Obituaries
Jan McRee
Jan McRee of Eaton Rapids, entered life eternal peacefully on December 19, 2022, at the age of 91 in Eaton Rapids where she was a resident for the last 65 years. She was the loving wife of Edward B. McRee who preceded her in death. They were married for 64 years. Born Janice Bryant on September 30, 1931, in Liberal, Kansas. Jan was raised in Blackwell, Oklahoma, and graduated from Blackwell High School in 1949, where her mother was also her High School Music Teacher, and her choir director at their local Methodist Church. Jan attended Oklahoma City University (OCU) where she received a bachelor’s degree in Music and received numerous honors for both piano and vocal music. She was the president of her local sorority chapter of Gamma Phi Beta and she remained devoted to her High School, OCU, and her sorority until her death. Jan was a prominent figure within the Eaton Rapids Community serving as a private piano and vocal teacher, a choir director at the First United Methodist Church for over fifty years, the director of the Eaton Rapids Women’s Chorus for over twenty years and a local music teacher within the Eaton Rapids School system. She was the co-owner of the interior decorating business, “Partner’s Interiors” of Eaton Rapids and provided a weekly column in the Eaton Rapids “Flashes” called “Assets in our Community” which provided opportunities for students of all ages to “Strut Their Stuff.” She always sought to find the best in people and was enormously devoted to the goodness in people. Jan loved music, art and touched numerous lives through her teaching, Christian witness, and devotion to the Eaton Rapids Community. She was enormously proud of the trees planted along Main Street in Eaton Rapids which through her leadership were funded by the ER Women’s Chorus along with the Baldwin grand piano given to the Eaton Rapids High School. On the Wednesday preceding her death, she was observed singing all the words to all of the Christmas songs at the Island City Assisted Living Center’s weekly sing along. A wonderful ending to a life that for her, was always a beautiful song. Jan was a devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and friend who made lasting impressions upon her family and will be sorely missed.
Jan is also preceded in death by her parents, Harold Leroy and Maude Leah (Duffy) Bryant; brother, John Barth Bryant, and her son, Kent Edward McRee. She is survived by her two sons, Scott McRee of East Lansing, and Chad (Julie) McRee of Aledo, Texas; grandchildren, Micaela Elizabeth (Jake) McRee Massacci of Aledo, Texas, Meaghan Leah (Jacob) McRee Talley of Kernersville, NC; great grandchildren, Ava Massacci and AJ Massacci also of Aledo, Texas and Emmalynn Anne Talley of Kernersville, North Carolina.
Funeral services will be held in honor of Jan at the First United Methodist Church of Eaton Rapids Michigan on January 28, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. with interment following in Rosehill Cemetery, to be buried next to her loving husband, Ed and her son, Kent. Visitation will take place at the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel Friday from 6-8 p.m. and at the church Saturday from 10-11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 600 S. Main St., Eaton Rapids, MI 48827. To leave condolences for the family please visit our website, www.millsfuneral.com.
Debra Sue Forist
Debra Sue Forist, age 54, of Eaton Rapids, MI passed away tragically on Thursday, December 29, 2022, as the result of an automobile accident. Debra was born on March 19, 1968, in Eaton Rapids, MI the daughter of Charles (Rosetta) McCarrick and Marjorie (William) Hartel (Burns). She was raised in Eaton Rapids where she attended school and was currently employed as a Health Unit Coordinator for Sparrow Hospital. Debra loved traveling and taking family vacations. Some of her favorite places to visit were Las Vegas and Tennessee. She was extremely compassionate to others and served as a caregiver and great friend to her uncle, Dave for the past 20 years. Her greatest joy in life was her family and she cherished the time she spent watching her children and grandchildren compete in their sporting events. Debra was an avid shopper and enjoyed buying abandoned storage units where she turned her hobby into a successful side business, selling her items on Facebook Marketplace. Debra had a great love for owls, dancing, music and especially enjoyed Michael Kors and Snoop Dogg.
Debra is survived by her children, Joe (Kyla) McCarrick, Jessica (Justin) Gardner, Brittaney (Rob Bancroft) Treve, Brandon (Brianna) Forist; grandchildren, Landin and Maverick McCarrick, Talan and Willow Gardner, Jada Esman; brother, Greg (Emily) McCarrick; sisters, Julie (Ken) Locke, Kathy (Dan) Curtis, Georgia (Steven) Keller, Crystal (Eric) Woodman; stepfather, William Hartel; stepmother, Rosetta McCarrick; uncle, Dave Burns and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids chapel. The family received friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, and one hour prior to the service on Thursday. For those desiring memorial contributions may be made to the family of Debra Forist. To share memories or leave online condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Richard James Johnson
Richard James Johnson, 92, of Charlotte, passed away on December 31, 2022. He was born in rural Eaton County on June 5, 1930, to Leonard and Isabell (LaBare) Johnson. He had two brothers, Leonard Johnson Jr. and Casey Johnson, and two sisters, Peggy Moon and Pat Langmaack. He graduated from Olivet High School in 1947. Dick left the family farm and began working at Aluminum Extrusions, working there for 42 years until its closing. He worked at several golf courses mowing their greens. He met his wife to be, Marilyn Upright, at a barn dance and married her in 1948. Together they raised three children, Rick, Kurt and Judy. Dick in his early years, enjoyed hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. In his later years, he enjoyed playing golf and reading. He looked forwarded to his summers at Horsehead Lake and his winters in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Dick is survived by his children, Rick (Mary Jo) Johnson, Kurt (Joyce) Johnson, and Judy (Becky Mudd) Johnson; grandchildren, Erin (Brad) Wood, Mallory (Drew) Sestic, Justine (Rob) Kramer and Russell (Lisa) Johnson; eight great grandchildren; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews and extended family. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Island City Assisted Living for their excellent care over the past two years.
Friends are encouraged to support Richard’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte with Laura Cooper officiating. Visitation will be from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. just prior to the service on Saturday. Interment will take place at West Carmel Cemetery. 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 Richard’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 Charlotte Public Library for use in purchasing large print books. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Gary Lee Copenhaver
Gary Lee Copenhaver, 73, of Charlotte, currently living in Lake Park, Georgia, an avid outdoorsman, passed away on December 28, 2022. Gary was born December 9, 1949, in Lansing, Michigan to Gerald and Arlene (Parks) Copenhaver, although he was born 40 years too late, it is said he died right on time. He started work at Bracy’s Gulf Station in Charlotte, then began working at Oldsmobile (later General Motors). During this time, he enlisted in the Marines during Vietnam. After proudly serving his country, he returned home and worked for Oldsmobile until his retirement in 1998. While he had many hobbies, his favorites kept him outdoors as a master gardener, as well as hunting, fishing, trapping, and dog trainer with the best trained hunting dogs. He also enjoyed sharing a good joke, genealogy (serving as his family’s historian), collecting stamps, coins, serving as a scout leader, along with many other hobbies.
Gary is survived by his children, Troy (Patricia) Copenhaver, Lenard (Jody Nail) Copenhaver, and Wendy (Dave Skidmore) Copenhaver; grandchildren Troy II (Raquel), Victoria (Zach), Austin, Katie, Laci, Amanda (Tim), Levi (Kaeleigh), Erica, Neva, Troy Jr., Megan, and Kassidy; along with seven great-grandchildren; and sister, Sue (Marty) Latchaw. He was preceded in death by his wife of 28 years, Neva in 1995; his parents; and his mother-in-law, Virginia Jones.
Friends are encouraged to support Gary’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was Sunday, January 1, 2023 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, MI. Funeral services were Monday at Pray Funeral Home with Pastor Charles Jenson officiating. 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 Gary’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 a Veteran’s Hospital. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Richard Vernon Gainey-Generou
Rick left his life on earth in the presence of his loved ones on December 16, 2022, at the age of 52. His life began on March 11, 1970. He was born in Newberry Michigan. His mother, Karen Gainey, did not raise him after he was nine months old. He was raised by his great uncle “Pug” Vernon Generou, a single man who officially adopted Rick when he was 6 years old. Rick often joked that he then became his own uncle.
Rick was very interested in books and reading at an early age. He read Moby Dick and other classics when he was only six years old. His love for reading remained with him throughout life. He was also very industrious as a kid growing up in the UP, shoveling roof tops and driveways, cutting firewood and delivering the Grit newspaper. Rick attended Newberry High School where he played football and graduated in 1988. After his dad’s passing, Rick moved down state and worked doing asbestos abatement. From then, he worked for Horizon Cable, installing cable and doing cable mapping, which gave him opportunities to travel. After that he worked for Haney Concrete pouring concrete. For a time, he worked for Tyco Electronics. Then Rick moved on to working as a cook at Joes Gizzard City, where he had the opportunity to meet Guy Fieri from the Food Network when they were there to make their T.V. Show. Rick loved to cook and was creative with a deep fryer making things like scotch eggs and deep-fried Twinkie’s. Rick also worked at the Eaton Pub as a bartender. He had a great sense of humor and Rick loved to make people laugh. He was very funny and even tried stand-up comedy. He always loved music and learned to play the guitar with his best friend, John Steward many years ago. He was in the band “Quitin Time” with his friends including John Steward. Rick also worked at Meridian in Eaton Rapids and Kish Industries in Charlotte. He later did small engine repairs privately. He enjoyed rebuilding motor bikes and biking and remote-control cars. Rick especially loved children and had a way with them and wanted to impart knowledge and help them. Rick was an outdoorsy person and loved fishing and hunting for food as well as foraging. He also loved animals of all kinds and was able to make friends with them easily. Rick is survived by his girlfriend, Brenda Moulton; his half-brother, Leonard Generou; several cousins, nieces and nephews and many friends. He was preceded in death by his dad, Vernon “Pug” Generou; his mother, Karen Gainey; his half-brother, Sam Maddox; and recently by his longtime friend, John Steward. Rick was extremely generous and helped many people in their time of need and he shared what he had with others. He will be missed.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Richard Generou at the Eaton Pub and Grille on January 14, 2023, at 2 p.m. Memorial services will be held at McMillan Michigan Township Hall at noon on June 3, 2023. Contributions can be made in memory of Rick to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.