Obituaries
Gilbert Cockroft
Concord-Pulaski Memorial American Legion Post #81 Past Commander Gilbert Cockroft, age 87 of Springport, Michigan, completed his work here on Earth on April 1, 2021. Services were held on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at Vickers Springport Funeral Home and was laid to rest with military honors at Riverside Cemetery in Albion. Arrangements by Vickers Springport Funeral Home.
Herman B. Elston
Herman Bert Elston, of Lansing, passed away April 5, 2021 at the age of 70. Herman was born in Eaton Rapids, Mich. on October 11, 1950, the son of Robert and Hilda (Getter) Elston. He loved the outdoors and in his younger years he enjoyed hunting with his beagles, raised chickens and goats.
Herman is survived by his fiancé, Christine Burgess; children, Andrew Elston, Chad Elston, Alicia Elston, and Tina Slaght; nine grandchildren; sisters, Brenda Elston, Linda Brininstool, and Janice Place; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Douglas Elston Sr., Jerry Wayne, and Bruce Elston.
There are no services planned at this time. The family has entrusted arrangements to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel, Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association at heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give, in memory of Herman. To place online condolences or memories please visit millsfuneral.com.
Lucy L. Matson
Lucy Lenore Matson, age 77, of Nashville, Mich. passed away on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 in Lansing. The daughter of Edward and Doris (Bennett) Southworth, she was born on August 9, 1943 in Charlotte, Mich. Surviving are her oldest brother and “her rock”, Neil; grandchild, Kacey and her daughter Savannah; daughter, Autumn and her children and their children; several nieces and nephews; as well as special friend and companion for almost nine years, Richard Olcott and their special four-legged friend, Ruby.
A memorial gathering for close friends and family will be held at her home in Nashville. The date has not yet been determined but will be announced via family and her Facebook account. Honoring her wishes, cremation has taken place.
To sign Lucy’s online guestbook or read her complete obituary, please visit NeptuneSociety.com.
Jannette E. Hayes
Jannette Elaine Hayes, of Eaton Rapids, Mich. passed away on Sunday, April 4, 2021 at the age of 86. Jannette was born on February 23, 1935 in Onondaga, Mich. the daughter of Milo and Ellen Marie (Hively) Beale. She was raised in Leslie where she graduated class of 1953. Jannette married Kenneth Hayes on August 17, 1957 and together they moved to Eaton Rapids where they raised their family. She worked and retired from Ackley Peters Haubert Insurance as an office manager. Jannette was a member of the First Congregational Church in Eaton Rapids as well as the Red Hat Society of Eaton Rapids. She enjoyed watching golf, especially Tiger Woods, bowling on the Monday night league at Rapids Bowl and trips to the family cabin in Crystal, Mich. She was an avid traveler and made numerous trips with her friends and family throughout the United States and abroad. Above all, Jannette cherished her family and loved the time she spent with them.
Jannette is survived by her son, Stephen (Mary Ann) Hayes; sister-in-law, Josephine Beale of Cedar City, Utah; grandchildren, Tim (Mary) Cortright, Kenneth (Laura) Hayes, Jamie (Mitch) Bolley, Jordan (Angie) Cortright; and great-grandchildren, Kaley, Madelyn, Tessa, Drew, Chloe, Christopher, Nathan, Nicholas, Audrey, Bo and Brayden. She is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Hayes; daughter, Ellen (Cortright) Mascho; son-in-law, Lonny Mascho; brother, Donald Beale; and sister, Phyllis.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church in Eaton Rapids. To share memories or leave condolences please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Sally A. Brown
Sally Ann Brown, of Eaton Rapids, Mich. passed away on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at the age of 87. Sally was born on January 24, 1934 in Jackson, Mich. the daughter of Ray and Lillian (Williams) Hocott. She moved to Eaton Rapids as a child where her family ran the Hocott Bakery. Sally graduated from Eaton Rapids High School class of 1952 and went on to receive her bachelor degree from Michigan State University in elementary education in 1956. After graduation, she taught in Battle Creek at Pennfield Elementary where she met the love of her life, James L. Brown In 1959. They got married and she taught at Grand River Elementary in Lansing while they lived in married housing as Jim finished his degree. After Jim graduated, she decided to stay home and raise her family. She was a longtime member of the Episcopal Church and attended at St. Johns in Charlotte later in life. Sally enjoyed researching genealogy, playing golf and bridge and spending her winters in Destin, Fla. She also loved shopping trips and eating out with her family and friends. Jim and Sally made many moves during their life and made many lifelong friends along the way. Sally was a kind soul and would make anyone feel welcome, her family was so important to her and she cherished all of her time spent with them.
She is survived by her sons, Jeffrey (Karin) Brown, Gregory (Laura) Brown; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Christy) Brown, Caroline (Tim) DeForest, Aaron Brown; step-grandchild, Alivia Scherer; sister, Nancy (Ron) Parsons and nieces and nephews, Michael and Mark Stambach, David DeMaso, Ryan Parsons and Carrie Wiltse. She is preceded in death by her husband, James Brown; sister, Mary Jayne DeMaso and nephew, Thomas DeMaso.
Visitation was held held on Thursday, and a private funeral service was held on Friday. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Rapids Medical Center Foundation or Elara Caring Hospice in memory of Sally. To share memories or leave condolences, please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.