Obituaries
David J. Bayly
David J. Bayly
David Jeffrey Bayly, Sr., died unexpectedly on October 22, 2021, in North Carolina. David was born July 10, 1963, in Troy, NY, the son of Barry J. and Catherine Mildred (Brennan) Bayly. He grew up in a large Irish family, his father being one of 14. In fact, David’s grandfather was consulted about cross-country family trips for the making of the film Cheaper by the Dozen. David spent many of his early years living in Florida, where he graduated high school in St. Petersburg, attended the University of Florida Gainsville, and eventually owned his own auto-detailing business. In 1991, David moved to Michigan, where he worked at Spartan Motors in Charlotte for 24 years, retiring in 2016. On the side, he and Jean owned and operated Bayly’s Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Charlotte for 9 years.
David loved golf. He was a founding member of the Bayly Cup in 1992, a tournament played every year on several golf courses in North Carolina. This year marks its 30th anniversary trip. He also founded the Jeff Ripley Memorial Golf Tournament. Throughout the years, David enjoyed time spent with his family, and a lifetime of cheering on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. GO BUCS!
David is survived by his wife, Jean Ann Bayly; son, David Bayly, Jr.; daughter, Nike Bayly; stepchildren, Eric (Stacey) Reed, Christopher Reed, Teresa Reed, and Lacie (Justin) Emery; 14 grandchildren and step-grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; siblings, Barry (Denise) Bayly, Chris (Kerrie) Bayly, Matthew (Patricia) Bayly; Kaylyn (Liz Collins) Bayly, and James (Julie) Bayly; several nieces and nephews; and former wife, Kristina Fetterman. He was predeceased by his parents; brother, Tim Bayly; and sister, Melanie Thompson.
Friends and family are encouraged to support David’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 29, 2021, at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte with visitation from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., an hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions are suggested to the National Kidney Foundation. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
Marjorie A. Pratt
Marjorie A. Pratt, 93, of Hesperia, MI was born January 2, 1928, in Leila Hospital, Battle Creek, MI
to Roscoe and Mary Ann (Runyon) Urich. On the morning of October 25, 2021, my beloved Mother, Grandmother of two, Great Grandmother of five, and Great, Great Grandmother of three passed peacefully into the arms of her beloved Savior Jesus Christ and was met by the love of her life my father, Jim Pratt who proceeded her in death on March 28, 2009. He told her before he passed, he would come back for her, and we know he was waiting. Marjorie met Jim at a dance at the White Rabbit Dance Hall outside of Bellevue one night and all it took was one dance and they were inseparable for the next 62 years. Marge and Jim had many, many friends as they knew most of the people from their generation in the village of Bellevue, Michigan. They had three children together but lost their first daughter Diane Kaye in 1950 when she was only three years old having her tonsils out. My mother never fully recovered from that loss, but she was a strong woman. They had another daughter, (me) Linda Joan born in Sept of 1949 and in 1970 Marjorie discovered much to her surprise, that another child was on the way. But, alas, it was not to be, she gave birth prematurely to a son, Michael James, but he passed away after only one week. Marge talked frequently in these last years of looking forward to seeing her children in Heaven again and I know she is holding them now.
Marjorie was blessed with two grandsons, Jeffrey Michael Schroder (Kymberly) and Robert James Schroder (Patti); she had five Great Grandchildren, Samantha Marie Schroder (Brandon Williams), Matthew James Schroder (Athena), Alexandra (Schroder) Mead (Dylan), Hannah Schroder, and Staci Lea Barker; and three Great-Great Grandsons, Bentley Woolfe, August “Goose” Breland, and Brenton (Schroder) Mead.
Marjorie went to work in 1950 for the Eaton Value Division in Battle Creek and retired after 30 years in 1980. She was the first woman Supervisor who worked there and championed the rights of Women Workers for 30 years. After retirement she and Jim traveled extensively to Alaska, Hawaii, California, Florida, Iowa, Canada, and spent winters in McAllen and Donna Texas for 22 years enjoying dancing, sightseeing, the company of many dear friends and relatives until Spring of 2008.
Marjorie was an avid collector of Indian Artifacts and recently confirmed that she was descended from American Cherokee Indians on her mother’s side. She shared a birthday with her Great, Great, Great Grandfather George Fruits who was the last survivor of the Revolutionary War and who has a memorial to him in the Indianapolis region. He lived to be 114 years, 7 months, and 4 days as she very frequently told all acquaintances she met. Also, he was a personal associate of Daniel Boone.
Marge loved gardening, she grew and bred her own roses, enjoyed canning and preserving many kinds of fruits and vegetables every year, and taught us all how to do the same. She was a talented seamstress, sewing most of her own and her daughter’s clothes for years; taught photography to the 4-H club members in Marshall during the 1960’s. Marge was a talented artist, painting many items and collectables in their home at the lake where they relocated permanently from Marshall in 1994 where they had lived for 39 years since 1955. They built their lake home together with her brother-in-law Dick Stauffer, she was proud of the fact that she stained every board that went up inside the home herself.
Marjorie was also a very wise investor in the stock market. She was able to give financial assistance to all her family over the years in many ways including homes, cars, education, and helped her first grandson establish his own law practice along with his wife. She loved visiting us in our second home in Columbus, Ohio when I remarried and moved there. She loved shopping and attending our United Methodist Church and listening to us sing in the choir. Marjorie was a Woman of Many Talents but most of all she dearly loved her family, and we will all miss her greatly.
She is survived by her youngest sister Patty (Urich) Medich from Battle Creek, Michigan and was proceeded in death by two other sisters Eleanor Urich and Margaret (Urich) Stauffer of Monticello, Kentucky.
Services have been entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 205 N. Elizabeth Street, Bellevue, MI 49021. A visitation was held Friday, October 29, 2021, from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the graveside service at 1:30 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery, 201 N. Main Street, Bellevue, MI 49021.
Thelma DeGroot
Thelma O’Dessie DeGroot, 94, of Bellevue died on Monday, October 25, 2021, at her daughter’s home following a long life lived.
Dessie was born on November 9, 1926, in Laurelville, Ohio to Tinsel and Ruth (Truex) McDonald. She graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in 1946. On May 18, 1946, she married Nelson DeGroot in Battle Creek. He preceded her in death on November 24, 2011.
Dessie was a homemaker stayed home to raise her family. Before her children were born, she worked as office manager of the Dudley Insurance Company in Battle Creek. She was a member of the Bellevue United Methodist Church, Farm Bureau, Michigan Women for Highway Safety, and a 4-H in Eaton County for many years. Dessie was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling with her husband Nelson and seeing every state but, Delaware because Nelson would not pay the $.50 toll to cross the bridge. They also enjoyed traveling to Europe. She and Nelson were founding members of the Whirl-a-way’s Square-Dancing Club. Dessie also enjoyed spending the winters in Texas for over 40 years.
She is survived by her children, LuAnn Damon, Ronald (Susan) DeGroot and Roy (Marsha) DeGroot; grandchildren, Amanda DeGroot-Bonneville, Benjamin DeGroot, Lance (Tanya) DeGroot, Dustin (Jessica) Damon, and Lesley (James) Loren; several much oved great-grandchildren; a brother Harold (Geneva) McDonald. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; Son-in-Law Duane Damon; brother Urban McDonald; and Cousin Jane Nickerson.
Visitation took place from 10-11am on Friday, October 29, 2021, at the Bellevue United Methodist Church, 122 West Capitol Avenue Bellevue MI 49021 with a funeral service taking place at 11am. Interment will follow at Bellevue Riverside Cemetery. Memorial contributions are requested to the Bellevue Library. Assistance with memorials is available at the Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 723 US Hwy 27 N, Marshall MI 49068. Leave a personal message for the family and sign the online guestbook at https://www.kempffuneralhome.com
Troy J. Canfield
Troy James Canfield, age 51, of Charlotte, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 21, 2021. He was born August 29, 1970, the son of George Canfield and Leona Charlene Canfield. Troy grew up in Charlotte and had a passion for football. He loved rock and roll music and could often be found listening to his favorite tunes. Troy also loved his numerous Jeeps throughout the years. Family was important to Troy, and he always had a special place in his heart for children.
Troy is survived by his parents: George (Jaime) Canfield, Leona Charlene Canfield; son, Daimean (Brooke) Canfield; siblings: John (Diane) Boughton, Scott (Amanda) Canfield, Michelle Mobbs; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his stepfather, William R. Widhalm and uncle, Malcolm Risner.
In keeping with Troy’s wishes cremation has taken place and a memorial service is being planned for a later date.
Those desiring, may make contributions in Troy’s memory to the food bank or homeless shelter of their choice.
To view Troy’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 of Charlotte.
Goshen-Wilbur Allen
Goshen-Wilbur “Bill” J. Allen, 95, passed away, Sunday, October 24, at Greencroft Healthcare.
He was born May 13, 1926, in Mishawaka. He is survived by his grandson, Nicholas Eaves of Lansing, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lucille (Carpenter) and Joseph Garrett; his wife, Dorothy; and stepchildren, Kenneth Eaves and Sharon Wynne. Bill graduated from Greene Township High School in 1944 and enlisted immediately in the US Navy, serving for two years. He worked as an industrial engineer in Skokie, Illinois for 20 years and then as a realtor for ReMax in Illinois and Michigan. Cremation will take place at Yoder-Culp Crematory and burial will follow in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. Online condolences may be shared at www.yoderculpfuneralhome.com.