Obituaries
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.
Richard Ralph Kenyon
Richard Ralph Kenyon, 80, of Charlotte, MI passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home on Sunday, January 1, 2023. Richard “Dick” was born May 31, 1942, in Glennie, Michigan, the son of William and Viola Minnie Martha (Moran) Kenyon. A few years after high school, Dick served in the United States Marine Corps as a radio telegraph operator. In June 1963, when he returned home on his first furlough, he married Nancy Marie Pakosz. They were married for 59 and a half years and raised three sons. Dick cherished time spent with his family and friends and enjoyed countless trips back to Glennie, MI, for family reunions, deer hunting and extended gatherings. He was a Diesel Mechanic for Penske Trucking, retiring after 28 years of service. A perfectionist at heart, Dick was always lending a helping hand and much needed advice on the family’s home and car projects. He was known to be meticulous in his work and enjoyed any challenge that was brought his way. He always seemed to have just what was needed to get the job done.
He is survived by his wife (Nancy Pakosz); three children Richard (Teresa Mauer), Roger (Lisa Laverty), Randy (Ondrea Job); five grandchildren Trevor (April Kammrath) Kenyon, Brittany Kenyon, Cameron (Lexie Nenortas) Kenyon, Lyle Kenyon, and Eli Kenyon. In addition, his siblings Delores (“Bake”) Papp, Don (Lois Krieg) Kenyon, Janet Walker, twin brother Robert (Catherine Sanborn) Kenyon with many wonderful nieces and nephews and countless lifelong friends. He is preceded in death by his parents William and Viola (Moran) Kenyon and siblings Russell, Max, and Melvin.
Friends are encouraged to support Richard’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com. The family will receive visitors from 1-2:30 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home on Friday, January 13, 2023. All are invited to stay for a Life Celebration service at 2:30 p.m. The memorial 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). The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Dennis J. Baker
Dennis J. Baker, PhD, 79, passed unexpectedly on December 18, 2022, at his home in Olivet, Michigan.
Dennis was born June 3, 1943, and was raised in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Dennis received his doctorate in Chemistry from the University of North Dakota. He taught chemistry for many years at Olivet College. After retiring, he stayed in Olivet. Dennis was always interested in the sciences.
Dennis is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Kathy and Mike Bricker of Fort Collins, Colorado. Dennis is predeceased by his parents, Francis, and Kathryn Baker, and by his little sister, Judy.
Dennis will be buried in the Olivet Cemetery. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.