Obituaries
Lorena Jecks
Lorena Jecks of Eaton Rapids passed away October 25, 2021, at the age of 87. Lorena was born in Salyersville, KY, June 12, 1934, the daughter of Elliott and Gertrude (Whitaker) Risner. She and her husband, Edward, built a successful construction business in Eaton Rapids. Lorena enjoyed taking care of her family, cooking for holiday gatherings, attending church, spoiling her dog, Simba and watching the Detroit Pistons.
Lorena is survived by her children, Steven Jecks of Eaton Rapids, James Jecks of Eaton Rapids, Daniel Jecks of Brighton, Sandra (Edgar) Martinez of Ft. Wayne, Joseph (Laura) Jecks of Shelby Twp; 10 grandchildren; six great grandchildren; brother, E. Mark Risner; sisters, Jewelene Anderson and Mae Locke. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughters, Linda Strang and Carolyn Suckow; siblings, Irene Whittman, Alden Risner, Chalmer Risner, Elsie Love, Joyce Byron and Esther Risner.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 29, 2021, at the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel with visitation taking place from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Her final resting place will be in Rosehill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice of charity. To leave online condolences for the family, please visit our website, www.millsfuneral.com.
Diannia L. Gibbs
Diannia Lynn Gibbs of Eaton Rapids, MI passed on Friday, October 22, 2021, at the age of 63. Diannia was born on March 17, 1958, in Eaton Rapids, the daughter of William Jones and Patricia Rule. Diannia graduated from Eaton Rapids High School class of 1976 and went on to receive an associate degree from Davenport College in Business Administration. She worked for the Mason Secretary of State where she retired in 2016. Diannia loved to camp, spending 12 summers at Tyler Creek Campground and the last few at Ionia Lakeside Resort. She was an extremely talented seamstress, making numerous dresses for proms, weddings, and recitals, and was more recently involved with restoring and refurbishing old furniture. Diannia loved animals and enjoyed cooking, baking, and collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia. Above all, Diannia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend; she adored her family and especially cherished her time with her grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Patricia Rule and William Jones and her sister, Denise Kay Jones.
Surviving are her husband, Bill Gibbs; daughters, Angelia (Brad) Good, Billie Jo (Joe) Krutsch, Annette (Aaron) Copeland; son, Chase Gibbs; grandchildren, Kayla (Bill) Lawrence, Jordan (Sydney) Hernandez, Livia Good, Ashlyn Krutsch, Braelyn Krutsch; great grandchildren, Kiara, Harper, Avery, Taylor, Dennis; sisters, Peggy (John) Vallie, Pam Baker, Tina (Steve) Cary, and numerous nieces and nephews, and life-long friends.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, November 4, 2021, at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home starting at noon. To share memories or leave online condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com
Hubert D. Dennise
Hubert Dale Dennis, age 96, died on October 16, 2021. He was a resident of Vermontville, Mich. He was a Journeyman Pipefitter for General Motors. Funeral services are pending.
Rod Yates
Rod Yates, age 94, died October 16 at Hope Landing, in Charlotte Michigan, due to complications of COVID-19. Born September 30, 1927, to Anne Van Dyk and Joseph Maltby “JM” Yates, Rod lived nearly all his 94 years in Charlotte. His childhood home at 313 East Harris was next door to the Hayes Green Beach Hospital. After graduating from CHS in 1945 he attended Michigan State College, earning a mechanical engineering degree in 1949. He met Joyce Cridler that summer at the Barlow Lake roller rink near her home of Middleville and they married in 1951.
Rod started a career with General Motors in Grand Rapids after college. In 1953 he left GM to take over the business from his ailing father and moved Joyce and baby Susan to Charlotte. Yates Hardware proudly served customers at 116 East Lovett from 1953 to 1999. Rod’s commitment to customer service and quality merchandise earned him many loyal customers. He was known for his engineering knowledge and ability to explain to customers how to repair anything. With a machine shop in the back of the hardware he would gladly make parts for customers if one could not be found.
Rod was a lifetime Rotarian and past president. He was active in multiple community organizations. Rod, Joyce, and their girls loved to camp in Ludington State Park and to ski at Caberfae with other local families.
After retirement Rod and Joyce took several memorable well-earned vacations and then settled in as snowbirds in Venice, Florida where Rod co-chaired the bicycle and the cribbage club and hosted “Michigan” dinners with their Florida friends.
Rod and Joyce were very proud of a four generation Spartan legacy. When Joyce returned to college in 1979 he enjoyed premium seats in Spartan Stadium because Joyce’s 1949 enrollment provided top-notch student section tickets. All four daughters attended MSU as did three grandchildren, including one with an engineering degree.
Rod is survived by daughters, Susan Yates of Williamstown, Mass., Judith Yates and Kathryn (Thomas) Cizek of Traverse City; grandchildren include Chris (Gina Dominguez) of Austin Texas, David (Molly Schranz) of Boston, Mass., and Libbie Weimer of Durham, N.C., Andrew (Nisa) Williams of Seattle, Colin Williams of Traverse City, and Cameron Williams of Seattle, Laura (Michael) Gorman of Grand Forks, N.D., and Donovan Cizek of Auburn Hills. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Jesse in 1983; daughter, Cynthia in 2003; great-grandson, Cristobal Weimer in 2009; wife, Joyce in 2017.
A brief memorial service was held on Friday, October 22, 2021, at the Pray Funeral Home Gardens at 3 p.m. with visitation following until 5 p.m. The family welcomes you to this outdoor service and respectfully request you wear a mask. The service will also be webcast so you may watch it from any computer or smart phone by going to Rod’s tribute page at PrayFuneral.com and click on the webcast button within the photos and videos tab. Guests who prefer to remain in their car should notify Pray Funeral Home for assistance. Please honor his Spartan pride by wearing green and white. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Rod’s name to Michigan State University or to the Rotary Club of Charlotte. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
Barbara J. Bursley
Barbara Jean Bursley, a humble and loving servant of The Lord, died peacefully October 19, 2021, at the age of 90. Born Barbara Horn on June 9, 1931, to Ray and Amanda (Schlabach) Horn in Eaton County, she later graduated from Battle Creek Central High School. In 1948 she married Philip Lee Bursley. They worked side-by-side as disciples of God with many different church activities, conventions, and traveling the world to help others. Her family remembers Barbara fondly as someone who was always giving of her time and talents to help others, whether it was at work in the Medical Records department at Leila Hospital, church activities, or time spent with family cooking, entertaining, and making Christmas Eve a special holiday creating lasting and loving memories with her family.
Barbara was very active in the Church of God in Battle Creek and Marshall, singing in the church choir, leading the youth group, and attending conventions with them, and active member for many years and President of the Women of the Church of God (now Christian Women Connection). Family and friends knew Barbara had a personal relationship with her Lord and will rest easy in His Loving Arms.
Barbara is survived by her children, Jeff (Linda) Bursley, Sandy (Greg) Lampert, and Debbie (Ken) Gothberg; 7 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; close friend, Norma Krontz; and many extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Philip in 2015; sisters, Merna Wolfe and Evelyn Mitchell; and her parents.
Friends and family are encouraged to support Barbara’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was Friday, October 22, 6-8:00 PM at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte. Funeral services are Saturday, October 23, 4:00 PM at the funeral home with Pastor Mary Hirakis officiating. If desired the family suggests memorial contributions to Christian Women Connection. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.