Obituaries
Carroll A. Miller
Caroll Ann Miller, age 74, of Charlotte, passed away peacefully at her home with her family by her side. She was born August 29, 1947, in Lansing, Michigan the daughter of Kenneth and Donna (Hill) Hammond. Caroll graduated from Lansing Eastern High School in 1965. On November 2, 1973, she married Don C. Miller in Grand Ledge. Caroll adored her family and cherished each and every moment they spent together. Caroll had a heart for others her entire life. Caroll took in her siblings and raised them along with her own children. In later years both she and Don took care of their elderly parents and Caroll’s grandfather. She enjoyed gardening, writing poems, and her many dogs. Caroll worked for numerous years as a disc jockey for WGWY and later WMMQ. She also worked as an executive assistant for Lyle Skalland Attorney at Law.
Caroll is survived by her children: Tim (Dawn) Kepler of Charlotte, Bret (Callie) Kepler of Onondaga, Cheryl Miller of Waterford; 8 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; siblings: Venus Hammell, Mike (Diane) Hammond, Pam Nalett, David (Rhonda) Hammond, Chris English; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Don on December 18, 2020; daughter, Karie Kepler-Ellsworth; granddaughter, Kendra Kepler; and siblings: Jim Hammond, Vicki Rouse.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at 2:30 P.M. at the Needmore Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 12 P.M. to 2 P.M. at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home.
Those desiring may make contributions in Caroll’s memory to the Capital Area Humane Society.
To view Caroll’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com
John D. O’Bryant
John David O’Bryant, 93, of Grand Rapids, formerly of Charlotte, died peacefully on Tuesday, October 19, 2021. John was born November 26, 1927, in St. Louis, MI, the son of Edward and Rhoda (Sanders) O’Bryant. He graduated from Perry High School in 1946 before enlisting in the U.S. Army and proudly serving in Japan at the close of WWII. Upon his return, he married the love of his life, Ruth Wilma Jansen, on September 24, 1949, in Haslett, MI. Early on in their marriage, John and Ruth bought a farm in Charlotte, where they moved to raise their family. Farming remained an integral passion in John’s life. He went to work as the Coordinator of County Fairs for the State of Michigan Department of Agriculture, a position he held for 25 years until his retirement in 1988. He also served on the board of the Michigan Association of Fairs and was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions. He and Ruth also loved to travel, especially to fairs across the state and beyond. They were devoted members of First Baptist Church in Charlotte and kept Faith central to their marriage and their community.
John is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Ruth; their son, Robert (Angie) O’Bryant; granddaughters, Robin (Robert) Koziol and Andrea (Christopher) Alberts; great-grandchildren, Robert and Johnny Koziol; and brothers, Edward and Daniel O’Bryant; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son, David O’Bryant; and his siblings, James O’Bryant, William O’Bryant, Iva Mae Theron, and Uvah Wright.
Friends and family are encouraged to support John’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 23, 2021, at First Baptist Church in Charlotte. Visitation will be from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m., just prior to the service on Saturday. Interment will take place at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. 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 John’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). If desired the family suggests memorial contributions to First Baptist Church of Charlotte or Honor Flight. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
Patricia J. Butler
Patricia Joann Butler, of Eaton Rapids, Mich., passed away on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at the age of 85. Patricia was born on March 20, 1936, in Charlotte, Mich., the eighth of nine children born to Don and Veda (Larabee) Wright. She was raised on her family farm in Chester, Mich. and graduated from Charlotte High School class of 1954. Patricia married Max Butler on August 26, 1956, and together had two daughters which they raised in Eaton Rapids. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, crocheting, baking, candy making and was known for her famous homemade caramel corn.
Patricia is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Charles “Max” Butler and seven siblings.
She is survived by her daughters, Kelly Butler, Kim (James) Workman; grandchildren, Brandon (Erin) Butler, Michelle (Ryan) McMaster, Amanda Workman; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Corbin, Charlotte, Brandon Jr.; brother, Larry (Patty) Wright and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. To share memories or leave condolences please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Heather K. O’Grady
Heather Kaye (Johnson) O’Grady of Eaton Rapids, MI passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 17, 2021 at the age of 48. Heather was born on June 19, 1973 in Lansing, MI the daughter of Richard and Shar (Bearman) Johnson. She was raised in Lansing where she graduated from Waverly High School class of 1991. Heather went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Wilmington College in Delaware. She spent several years in Jeffersonton, VA where she did some work in web design, but spent most of her time raising her children. Heather was the social director of her neighborhood and organized many of the holiday parties. She was a social butterfly, a positive light, and a friend to all. Her outgoing and bubbly personality made it easy for her to make friends wherever she went and she lit up whatever room she was in. Heather moved to Eaton Rapids in 2016 and has worked for The Accident Fund in Lansing as a worker’s comp agent since then. She loved to do impersonations and had a vast knowledge of old commercial tunes. To know Heather was to love her and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Heather is preceded in death by her grandparents, Walter and Grethel Bearman, Ethel Erickson and Benjamin Johnson.
Surviving are her children, Caroline O’Grady, Patrick O’Grady; parents, Dick and Shar Johnson; brother, Greg (Theresa) Johnson; nieces and nephews, XiaoRui, Mitchell, Nicholas, Miranda, Gavin; father of her children, Patrick O’Grady; special friend “Jimmy”, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and friends.
A celebration of Heather’s life will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Friday, October 22, 2021 at Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. The family will receive friends starting at 11:00 A.M. and host a luncheon immediately following the service. For those desiring memorial contributions may be made in care of, Patrick O’Grady to help set up College Accounts for Caroline and Patrick O’Grady. To share memories or leave condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com
Linda L. Caudill
Linda Lou Caudill of Eaton Rapids, MI passed away on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at the age of 77. Linda was born on November 11, 1943 in Eaton Rapids, MI the daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Watson) Williams. She was a lifelong resident of Eaton Rapids and part of the class of 1963. Linda was extremely hardworking, raising her five children and working as a house cleaning for many families throughout greater Eaton Rapids. She loved to read her bible, watcher her “programs” and play with her pets, especially her cat, Chubby. Linda adored her family and especially loved her time she spent with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She is survived by her daughters, Velvet Caudill, Melissa Caudill, Stacy Lambert; son, Russell (Joy) Caudill; grandchildren, Sara (Dustin) Bartel, Patrick (Shelby) Eichholtz, Kristin Eichholtz, Donald Eichholtz, Lance Adkinson, Zakkery Caudill, Khrissandra Caudill, Karliona (Pierson) Davis; great grandchildren, Alexander Bartel, Joslyn Bartel, Grace Eichholtz, Terrance Hackworth, Caleb Schrum, Liam Eichholtz, Brantley Eichholtz, Annabella Caudill, Zephaniah Caudill, Zacchaeus Caudill, Angelina Caudill, Jack Davis; brother, Gary (LuAnn) Williams and numerous nieces, nephews extended family and friends.
Linda is preceded in death by her parents, son, Okie Caudill, Jr.; brother, Joseph Williams; sister, Carol Dryer and father of her children, Okie Caudill, Sr.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home starting at 11:00 A.M. For those desiring memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association in memory of Linda. To share memories or leave condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com