Obituaries
David M. Dennis
David Merton Dennis of Eaton Rapids, passed away December 20, 202,1 at the age of 86. David was born in Adrian, MI., May 26, 1935, the son of Cecil and Mabel (Perkins) Dennis. He grew up on Dennico Dairy Farm, pasteurizing and delivering products daily. David served with the National Guard Reserves for four years. He worked for Bridgeport Brass, the Michigan Health Department and the Department of Natural Resources in the Department of water quality and Assistant Deputy Director for 25 years before retiring in 1992. He loved helping to bring the first moose back to Michigan’s U.P. He was a private pilot, owning 3 airplanes of his own, flying out of Adrian, Houghton Lake and Charlotte. David was a ham radio operator as well. He would receive radio transmissions from missionaries and patch them through locally on the phone to family members and friends. David loved to camp, hunt, fish, ride motorcycles, anything adventurous. David was a jack-of-all-trades and would always fix things himself. He instilled a strong work ethic in his children, which they appreciated. The love David and his wife Nancy shared was inspirational to his entire family. They had been married 68 years. David and Nancy are devoted Christians as are their children.
David is survived by his wife, Nancy; sons, David (Ida) Dennis of Eaton Rapids, Dean (Jennifer) Dennis of Lansing, Dale (Deborah) Dennis of Williamston; grandchildren, Carolyn Darnton, Alan (Stephanie Day) Dennis, Amanda (Dan) Glaspie, Matthew Dennis, Michael Dennis, James Dennis; 6 great grandchildren; brother, Burton Dennis of Adrian. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Carlton and Robert Dennis.
Private memorial services were held on December 30th, 2021. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. Please visit our website to place online condolences, www.millsfuneral.com.
Jerry L. Davids
Jerry Lee Davids, 57, from Charlotte, Michigan passed away on December 17, 2021. He was an Assembly/drywaller. His service will be at 11:00 am, Monday, December 27, 2021, at Pray Funeral Home.
Debra S. King
Debra Sue King, 63, of Onondaga passed away on Sunday, December 19, 2021. Private family services will be held. Arrangements handled by Pray Funeral Home.
Mary S. Scott
Mary Susan Scott, a caring and loving, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother “Scoot,” died Monday, December 20, 2021. Mary, 93, of Charlotte, was born November 15, 1928, in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Lawrence and Ruby (Ferguson) Gunderson. She was always very proud of her Brooklyn roots. In 1947 she would marry the love of her life, Donald Scott a Navy man, and together they raised their family. Mary retired from Michigan State University where she worked as a secretary for 30 plus years, mostly for the psychology department. She was very active in her community, she was a member at the First Congregational Church in Charlotte, American Legion Post 42 Auxiliary, where she was past president, and she also helped her husband with the Adult Handicapped Program while he served as the Director of Special Education for Eaton County. Her hobbies included, reading, knitting, playing bingo, going to the local Big-Boy, and visiting family out on the East Coast. Above all Mary was most proud of her family and all of their accomplishment that she got to witness.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Mary (Paul) Krug; grandson, Michael (Shannon) Krug; great-granddaughter, Trilian; siblings, Lawrence (Eileen) Gunderson, Virginia Scheidt, and Jeanne Clayton; sisters-in-law, Patricia Greene, and Carol Gunderson; numerous nieces and nephews; and friend, Arlene Latham. She was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Donald; siblings, Charles Gunderson, Marjorie Layton, and James Gunderson.
Friends and family are encouraged to support Mary’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com. A burial of Mary’s cremated remains will take place at Ft. Custer National Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions are suggested to American Legion Post 42, or The First Congregational Church in Charlotte. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
David L. Smith
David L. Smith, of Duck Lake, died on Monday, November 22nd, 2021, at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall. Dave practiced law in Charlotte for 57 years and served on many charitable and municipal boards throughout the years. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and will often be remembered for sightings of his hot air balloon, “Rainbow Drifter,” over the skies of Charlotte and Duck Lake, with their usual crew of brother-in-law, David Powers and his wife Christyne. Dave enjoyed woodworking and boat building and he spent the past year building an 1860 Henry Rifle. He was known as a local Civil War Historian and he proudly shared the stories of his ancestors that fought at Gettysburg and Kennesaw Mountain.
Service to the community was important to Dave, but the loves of his life were family and his life at Duck Lake with Linda. He was a caring and selfless man who would make time for anyone. You always knew he listened, because weeks after an encounter, he would see you again and follow up on the previous conversation. He was a man of the highest integrity and character and his life will continue to be an inspiration for those who were fortunate enough to know him.
David Lowell Smith was born on August 28th, 1939 to Clifford Elwood Smith and Louise M. (Raidle) Smith in Charlotte, MI. He graduated from Charlotte High School in 1957 and earned his BA from Alma College in 1961. He went on to earn an MBA from the University of Michigan in 1962 and his Juris Doctorate from Detroit College of Law in 1965. After passing the State Bar in 1965, he began practicing law with his uncle, Stanley Raidle. He settled his family on the George O. Smith family farm on Lawrence Avenue. He served as the Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney beginning in 1972 and in 1973, he was reunited with his high school sweetheart and his soulmate, Linda Sue Powers. Dave and Linda created their own version of “Yours, Mine and Ours” in December of 1974, when they married at the Charlotte Congregational Church.
Dave is survived by two daughters, Lisa (Joe) Feistritzer of Ada and Amy (Donald) Huff of Lansing; four step-children, David (Tracy) Reed of Glendale, Arizona; Chris (Elena) Reed of Charlotte; Doug (Jen) Reed of Charlotte; and Sarah (Rob) Williams of Charlotte; sixteen grandchildren; nine great grandchildren with the tenth on the way next year; and sisters Linda Deland of Chelsea and Chris (Rick) Kent of Brule Ridge.
Dave was preceded in death by his beautiful wife of 45 years, Linda Sue; his parents, Clifford and Louise Smith of Charlotte; and his beloved Golden Retrievers, Scout (2021) and Max (1994).
In keeping with Dave’s wishes, cremation has taken place and the family is planning a celebration of life to honor Dave in the Spring of 2022.
Those desiring, may make contributions in Dave’s honor to the Courthouse Square Association, P.O. Box 411, Charlotte, MI 48813, or Eaton Community Palliative Care, 275 S. Cochran Ave., Charlotte, MI 48813.