Obituaries
Paul R. Williams
Paul Robert Williams, age 65, of Potterville, Mich., passed away on Sunday, March 28, 2021.
Paul was born in Watervliet, Mich.. He attended Maple Valley High School in Vermontville, Mich. On May 7, 1976 Paul married Pamela June Goodwin. He was the proud father of two sons. Paul honorably served his country in the United States Army for four years and was employed as a factory worker for 34 years. Paul enjoyed playing pool, he was a hard worker and above all else, loved his family beyond measure.
Paul is survived by his devoted wife Pamela June Williams (Goodwin); his loving sons James and Robert Williams; daughter-in-law Amanda Williams (Jenkins); grandsons Sean, John and Logan. He is also survived by two sisters and one brother.
Paul’s desire was to be cremated and have no viewing or burial services. The Wiliams family is honoring these wishes.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville, Mich. For further details please visit their website at danielsfuneralhome.net.
Elizabeth A. Woodhams
Elizabeth Arlene Woodhams, a feisty, adaptable woman who lived a long and wonderful life, went home April 2, 2021. Elizabeth, 99, of Charlotte was born February 28, 1922 in Eaton Township to Claude and Johanna (Klump) Royston. She attended Royston School, Charlotte High School, and Michigan State College Short Course with home economics as her main interest. In 1942, she married Larry Woodhams, and together they raised five children on the family farm on Royston Road. She was able to use her education to make the most of their life on the farm. Her gardening and canning skills were a good fit for her frugal ways, and she loved to bake pies. With her positive nature, she was able to adapt to the life changes that were put in her path. She attended First Baptist Church since a teenager, and became a member on July 4, 1971. She served as a Sunday school teacher, helped in the office, as well as the kitchen. Elizabeth read the daily paper to keep up with current events and was a delightful addition to conversations. She liked to read, do word-search puzzles, write poetry, and she kept up with daily life by recording in 33 journals. Elizabeth was always interested in those around her and kept up with their interests and concerns as well. She maintained her independence by staying in their own home after Larry died in 1979. The family would like to thank Moore’s AFC for taking such good care of Mom since 2016.
Elizabeth is survived by her daughter, Joy (Ray) Black; sons, Ivan (Linda Gerard) Woodhams, Lee (Pat) Woodhams, Gary Woodhams, Jon (Morris) Woodhams; seven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; sister, Barbara Pardee; many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Larry; and her sisters, Mavis Potter and Virginia Wohlgemuth.
The family will hold a private graveside ceremony. A memorial service will be held in July, and the family will be extending invitations. Elizabeth loved raising flowers but suggested instead contributions be made to First Baptist Church of Charlotte, or Child Evangelism Fellowship. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Elizabeth on her tribute page at PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Julia A. Townsend
Julia A. Townsend, born October 27, 1926 in South Bend, Ind., of Bellevue, Mich. died peacefully at home on March 25, 2021, surrounded by her children.
Julia and her husband, Harold, came to Bellevue in 1945 where they enjoyed lifelong friends and built and operated the Main Street Cafe. They later moved their business to Charlotte, and operated the Charlotte Cafe and later the Townsend’s Restaurant & Lounge.
Julia bought her Harley Davidson motorcycle at 18 and was the first female member of the Kalamazoo Bike Club. Julia loved her family, biking, reading, mushroom hunting, the beach, gambling, and traveling, which she did a lot with Harold after retiring from the restaurant business. Their love and kindness and sense of fun drew many kids in the community to them for guidance. She was hard working, smart, and had incredible wit. She was a devoted wife and friend to many, including her children and grandchildren, and first pick for a euchre partner right until the end.
Survivors include her five children and their spouses, Michael Townsend (Carol) of Towanda, Ill., Patricia Townsend of Bellevue, Mich., Barbara Burkett (David) of Bellevue, Mich., Mary White (Mark) of Bellevue, Mich., and Martha Limauro (Michael) of Charlotte, Mich.; grandchildren, Steven Townsend (Lynnsey), Samantha Fritzen (Tyler), Garry Burkett (Joanne), Rebecca Crum (Brian), Kristina Hine (Denver), Courtney Levigne (Joe), Robert Limauro, Jacob Bloomhuff (Taylor), Chloe Byington (Brent), and Lucas T. Limauro; and 12 great-grandchildren, Carley, Presley, Owen, Bryce, Logan, Julia, Sophia, Hudson, Finley, Aisley, Giavanna and Bronson.
Julia A. Townsend, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt will be missed. Private family funeral to be held at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to the Bellevue Fire Department, 115 East Jackson Street, Bellevue, MI 49021.
Gilbert Cockroft
Concord-Pulaski Memorial American Legion Post #81 Past Commander Gilbert Cockroft, age 87 of Springport, Michigan, completed his work here on Earth on April 1, 2021. Services were held on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at Vickers Springport Funeral Home and was laid to rest with military honors at Riverside Cemetery in Albion. Arrangements by Vickers Springport Funeral Home.
Herman B. Elston
Herman Bert Elston, of Lansing, passed away April 5, 2021 at the age of 70. Herman was born in Eaton Rapids, Mich. on October 11, 1950, the son of Robert and Hilda (Getter) Elston. He loved the outdoors and in his younger years he enjoyed hunting with his beagles, raised chickens and goats.
Herman is survived by his fiancé, Christine Burgess; children, Andrew Elston, Chad Elston, Alicia Elston, and Tina Slaght; nine grandchildren; sisters, Brenda Elston, Linda Brininstool, and Janice Place; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Douglas Elston Sr., Jerry Wayne, and Bruce Elston.
There are no services planned at this time. The family has entrusted arrangements to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel, Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association at heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give, in memory of Herman. To place online condolences or memories please visit millsfuneral.com.
Lucy L. Matson
Lucy Lenore Matson, age 77, of Nashville, Mich. passed away on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 in Lansing. The daughter of Edward and Doris (Bennett) Southworth, she was born on August 9, 1943 in Charlotte, Mich. Surviving are her oldest brother and “her rock”, Neil; grandchild, Kacey and her daughter Savannah; daughter, Autumn and her children and their children; several nieces and nephews; as well as special friend and companion for almost nine years, Richard Olcott and their special four-legged friend, Ruby.
A memorial gathering for close friends and family will be held at her home in Nashville. The date has not yet been determined but will be announced via family and her Facebook account. Honoring her wishes, cremation has taken place.
To sign Lucy’s online guestbook or read her complete obituary, please visit NeptuneSociety.com.
Jannette E. Hayes
Jannette Elaine Hayes, of Eaton Rapids, Mich. passed away on Sunday, April 4, 2021 at the age of 86. Jannette was born on February 23, 1935 in Onondaga, Mich. the daughter of Milo and Ellen Marie (Hively) Beale. She was raised in Leslie where she graduated class of 1953. Jannette married Kenneth Hayes on August 17, 1957 and together they moved to Eaton Rapids where they raised their family. She worked and retired from Ackley Peters Haubert Insurance as an office manager. Jannette was a member of the First Congregational Church in Eaton Rapids as well as the Red Hat Society of Eaton Rapids. She enjoyed watching golf, especially Tiger Woods, bowling on the Monday night league at Rapids Bowl and trips to the family cabin in Crystal, Mich. She was an avid traveler and made numerous trips with her friends and family throughout the United States and abroad. Above all, Jannette cherished her family and loved the time she spent with them.
Jannette is survived by her son, Stephen (Mary Ann) Hayes; sister-in-law, Josephine Beale of Cedar City, Utah; grandchildren, Tim (Mary) Cortright, Kenneth (Laura) Hayes, Jamie (Mitch) Bolley, Jordan (Angie) Cortright; and great-grandchildren, Kaley, Madelyn, Tessa, Drew, Chloe, Christopher, Nathan, Nicholas, Audrey, Bo and Brayden. She is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Hayes; daughter, Ellen (Cortright) Mascho; son-in-law, Lonny Mascho; brother, Donald Beale; and sister, Phyllis.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church in Eaton Rapids. To share memories or leave condolences please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Sally A. Brown
Sally Ann Brown, of Eaton Rapids, Mich. passed away on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at the age of 87. Sally was born on January 24, 1934 in Jackson, Mich. the daughter of Ray and Lillian (Williams) Hocott. She moved to Eaton Rapids as a child where her family ran the Hocott Bakery. Sally graduated from Eaton Rapids High School class of 1952 and went on to receive her bachelor degree from Michigan State University in elementary education in 1956. After graduation, she taught in Battle Creek at Pennfield Elementary where she met the love of her life, James L. Brown In 1959. They got married and she taught at Grand River Elementary in Lansing while they lived in married housing as Jim finished his degree. After Jim graduated, she decided to stay home and raise her family. She was a longtime member of the Episcopal Church and attended at St. Johns in Charlotte later in life. Sally enjoyed researching genealogy, playing golf and bridge and spending her winters in Destin, Fla. She also loved shopping trips and eating out with her family and friends. Jim and Sally made many moves during their life and made many lifelong friends along the way. Sally was a kind soul and would make anyone feel welcome, her family was so important to her and she cherished all of her time spent with them.
She is survived by her sons, Jeffrey (Karin) Brown, Gregory (Laura) Brown; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Christy) Brown, Caroline (Tim) DeForest, Aaron Brown; step-grandchild, Alivia Scherer; sister, Nancy (Ron) Parsons and nieces and nephews, Michael and Mark Stambach, David DeMaso, Ryan Parsons and Carrie Wiltse. She is preceded in death by her husband, James Brown; sister, Mary Jayne DeMaso and nephew, Thomas DeMaso.
Visitation was held held on Thursday, and a private funeral service was held on Friday. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Rapids Medical Center Foundation or Elara Caring Hospice in memory of Sally. To share memories or leave condolences, please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Robert J. Delong
Robert Jay “Bob” Delong, of Eaton Rapids, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Good Friday, April 2, 2021 at the age of 85. Born June 27, 1935 to Adrian “Jay” and Inez (Woodburry) Delong in Lansing, Mich. Bob graduated from high school and completed trade school before going to work for Oldsmobile where he would later retire after 30 years working in tool and die. While working for Oldsmobile he purchased a farm and after retiring he farmed his land full time. Bob was a faithful member of Maple Grove Baptist Church in Lansing for many years before becoming a member of Maranatha Baptist Church in Lansing where he was currently attending and known as the “free hugs” greeter. Bob was a selfless man always thinking of others. He was a hard worker and had a unique ability of being able to produce nearly anything that could be bought in the store by simply studying the specs of a product. Bob was currently in the process of creating his very own duplicator for manufacturing guns which was a hobby of his. He also enjoyed flying airplanes and took many of his friends and family for airplane rides. Bob was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend that will be dearly missed by all who remember him. Preceding him in death were his son, Thomas Dean Delong; brother, Cecil Delong; sister, Shirley Cataline as well as his parents.
Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Barbara Delong; children, Robert (Tina) Delong, Connie Delong, Bonnie Delong; grandchildren, Kaleb Davis, Kristen (Jake) Moore, Nathan (Keilani) Delong, Kelli Delong; great-grandchildren, Emma Davis, Norah Moore, Eryka Delong, Eli Moore; sisters, Janet “Jenny” McDaniel, Peggy Foess as well as many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at Maranatha Baptist Church in Lansing. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607 in Bob’s name. To share memories and condolences please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Margery J. Eckhart
Margery Jane Eckhart (Margie), of Mason, Mich. passed away on Sunday, April 4, 2021 at the age of 84. Margie was born on September 7, 1936 in Eaton County, Mich. the daughter of Earl A. and Helen Florence (Beaton) French. She was a farmer’s wife as well as worked for the State of Michigan and eventually at Felpausch in Eaton Rapids for many years. Margie married her high school sweetheart, Robert Bert Eckhart (Bob) on September 14, 1951.
Surviving are her daughters, Cheryl Lynn (L.C.) Raymond, Denise Ann Eckhart; son, Scott Robert Eckhart; eight grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren; and sister, Elaine (Robert) Brooks. Margie is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Bob Eckhart; daughter, Susan Kaye (Eckhart) Clark; and sisters, Fern Hill, Wilda Arnold, Donna Fast and Shirley Walter.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids Chapel. The family received friends at the funeral home on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Robbins United Methodist Church Women’s Auxiliary or the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Margie. To share memories or leave condolences please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.