. She kept a beautiful flower garden and meticulous yard that elicited comments from her neighbors every summer. While we feel that she has gone on before us too soon, we are comforted by her love and knowing that she is at rest and reunited with her grandparents, whom she loved dearly. Mandy will be severely missed by her family, her nieces and nephews, her uncles and aunts, and her close friends.
Those surviving her are her husband, Chester Norris; her parents, Toby and Cindy Burnett of Charlotte; mother-in-law, Linda Norris of Charlotte; sister, Amy Jo (Darrin) Hamman, Cave Creek, Arizona; and numerous nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Those preceding her in death are her grandparents, Jack and Ila Burnett, Lawrence and Charlene Murphy; and her grandparents-in-law, LeRoy and Betty Norris.
In keeping with Mandy’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
Those desiring may make contributions in Mandy’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.
To view Mandy’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.
Rebecca Pauline Brunton
Rebecca (Becky) Pauline Brunton, age 81, of Eaton Rapids, Michigan was born February 21, 1942 in Three Rivers, Michigan, the eighth child of Dale LeRoy and Vera Gladys (Sprague) Thompson. She entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, April 27, 2023. She married Robert Payne Brunton on July 27, 1963. Becky was preceded in death by her parents and also brothers and sisters Wilbur (Bill) Dale 1920-1937, Robert (Bob) LeRoy 1921-2004, Sylvia Beryl Jenkins 1923-1999, Bonita (Bonnie) Jenkins 1926-2010, Bruce Arthur 1928-1992, Berwyn Recus 1930-2002, and Beatrice Marilyn Quade 1932-2022. She is survived by her husband Robert (Bob) Brunton, to whom she was married for 59 years, and 19 of her 24 nieces and nephews.
She graduated from high school in Beloit, Wisconsin in 1959. She attended Taylor University in Upland, Indiana transferring to Michigan State University in 1963, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She taught in the Eaton Rapids and Lansing public school systems and then joined the music faculty of the Michigan School for the Blind where she taught piano, voice, and led the school’s orchestra and chorus. In 1979, she and her husband began a national music ministry. During their 35 years of ministry, they recorded 13 albums, produced a songbook of their own compositions, and presented concerts in all but 5 of the contiguous 48 states and traveled over 1.7 million road miles. Retiring in December of 2014, she continued to use her talents in the music program of her home church.
In 1946, Becky’s dad was transferred with his company, Fairbanks Morse Inc. to Beloit, Wisconsin, where she grew up involved in the music programs of People’s Church. She also played violin and viola in the Beloit High School Orchestra and the Beloit Civic Symphony. Her public music career began at the age of three when she sang Silent Night as a solo for a Christmas program at her church. She started piano lessons with her mother at age 4 ½ and continued until enrolling at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana in 1959. During high school, she became active in the Beloit Youth for Christ program and that led to an invitation to join the touring musical group called The Spurrlows in 1962. It was during this tour that she met Bob. They were married on July 27, 1963. Bob and Becky felt “called” to begin a national music ministry and on April 1, 1979, they began presenting musical concerts, touring throughout the United States and beyond its borders.
A memorial service will be at South Church, 5250 Cornerstone Dr. Lansing, MI on May 13, 2023, at 11 a.m. with visitation in the Commons, beginning at 9 a.m. for family and 10 a.m. for everyone. Contributions in memory of Becky Brunton may be made to South Church, 5250 Cornerstone Dr. Lansing, MI 48917 or Heart to Heart Hospice, 2260 E. Saginaw St. East Lansing, MI 48823. The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Ball-Dunn Chapel.
Cameron Alexander Ashley
Cameron Alexander Ashley, a kind hearted son, brother, grandson, and friend, died unexpectedly on Sunday, April 30, 2023. Cameron 31, of Bellevue, was born February 5, 1992, in Battle Creek the son of Wendall Ashley and Lisa Shilling. He graduated from Charlotte High School in the class of 2010, and after attended trade school. Cameron worked as a welder which he enjoyed. Many who knew Cameron will remember the smile that he always had, his kind heart, and being fearless. He was a member of the Shorthorn Association, where he won Beef Expo as well as a Grand Champion Showman. One of his biggest passions in life were his cattle and the time he spent showing them. The competitiveness did not stop there, Cameron was also an avid Archer. He shot competitive skeet, trap, 3D archery, and target. Lastly, he enjoyed racing dirt bikes. Above all everyone will remember Cameron for his loving heart and always being there for those in need.
Cameron is survived by his mother, Lisa (Jim) Shilling; father, Wendall (Amy) Ashley IV; siblings, Crystal (Joseph Simonetti) Ashley, Eric (Chelsey) Shilling, and Amanda (Anthony) Giraldi; grandparents, Wendall and Andrea Ashley, Elbert and Bessie Keehne; nieces and nephew, Paisley, Elizabeth, Penelope, Vivianne, and Lennox; and numerous aunts and uncles. He was predeceased by his grandmother, Sandra Ashley.
Friends are encouraged to support Cameron’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. A Celebration of Life for Cameron will be held at Kardel Hall on Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 4-7:00 p.m. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to The Epilepsy Foundation. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Charles Lewis Filbert
Charles Lewis “Chuck” Filbert, of Charlotte, MI, a man with a great sense of humor who could laugh at most anything, died Thursday, October 27, 2022, at the age of 86. He was born July 17, 1936, in Forman, North Dakota, the son of John and Edna Filbert. Chuck’s family moved to Michigan when he was only nine months old. In 1955, Chuck graduated from Charlotte High School. He served his country in the U.S. Army and was proud to be a veteran. On July 13, 1958, he married the love of his life, Glenda Stadel.
For many years, Chuck was a dairy farmer and contractor. He built and remodeled houses in the Charlotte area for many years. Chuck was a person who could fix most anything. If anything broke, his mantra was, “I’ll take care of it,” and he did. He and Glenda always did things together, they were inseparable. They enjoyed many things together, including riding motorcycles through the countryside, making trips as far as Sandusky and Traverse City. Glenda fondly remembers their fishing trips in the Canadian wilderness with friends. Chuck and Glenda were snowbirds to Florida and due to health problems had recently been living full-time in Zephyrhills.
Chuck is survived by his wife of 64 years, Glenda; brother-in-law, Dick Stadel; sister, Donna Tellas; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by their three sons, Tim, Mark and Chris; his parents, John and Edna; and two sisters, Dorothy and Evelyn.
Memorial services for Chuck will be conducted at the Center Eaton Community Center, 2173 Narrow Lake Rd., Charlotte, Michigan, on Thursday, May 18, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation just prior from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Friends are encouraged to support Chuck’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association. His family is being served by Pray Funeral Home of Charlotte.
Jeanette Jean Boyer
Jeannette Jean (Morales) Boyer was born on January 19, 1946 in Charlotte, Michigan to Luterio and Bessie (Harmon) Morales. She grew up in Charlotte, where she met her husband, Joe. In 1973, they moved their family to Sunfield, Michigan. Over the years, Jean worked at Fisher Body, welcomed daycare children into her home and decorated cakes, both for work and at home. The most important thing in Jean’s life was her family. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jean was a fan of 50s-60s and country music. She enjoyed her Shirley Temple movies and at Christmas time, she would settle in for a Hallmark movie at night. She also spent countless hours in the kitchen over the years, cooking and baking in restaurants as well as for her family.
Jean is survived by her children: Jorum Boyer Jr., Phillip (Debora) Boyer, Jeannette (Dean (deceased)) Spitzley, Kenneth Boyer, Charles (Ann) Boyer, Jessica (Justin) Garvie, and loving daughter-in-law, Chris (Luterio (deceased)) Boyer. She is also survived by her 19 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, five brothers and one sister, as well as a large extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joe; son, Luterio; granddaughter, Elizabeth; son-in-law, Dean; and brothers, Rodney and Phillip.
Jean was very loved and will be missed very much.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 Noon on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the Sunfield United Brethren Church, with a luncheon to follow at 12 Noon.
For those wishing, contributions may be made to the Kidney Foundation (kidney.org).
Please visit a web page designed especially for Jeannette, to light a candle or leave a condolence at www.RosierFuneralHome.com. The family is being served by the Independent Family-Owned Funeral Home in Sunfield: Rosier Burial & Cremation Services.