Obituaries
Sheri E. Moore
Sheri Elaine Moore, of Lansing, a great cook that rarely needed a recipe, died May 17, 2021. Born Sheri Elaine Vivada on April 27, 1945 in Lansing, Mich. to Edward and Betty (Northrup) Vivada, Sheri grew up and lived her entire life in the Lansing area. She married Burle Moore and together they have four children, 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. A proud mother and grandma, Sheri was always very good with kids and was the “neighborhood mom” with the house where all the kids would gather. It may have had something to do with her cooking abilities too, since she was always making delicious treats like her famous fudge. With a giving heart, Sheri was always helping others and would go out of her way to make people feel like family. She also enjoyed the outdoors, spending much time in her flower gardens, and the smell of lilacs in the spring.
Sheri is survived by her husband of 59 years, Burle; children, Brandy (Zac) Medler, Robin (Mike) Angell, Brock (Erica) Moore, and Teresa (Buddy) Beck, 14 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and sister, Linda “Midge” Criss. She was predeceased by her parents.
Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Sheri on her tribute page at PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte. A Memorial service will be held at a date to be announced.
Gary F. Underwood
Gary Francis Underwood of Charlotte, a Jack of all trades, passed away on May 17, 2021. Gary was born August 21, 1939, the son of Francis and Gladys (Elkins) Underwood. Following graduation from Everett High School, he began working for GM where he worked for 20 years. Gary later worked for GC Services, U-Haul, Bennett Trucking, and Mike Davis Builders, before becoming a self-employed contractor. On October 26, 1979, Gary married the love of his life Janice Norton. He enjoyed country music, being outdoors, fishing, camping, riding motorcycles and working in his barn on special projects. Gary was a man who always saw the good in people and made sure he was there to help anyone in need. He had a strong love of animals, Gary loved all of the dogs that the family had over the years. Enjoying exploring new places and things as well as spending time with his family were some of his favorite things to do.
Gary is survived by his wife, Janice; children, Debi Underwood, Tamara Underwood, Scott Underwood, Andrew (Quinn) Underwood, Brian (Jennifer) Grihorash; grandchildren, Lisa (Sean) Harwood, Crystal (Christian) Schneider, Tim Hough, Lacy (Josh) Saunders, Jon (Heather) Hough, Alexander Medina, Bailey Underwood, Taylor (James) Jacobson, Chase, Brody, Peyton, Lainey Grihorash, Cecelia, Lila, Arlo, Elly Underwood; great-grandchildren, Connor, Gwen Harwood, Zoe, Isabel Schneider, Rosalie, Maverick Hough, Jonathon Trainor Jr.; sister, Maxine Wainwright; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Carol and Keith Rockafellow. He was predeceased by his parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Gary’s family at a Celebration of Life on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 11 a.m. at the Pray Funeral Home Garden. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service, from 10 to 11 a.m. Mask, group capacity, and distancing guidelines will be practiced. The family would like to give a special thanks to Island City Assisted Living for their care of Gary over the last couple of years. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Alzheimer’s Association or the Eaton Area Humane Society. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Gary on his tribute page at PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Barbara D. Spray
Barbara Dow Spray, 70, a fast friend and servant to all, passed away on May 16, 2021. Barbara was born on May 24, 1950 in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Kenneth and Katharine (Thompson) Moody. Barb loved everyone wholly and taught forgiveness, even though she had endured many hurts and challenges, putting everyone ahead of herself. Her warm and easy ability to chat with and make friends in any setting drew a crowd of friends who became “sisters” and youngsters that became her “kids and grandkids.”
Barb was a paramedic for fifteen years in Missouri and Georgia. Barbara plunged into serving others—first in the AIDs epidemic and then on through the COVID pandemic in recent years. Barb became the “Nanny McPhee” of the nursing profession. Later she became a traveling nurse who took care of both her patients and their families. That took her to Delaware where she became acquainted with, and later married, Dave Spray in 2005.
She moved to Charlotte in 2016 after the passing of her husband, Dave Spray, to be closer to her family. Barbara jumped into her volunteer mode after arriving in town, becoming an active volunteer at the Eaton Area Senior Center and Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital, now known as Sparrow Eaton Hospital.
Barb gathered a new group of great friends that included the “Cardettes,” a group that enjoyed trips to the nearest craft stores for card making supplies, finding a new place to eat, or anything else they could do together with lots of fun and laughter. She was also known for coordinating fun adventures such as ballooning, car tours, train rides and other things on the bucket list of hers and her friends. At home she loved the view of the woods from her apartment, even becoming “friends” with the deer, squirrels, turkeys, and raccoons who would come up to her deck and peek in the windows.
Barbara is survived by two daughters, Becky (Jerry) Pottruff of Fife Lake, Mich. and Katharine (Howard) Libs of Huntingtown, Md.; siblings Ken Moody of Overland Park, Kan., and Paul (Jane) Moody of Quincy, Ill.; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; lifelong friend Diane King and many other “sisters”. She was predeceased by her husband, Dave; her parents; and her sister-in-law, Sheila.
Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Barbara on her tribute page at PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte. A Memorial service will be conducted by Pray Funeral Home held at the Eaton Area Senior Center on a date to be announced.
Linda Garrison-Kehres
Linda Garrison-Kehres, age 75, of Charlotte, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, May 17, 2021. She was born August 16, 1945, in Eaton County the daughter of Carson and Evah (Rawson) Parr.
Linda is survived by her husband of 24 years, Michael Kehres; children, Tonya Keith of N.C., Christopher (Lynn) Garrison of Eaton Rapids; step-daughters, Kelly Kehres of Berkley, Mich., Kristy (Wes) Taylor of New Hudson, Mich.; father-in-law, Richard Kehres of Mason, Mich.; grandchildren, Cody Garrison, Brooke Garrison, Carson Keith, Dorsey Keith, Zavier Taylor, Presley Taylor, Dahlia Taylor; sisters, Venice Martin of Hastings, Nona Osborne of Charlotte; sister-in-law, Sharon Parr of Charlotte; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Wayne Parr, Dick Parr; sisters, Jean Davis, Shirley Bryan, and Sharon Bayes.
The family would like to thank Sparrow Hospice and especially nurses Lexi, Melinda, Nicole, and Jennifer for the outstanding compassion and care for Linda during her illness.
The family received friends on Friday, May 21, 2021, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home. A private interment took place at Maple Hill Cemetery.
Those desiring, may make contributions in Linda’s memory to Sparrow Hospice 1322 E. Michigan Ave., Suite 204, Lansing, MI 48912.
To view Linda’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit burkhead-green-kilgo.com.
Jack W. Holbrook
Jack Wallace Holbrook, of Eaton Rapids, passed away on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at the age of 82. Born July 9, 1938 to Gerald W. and Myrtle (Slayton) Holbrook in Eaton Rapids, Mich. Jack honorably served in the US Army during the Korean War. After being honorably discharged, he became a pilot, owned his own airplane and did aerial photography for ASCS. Jack also purchased land, built his own house from the ground up with his loving wife, Gerry, and raised both animals and agriculture on his farm. He specialized in dairy farming for many years and later focused more on produce. His farm had all kinds of animals including Bison, where he had up to 21 at one time. Jack taught stain glass classes for adult education in Eaton Rapids for two years, and he was a 4-H Leader. He was the owner/ operator of Jack & Sons Garden Produce that started on the corner of Spicerville Highway and Royston Road, and more recently on the corner of M-99 and Columbia Road. This produce stand allowed him to showcase his produce, cheeses and his specialty homemade ice cream. Jack was a jack-of-all-trades and the guy that many would go to for help because he was very knowledgeable and wouldn’t turn anyone away. Most of all, Jack loved his family and the time he was able to spend with them all. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and passing along his knowledge to all of them. Jack was a beloved man who will be dearly missed by all who remember him. Preceding him in death were his parents; sister, Judy Dowding; grandchildren, Gerald Holbrook II, Nicole Holbrook; great-grandchildren, Hunter Abbott, Hunter Holbrook and Cyrus Lea.
Surviving are his wife, Gerry Holbrook; their children, Connie Holbrook, Gerald Holbrook, Bart (Brenda) Holbrook, Stacy Holbrook; 13 grandchildren, Roberta (Scott) Bean, Nichelle Andrews, Autumn (Chris) Holbrook, Kendra (Chris) Holbrook, Matthew (Ashley) Kreis, Jack Holbrook, Dustin (Michelle) Holbrook, Mika Holbrook, William (Julie) Briggs, Leora (Chris) Lea, Megan Briggs, Donald (Naomi) Abbott, Johnathan Briggs; 24 great-grandchildren; sisters, Virginia McCarrick, JoAnne Holbrook, June (Buddy) Riley; brother-in-law Don Dowding; numerous nieces and nephews as well as many extended family and friends.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at 11 a.m. on May 28, 2021 at Oakwood Cemetery in Hamlin Township. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be to the family to help defer costs, in care of Stacy Holbrook. To share memories and condolences, please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.