Obituaries
Eleanor Kay Mott
Eleanor Kay Mott, age 77, of Olivet passed away at her home on December 12, 2019.
Eleanor was born January 18, 1942, to Beryl and Ormand Sine at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall. She attended her first eight years of schooling at Lee Center Country school and remaining four at Olivet High, graduating in 1960.
She married her high-school sweetheart, Laurel D. Mott, on April 15, 1962, at the Lee Center Methodist Church. Their first and only home remains the family farm, where they have lived the entirety of their marriage. The couple were both instrumental in running the family farm. While Laurel was the heavy lifter, Eleanor was the hands-on assistant wherever she was needed and kept things moving. She was also known to be on a first-name basis with the cows.
Eleanor was employed by Kellogg’s for six years prior to becoming the much-loved, well-known and respected “Mrs. Mott,” special ed and kindergarten bus driver for Olivet Community Schools for 33 years. She not only transported “her kids,” as she always referred to them, but went above and beyond to make sure they knew she cared about them. Many years later, she is still fondly remembered by the students and parents. Of the 33 years she drove bus, for eight of those, she was also the bus garage supervisor. And while Eleanor may have retired from her love of driving, her zest for life and love of serving never retired.
Eleanor was an avid gardener and green thumb and was thrilled this summer when her tulip tree finally bloomed with its first-ever flowers. She was known for her genuine happy spirit, smile and laugh, not to mention her macaroni and cheese, Texas sheet cake and cinnamon rolls.
Not only was she an excellent cook and gardener, she was a talented seamstress and did many do-it-yourself projects, including tiling, painting, and wall-papering for her home and others. If you needed help for anything, you need only ask. She never did anything half-heartedly, and telling her she couldn’t do something wasn’t an option.
Eleanor was a collector of owls and bells, loved watching birds, kept daily diaries for years and was always working on a craft or two. She and her husband were long-time sports enthusiasts and cheered and attended many, many Olivet Eagle sporting events over the years. She was also a huge, loyal supporter and big-time fan of the Michigan State Spartans and Detroit Tigers. But her greatest love was of that for her family, of which they are the blessed recipients. She was lovingly known as “GG” and found great joy in doting on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
To know Eleanor was to love her. She touched many lives and will be deeply missed and remembered always.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 58 years, Laurel Dwight Mott of Olivet; two children, Scott (Dawn) Mott of Allen, TX, Christine (Rob) Bramer of Olivet. Grandchildren: Calen (Jessica) Bramer, Cameron (Erin) Bramer, Kiler (Tiffany) Bramer, all of Olivet, Peyton (Cory) Scheibner, Trevor Mott, Jaclyn (Charlie) Smith, Macy (Chris) Middleton, Caitlan (Jon) Ropson , all of Texas; 15 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews and Greg Darrow.
She is also survived by brothers, Robert A. Sine and Richard O. Sine. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Helen. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service is being arranged.
Please consider a gift to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in her memory.
Bettie Denton
Bettie Denton, age 76, of Bellevue, passed away Saturday, December 14, 2019, at Thornapple Manor in Hastings.
Bettie was born in Dayton, TN, on November 6, 1943, the daughter of the late Lester and Mattie (Mooneyham) Webb. She was raised in Bellevue area and attended local schools, graduating in 1961.
She was the wife of Kermit Denton. The couple was married July 15, 1961.
Bettie worked as a manager of the Ritzee Hamburger Restaurant in Urbandale for 10 years, where she invented BJ Chili Cheese Fries. She also worked at PAC Uniforms in Battle Creek, where she prepared uniforms for several different industries before they were shipped to customers.
Bettie loved her family and especially enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren play sports, never missing a game. Along with her beloved husband Kermit, they spent countless hours traveling all over the United States. It was not uncommon for them to load up the pickup truck and just take off, sometimes with only a direction and no actual destination. On one trip to the western United States, Kermit and Bettie covered over 9,000 miles in three weeks. During the summer months, Bettie enjoyed spending time with Kermit while he was fishing. Bettie would bring a good book and sit quietly in the boat, reading and enjoying a day on the water. Bettie and Kermit attended Nashville Baptist Church for over 40 years and always loved the music and the people.
Bettie is survived by her beloved husband of 58 years, Kermit, her daughter, Lisa (Bill) Hartman, two sons Lynn (Lori) Denton, Larry (Denise) Denton, her sister, Joyce Randall, brother, Gary (Judy) Webb, sister in-law Jill Webb, brother in law Gilbert Douglas, eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded by her brother Bill Webb and sister Wanda Douglas.
The family will receive visitors on Saturday, December 21, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville, MI. The funeral service will take place at 2 p.m., with Nashville Baptist Church pastors Lester DeGroot and Deano Lamphere officiating.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America at hdsa.org Great Lake Region. Funeral services have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville. For further details, visit the website at www.danielsfuneralhome.net.
Leona Lucille Barker
Leona Lucille Barker of Eaton Rapids, passed away December 11, 2019, at the age of 78. Leona was born in Eaton Rapids on October 27, 1941, the daughter of J.E. and Estina (Bunker) Disbrow. She was a bus driver for the Eaton Rapids Public School system and, after 21 years of service, she was able to enjoy retirement. Leona loved to cook, work on word-search puzzles and watch soap operas, but her greatest love was in spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Janice (Dan) Lambrix of Muskegon, Everett (Vivian) Hillard of Eaton Rapids, William Hillard of Flint; stepchildren, John (Sandy) Barker of Holt, Joe Barker of Lansing, Tom (Phyllis) Barker of DeWitt, Francy Onley of Florida; 14 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Leona was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert Barker in 2013; son, Robert Hillard; brother, Ellsworth (Marge) Disbrow; and sister, Viola Blaine.
Funeral services were held December 16, 2019, at the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids with Pastor Jim Riley officiating. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society. Visit the website at millsfuneral.com to place online condolences.
Lawrence Jerry Scarbro
Lawrence Jerry Scarbro of Eaton Rapids passed away on Monday, December 16, 2019, at the age of 80. Lawrence was born on October 30, 1939, in Burnwell, WV. He graduated from Clear Fork High School, class of 1958, and went on to proudly serve as a member of the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He was discharged early to return home to help raise his younger siblings after the untimely death of his father. Lawrence worked for several years in the coal mines of West Virginia before moving to Michigan in the early 1970s to take a job with Oldsmobile. He resided in Eaton Rapids, where he bought a piece of property and did a little farming and raising of livestock. Lawrence came from a very humble upbringing, which made him extremely resourceful. He never saw an item he couldn’t reuse or repurpose. Although he had a tough and rugged outward appearance, he was a gentle, kind and generous man who would give anything he could to help someone in need. Lawrence could often be found spending time with his friends at the “Doll House” or the VFW Post 6132 sipping on a glass of his favorite drink, Wild Turkey. In his later years, Lawrence proudly accepted his role as a father and dedicated his life to his daughter Morgan.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Allen Scarbro.
Surviving Lawrence are his wife of 20 years, Debbie (Morgan) Scarbro; daughter, Morgan Scarbro; step-children, Jasmine (Andy) Emerick, Jeff (Melissa) Cripe, Jeremiah (Sherri Lamoureux) Cripe; grandchildren, Harper and Maevie Emerick, Brandon Cripe, J.J., Noah, Hazel and Justice Cripe; brothers, Franklin (Jackie) Scarbro, Clarence (Shirley) Scarbro, Leon Scarbro, Wilson Scarbro; sisters, Joyce Scarbro, Faye Scarbro, Susan Mooney, Mary Frances and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Funeral services were scheduled to be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 21, 2019, at Skinner Funeral Homes, Eaton Rapids Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Morgan’s HUGS in memory of Lawrence. To share memories or leave condolences, visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Gladys L. Byers
Gladys L. Byers, age 100 years and 7 months, died at 2:20 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2019. According to her wishes, there will be no service. The family wishes to thank Dr. Marl and staff, Eaton Community Palliative Care, and all of her friends at Sugar Mill Apartments, especially Ginger, Karen and Janet. Thank you from her children and grandchildren.