Obituaries
Carol M. Kirvan
Carol Marie Kirvan, 64, of Potterville – a nature lover, friend to everyone and the person many went to for help – died Tuesday, December 7, 2021 in Lansing. Carol was born on December 21, 1956 in Lansing, the daughter of Duane Harris and Doris Ruth (Feyerabend) Kirvan. She graduated in 1975 from Hill Community High School in Lansing and earned her Bachelor of Science from Lake Superior State College in Sault Ste. Marie in 1979. Carol worked as a florist at Frandor Kroger for eight years before starting in 1990 with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, until her retirement in 2020. She held many positions within MDARD during her 31-year career, including the State Laboratory, emerald ash borer program, nursery inspector and pesticide inspector.
Carol grew up in Lansing and moved to Potterville in 1996, where she was embraced by the community. She had friends all over the world from her travels. She had one state left to visit and was hoping to complete that soon. She was well-known for her huge assortment of hats and vests and was hardly ever without one. She had many interests and hobbies, including bird watching, canoeing, reading, traveling, pontooning, cooking and getting down on the floor to play with her many nieces and nephews. She enjoyed volunteering for numerous organizations including Relay for Life of Charlotte. She was on the Potterville Benton Township District Library Board, was a PBTDL Friends of Library member, was district president of the Lutheran Girl Pioneer Council and helped with bingo at the Eaton Senior Center. She looked forward to helping cook each summer at the Lutheran Girl Pioneers National Camp in Wisconsin and as was a lifelong member of Emanuel Lutheran Church of Lansing, where she also taught Sunday School.
Carol is irreplaceable and her family now has a huge hole, but are so thankful to have enjoyed her for so many years. Many will miss her sense of humor, as well her ability to keep everyone laughing.
She is survived by her loving sisters and brothers: Denise Smith of Baldwin; David and Norma Kirvan of Livonia; Cathy Cox of Clark Lake; Nancy and Mark Schafer of Charlotte; and Eric and Kelly Kirvan of Roy, Utah. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews who will miss her dearly: Sara and Rusty Fullerton, Godson Duane Smith, Dustin and Laurie Schafer, Amber Kirvan, Jessica and Garrick Kirvan Eakin, Goddaughter Shelby and Tyler Royston, and Adam Kirvan; great-nieces and nephews: Jada, Jazlynn, Jenna-Ann, Avery, Lacey, Dean, Claire, Kennedy and Breslin; and great-great niece, Serenity; many cousins and special friends.
She is predeceased by her parents, Duane and Doris (Feyerabend) Kirvan; nephew, Christopher Markus Kirvan (Furryman); great nephew, Brayden James Royston; brothers-in-law, Steven Smith and Monty Cox;
many aunts, uncles and cousins; and her very special aunts, Margaret and Rosie and uncles, Don and John.
If you are able to help us celebrate her life, please wear a hat, vest or Hawaiian shirt to honor her fun-loving spirit. Memories may be shared on Carol’s tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com. Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Pray Funeral Home with Laura Cooper officiating. Visitation was held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, December 10, 2021 at the funeral home. 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 Carol’s tribute, then click on “Photos and Videos” from your computer (or “Media” from your smart phone). Memorial contributions are suggested to the PBTDL Friends, Lutheran Girl Pioneer Council or the American Cancer Society. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
Shirleen Graham
Shirleen “Bambrick” Graham from Dimondale, MI went to be with the Lord November 22nd, 2021, with family by her side. She was born April 21st, 1932. She graduated from Eastern high school and retired from the state of MI. She married Duane Graham in the spring of 1951. Shirleen lived her life full of love and hard work. She loved to dance, music, the ocean, her family, friends and most of all God. She spent the winter in her home in Englewood Florida.
Shirleen is survived by her children Brent Graham “Paulette” of Charlotte MI, Tim Graham “Debbie” of Englewood FL, Diane Serr “Randy” of Potterville MI, Her Grandchildren Jessica Marciniak “Scott”, Heather Votruba “Chris”, Trisha Sentell “Jim”, Jason Graham, Mitchel Graham, Rachel Graham, Nicole Serr” Torrey”. Great Grandchildren Lilly, Jimmy, Austin, Mya, Mckenna, Hunter, Jadyn, Olivia, Hannah, and her beloved cat Sammy
She was preceded in death by her husband Duane Graham, Son Jimmy Graham, Parents Fredrick and Pearl Bambrick, Siblings Lois, Mary and Freddy.
To know her was to be loved. Her smile, laughter and love will be greatly missed.
There will be a celebration of life at a later date.
Orvil F. Hollister
Orvil Floyd Hollister “Sonny” 76 of Kilgore, Texas formerly of Charlotte, Mi passed away peacefully Tuesday November 9, 2021, at Willows Nursing Home in Kilgore, Tx. Born July 9, 1945, in Battle Creek Mi to Orville & June (Thompson) Hollister. Orvil graduated from Olivet High school in 1963, then joined the U.S. Army. Married Eileen (Fancher) October 19, 1963, together they had 4 sons Kelly, Carl, Timothy & Kurtis. He later retired from the U.S. Army. He also worked many years as an insurance adjuster for the AAA insurance company. Orvil & Eileen moved to Texas in 2006. Orvil enjoyed building and repairing guns, woodworking and traveling.
Orvil is survived by his wife Eileen of 58 years, sons Kelly (Mistelle) of Olivet, Mi, Timothy (Carrie) of Gilmer, Tx, Kurtis (Nicole) of Germany, 11 Grandchildren, 6 Great-Grandchildren and brother Chuck Hollister. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Judy, Paulette, brother Robert, and son Carl.
Memorial service will be held in the spring of 2022 in Charlotte Mi. (date to be determined)
Bradley J. Bush
Bradley J “Brad” Bush, 45, passed away on December 3, 2021 following a brief illness, with loved one around him, in Kanakee, Illinois.
Brad was born in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, the son of Van Bush and Janell (Ekins) Colgan on February 28, 1976. Brad graduated from Eaton Rapids High School in 1994 and attended Michigan State University. He was a proud member of the Spartan Marching Band. He enjoyed everything about MSU.
Brad had been employed at Midwest Transit Equipment for the past 20 years and loved every part of his job. He could take one glance at a school bus and tell you countless stories about it. He truly loved what he did. Brad was also the General Manager of the Homeport Restaurant in Eaton Rapids for many years prior to that.
Surviving Brad are his fiancé of 17 years, Cassie Currie; parents, Van (Cathy) Bush, Janell (Pat) Colgan; grandmother, Pat Ekins; brother, Luke (Karin) Bush and sister, Alana (Brian) Krull. Also surviving are five nephews: Ethan, Jake, and Hayden Bush and Donovan and Riley Krull, all whom he loved more than anything. He also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Preceeding him in death are grandparents, Don and Doreen Bush and grandfather, Leo Ekins.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Eaton Rapids High School Marching Band in his honor. To share memories or leave condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHome.com.
Justin L. Hiatt
Justin Lee Hiatt of Laingsburg, Michigan, entered into the gates of Heaven on December 3, 2021, at the age of 33. Justin was born in Lansing, Michigan on June 21, 1988, the son of Steven Hiatt and Dawn (Lay) Herig. He was a 2007 graduate of St. Johns High School. Justin was self-employed, running his own successful flooring company. He loved sharing his hobbies with his kids, including being outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping and riding dirt bikes and was a huge Dale Ernhart, Sr. fan. Justin never met a stranger and always shared his smile. Above all, Justin was a loving, hands-on father. His family was the epicenter of his life and he will be greatly missed.
Justin is survived by his soulmate, Elysia Hill; children, Braylen, Waylen and Haven; father, Steven (Teresa) Hiatt of St. Johns; mother, Dawn (Rob) Herig of Eaton Rapids; siblings, Amanda Smith, Raelynn Messex, Mikayla Herig, Michael Herig, David Herig, Justin Bridgeman and Jessica Bridgeman; grandparents, John and Judy Lay; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Gordon and Jackie Hiatt.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make memorial contributions to a trust fund for Braylen, Waylen and Haven may donate via Venmo @BraylenWaylenHaven. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Funeral Home. To leave online condolences for the family, please visit our website, www.millsfuneral.com.