Obituaries
Patricia Hartley
Patricia Anne Hartley passed away peacefully at the age of 87 on April 7, 2022, at Sparrow Hospice House in Lansing, MI, after losing her battle with Dementia. She was the seventh born out of nine children to William and Mary Diamond (Hough) on February 23, 1935, in Burgettstown, PA. The family moved to Michigan in 1947, when Pat was 12. She graduated from Handy High School – Bay City, MI in 1953, and began working at a magnesium plant. She also worked as a carhop at the A & W Restaurant, where she met her future husband, Bernie Hartley, the love of her life! They married on February 3, 1955, in Bay City. When Bernie got a job at Oldsmobile, they moved to Lansing. Together they raised three children, Mary, Patti and Bernie II. In 1978, they moved to Eaton Rapids, where they built their dream home. They renewed their vows in 2005, with a big wedding and celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on a Carribbean cruise with their whole family!
Pat was an amazing wife and mother who was so caring and loving. Her family meant everything to her. She was a homemaker first and foremost and an excellent cook that didn’t require a recipe. Many meals she prepared are still talked about today! As her kids grew up, became parents themselves, they realized looking back what a great mother they had been blessed with. In her later life, with the kids out of the house, Pat decided to get a job and hired in at the McDonalds in town, working with the other “seasoned” ladies on the breakfast shift. Those ladies “got the job done” and provided good food to the ER community. Pat enjoyed her time there and even continued working after Bernie retired. She made some wonderful friendships that lasted after she retired.
Pat enjoyed singing at the ER Senior Center during their monthly open-mike jam sessions, where she and Bernie sang many duets together. She also loved to dance, especially to her son’s band, Hidden Agenda, when they played at local establishments. The band dedicated many songs to her with her favorite being “Mustang Sally.” Such wonderful memories! Her hobbies included traveling, crossword puzzles, playing bingo and going to the casino. Pat and Bernie could be seen every Fourth of July, on the “Rocking Chair Deserters” float playing their music with the gang as they passed the crowds.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Albert, Kate, Del, Bill and May; infant daughter Kimberly, daughter Patti Vogel and grandson Jeffrey Hancock. She is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Bernie; siblings Dudy, Shirley and Grace; daughter Mary Hancock, son Bernie Hartley II (Michelle), son in law Todd Vogel (Barb), grand/great grandchildren Julee (Chris), Natalie, Nicholas, Jesse, Olivia, Ryan, Alex and several nieces and nephews.
No words can truly express the deep sorrow felt by her family with her passing. She was and always will be the mainstay of our family. Thank you so much to family and friends for your love and support during this difficult time. Special thanks to Jon at Skinner Funeral Home for making an uncomfortable situation much easier to handle and for all the extras you are doing to make the celebration of Pat’s life so very special!
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2022, with a visitation one hour prior to service, at Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Rapids Senior Center in memory of Patricia Hartley. To share memories or leave condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Daniel Geiger
Daniel Andrew Geiger, age 66, of Lansing, MI passed unexpectedly March 27, 2022, in Lansing. Dan was born June 27, 1955, in Lansing, to Jerome Edward and Myrna Louise (Leffel) Geiger. He married the love of his life, Vicki Sue (Copeland) Geiger in August of 1980 and had 42 wonderful years together. Dan worked for General Motors for 37 years retiring in 2016. He liked to work on cars; painting them was his specialty. He loved his granddaughters, his sons and his dog, Gizmo.
Daniel is survived by his wife, Vicki Sue (Copeland) Geiger; sons, Anthony Daniel (Candace) Geiger and Garret Andrew (Sarah) Geiger; granddaughters, Alexandra Avene Geiger and Lindsey Louise Geiger; brother, Lawrence Geiger; sisters, Nancy Ann Wood and Rosemary Jones; brother-in-law, Norman Graham. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Katherine Graham and Amy Geiger; special grandmother Hazel Angel.
A private family service will take place at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Capital Area Humane Society, www.cahs-lansing.org. Online condolences may be made at www.millsfuneral.com. The family is being served by the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel, 518 S. Main Street, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827.
Gerald Gill
Gerald Allen Gill of Eaton Rapids, MI passed away on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at the age of 67. Gerry was born on June 28, 1954, in Wayne, Michigan the son of Parnell and Jenny (Brown) Gill. He was raised in Wayne where he graduated from Wayne-Westland Community High School class of 1972. Gerry went to work for General Motors in Livonia before transferring to Lansing where he retired in 2006. He married Nancy House on October 30, 1992, and together they moved to Eaton Rapids in 1996. Gerry was passionate about golf and played in the Tuesday Golf League at Bonnie View Golf Course and on the Thursday Men’s League, traveling and playing numerous courses throughout the area. He was a talented woodworker and a friend to all who knew him. Gerry enjoyed family camping trips to northern Michigan and spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, stepfather, Ammon Lewis, mother, Jenny Lewis and siblings, Glenn Gill (Brenda Gill), James Lewis (Marlene Lewis), Billy Lewis and Tommy Martinez.
Gerry is survived by his wife, Nancy Gill; sons, Don Allen (Kelly) Gill, Steve Lawrence, James Lawrence, Derek (Cara) Lawrence; grandchildren, Kennedy Gill, Landon Gill, Deklan Lawrence, Keegan Lawrence, Natalie Lawrence, Naomi Lawrence, Jackson Lawrence, Lillith Lawrence, Ellarie Lawrence; siblings, Larry (Sandy) Martinez, Chris (Holly) Gill, Cheryl (Garry) McGuire, Donna (Mike) Patterson and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held later this summer at the family house. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in memory of Gerry. To share memories or leave condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com
Cynthia Hosack
Cynthia (Cindy) Ann Hosack, age 63, of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, is finally at rest after passing away in the comfort of her home on March 28, 2022. A celebration of Cindy’s life will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Vickers Springport Funeral Home, 121 Pearl Street/P.O. Box 235, Springport, MI 49284. 517-857-4848.
Janet Belle Dean
Janet Belle Dean, 81, of Charlotte, died Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Visitation 9-10 am Monday April 11 followed by graveside 10:30 a.m. at Millerburg Cemetery, Charlotte
Inez Gould
Inez (Farr) Gould, age 90 of Eaton Rapids, passed away April 4, 2022, at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born Aug. 16, 1931, in Charlotte, MI to Charles David and Jennyvee (Bodell) Farr. Inez graduated from Charlotte High School in 1949 and married the love of her life, Robert Lewis Gould, in 1948. She retired from the State of Michigan in 1982 and was a member of the Community Christian Church in Eaton Rapids. Her hobbies included swimming, sewing, gardening, embroidering, and quilting. Inez was what most would consider a Master Baker, everything from cake decorating, homemade bread, and her specialty was cookie making.
Inez is survived by her husband, Robert Lewis Gould; five children, Julie Ann ( Steven P. ) Sullivan of Eaton Rapids, Kathryn I. (Robert) Lau of Lakeview, Mischelle K. (Donald J.) Corbeil of Eaton Rapids, Robert M. ( Michelle A.) Gould of Eaton Rapids, Randall D. (Julie L.) Gould of Eaton Rapids; 13 grandchildren: Jennifer, Jill, John, Elizabeth, Zachary, Michael, Matthew, Marcus, Robert T., Rochelle, Randon, Daniel, and Amanda; 23 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, and 14 brothers and sisters.
Memorial services will be Saturday, April 16, 2022, at 2 p.m. at the Community Christian Church, 2487 South Michigan Road, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. The family is requesting all to wear pink to the service, which was Inez’s favorite color. Memorial donation may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Angel House, 830 Kerns Road, Mason, MI 48854. The family is being served by the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel, Eaton Rapids, MI. Online Condolences may be made at www.Millsfuneral.com.
Theresa O’Brien
Theresa Jean O’Brien was born June 2, 1946, in Pittsburg, Kansas. She was the firstborn child of Louis and Nell Jean Rogers. At the age of six, Louis passed away. A few years later Theresa’s stepfather Earl Mohney entered her life. Theresa grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the eldest of four children. In 1964 she graduated from Gull Lake Public Schools. Following graduation, she attended Parson’s Business School. During this time, she met the first love of her life, Lawrence Long. Lawrence and Theresa married in May 1966 at Sunnyside Methodist Church in Kalamazoo. Shortly after they married, they built a home in Portage, Michigan where they raised their three children. In addition to being a devoted mother and wife, Theresa worked part-time, continued her education, and became a licensed cosmetologist. She enjoyed working for many years at Professional Hair Design. Sadly, Lawrence passed away in 1999.
Theresa was lucky for the second time in her life to have found another wonderful man with whom to spend her remaining years. In 2004 she wed Danny O’Brien in Las Vegas, Nevada. Theresa and Danny spent their first ten years living a peaceful, quiet life in Walkerville, Michigan, but then moved to Charlotte, Michigan in 2016 to be closer to family and friends.
Theresa passed away peacefully at home on March 23, 2022, after bravely battling cancer for many years.
Theresa was blessed with many close friends, each one of them as dear to her as her family. She knew how to love deeply, laugh often, and lend a helping hand or listening ear if needed. She was fortunate to be able to spend a vast amount of time with her family and friends, traveling, bowling, golfing, and trying her luck at the casino. If you knew Theresa, you knew that one of her greatest traits was her sense of humor. Theresa had a sweet spirit and was just plain fun.
Theresa enjoyed cooking, especially desserts. She loved eating them and sharing even more. Theresa also had a special talent for sewing and knitting. She made many of her children’s clothes, Halloween costumes, quilts, Christmas tree skirts and stuffed animals. For the last several years of her life, she found solace in making stuffed animals to give to the local preschool children and knitting beautiful Christmas stockings which she enjoyed giving away as a gesture of kindness or in thanks for the many people who helped her with her health struggles.
Theresa was preceded in death by her first husband, Lawrence; and her parents, Louis Rogers, Nell Jean, and Earl Mohney. She is survived by her loving husband, Danny O’Brien; three brothers, Richard (Marcia) Rogers, Doug (June) Rogers and Steven (Kelly) Mohney; her two stepsisters, Diana (Frank) Hill, Marilyn (Bill) Dolan; her three children, Christine (Jim) Sonnevil, Carol (Matt) LaLonde and Greg (Shannon) Long; her stepson, Kyle O’Brien; six grandchildren, Zachary (Alyssa), Andrew and Joseph Sonnevil, Anna and Evan LaLonde, Becca (Adam) Boeving; two great-grandchildren, Addison and Cal; and several nieces and nephews.
Theresa’s family welcomes family and friends to join them in a celebration of her life from 3-6 p.m. on April 29, 2022, at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Burial & Cremation Services, 3926 South 9th Street, Kalamazoo MI 49009. A prayer and tribute to Theresa’s life will be made at 4:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. To view Theresa’s personalized web page, please visit www.langelands.com.
Keith Allen MacKenzie
Keith Allen MacKenzie, 75 of Vermontville, a man of integrity, faith in God, and love for his family, died April 7, 2022 at his home. Born on Halloween Day 1946 in Lansing, MI to Donald and Marion “Arvilla” (Peltier) MacKenzie, Keith always wondered if he was a trick or a treat. He once asked his mom, and she laughed so hard but never did give him a straight answer, however his family all knew he was a treat. Keith was the third of five children, and the only one of his siblings with a name that didn’t start with D. Apparently his name was supposed to be Dennis Allen MacKenzie, but when the nurse pointed out what the initials spelled, his mom promptly decided his name would be Keith.
Growing up on a farm, Keith learned about hard work and ways to be industrious. His first job, while he was still in high school, was helping to build homes. There were many skills he learned that Keith used his entire life, helping to build many houses, working on electrical, plumbing, roofing and other issues for friends and family. Keith was never too busy to help the people he cared about…except maybe during deer hunting season. He started working at Oldsmobile (later GM) and worked there for 35 years before retiring as a Quality Inspector. After retirement from GM he worked for Miars Electric for several years, working on projects such as the Eaton County Youth Facility, Meijer in Charlotte, and AL!VE, working circles around the younger men around him.
Keith met his high-school sweetheart and future wife, Kay Huber, one day while walking down the street with a friend. He saw her across the street and whistled (something we would never get away with today), and once they started talking fell in love. They married one year after high school graduation and have been together for 56 years, supporting each other through everything, including cancer diagnosis for both of them in 2021.
The biggest pride of his life was his children and grandchildren, he loved every chance he got to work with them, and teach them. Together Keith and Kirk did most of the work building Kirk’s dream home, and years later built a barn bigger than many people’s homes. When Kristine decided to tile the bathroom in Megan’s home, Keith was there to help guide her every step of the way, and did all the cutting of the tile while Kristine laid every piece. They enjoyed it so much they later did the tile in Kristine’s bathroom at home as well.
In the year 2020 when COVID closed everything down, Keith and Kirk worked together to accomplish many great things. They cut and stacked cords and cords of wood to keep their house warm in the winter, they built a garage and breezeway at Keith and Kay’s home so it would be easier for Kay to get to the car with her walker and more convenient to keep the car and the ranger so they could plow the driveway in the winter, and they constructed very elaborate hunting blinds that would make most deer hunters envious.
Love of family and faith in God were always the center of Keith’s world. Vacations always included family. There were annual fishing trips to northern Michigan or Canada in summers, deer camp at Baldwin in the fall for many years, bear hunting in the U.P., turkey hunting, and snowmobiling trips in the winter with lots of friends and family involved in every adventure. There were always big fish to be caught, but somehow Keith rarely caught them, it was always the kids when he would ask them to “hold” his fishing pole for a moment. There was a giant fish story in Canada though, and this one didn’t get away so there is picture proof of this 44” massive pike that pulled him around the lake in a canoe until he successfully landed it.
Keith is survived by his wife of 56 years, Kay; daughter, Kristine (Daniel) Sowles; son, Kirk MacKenzie; grandchildren, Carson (Amanda Webster) Ames, Jennelle MacKenzie Petras, Megan (Sam) Jordan, and Amanda (Mark) Wallis; great-grandchildren, Logan Ames, Mackenzie Petras, and Myah Wallis; brothers, Don MacKenzie, Doug (Judy)MacKenzie, and Den (Bonnie) MacKenzie; sister, Denice (Joe) Morgan; brothers-in-law, Jay Huber, John Huber, and Rick Churchill; sisters-in-law, Loretta (Jim) Holm, Valera (Mike) Lewis, and Lori (Mike) Rogers; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Arvilla MacKenzie; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Huber and Marilyn MacKenzie; and nephews, Mike MacKenzie and Brian MacKenzie.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate a life well lived by joining them at visitation and funeral services. Visitation is April 13, from 2-4:00 p.m. and 6-8:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, MI. Funeral Services are Thursday, April 14, at 2:00 p.m. at the South Cochran Church of God in Charlotte with Pastor Michael Rysko officiating. The funeral will be webcast on his tribute page at www.PrayFuneral.com, click on Keith’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone), and there will be a link for webcasting on this page. The family suggests memorial contributions to South Cochran Church of God, or Sparrow Herbert-Herman Cancer Center.
Everyone is invited to share memories of Keith on his tribute page at www.PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
Laura C. Berry
A memorial service for Laura C. Berry will be held at the Country Chapel Methodist Church in Dowling, Michigan on Thursday, April 21, 2022. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. and funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Following the memorial service, there will be procession to the Dowling Cemetery for a brief graveside service. A luncheon will be provided at the Church after the graveside service.
Contributions can be made in Laura’s memory to Eaton Community Palliative Care, 267 South Cochran, Charlotte, 48813.
Marilyn Monroe-Hart
Marilyn Monroe-Hart, 81, of Charlotte, a woman of keen intellect, creativity and spirit, died unexpectedly at her home on Sunday, January 23, 2022. Marilyn was born June 8, 1940, in Lansing, the daughter of James Henry and Florence Irene (Kirkwood) Mahan.
Marilyn is survived by family and many close and loving friends.
Marilyn’s memorial service will take place on April 16, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church in Charlotte. An interment service will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to GFWC Chorus, GFWC Helping Hands, and the Charlotte Community Library. Friends and family are also encouraged to share memories of Marilyn on her tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com.