Obituaries
Donald L. Stiver, Jr.
Donald L. Stiver, Jr., 75, of Merritt Island, Fla., passed away March 31, 2019. He was born June 9, 1943, in Alexandria, La., to the late Donald, Sr. and Ann Stiver. Donald graduated from Charlotte High School, and then attended Michigan State University. He then enlisted in the United States Army, served a tour in Vietnam, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 20 years of honorable service. While in the Army, he attended the Navy Test Pilot School. After retirement he was an avid airplane builder and pilot as a member of the Experimental Aviation Association. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Martin’s University and his master’s in systems management from USC. After his career in the Army, Donald worked for several government contractors (FMC, Lockheed Martin and DRS).
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; children, Carri F. (James) Grady of Viera, Fla., and Sarah C. Stiver of Alpharetta, Ga.; grandchildren, Katherine E. Banks-Smith (Travis) and Matthew D. Banks. Donald has one brother and three sisters.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at noon on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing. The Rite of Committal will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lansing. His family will receive friends beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Arrangements are by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel. Online condolences may be left for his family at EstesLeadley.com.
Ellen C. Kays
Ellen Christie Kays passed away on April 2, 2019 at Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, N.C., following a short illness. Ellen was born June 22, 1934 in Dowagiac, to Arthur and Hazel Moore Kays, who predeceased her, as did her brother, Morey Kays.
Ellen spent the majority of her life in Lansing before moving to Hendersonville in 2014. She dearly loved the State of Michigan and her two cats, Taco and Lollipop.
Ellen was a legal secretary for some years but spent most of her career in the office of the Governor of Michigan.
She is survived by her sister, Beth (John) Saurer, of Englewood, Fla.; brother, Paul Kays of Hendersonville; and sister-in-law, Neva Kays of Harbour Heights, Fla.; plus several nieces and nephews.
Ellen’s life will be honored with a graveside service at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, 2018.
In lieu of fowers, the family requests donations to Best Friends Animal Society at bestfriends.org.
Aleta B. VanAuken
Aleta B. VanAuken, 98, of Vermontville, died Sunday, March 10, 2019 at her home. Aleta was born in Battle Creek on September 10, 1920, the daughter of the late Alston and Beatrice (Harrington) Penfold. She was raised in the Battle Creek, and attended local schools there. Her family relocated to the Nashville area while she was in high school, and she graduated from W.K. Kellogg High School in 1939.
Aleta spent her working career at Kellogg’s, where she served the company in many capacities throughout the years. The majority of her career, however, Aleta worked in the shipping and packing departments, retiring in 1981 after 26 Years with the company. Along with her husband Donald, the couple enjoyed fishing, gardening, and traveling together. Aleta was also an extremely talented seamstress, who enjoyed making clothing for her family.
Aleta is survived by her daughter, Tina Miracle; son, Tom (Teresha) VanAuken; sister, Thelma Linsley; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald; sons, Donnie and Terry VanAuken; son in-law, Dennis; and brother-in-law, Lloyd Linsley
Funeral Services were held at The Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville on Saturday, March 16, 2019, with Pastor Joe Benedict officiating. Interment took place immediately following the funeral service in Wilcox Cemetery in Nashville.
Memorial contributions can be made to the family of Aleta VanAuken.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville. For further details, please visit danielsfuneralhome.net,
Ruth M. Umbarger
Ruth Marion Umbarger of Eaton Rapids passed away March 18, 2019 at the age of 92. Ruth was born in Springport on August 7, 1926, the daughter of George and Mary (Price) Mock. She was a graduate of Eaton Rapids High School Class of 1944 and was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary 80thDivision WWII Veterans Association. Ruth worked at Horner Woolen Mills for four years and later retired from Owens-Illinois in Charlotte after 24 years of service. She enjoyed watching baseball, quilting, traveling and listening to music. She particularly liked this poem, “God saw the road was getting rough. The hills were hard to climb. He gently closed your weary eyes and whispered, ‘Peace be Thine.’”
Ruth is survived by her daughters, Sue Ellen Thurston of Traverse City, Sally (Douglas) Knorr of Traverse City; sons, Keith (Carol) Umbarger of Holt, Kerry Umbarger of Eaton Rapids; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; half-sisters, Bonnie (LeRoy) Beagle of Eagle, Celia (Raymond) Ainslie of Empire, Sharlene (Dan) Winslow of Eaton Rapids, Becky Mock of Grand Ledge; half-brother, George (Geneva) Mock of Eaton Rapids; sister-in-law, Louise Mock of Eaton Rapids; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard Umbarger; sisters, Fern Caldwell, Grace Firebaugh; brothers, Kenneth and Neil Mock; and half-sister, Patricia Trumble.
Funeral services were held Friday, March 22, 2019 at Mills Funeral Home, located at 518 S. Main Street in Eaton Rapids. Interment followed in Oakwood Cemetery.
Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Eaton Rapids Historical Society.
Please visit millsfuneral.com to place online condolences.
Caroline R. Nelson
Caroline R. Nelson, born on August 12, 1930, died on March 13, 2019 with her family by her side. She married Oliver Nelson on September 1, 1948. They are from the Rudyard and Pickford areas of the Upper Peninsula and moved to lower Michigan, where they raised their family. Together they had purchased the Chance School House in Vermontville, and lived there until their deaths. She was a member of the Nashville Baptist Church and had volunteered at Pennock Hospital for 18 years.
She is survived by her children, Earl, Karen (Earlyn) Huff, Robert (Louise); twins, Christine (Henry) Bouthiette and Christian (Lisa), James (Toni), and Helen (Jim) Misner; as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; her brothers, Charley (Margaret) Izzard, Verne (Margene) Izzard and Duane; and her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Oliver Earl Nelson; her parents, Nelson and Fannie (Vincent) Izzard; her brothers, and sisters-in-law, Wesley (Irene) Izzard, Carl, Claude (Eleanor) Izzard, and Russell (Bernice) Izzard.
Funeral services were held at The Nashville Baptist Church on Monday, March 18, 2019, with pastors Lester DeGroot, and Deano Lamphere officiating. Interment took place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Vermontville.
Memorial contributions can be made to The Nashville Baptist Church.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville. For further details, please visit danielsfuneralhome.net.