Obituaries
Ray Lawrence
Ray Lawrence of Charlotte, Michigan, departed his life on earth on January 10, 2023, surrounded by his loved ones. His life on earth began November 18, 1934, in Miami, Florida. Ray and his three siblings were born to parents who moved frequently, living in thirteen different cities during his childhood. He attended college in Arkansas and dedicated his life to the ministry. His commitment to youth developed in college and continued as he moved west to Arizona with his former wife, Betty. Ray was instrumental in establishing the Little League program in Kingman, Arizona before moving to Charlotte, Michigan. Many of you will remember Ray’s involvement in youth sports having seen him referee basketball, baseball, and football games in mid-Michigan. Ray took great joy in working and maintaining a small farm. You probably saw Ray work the garden stand on M-50 over the years. Ray loved this farm and the interaction it brought with the people in the Charlotte community. He loved his life to the fullest and brought much joy to his children and family.
Ray is survived by his wife, Martha (Sederlund); his seven children, Susan (Jay) Chan of Kingman, AZ, Sharon Lawrence of Loveland, CO, Stephen (Danna) Lawrence of Phoenix, AZ, Scott Lawrence of Kingman, AZ, Sheila (Greg) Morley of Spokane, WA, Liz (Peter) Simons of Gilbert, AZ, and Brian (Sunita) Rowe of Gilbert, AZ. Ray was blessed with nineteen grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren who were a big part of his life.
Ray was preceded in death by his three siblings, one sister- in-law, and one brother-in-law.
Special thanks to Sparrow Medical and Hospice for their amazing care and compassion over the years, and many thanks to the friends and neighbors who helped support us over the years.
A memorial service will be in Ray’s honor will be held at a later date.
To view Ray’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.
Janice May Milbourn
Janice May (Horton) Milbourn of Eaton Rapids, passed away January 5, 2023, at the age of 78. Jan was born in Flint, MI, May 12, 1944, the daughter of Donald and Rebecca (Mead) Horton. She retired from the Holt School District as an administrator in charge of attendance and discipline, retiring her hat in 2000 after 30 years. Jan attended the First United Methodist Church and was a member of the United Methodist Women. She loved crafting, her flower garden, golfing, reading and absolutely loved being with her entire family. Jan was a very kind and giving lady that treated people, especially her family with great love and respect. She will be sorely missed by so many.
Jan is survived by her daughters, Michelle (Troy) Tucker of Holt, Kimberly (Monte) Gleason of AL, Kelly (Todd Bradley) Ballor of Eaton Rapids, Traci (Brian) Gearhart of Eaton Rapids; son, Mark (Holly) Milbourn of Holt; grandchildren, Jessica (Larry), Rebecca (Robert), Samantha (Nick), Chelsea (Cody), Alexandria, Emeleigh (Kelso), Zackary (Chrissy), Matthew, Cooper and Carson; great grandchildren, ReShelle, Raymin , Madison, Mackenzie, Robbie, Larry, Dominic, Aalayah, Georgie Kate, Riley Jo, Macki Nicole, Casey, and baby Ross; brother, Bruce (Mary Eva) Horton of MO. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Herbert Milbourn; brother, Keith Horton and her dog, Sophia Sue.
Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Sunday, January 8, 2023, at the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW National Home for Children, Make a Wish Foundation or the Wounded Warrior Project. To leave condolences for the family please visit our website, www.millsfuneral.com.
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.