Obituaries
Jay H. Lee
Jay Howard Lee, 50, of Charlotte, died unexpectedly at his home on Saturday, January 30, 2021. Jay was born on August 18, 1970, in Charlotte, the son of Orval and Florence (Monteith) Lee. Jay married the love of his life, Joyce Bogart on November 9, 2019. Family came first to Jay in his time and commitments. He will always be remembered for being a hard worker, kind, dependable and big hearted. One example of Jay’s gentle caring ways is that he took care, with such compassion, of his mother when she was ill. Jay enjoyed fishing, camping, watching local short track racing and NASCAR with Dale Earnhardt being his favorite driver. He also was a huge fan of U of M, wrestling and football teams. Always hoping for the big win, Jay often purchased scratch off tickets.
Jay is survived by his wife, Joyce; son, James Allen Lee; mother, Florence Lee; sisters, Jodi (Rex) Van Guilder and Sue Ann Lee; nephew, Matt McLean; niece, Megan Lee; special nephew, Buster; great-niece, Madison McLean; and his aunts and uncles and many cousins. He was predeceased by his father, Orval Lee; and his grandparents, Howard and Lavina Lee, Gerald Monteith and Georgia Garfield.
A Celebration of Life will be held following Sunday services on Sunday, February 7, 2021 at Celebration Church (formerly Five Corners Church). Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Jay on his tribute page at PrayFuneral.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of Jodi Van Guilder to help with expenses. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Barbara A. Payne
Barbara Anne Payne of Eaton Rapids passed away January 24, 2021 at the age of 75. Barb was born in Eaton Rapids on January 25, 1945, the daughter of Max and Dorotha (Sutton) Williams. She attended MSU, briefly worked as a nurse’s aide at the Eaton Rapids hospital and worked as a secretary with the VFW National Home. Barbara was a past president of the VFW Auxiliary Post #2046 in Charlotte, a member of the First United Methodist Church, and she loved music. She had a beautiful voice that she shared with the community for many years. Barbara was in the Eaton Rapids Festival Choir, the Women’s Choir at church and the Steiner Chorale Choir in Lansing. She also loved the theatre, acting in numerous plays with the Eaton Rapids Community Theatre.
Barbara is survived by her sons, Bert Payne Jr. of Eaton Rapids, andChristopher (Diane) Payne of Ariz.; grandchildren, Bert A. Payne, Trisha Payne, Christopher Payne Jr., and Julia Rivera; and sister, Jayne Stucky. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the music program at the First United Methodist Church, 600 S. Main Street, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. Please visit their website to place online condolences at MillsFuneral.com.
Marilyn J. Peters
Marilyn June Peters, of Eaton Rapids, Mich., age 91, passed away Thursday, January 21, 2021. Marilyn was one of thirteen children. She was born May 13, 1929 in Charlotte, Mich., the daughter of Roy and Florence (Alwood) Bodell. Marilyn married Carl Peters and they raised five children. She was a long time employee at Hastay’s Greenhouse & Flower Shop in Eaton Rapids. Marilyn was known for her cooking large meals and baking for family events. There was not a time where there were not cookies, fudge or some other type of delicious sweets in the house to be enjoyed by all. She was also known for her homemade macaroni and cheese, which was coveted by all the family. Marilyn was a talented seamstress, who also enjoyed to crochet and make baby blankets for the entire family and many friends. (We wish we could really know the number of children that were wrapped in those blankets made with love.) She enjoyed traveling up north to Canada and to her brother Leonard’s cabin on Lake Gogebic to fish ,and out west to Colorado in order to visit her son, Steven and his lifelong companion Teresa. Marilyn was a life time member of Charlotte VFW Post #2406, where she and her sister, Norma Jones, enjoyed planning and preparing large meals for any event that came there. Marilyn and her sister, Norma, also played a large part in planning family reunions, which she loved. She was a country girl at heart who loved to garden and spend time outdoors. In fact, Marilyn spent most of the summer barefoot as she loved to feel the grass between her toes. Even with all of her hobbies, work and responsibilities, family was the most important thing to her. Marilyn’s love of family was never ending. Her great-grandchildren were the twinkle in her eye and her face lit up every time she was with them, they held a special place in her heart. Marilyn’s love, kindness and hardworking attitude were an example for all to follow and those traits were passed down to her family. A loving mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend, she will be deeply missed by all.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Carl Peters; daughter, Gay Ann Heintzelman; sisters, Norma Jones, Bonnie Springs, Athol Wood, Marlene Coffin and Verle Barnard; brothers, Robert Bodell, Leonard Bodell, John Bodell, Tom Bodell, Clyde Bodell and Donny Sheets. Marilyn is survived by her loving children, Irene (Greg) Meyer, Steven (Teresa Wright) Peters, Carol Peters, Michael (Julie Reddy) Peters and Joel Heintzelman; sister, Janette (Barry Wainman) Klaiss; grandchildren, Craig Heintzelman, Wendy (Scott) Whipple, Barney Meyer, Emily Meyer, Henry Meyer, Edgerton (Monica) Peters, Calach (Lindsay) Peters, Chris Peters, and Andy Peters; great-grandchildren, Lilly Whipple, Carly Whipple, Rachel Heintzelman, Jerrell Meyer, Nevia Meyer, Victoria Peters, Julian Meyer, Jovani Meyer, Audrianna Meyer, Edgerton Peters and Ivarr Peters. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, cousins, dear family members and friends.
The family would like to thank Island City Assisted Living staff for their loving care of Marilyn in her time of need.
A visitation was held on Monday, January 25, 2021, at Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Due to Covid-19, a private family service was held. Marilyn’s interment is next to her late husband, Carl, in Brickyard Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Charlotte VFW Post #2406 in memory of Marilyn. Condolences can be sent to the family at SkinnerFuneralHome.com. “We love you, Mom. You will remain in our hearts forever.”
Douglas I. Cuatt
Douglas Ira Cuatt, 64, passed away January 14, 2021 in his home. He was born in Albion, Mich. on July 17, 1956 to Richard F. and Grace M. (Snow) Cuatt. Doug was a graduate of Springport High School class of 1974. He met the love of his life, Dianne, in 1983 and never looked back. He was a wonderful man, a loving husband, and a devoted father and later grandfather. Always willing to help in any situation, he would always teach you anything and everything he could.
Doug was a very strong-minded person who wasn’t afraid to tell you what was needed. To many he was intimidating, but to his family and friends he was a man with a heart of gold. Providing for his family was always a top priority for Doug, doing anything and everything possible to provide, often working multiples jobs with long hours.
In his spare time, Doug loved many things in life such as hunting, fishing, camping, and spending time at the family cabin to name just a few. However, the thing he loved the most was his family and spending time with them. Doug fought a long hard battle with cancer and never stopped fighting.
Doug passed peacefully with his wife and family right by his side. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Dianne; sons, Christopher D. Cuatt and Michael L. (Brook) Cuatt; his five grandchildren, Christopher Jr., Kayla, Adam, Delainey, and Greysen Cuatt; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard F. and Grace M. (Snow) Cuatt; and his three brothers, Jim, Robert, and Wesley Cuatt.
Friends are encouraged to support Doug’s family by sharing memories of him on his tribute page at PrayFuneral.com. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be sent to the Sparrow Herbert Herman Cancer Center, 1140 East Michigan Avenue #100, Lansing, MI 48912 in Douglas Cuatt’s memory. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Jill B. Lea
Jill Braden Lea, a sweet and generous woman, died peacefully, surrounded by her family at her home in Charlotte on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at the age of 68. Jill was born June 19, 1952, in Charlotte, the daughter of Alonzo “Sparky” and Nora Braden. Growing up in the care of her uncle and aunt, Frank and Kay Braden, her cousins Ron, Jim and Terry became her big brothers. She attended Charlotte High School before moving to California for her final year of school. Jill married Donald “Zauner” Lea on May 9, 1987, and the two enjoyed 33 years of marriage. Their marriage built on a devotion to each other was an example for others to follow. Throughout the years, Zauner and Jill loved to travel both abroad and locally, spending time outdoors camping and fishing. There were many trips to Negril, Jamaica, that helped develop a deeply loving and tight-knit group of friends. Other destinations included numerous trips to Seattle to visit family. Jill will be remembered as a fiercely loyal protector of her family and friends. Her loving and sweet spirit will always remind us of her devotion to all of those in her life. She had a caring personality and would do anything for a friend in need. In her spare time, she enjoyed antiquing and yard sales, tending her flower garden, and picking stones on camping trips to the beach. Jill worked for The Gallery in downtown Charlotte before developing a framing business in her own home. She most recently worked at the Passport Call Center through Peckham Industries in Lansing until her retirement in 2010. Jill will be missed by countless friends and family, who will always remember that “to know Jill was to love Jill.”
Jill is survived by her husband, Donald “Zauner” Lea; siblings, Judy Braden and Jim (Julie) Braden; life-long close cousins, Jim Braden and Terry (Sue) Braden; and niece, Jamie Gurski. She was predeceased by her brother, Jack Braden; cousin, Ron Braden; and her parents.
Friends were encouraged to support Jill’s family at visitation on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at Pray Funeral Home. A private memorial service was held with webcasting on Wednesday, January 20. A larger public gathering will be held when restrictions are eased. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Capital Area Humane Society, or Paws With A Cause. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Jill on her tribute page at PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.