Obituaries
Kendrick Keith Hayward
Kendrick “Kenn” Keith Hayward of Eaton Rapids, MI passed away on May 18, 2024, at the age of 85. Kenn was born on July 27, 1938, in Michigan, one of the 12 children of Marenus and Frances (Cucksey) Hayward. He met his wife, Sue Hunt, while stationed with the US Air Force on the Royal Air Force Alconbury base in Cambridgeshire, England, where he worked as a switchboard operator, and Sue worked as a civilian switchboard operator. They married on January 1, 1960, at the Eaton Rapids Church of the Nazarene, and together lived in Eaton Rapids for their entire married lives. Kenn spent many years working as a die sinker at Lindell and Melling drop forges in Lansing and was a landlord to many tenants at several properties that he and Sue purchased over the years. Along with Sue, Kenn was the owner and operator of the Basket Case antique shop in downtown Eaton Rapids for 25 years and enjoyed going to area auctions and yard sales to look for treasures that he could fix up and sell. He especially loved tinkering with old clocks, radios, and toys, many of which he kept at home to enjoy. He also loved fixing up bicycles. Kenn loved traveling and especially enjoyed his trips to England and annual motorhome camping trips in destinations with water. He enjoyed birdwatching and would keep a pair of binoculars handy while on vacation so he could see the birds and other wildlife closely in order to identify them. More than anything, Kenn was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who cherished his family and the time he spent with them. He greatly appreciated his extended family, as well, and rarely missed a family reunion.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sue Hayward; daughter, Michelle “Shelly” Hayward; his parents, and 10 siblings. Surviving are his sons, Wayne (Tracy) Hayward, Darren Hayward; daughter, Yvette Hayward; eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
A graveside service was held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Rosehill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids. The family received family and friends at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids chapel on Friday, May 24, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. To share memories or leave online condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Saundra Lou Stevens
Saundra “Sandy” Lou Stevens, 85, of Olivet, passed away on May 16, 2024, at the McLaren
Hospital in Lansing, MI.
She was born on November 22, 1938, to Leslie and Genevieve (Waidelich) Holt in Marshall, MI.
Sandy married Lynn C. Stevens on March 29, 1985, in Olivet.
She worked as a machine operator for Eatons of Marshall for 30 years until she retired.
Sandy and Lynn owned and operated the Olivet Optic News. She drove a school bus for Olivet.In her 20’s she raced at Butler Motor Speedway in the Powder Puff division. She loved to scrapbook, write poems and short stories, build puzzles and play bingo. She liked to spend timein her flower beds and play games with her family when they got together. Sandy’s favorite thing was to whoop her kids at the card game called Hand and Foot. Sandy was a proud member of the Michigan FlyWheelers Museum in South Haven Michigan. Volunteering for Farm History days and working in the gift shop during the annual tractor show was one of her most favorite things to do. She loved keeping the family history and retelling the tales of her beloved father and his adventures in life.
Saundra is survived by her loving husband of 39 years Lynn C. Stevens; children, Kim (Leon) Bartlett of Pennfield, Mike Peters of Marshall. Leslie (Dale) Dailey, Jennifer Cantrell and Cori Ashley all from Olivet; grandchildren, Denise, Erin, Shaun, Samantha, Stefanie, Michael, Steven, Chris, Sara, Josh, Alexis, Ben, Morgan and Bailey; plus eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her son, Terry Peters and her parents.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 28, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Kempf Family Funeral & Cremation Services, Marshall, Michigan.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at the Kempf Family Funeral Home Marshall, Marshall, Michigan with Pastor Brandon Crawford officiating.
The burial will take place in the Lee Center Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society. To view the obituary and sign the online guestbook, or leave the family condolences please visit: https://www.kempffuneralhome.com.
Frederick Julian Davis
Frederick Julian Davis of Parma, passed away May 18, 2024, at the age of 85. Fred was born in Lansing, Michigan, on February 3, 1939, the son of Ford and Helen (Mangles) Davis. He retired from General Motors after 38 years as a Carpenter. Fred played baseball and softball his whole life, he even held an Olympic Gold Medal as a pitcher for 75 years and older. He had many hobbies, he really enjoyed woodworking. Fred made furniture for his home as well as making it and donating it to be auctioned and sold for charity. He enjoyed traveling, for the past 19 years he and his wife would spend a few months out of the year in St. Croix. Fred and Dawn built their dream home in 1991, 40 acres in Parma, also known as “Paradise”. He loved spending time outside, tending to his yard, splitting wood and hunting. Fred will be remembered for his generosity, sense of humor and quick wit.
Fred is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Dawn Davis of Parma; children, Scott Davis of Florida, Kim (Frank) Read of Florida, Todd (Pam) Davis of Lansing, Susan (Chris) VanderMoere of Dimondale; grandchildren, Bill, Fred, Nick, Rhyse, Trenten, Chris, Brittany, JT, Ian, Aidan; 9 great grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Martin. He was preceded in death by his parents; stepdaughter, Shelley; grandson, Charlie; two brothers and two sisters.
A Funeral Service was held at the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids on Thursday, May 23, 2024. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ele’s Place of Lansing in loving memory of Frederick Davis. To leave condolences for the family, please visit our website www.millsfuneral.com.
Eugene Stanley Nettleman
Eugene Stanley Nettleman of Bronson, passed away May 18, 2024, at the age of 75. Eugene was born in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, on November 17, 1948, the son of Stanley and Louella (Canfield) Nettleman. He graduated from Bronson High School in 1967. Eugene was a Veteran of the US Navy. He proudly served his country in the Vietnam War. He worked for Oldsmobile for a short period after the Navy. Eugene enjoyed fishing and following MSU sports with his son, Jeff. He was a sharp, witty man, even when he was not feeling well. You could always count on a laugh from Eugene.
Eugene is survived by his children, Jeff (Carrie Baumgardner) Nettleman of Davison; sisters, Carolyn McIntosh, Kathy (Steve) Weigt, Debbie (Michael) Church; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Louella; son, Timothy Nettleman; sisters, Mary English, Myrna Nettleman, Verna Nettleman, Wanda Nettleman.
At this time, no services are planned. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to Kairos Dwelling Home, 2945 Gull Road, Kalamazoo MI 49048. To leave condolences for the family, visit our website www.millsfuneral.com.
Susan Jane Yates
On May 13, 2024, with her family at her side, Susan Jane Yates died peacefully at the South Williamstown farmstead of her partner, Sherwood Guernsey, with whom she joyfully shared her final years.
Born on June 27, 1952, Susan was the oldest of four sisters raised in Charlotte, Michigan. She spent her childhood corralling her sisters and working in her family’s hardware store. Whether sewing custom dresses or assisting in the Yates Hardware machine shop, her childhood responsibilities set her on a lifelong path as a consummate problem solver. After graduating as high school valedictorian, she enrolled at Michigan State University with a plan to become a medical technician. She soon realized she was making better grades than the pre-med students in her classes and switched majors to Human Medicine. She graduated with high honors and continued on to medical school at MSU, followed by an OB/GYN residency at the University of Iowa.
Susan arrived in Williamstown in 1981, joining Williamstown Medical Associates as their first woman physician. She took pride in every aspect of her work: caring for patients, performing surgery, delivering thousands of babies at the North Adams Regional Hospital (and later Berkshire Medical Center), and ensuring access to reproductive healthcare in the region. In 1992, she became president of the medical staff at NARH and in 1995 began her long tenure as a hospital trustee. Later in her career, Susan went on trips to Haiti to provide care and medical training in rural areas. She served on the board of both Haiti Plunge and the Louison House in North Adams.
When not working, Susan enjoyed being outdoors. She telemarked down Tuckerman Ravine, skied out West with her colleague Chuck O’Neill, ventured out on one waterski on Gun Lake, journeyed on long bike trips with her sister Judy, rode horses on the Great Divide, canoed and ran in the Josh Billings Run Aground, and exercised every morning with a group of women including her dear friend Ruth Harrison. Wherever she lived, she kept up a robust garden with squash, flowers, and, of course, rhubarb for her famously delicious pies.
She was active in the First Congregational Church, singing in the choir and serving in several leadership roles. She was a founding member and President of the Williamstown Meetinghouse Preservation Fund, Inc., a non-profit whose goal is to raise funds to preserve the historic Church building and Meetinghouse.
She will be remembered for her unflagging positivity, work ethic, caring, and generosity. She was a doer who never stopped doing good for her beloved community.
She leaves behind her sisters Judy and Kathryn; her three children, Chris, David, and Libbie; daughters-in-law, Gina and Molly; grandsons, Marcelo, Joaquin, and Amos; four nephews and a niece; along with many others who were family to her, including Andrew Liang, Cynthia, Pieter, Brian, and Lucia Mulder, and their children, and Sherwood Guernsey and his children, Margo, Kate, and Matt, and their children.
She was predeceased by her sister Cynthia, husband Martien Mulder, a son, Jesse, and a grandson, Tobi.
Services will be held at the First Congregational Church, 906 Main Street, Williamstown, at 10:30 a.m. on June 15, 2024 with a reception to follow at 402 Hancock Road, Williamstown. The family suggests contributions be made to Louison House, the Berkshire Immigrant Center, or the Williamstown Meetinghouse Preservation Fund for which checks should be payable to WMPF and mailed to Box 53, Williamstown, MA 01267.