Obituaries
James Patrick Burgie
James ‘Jim’ Patrick Burgie, 63 of Charlotte, a quiet man with a great sense of humor, died November 18, 2020. Jim was born in Battle Creek on March 17, 1957 to Robert and Mary Ellen ‘Meg’ (Gibbs) Burgie, one of seven children. Growing up with a large family, Jim learned to stand out in a crowd with his athletic abilities during high school. From 1973-1975, he earned many awards and recognition in football, baseball and wrestling, and continued through college and is a member of the Hall of Fame there. A 1975 graduate of Charlotte High School, Jim then went on to Olivet College where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting.
Jim was a rock for his family. A humble man, Jim could be counted on and would eagerly jump in to help whenever he was able. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially opening day of deer season with the boys. Jim also enjoyed traveling with his family. He continued his passion for sports his entire life, even making trips to Notre Dame and Green Bay to cheer for his favorite teams. Jim met his wife while working at A & E Hoover, and then later worked for Flex-n-Gate in Battle Creek for 12 years until his retirement in 2019.
Jim is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sheila; sons, Brian (Heidi) Sutton, Jason (Angelina) Sutton, Jared (Jenny) Sutton, and William (Mandie) Burgie; two granddaughters, Skyler and Emma Sutton; siblings, Sue (Frank) Dunham, Tom (Lyn) Burgie, Mike (Jan) Burgie, Peggy Mrowca, Mary (Byron) Baumbach, and Terri Waterman; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Jim’s family. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, November 23, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte with Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop officiating. Visitation is one hour prior to the service, from 1-2 p.m. at St. Mary Church. Mask, group capacity, and distancing guidelines will be practiced. The funeral will also 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 Jim’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). Just prior to the beginning of the service, a link will appear on this page to watch the webcast.
If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Wounded Warrior Project. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Jim on his tribute page at www.PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Priscilla Newell Potter
Priscilla Newell Potter of Charlotte, was called home to Heaven on November 18, 2020, at Hospice House of Mid- Michigan in Lansing. She was born August 23, 1931, in Hudson Mich., to Marshall and Mygleetus (Newell) Goodrich, graduated from Hudson High School and attended Adrian College where she played basketball. On September 30, 1950, she married her high school sweetheart, Richard Potter, at First Methodist Church of Hudson, and they were married for 67 years until his death in 2017. Their wedding fell on the day of the Michigan-Michigan State football game, and she remembered their guests going outside to check the score. Their four children all attended those schools- Julie (U of M) and Bill, Linda and Michael (MSU).
They raised their family in Monroe, and both were employed by Monroe Public Schools, and were long time members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of Monroe.
Richard and Priscilla were huge sports fans their entire lives, playing golf for years. Priscilla played softball and tennis until she was 50 years old. Her family was the most important part of her life, enjoying vacations, camping with the grandchildren, family reunions, hundreds of meals around the dining room table, and friendly poker games. Her family will most remember her love of laughter.
In addition to her husband, Richard, she was preceded in death by her son, Michael, brother, Richard Goodrich and sister, Nancy Fellows.
She leaves behind her children, Julie (Jim) Keenan, William Potter (Barb Bialko) and Linda (Jon) Dickinson; seven grandchildren, Melissa Hooper, Sarah Skrobosinski (Jim), Jeffrey Keenan (Kristen), Marcia French (Marty), Scott Matwiejczyk (Melanie), Nathaniel Potter, and Emily Potter, and 13 great-grandchildren; Jackson Hooper, Preston Hooper, Charlotte Hooper, Elizabeth Skrobosinski, Addison Keenan, Evelyn Keenan, Greyson Keenan, Ethan Miars, Lola Miars, Weston Miars, Mason Miars, Madison Matwiejczyk and Garrett Matwiejczyk, and her sisters, Sally Goodrich and Lois (Dick) Sayre, and sister-in-law Betty Lou Potter, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Due to Covid concerns, a memorial service will be planned for the future.
Those desiring, may make contributions in Pricilla’s honor to First Baptist Church, 1110 S. Cochran Ave., Charlotte, MI 48813 or Michigan Abolitionist Project, P.O. Box 180603, Utica, MI 48318.
To view Priscilla’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit Burkhead-Green-Kilgo.com.
The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Donald Dean King
Donald Dean King, of Charlotte, a Maintenance Mechanic, died on November 12, 2020 at the age of 61. Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17 at the Charlotte Assembly of God Church. Arrangement were made by Pray Funeral Home.
John E. Damon
John E. Damon, 89, of Bellevue, rode away into the sunset for the final time on his John Deere tractor, Thursday, November 12, 2020.
He was born on July 7, 1931 to Andrew John and Luella (Hodge) Damon in Battle Creek.
John served in the United States Army from February 6, 1952 until January 26, 1954, attaining the rank of Private First Class.
John was a longtime farmer in Convis Township, while also holding down jobs roofing with his Uncle Maurice Hodge, Agri Sales in Charlotte and retiring in 1996 from Atwood Automotive in Battle Creek.
He could be seen at many auctions, buying and selling. Wednesday was stockyard day and Elaine would never know what he was going to unload out of the stock trailer. John always had stock at the farm, raising beef and pork for his many customers as well as chickens, rabbits and ducks. Menard’s was the place to go, John loved the good buys and the rebate checks. He will be missed by Elaine, Daisy, Kit Kat, Big Boy and Wiggle Worm.
John is survived by Elaine, who has lovingly been by his side for 30 years; his step-children, Darrick Douglas of Battle Creek, Teresa (Brent) Jones of Battle Creek and Heather (Cedrick) Hawthorne; his siblings, Denny Damon of Marshall, Maxine (Don) Collins of Olivet and Sue (Paul) Coats of Bellevue; his sister-in-law, Mickey Damon and an army of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary, his parents, his sister Betty Harrison, his brothers; Robert, Kenneth and Wayne.
A graveside memorial service was held on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at Austin Cemetery in Convis Township.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Fountain Clinic in Marshall, Oaklawn Hospice or to Pawsibilities Animal Rescue in Olivet.
Arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 205 N. Elizabeth St., Bellevue, Michigan 49021. Please visit kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guestbook or to leave the family condolences.
Joan Ann Kerstetter Wilmore
Joan Ann Kerstetter Wilmore, 92 of Charlotte, passed away peacefully November 12, 2020 at her home with family. Joan was born in Lansing, Mich. on December 13, 1927, the only child of George and Mabel (Cooper) Kerstetter. George, Mabel and Joan moved to the city of Charlotte when Joan was a small child, to be close to George’s parents, who owned a farm on Mulliken Road. In the early 40’s they moved to the farm, which at that time had a double house.
Joan said many times she thought she had been put in exile, leaving town! She soon became a part of farm and country life, and met the neighbor boy, Norm Wilmore, when he came to work for her family. We all know where that led, before Norm spent time in the service, they were engaged and after his return, they married on July 2, 1948. They rented a farm on Vermontville Highway before purchasing and moving to their farm on Shaytown Road in Vermontville. This is where they milked cows, farmed, and raised a family of five, Connie, Karen, Vicki, Pam, and Kirby.
In 1977, and after most of the kids had moved out and moved on, Joan and Norman moved back to the beloved home of her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents on Mulliken Road. Joan re-designed and remodeled the house, became a HGB volunteer (which she loved doing), and was frequently seen with the McDonald’s coffee club where she felt very much a part of being a Charlotte girl! Joan had many friends that she went to school with, church with, and knew from being a part of the greater Charlotte community. Over the years she worked at McNamara’s Drug Store, Wilcox-Gay, and Barber State Bank, and was a member of Gresham United Methodist Church where she served on many boards and committees. Joan lived a life of service to her family, church, and community. Her faith in God sustained her through many ups and downs in life, and her family knows she is now walking hand-in-hand with her husband, Norman, in Heaven.
Memories of Joan will be cherished by her family, including her children, Connie (Chuck) Corbin, Karen Scott and friend Chuck O’Connell, Pam (Fred) Todd, and Kirby (Kate) Wilmore; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Norman in 2013; her daughter, Vicki Watson; and grandson, Chad Gingrich.
Friends are encouraged to support Joan’s family by sharing memories on her Tribute Page at PrayFuneral.com. The family will have a private graveside service. In 2021 the family plans to have a Celebration of Life for Joan once it is safe to do so. If desired the family suggests memorial contributions to the Gresham United Methodist Church. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.