Obituaries
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.
Robert J. Delong
Robert Jay “Bob” Delong, of Eaton Rapids, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Good Friday, April 2, 2021 at the age of 85. Born June 27, 1935 to Adrian “Jay” and Inez (Woodburry) Delong in Lansing, Mich. Bob graduated from high school and completed trade school before going to work for Oldsmobile where he would later retire after 30 years working in tool and die. While working for Oldsmobile he purchased a farm and after retiring he farmed his land full time. Bob was a faithful member of Maple Grove Baptist Church in Lansing for many years before becoming a member of Maranatha Baptist Church in Lansing where he was currently attending and known as the “free hugs” greeter. Bob was a selfless man always thinking of others. He was a hard worker and had a unique ability of being able to produce nearly anything that could be bought in the store by simply studying the specs of a product. Bob was currently in the process of creating his very own duplicator for manufacturing guns which was a hobby of his. He also enjoyed flying airplanes and took many of his friends and family for airplane rides. Bob was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend that will be dearly missed by all who remember him. Preceding him in death were his son, Thomas Dean Delong; brother, Cecil Delong; sister, Shirley Cataline as well as his parents.
Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Barbara Delong; children, Robert (Tina) Delong, Connie Delong, Bonnie Delong; grandchildren, Kaleb Davis, Kristen (Jake) Moore, Nathan (Keilani) Delong, Kelli Delong; great-grandchildren, Emma Davis, Norah Moore, Eryka Delong, Eli Moore; sisters, Janet “Jenny” McDaniel, Peggy Foess as well as many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at Maranatha Baptist Church in Lansing. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607 in Bob’s name. To share memories and condolences please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Margery J. Eckhart
Margery Jane Eckhart (Margie), of Mason, Mich. passed away on Sunday, April 4, 2021 at the age of 84. Margie was born on September 7, 1936 in Eaton County, Mich. the daughter of Earl A. and Helen Florence (Beaton) French. She was a farmer’s wife as well as worked for the State of Michigan and eventually at Felpausch in Eaton Rapids for many years. Margie married her high school sweetheart, Robert Bert Eckhart (Bob) on September 14, 1951.
Surviving are her daughters, Cheryl Lynn (L.C.) Raymond, Denise Ann Eckhart; son, Scott Robert Eckhart; eight grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren; and sister, Elaine (Robert) Brooks. Margie is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Bob Eckhart; daughter, Susan Kaye (Eckhart) Clark; and sisters, Fern Hill, Wilda Arnold, Donna Fast and Shirley Walter.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids Chapel. The family received friends at the funeral home on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Robbins United Methodist Church Women’s Auxiliary or the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Margie. To share memories or leave condolences please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Wanda Louise Cook
Wanda Louise Cook, age 80, of Potterville, Mich., died on March 21, 2021. She was a homemaker. Services were held on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at Real Life Church in Charlotte.
Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Inc.