Obituaries
John S. Homer, Ph.D.
John Selby Homer, Ph.D., 81, of Olivet, Michigan passed away on Saturday, December 11, 2021, in a car accident in Charlotte, Michigan.
John was born on March 2, 1940, to Arthur and Florence (Selby) Homer in Hinsdale, Illinois. He received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Western Michigan University and his master’s and Doctorate Degrees in Economics from the University of Hawai’i. He has been teaching Economics and various interdisciplinary studies at Olivet College for the past 42 years.
John married Joan Garthe on December 22, 1980. He and Joan were active members of Olivet Congregational Church.
John is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Joan Garthe as well as his children: Anna (Rusty) McBride of Whitehall, Michigan, Arthur (Autumn) Homer of Battle Creek, Michigan, Elizabeth Homer of Washington DC, Andrew Homer of Bellevue, Nebraska, and Katherine Homer of Olivet, Michigan. He is also survived by his grandchildren Sean McBride, Sam McBride, Kirby Homer, Gavin Homer and Easton Homer as well as his sister Mary (Richard) Blackney of Florida.
Dr. Homer’s passion was teaching and the connections he made with students. He touched 1,000’s of lives through the years with his caring personality and his ability to make students feel seen and heard. Dr. Homer was a leader in throwback educational practices and was very well known for requiring his students to hand write essays, always in cursive. He felt it aided in content retention and upon finishing one of his classes it was very hard to argue the point. All of this was done in the age of software that will correct your grammar and spelling.
Dr. Homer won numerous awards at Olivet College and the majority of them were voted on by the students. You would be hard pressed to meet an Olivet College alumni who didn’t know Dr. Homer and usually the conversation was followed up by the words, “he was my favorite professor”.
Besides teaching John was a very active member in the community of Olivet and seemingly knew everyone. He loved to hunt and fish with friends. He was an avid reader who also loved gardening and watching Star Trek. He was affectionately known as “the water boy” to the Olivet College Football Team, “the grill king” during Night on The Town events and was very active with the Olivet High School band and enjoyed these various roles. He also assisted with the long jump on the Olivet High School track team and would go to the state meet every year to “rake the pit”.
Dr. Homer was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation and memorial service to celebrate Dr. Homer’s life will be announced in early 2022.Memorial contributions can be made to the John Homer Memorial Scholarship through Olivet College.
Arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services 723 US Hwy 27 N Marshall, Michigan. Please visit https://kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guest book or to leave the family condolences.
It has been said that a person has succeeded in life if they have made the world a better place through uplifting people and making them better. Dr. Homer fulfilled this role tenfold.
Vada Kenney
Vada Mae Jones Kenney, Charlotte, Michigan, entered the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at the age of 87. She was born July 2, 1934, in Lansing, MI. to Otto Orval Jones and Noveda Mae (Wood) Jones. True strength doesn’t draw attention to itself, and Vada was the epitome of quiet strength. She was an overcomer from day one and throughout her entire life, overcoming challenges that would stymie the average person. She and husband Merl raised 7 children together and celebrated 61 anniversaries. They both survived a horrible car accident in 1969 by the grace of God. She was unwavering in her faith in her Lord and inspired others with her gentle ways of expressing God’s love to others. Vada was a member of South Cochran Church of God in Charlotte starting in 1955. She volunteered for many positions, taught Sunday School and served on the Board and received the Woman of the Year in 2002. She began working in 1977 for Ingham County MSU Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program as a supervisory aide. After retiring in 1996, she worked for McDonalds in Charlotte for over 7 years. Hobbies included reading, fabric painting, crossword puzzles and baking; going out to breakfast on Thursday mornings with her friends, always having a joke ready to share. She was a Boy Scout Leader, sold Artex paints, Avon products, worked at the youth center and volunteered at the Senior Center in Lansing. She loved to watch Spartan football, the Green Bay Packers, and March Madness when the Spartans were playing. She loved to watch Perry Mason, skating on TV and watching the animals in the woods out her window. She was always noticing an “animal” or some formation in the clouds. She was a collector of giraffes, butterflies and salt & pepper shakers.
Vada was pre-deceased by her parents, Otto Orval Jones (1988) and Noveda Mae Wood Jones (2007); husband, Merl G. Kenney (2013); sons, Orval L. Kenney (2017) and Charles F. Kenney (2020); daughter-in-law, Antonia (Van Belois) Kenney (2019); sister, Ilene Jones (1952); brother, Erwin Otto Jones (2021), granddaughter, Tara Hope (2014), and still-born great grandson, Steven Parmelee (1998).
Surviving are her children, Marilyn (Phil) Parmelee of Charlotte, Virginia (Jesse) Kenney-Sweet of Mason, Merl “George” (Sherry) Kenney of Charlotte, (Tammi) Kenney of Lake Odessa, Paul Kenney of Victoria, Tx, and Noveda (David) Nighbert of Charlotte, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren, who will greatly miss her.
The Celebration of Life was held Sunday, December 5, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. with visitation from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the South Cochran Church of God, 2470 South Cochran Rd., Charlotte, MI. Friend and family are encouraged to share memories of Vada on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Arrangements made by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, MI.
Nancy Jane Cohrs
Nancy Jane Cohrs of Charlotte, Michigan passed away suddenly on December 9, 2021. She was born in Vicksburg, Michigan on October 12, 1957, to Fred Robert and Maxine Muir Cohrs. Nancy graduated from Vicksburg High School, attended Michigan State University, and worked for 41 years at Meijer Distribution Centers in Lansing, Michigan.
Nancy was dearly loved by her family and friends. She expressed her love through loyalty, generous gifts, and volunteering to take on the toughest tasks to help others. Her cheerful sense of humor during even the toughest times made those around her feel important, loved, and special. Nancy was devoted to her nieces and nephews, whom she treated as her own children. We will remember her with love and laughter, and with a commitment to honor her warmth, strength, determination, and work ethic.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents and her brother William Robert Cohrs. She is survived by siblings and in-laws Fred and Ann Cohrs, of Springfield, Virginia; Dan Cohrs, of Vancouver, B.C.; Mary Ann (Cohrs) and Phillip Weaver, of Caledonia, MI; Tim and Linda Cohrs, of Kalamazoo, MI; and Susan Cohrs, of Coppell, TX; and by her best friend of 40 years, Charlene R. Crabtree, of Charlotte, Michigan. Nancy’s nieces and nephews include Jeff Cohrs, Laura (Cohrs) Anthony, Philip Cohrs, Suzanne (Cohrs) Rogers, Daniel Cohrs, Mark Cohrs, Phillip Weaver, Matthew Weaver, twelve great nieces and nephews, numerous cousins, and many more loved ones. Family and friends will gather to celebrate Nancy’s life in Summer 2022.
Jerry L. Davids
Jerry Lee Davids, age 57 of Charlotte, a fella who was a kind and generous soul under his rough exterior, died December 17, 2021, in Lansing following a lengthy illness. Jerry was born October 10, 1964, to his parents Larry Lee Davids, Sr., and Marilyn Jean (Heikkila) Davids, in Charlotte. Jerry attended Charlotte High School graduating in 1983. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Jerry was known to many as a strong willed, boisterous, “tell you what was on his mind in no uncertain terms” type of guy. Underneath his roughhewn exterior he had a generous streak that was always willing to help those in need. His work in the Lansing area was in manufacturing and drywall installation. He was a huge fan of Michigan State University sports. Above all he considered his family most important in his life. He was most proud of the fact that after a troubled past he was able to turn his life around.
Jerry is survived by his children Jody Copeland, Danielle (Cass) Escalante, and Jason (Heather) Davids, stepchildren Tiera (Ben) Spitler and Chrissy Fedewa; five grandchildren; his parents Larry Davids Sr, and Marilyn Stiles; and his siblings Larry (Janet) Davids Jr, Ricky Davids, Chad (Heather) Stiles, Connie (John) Hong and Chantel (Frank) Bonilla. He was predeceased by his infant daughter Samantha Marilyn Jean Davids; stepdaughter Suzanne Fedewa, and grandparents Mary and Otto Heikkila and Florence and Bernard Davids.
Friends and family are encouraged to support Jerry’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com. Funeral services to celebrate his life were held Monday, December 27, 2021, with Pastor Charles Jenson officiating. 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 Jerry’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). Memorial contributions are suggested to Cardboard Prophets. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
Melissa Kelly
Melissa Ann Marie (Johnson) Kelly, 39, an amazing one in a million wife to Jacob Kelly from Bellevue, MI passed on Saturday, December 25, 2021 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, early Christmas morning. A holiday that she cherished along with it being her favorite time of the year. Melissa was born January 11, 1982, in Battle Creek, MI. She married Jacob Kelly on September 15, 2012. They soon founded Kelly Farms & Club Lambs of which she was very proud of and totally vested in. She served on the Executive committee as a 3rd year member of the Eaton County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, a past Eaton County Fair Board member, and a leader of the Junior Fair Board. Over the past 15 years Melissa was employed at Jackson National in Lansing, Michigan where she continually progressed throughout the company. Melissa was promoted to a Senior Compliance Analyst in March of 2021 spending her last few years with the compliance team who loved and adored her.
She was a stranger to no one, was the life of the party, cherished her friends and brought the best out in everyone. With a smile on her face you would find her mentoring children involved in 4-H and FFA, where she was a huge help with the Bellevue FFA program. Within the FFA program she helped plan from its inception, to getting the room ready, working the fund raisers and serving on the advisory committee. She absolutely loved all those kids! Melissa’s love for shopping and giving were like no other, she would give you the shirt off her back or earrings out of her ears – she was such a giving soul. When time allowed Melissa enjoyed traveling with Jake whether it be to a weekend getaway after harvest was done, or a road trip to pick up a new lamb. Spending time in the sheep barns and attending the sheep shows was a passion for her. She and Jake were rising stars in the sheep industry with Kelly Farms & Club Lambs and are very proud of what they have accomplished.
Melissa is survived by her husband, Jacob; parents, Randy Johnson & Suzanne (Lynch) Johnson; brother, Jarrod (Ronda) Johnson; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Diane and Dennis Kelly; sister-in-law, Amber (Treg) Bryan; nephews, TC and Riggin Bryan. And her beloved fur babies Stryker and Lucy. Melissa is preceded in death by her grandparents Richard L. and Harriet Louise Johnson and Thomas and Mary Lynch as well as her favorite dog Wyatt.
Friends and family are encouraged to support Melissa’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation will be held Monday, January 3, 2022 from 5-8 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, MI. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Bellevue United Methodist Church, Bellevue, MI, with Reverend Virginia Heller officiating. The funeral will also 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 Melissa’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to the Melissa Kelly Scholarship Fund at Eaton Community Bank (checks payable to Jacob Kelly). The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.