Obituaries
Ortha M. Smith
Ortha Marlene Smith, 89 of Charlotte died with her family by her side on December 28th 2021. Ortha was born on August 2 1932, daughter of Earl & Vera Carmoney in Charlotte at a family home. She attended needmore country school and then continued her education at Charlotte High School. Shortly after she turned 18, Ortha married Ivan Smith. She started working in the restaurant business, including her own “Rainbows End” in Potterville and cooking for a gold mine in Alaska. She always made sure anyone or anything that would eat was fed, and fed well! Ortha had also ran her own cleaning company for awhile, “Let Us Do it”. She always was wanting whatever was best for the kids. As she said “it’s all about the kids”. Ortha loved all children and fostered many in her younger years as well. Ortha had an exceptional way of making everyone feel special and welcomed. Not many came by without giving up a hug. She especially loved children and her K-9 family. She always excepted everyone as they are and has always been known for her wit and sass.
Ortha is predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Ivan Smith of Charlotte, siblings, Yvonne, Lavora, Mattie, George and her parents. She is survived by daughters, Lisa (Mike) Brady, Marlene (Bob) Hunt, Andrea (Ken) Symonds, all of Charlotte. Grandchildren, Trina (Greg) Powers, Mitchell (Alli) Brady, Neisha (Blake) Ried, Cameron Montegue, Cyler and Kenneth Symonds and Travis Hunt. And a handful of special great grandchildren, Kylee, Austin, Joe and Zach. The family will have a celebration of life at a further date with family and friends.
Esther L. Clark
Esther Lucile (Greenfield, Smith) Clark of Battle Creek passed away on December 31, 2021 at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital.
Esther was born April 16, 1926 at home in Eaton County to Ralph and Ethelyn (Cook) Greenfield. She graduated from Bellevue High School in 1944 and married Delton E. Smith in 1945. They raised three daughters together until his passing in 1963. In 1966, she married Harry R. Clark, who brought two sons to the family. They resided in Banfield until Harry’s death in 2011.
Esther worked as a typesetter at the Bellevue Gazette and at Security National Bank in Bellevue, but most of her life was spent at home as a wife and mother. Esther’s motto was “Bloom where you are planted”.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, brothers Gary and Donald Greenfield; sisters Gladys Greenfield and Ruth Allerding and grandson Patrick Clark.
She is survived by her siblings, Alice Fager of Waterdown, Ontario; Phyllis Whitcomb of Nashville; Mary (Arnie Diehl) Barrick of Nashville; and Linda (Jack) Willison of Bellevue; her daughters Gloria (Larry) Porter of Hastings; Julie (John Stracey) Norton of Harbor Springs; Diana Avery of Battle Creek; and stepsons David (Bonnie) Clark of Richland and Tim Clark of Kaukauna, WI. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Sean (Jennie) Korloch of Dowling; Tami (Mark Dickinson) of Charlotte; Chris (Masami) Norton of Guam and Austin, Texas; Jennie (Mike) Williams of Galloway, New Jersey; Angie (Richard) Kabel; Leslie (Tyelor McCracken) Clark, Jim (Mindy) Clark, Grace (Zach Jackson) Clark and Josh (Jocelyn) Clark in addition to many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Bellevue on Friday, January 7 at 11 a.m. Arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 205 N Elizabeth St, Bellevue, MI 49021. Please visit https://www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, sign the guest book, and leave messages for the family.
Nancy Rae Parsons
Nancy Rae Parsons of Eaton Rapids, MI passed away on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at the age of 79. Nancy was born on December 19, 1942 in Battle Creek, MI the daughter of Ray and Lillian (Williams) Hocott. She was raised in Eaton Rapids where she graduated in the class of 1961 and went on to receive an Associate Degree from Western Michigan University. She married the love of her life, Ron Parsons on March 20, 1965 and together they had two children. Nancy worked as an executive secretary at Oldsmobile for five years, then after being a stay at home mom, she embarked on a very successful real estate career. She worked for Century 21, then was the co-owner of Main Street Realtors, then on to Re/Max Home Pros before retiring from Laura DeLong Realty. Nancy was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids where she was involved with numerous groups and activities through the years. She loved shopping, vacationing, a good cup of coffee, Michigan State sports and she really loved going out for lunch or dinner. Nancy was above all a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and friend who cherished her family and especially loved the time she spent with her grandchildren whom lovingly referred to her as Nana. She will always be known for her wonderful smile.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Lillian Hocott; sisters, Mary DeMaso and Sally Brown; nephew Tom DeMaso.
Surviving are her husband, Ron Parsons; son, Ryan (Sarah Lauderdale); daughter, Carrie (Kirk) Wiltse; grandchildren, Athena Ellsworth-Wiltse, Winter Wiltse, Darren Parsons, Tanner Parsons and numerous nieces, nephews extended family and friends.
Services were held at on Thursday, January 6, 2022 at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids chapel. For those desiring memorial contributions may be made to Maplewood Adult Foster Care in memory of Nancy. To share memories or leave condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuenralHomes.com.
Marcus C. Schiavi
Markus Cezar Schiavi, age 43 from Charlotte passed away on December 21, 2021. He worked as an Inspector at Shyft. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at Pray Funeral Home.
Sharon K. Hines
Sharon Kay Hines, age 76 passed away on December 27, 2021. Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 3 at Pray Funeral Home.