Obituaries
Lennis D. Sanders
Lennis D. Sanders of Mason, and formerly of Eaton Rapids, passed away on Wednesday, December 4, 2019, at the age of 84. Lennis was born on March 10, 1935, in Eaton Rapids Township, the son of Jay and Norene (Potter) Sanders. He proudly served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army in Korea. Lennis worked as a welder and mechanic at numerous companies throughout his lifetime including: Allied Steel, Springport Steel, Holt Metal, Sunoco, Meijer, Warner and Swasey, Eaton Lumber, VFW National Home, Mergener Printing, and then retiring from General Motors in 1999. He was a loving and caring soul who could strike up a conversation and make friends with anyone. Lennis was a man who loved to laugh, loved the Lord, and above all loved his family and cherished the time he spent with them. He was a master of grilled chicken, donuts and pancakes.
He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Bruce; sisters-in-law Virginia and Sharie. Lennis is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lauralee (Olney) Sanders; his children, Nancy Wilson, Sheila (Paul) Pawlowski, Teresa (Rusty) Hawley, Mark (Mary) Sanders, Linette (Bill) Silvernail; 16 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren; siblings, Richard Sanders, Ralph (Linda) Sanders, Clair Sanders, Esther (Dean) Shrontz; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Lennis will be interred at Greenwood Cemetery in Aurelius Township in a private service. Please join family and friends to share memories and stories at a 1 p.m. dinner at the Leslie Faith Assembly of God Church on Saturday, Dec. 7. For more information, visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Chuck Gulliver
On November 30, 2019, the world lost a kind and gentle man who always put others ahead of himself. He was a man who, above all else, loved life and family, especially his wife of 76 years, Nina. Chuck’s life included many occupations. His favorite was the years he spent as bellman and then Superintendent of Service at the Grand Hotel and the Seaview Hotel in Miami. He ran a multi-location poultry business with his brother Dick and father Ray. In later years, he was an investment advisor.
While his various jobs were important, his heart was more into his love of the outdoors — sailing his boat, The Nina, on the Great Lakes, inland Michigan lakes and waterways from Florida to Canada. Chuck enjoyed camping, whether as a boy scout or scoutmaster or with his family in his Palace trailer.
Chuck was known for his sense of humor, his gentle and loving nature, his sense of style (in truth, a sense that came from Nina), his optimism, his loyalty to people and institutions and a genuine love of people. Everyone he met was a potential friend.
Chuck and Nina had four children; Ted (Betty), Gary (Deborah), Christine (Keith) Pople, and Charna (Bob) Welch, all who knew that each was number one in their dad’s eyes. Every grandchild and great grandchild also knew they were number one as well. His grandchildren are; Katie, Laura (Devin), John, Kimberley (Chad), Keith (Blerina), Alexis, Jessica, Zach (Kim), and Nick (Janna). His great grandchildren are; Lydia, Landon, Kaylond, Eden, and Mackenzie. He is also survived by his brother Dick (Marjie). Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Christena; sister, Maxine; brother, Bob; granddaughter, Anne Marie and great-grandson, Charlie.
Memorial services for Chuck were held Wednesday, December 4, at the First United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids. Donations in memory of Chuck can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Eaton Rapids. To share memories or leave condolences, visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Marville Anna Frith
Marville Anna Frith, age 101 — a devoted wife, mother and grandmother — died peacefully on Saturday, November 16, 2019, at Flower House of Nashville. Marville, formerly of Vermontville, was born July 16, 1918, in Morris, IL, the daughter of Andrew Elmer and Anna Marie (Olsen) Lindberg. She graduated high school in Vermontville before earning a bachelor’s degree from Western State Teachers College. She taught at Eaton County Country Schools, including the Brown School, Nickle School, and Thornton School, then in Grand Ledge Public Schools.
Marville married Lawrence A. Frith on July 23, 1944, at Jefferson Parish in New Orleans, LA. Following marriage, Marville settled in to raise their four children. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, 4H throughout her lifetime and Farm Bureau. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, genealogy and reading. Marville also loved nature and was always seeking to name the many birds and their songs she encountered. Marville’s family will always carry her in their hearts.
Marville is survived by her daughters, Patricia (Gordon) Swan and Barbara Pixley; sons, Russell Frith and Bart (Frances) Frith; grandchildren, Christine (Michael) Bonk, Jillaine (Chad) LeCompte, Kathryn (Ben) Vanderveen, Richard Pixley, Deborah (Jeff) Hayes; step-grandchildren, Shelly, Melissa, Michael, Lynette, William, Russell; great-grandchildren, Tim, Angie, Joe, Lucy and Peter Bonk; Michael and Elena LeCompte; Charlie and Ali Vanderveen; Kendal and Morgen Pixley; Trey Harvath; Chad Hayes; and many more step-great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, Lawrence Frith; brothers, Ernest “Bud” Lindberg and William Lindberg; grandson, Tommy Pixley; step-great-grandson, Michael Gabriel; son-in-law, Jerry Pixley; and daughter-in-law, Sharen Frith.
Funeral services were held November 21, 2019, at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Laura Cooper officiating. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Grace Hospice. Friends and family are asked to share memories of Marville on her Tribute Page at www.PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
Beverly J. Martens
Beverly J. Martens, age 92, of Bellevue, died on November 24, 2019, at Calhoun County Medical Care Facility after a long illness.
Beverly was born on November 16, 1927, in Battle Creek to Harold R. and Gertrude (Watts) Burt. The family moved around while she was growing up, and she attended schools in the Battle Creek area. They settled in Bellevue, where she enrolled in school. She graduated from Bellevue High School in 1945.
Her father worked at the Ford Garage in Bellevue with a young man named Clarence Martens. On a visit to her father at the Ford garage she met him. She noted that Clarence was quite the jokester, and Beverly was taken with him. Clarence taught her to drive. They fell in love and were married on August 26, 1947, in a small church ceremony in Bellevue. The couple took a honeymoon trip to Tahquamenon Falls. They returned to make their home in Bellevue, where they first lived with her parents until they could afford their own home several years after marriage. Beverly and Clarence sold their first home and bought a farm on Ionia Road, where they raised their family. Beverly was a homemaker and worked at the Bellevue school library when her children were in school.
Beverly was a devoted member of the Bellevue United Methodist Church, where she had taught Sunday school. She belonged to the United Methodist Church Women’s Society. She volunteered with the Eaton County 4-H, including teaching seamstress skills. She loved to square dance and ballroom dance. Bingo, board and card games were always an enjoyable way for her to pass the time and have fun. She was a talented seamstress who made most of her children’s clothing. Her family remembers her as a great baker who created many wonderful treats for her family. Attending the mother-daughter banquet at the Bellevue United Methodist Church was always a special yearly event for her and her daughters. Towards the end of her life, she felt she had fulfilled her life’s goal of being a good mother and wife, which her family heartily agreed with.
Beverly and Clarence enjoyed wintering in Englewood, FL, for 20 years. They were always very active, enjoying socializing. They would organize cruises for groups of people and got to enjoy a lot of travel. Beverly always said that her husband taught her to enjoy life to its fullest, and they did that always.
Clarence preceded her in death on May 31, 2007.
Surviving are her children Jim (Eva) Martens of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Susie Butler of Nashville, and Cindy (Mike) Parkinson of Bellevue; 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her brother Richard Burt and son-in-law Alvin Butler.
Beverly’s family wants to express their thanks and gratitude to Dr. Chung and the entire staff at the Calhoun County Medical Care Facility for their kindness, dedication and care of their beloved mother and grandmother.
Friends were invited to call at the Bellevue Chapel of Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 205 N. Elizabeth St. in Bellevue on Friday, November 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. Friends may again call beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 30, at the Bellevue United Methodist Church, 122 Capital in Bellevue, where the Celebration Of Life for her will begin at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Bellevue.
The family suggests memorials in Beverly’s name be made to either the Bellevue Good Samaritans Food Pantry, PO Box 53, Bellevue MI 49021 or Calhoun County Medical Care Facility Activity Fund, 1150 E. Michigan Ave., Battle Creek MI 49014. Assistance is available at Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services. To leave the family a message, visit www.kempffuneralhome.com.
Eric James Stanton
Eric James Stanton of Charlotte — a loving, supportive man that took others in like they were his own family — died unexpectedly November 25, 2019, at the age of 60. Born June 1, 1959, in Eaton Rapids to James and Vonda (Thompson) Stanton, Eric grew up learning to love farming and cooking from his grandma and grandpa Thompson as wonderful role models in his life. He married the love of his life, Carrie LeAnn Bailey, on September 16, 1983, and together they raised three children and built their own home. Eric was a carpenter with Carpenters Union, working all over the state of Michigan until his retirement in March of 2019. With a true love of the outdoors, Eric enjoyed hunting (he never missed an opening day of deer season), fishing with trips to Drummond Island as often as he could and had a real green thumb for “yard farming” with his very large garden. Family was everything to Eric; he put family first and never missed a sporting event or activity of his children or grandchildren. Christmas always had special memories for the family; his mom started reading a special Christmas story to Eric at the age of 2 and did so every year thereafter.
Eric is survived by his children, Derrick, Deven (Bridgette Gallagher), Megan Stanton, and Zach (Mindy) Holbrook; grandchildren, Ayden, Hoyt, and Wyatt Stanton; mom, Vonda Stanton; siblings, Mark (Betsy) Stanton and Karen Stults; and many brothers and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carrie in 2005; his father, James; and his grandparents.
Friends are encouraged to support Eric’s family at visitation and memorial services. Memorial services are Monday, December 2, 2019, at 5 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Daniel O. Sowles officiating. Visitation is Sunday, December 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society. Friends and family are asked to share memories of Eric on his tribute page at www.PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.