Obituaries
Nellie Pfiester
Nellie Lee Pfiester, friend to many and life of the party, died February 25, 2022. Nellie, 70 of Bellevue, MI, was born December 31, 1951, in Shelby, MI to Manuel and Mary (Chase) Hovey. Nellie graduated from Shelby High School and attended Muskegon Business College. In September of 1975 she married her sweetheart, Jon Pfiester, and they created an amazing life together. They lived several places over their early married life, but 40 years ago settled in Bellevue, MI.
Work hard and play hard would be a great motto for Nellie, as she worked 33 years at Hayes Green Beach Hospital, and also worked with her husband on the farm. A very social person, Nellie loved people and loved a good party. She enjoyed playing Bunko, shopping, everything MSU, and cooking (and she was a very good cook specializing in pancakes, baked beans and peanut butter cake).
The true joy in Nellie’s life was watching the sporting events that her sons and her grandchildren participated in. It started with her sons playing football, basketball, dirt bike racing, and a season of wrestling, then her grandson’s football, basketball and baseball games, and her granddaughter’s basketball and softball games. Nellie and Jon made it a priority to attend all the sporting events for their sons and travelled often so they could see most of their grandchildren’s events too. She was a very proud mom and grandma, loving to share stories of all their sporting prowess.
Nellie is survived by her husband of 46 years, Jon; sons, Michael (Alaina) and Jason (Laurie); grandchildren, Trevor, Emma, and Ellie; siblings, Dale (Linda) Hovey, Joyce (Ron) Ross, Manuel (Meltha) Hovey; brothers-in-law, Richard Pfiester and Tim (Lynn) Pfiester; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, and sister-in-law, Kay Dexter.
Friends are encouraged to support Nellie’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Funeral services were Thursday, March 3 at Bellevue United Methodist Church with Rev. Mikki Sandlin officiating. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Bellevue Memorial Scholarship Foundation. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Darl L. Link
Darl Lee Link, a quiet, generous man, passed away on February 26, 2022. Darl, 79, was born on June 3, 1942, in Charlotte, Michigan, to Ion and Doris (Rose) Link. Darl graduated from Charlotte High School in 1960 and then went to Lansing Community College where he earned his Associates Degree. Darl spent eight years in the Army National Guard. He worked at A.E. Hoover in Charlotte, at AMC/Jeep as a Renault specialist, and later retired from Lassen Pontiac in Battle Creek. Darl, who was an extremely hard worker and could do anything, helped many local farmers, including Don Shepherd. He also constructed their family home. Darl taught others how to care for the property after he was gone. His passion was to make a difference in the lives of others. He showed great love for people, especially his kids and grandkids. Darl especially loved having family gatherings at his home during the holidays and particularly the 4th of July where he enjoyed setting off and watching fireworks.
Darl is survived by his loving family, wife, Marjorie; son, Dennis (Melissa) Ovink; daughters, Danyelle Ovink, Debi Tucker, and Dianna (Mark) Thompson; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his dog Shylo. Darl was predeceased by his parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Darl’s family by sharing remembrances and condolences online in Darl’s Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. A Memorial Service is being planned for this summer on the family farm. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the family. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, MI.
Floyce Abernathy
Floyce “Chief” Luella (Shepard) Abernathy, 79, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2022. A spontaneous, kind lady, she is noted for her passion in caring for other people. A calico, tortoise cat named, Miss Kitty was beloved and always in her lap or on her bed. All close to Chief enjoyed her delicious meals, loyal friendship, humor and stories of her life. Floyce was born on July 13, 1942, to Edwin A. and Ruth M. (Campbell) Shepard. In 1960 she married the love of her life, Sam Abernathy. The couple enjoyed competing, they could be found drag racing at the Onondaga Dragway, and also bowling. Chief also enjoyed making trips to the casino, gardening and camping around the state. Stocking shelves at Walmart, greeting customers with a warm smile and assisting wherever she could, gave Floyce great pleasure. Gospel, country and oldies music of the 50’s and 60’s was often on her radio. Tracing her life story would include her lifelong devotion to God, church and her love of family.
Floyce is survived by her sister, Mary (Roger) Fuller of St. Johns; brother-in-law, Jeff (Sandi) Jester of Coloma; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Sam Abernathy; her parents; siblings, Sandra Kay Shepard, Keith Shepard, Kathy Shepard, and Edwin Shepard Jr.
Friends and family are encouraged to support Chief’s family by sharing memories on her tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com. Memorial contributions are suggested to The Eaton County Humane Society. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
Frances J. Hare
Frances J. “Jackie” Hare of Eaton Rapids, MI passed on Monday, February 28, 2022, at the age of 95. Jackie was born on July 19, 1926, in Lansing, MI the daughter of Jay and Eleanor (Hill) Crittenden. She was raised in Charlotte where she graduated from high school. Jackie married Roger Hare in 1945 and together they raised four children on their family farm in Eaton Rapids. She worked as a delivery driver for Smarts Bakery, ran a daycare out of her house, but mostly raised her children and helped on the farm. Jackie was very involved at the Eaton Rapids Senior Center and often volunteered her time in the kitchen during Swiss steak suppers. She also served the community as a Meals-on-Wheels driver for over 20 years.
Jackie is preceded in death by her parents; husband; Roger, brother, William Crittenden; and daughter-in-law, Teresa Hare.
Surviving are her children, Bud Hare, Bill (Marta) Hare, Sue (John) Connors, Marilyn (David) Wilson; 14 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and 7 great-great grandchildren; sisters, Lorraine Bronson, Barbara Rolfe and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 4, 2022, at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jean Bradford Kline Senior Center in memory of Jackie Hare. To share memories or leave condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Charles R. Peebles
Charles Robert (Bob) Peebles of Mason, passed away quietly at the age of 92 years, 9 months on February 28, 2022. He was born on May 31, 1929, in Oak Park, Illinois, the only child of Clarence and Nancy (Challacombe) Peebles. From his parents he learned a great love of music, reading, history, and the natural world. A graduate of Riverside-Brookfield High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Ornithology at Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Parasitology at the University of Illinois. In the summer of 1952, he attended “Bug Camp,” the University of Michigan’s Biological Station on Douglas Lake in northern Michigan. There he met Elizabeth (Betty) Brede, they were married in 1954. In 1957, he took a post-doctoral research position at the Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Puerto Rico. He joined the faculty of Michigan State University in 1965, teaching general education natural science courses until 2001.
For many years Bob taught a field natural science course for MSU’s Evening College program. During these Saturday morning hikes, his students learned to identify birds, trees, wildflowers, animal tracks and the natural communities in which they were found. Bob often “whistled in” chickadees, Baltimore Orioles, and other songbirds. Bob loved classical music and sang in the Sage Chapel Choir at Cornell as an undergraduate. He excelled at identifying pieces of classical music on the radio and loved going to live concerts. His large record collection included classical music, jazz, and American folk music of all kinds.
Preceded in death by his wife of 63 years. Bob is survived by twin sons, Walter (Amy) of Eaton Rapids, MI, and Will of Cullowhee, NC; grandchildren, Anita and Carl; four nieces and three nephews.
By his request, there will be no memorial service. Donations in his memory are welcome to the University of Michigan Biological Station, Fenner Arboretum, or the Mason Orchestral Society.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. To leave online condolences for the family, please visit our website, www.millsfuneral.com.