Obituaries
Thomas Patrick Kay
Thomas Patrick Kay, 78, of Wyoming, MI, formerly of Vermontville, died peacefully on Friday, June 27, 2025 with his son by his side. Tom was born November 15, 1946 in Lansing, the son of Paul Thomas and Doris Elizabeth (Healy) Kay. Tom enjoyed a happy childhood, participating in Boy Scouts, delivering newspapers, and attending Catholic Schools. He graduated from Msgr. John A. Gabriels High School (Lansing Catholic) in 1965 and briefly attended the seminary before deciding on another course in life. He went on to earn a bachelor degree in Management of Human Resources from Spring Arbor University and settled in St. Ignace, MI, where he started his career in Community Mental Health and opened his own health food store.
Tom married the love of his life, Linda Sue Baird, on February 4, 1978. Together they raised two sons, Brandon and Jonathon in Vermontville, MI. Tom was active in his son’s lives, serving as Scout Master and assistant basketball coach for their teams. As a family, the Kay’s enjoyed time in the outdoors, especially camping trips to the Upper Peninsula. Tom and Linda opened Natural Living Health Food Store on the West side of Lansing, which they owned and operated for 19 years together. All the while, Tom worked training and supporting mentally and physically challenged adults for the State of Michigan Community Mental Health. He retired after nearly 30 years.
Tom lived a life full of compassion. Throughout the years, he dedicated much of his time to humanitarian work, including co-founding Students for Migrant Workers, working with the church in serving the poor and needy in the Lansing migrant population. Many will remember Tom as a strong but gentle man who loved his family and devoted his life to the well-being of others.
Tom is survived by his son, Jonathon (Robin Meester) Kay; two grandchildren, Lillian and Jackson Kay; and several nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was predeceased by his wife, Linda Sue Kay in 2024; their beloved son, Brandon Kay in 2003; his brothers, Richard and Daniel Kay; and his parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Tom’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Memorial Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, MI. The service will be webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Tom’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smartphone). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Community Mental Health Clinton Eaton Ingham at http://www.ceicmh.org/make-a-donation. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Cynthia Ann Hiser
Cynthia “Cindy” Ann Hiser, a woman who was always up for an adventure, died on Tuesday, June 24, 2025
after a courageous battle with cancer. Cindy, 65, of Charlotte, was born June 7, 1960, the daughter of Paul and Phyllis (Walter) Binkowski. After graduating from Charlotte High School, Cindy began working in Customer Service. She worked for General Aluminum, Felpausch Party Store, Admiral, and most recently Shell. Cindy greeted everyone with a big smile and always had a joke to share. Hobbies that she enjoyed included doing plastic canvas, cross-stitching, playing Backgammon, reading horror novels (especially Stephen King), camping, going to Rock and Roll concerts, trips to the sand dunes, and going putzing around town in her beloved ’78 blue Ford pickup. Above all, throughout her life, she loved the friendships she made and her daughter.
Cindy is survived by her daughter, Rachelle Hiser; sisters, Cathy Bennett, and Paula (Kelly) Naber; nephews, Brandon and Jeremy Truax; niece, Shawn (Josh) Hose; great-nephews, Aleks and Ethan; great-niece, Maddianna; and close friends, Rose and Kelli. She was predeceased by her parents; and her brother-in-law, Mike Bennett.
Friends are encouraged to support Cindy’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Funeral services were Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Pastor Charles Jenson officiating. Visitation was held just prior to the service from Noon until 2:00 p.m. The funeral will be webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Cindy’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the family to help with funeral expenses. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Dawn Rose Stanley
Dawn Rose (Lettimore) Stanley, age 51, of Charlotte, passed away peacefully into the arms of her Savior on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. She was born on September 11, 1973, in Lansing, Michigan, the daughter of Walter and Vicky Lynn (Morse) Lettimore. Dawn graduated from Charlotte High School with the class of 1992. In April of 2006, she married Chad Stanley in Eaton Rapids. Dawn loved her family and cherished spending time together with them. Her personality could be described as sweet, caring, kind, and sometimes bossy. Dawn looked forward to their yearly family camping trip where they enjoyed fishing and special time spent together. She faced life’s difficulties with a strong courageous spirit and always did her best to be bright and uplifting to those around her.
Dawn is survived by her husband, Chad; son Hunter Stanley; father, Walter Lettimore; sisters, Victoria Lettimore and Shannon Lettimore; and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Vicky Lettimore; and her son, Earl Long IV in 2022.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home. Burial took place place at Gunnisonville Cemetery in DeWitt Township.
Those desiring may make contributions in Dawn’s memory to Ele’s Place, 1145 W. Oakland Ave., Lansing, MI 48915.
To view Dawn’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com
The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home.
Michael Olmstead
Michael “Mike” Olmstead of Bellevue, age 74, passed on from this world on June 18, 2025. He was born to Rex Edward and Ardeth Olmstead on April 12, 1951. He grew up in Bellevue and graduated from Bellevue High School. Mike then entered a 36 year career at Post Cereal and while at Post, attended KCC, finishing an apprenticeship in machine repair and retired at the age of 55 as a mill-right. He served in the Reserves with an Honorable discharge in 1977.
Mike is survived by his wife, Nancy (Butler) Olmstead of nearly 53 years of marriage; sons, Kory (Jen) Olmstead of Sherwood, Kyle (Teresa May) Olmstead of Maine; grand-children, Kenyon and Kiara Olmstead of Portage, Ava Hammond and Ayden Olmstead of Sherwood, Josephine and Eleanor Olmstead of Maine; brothers, Randy (Becky) Olmstead of Battle Creek, Tim (Karen) of Florida; sister-in-law Susan Stibitz of East Lansing; along with numerous nieces and nephews and made long life-long friends here in Michigan and Florida.
Mike thoroughly enjoyed sports through his life. Playing softball into his 40’s, basketball, bowling and golfing into his retired years. He especially loved watching his grandson, Ayden, play baseball and basketball games. He was and always will be, his biggest fan. He loved nature, especially his very active backyard. He loved gardening and his love of dogs in which he has handed down to both of his sons. But most importantly, he has instilled the importance of family.
Mike was a snowbird for many years, making great friends all over the states and Canada. He was a member of BC Chapter Local 374, Retirees and the PNA Club. But his love of his family was his top priority. He loved his weekends hanging out with Kory’s family at the lake and he loved his yearly travels to Maine to see his son, Kyle’s family. Having sons, he never missed their sporting activities. He instilled in them as much knowledge as he could about cars and how to take care of them. He was always just a phone call away to answer any questions they had and how to help them fix anything.
Mike spent the last month of his life at home with the help of Centrica Care Navigators (Hospice) and family. He passed away peacefully with his family by his side. Our family will be forever grateful to all his nurses and health aides and the staff at Centrica for making it possible for our family to make many more memories and for the amazing care he received.
As per his request, cremation has taken place and if one wishes memorials may be made
to: Bellevue Fire Department, 115 E. Jackson St., Bellevue, MI 49021 or Centrica Care Navigators, 7100 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49009.
Marian Elizabeth Zeis
Marian Elizabeth (Gelow) “Ducky” Zeis passed away on June 28, 2025, at the age of 88. Born December 9, 1936, to Harold and Marian Gelow. Marian lived in Durand, Charlotte, Lansing and at her family cottage in Greenville. She graduated from Sexton High School in 1954 and worked for the State of Michigan for 37 years.
Marian is survived by her daughters, Deborah Zeis (Judy Tegreeny) and Theresa Thomas; grandson, Levi G. Thomas; and special friend, Julia Freije. Preceding her in death were her parents, Harold and Marian Gelow; sister, Mary Johnson; granddaughters, Vanessa, Ginger, and Erika Hicks; and former husband, Robert D. Zeis.
Family was everything to Marian. She loved her daughters, saying they were “the best part of her life”, along with her grandchildren. She was always sharing stories about them to anyone who would listen.
In 1953, her parents purchased a cottage on Half Mile Lake in Gowen, MI. This was Marian’s “Happy Place”, where she was known as “Ducky” (her family nickname). After retiring, Ducky spent 23 summers at the lake, cherishing every moment, whether it was enjoying family and friends, riding around the lake on the pontoon or entertaining her grandchildren.
The funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, 325 W. Washtenaw St., Lansing. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Ele’s Place. Online condolences may be left for her family at www.EstesLeadley.com.