Obituaries
Nancy Jane Duggan
Nancy Jane Duggan — the caring, fun-loving and thoughtful matriarch of her family, and mom to all — died Saturday, November 23, 2019. Nancy, age 82, of Charlotte, was born February 15, 1937, to Paul and Alice (Freebourn) Clinger in Pennsylvania. Nancy’s FAMILY was always her pride and joy. In her youth, Nancy helped her mother with her siblings. In 1966, she and her husband John moved to Charlotte to work at Owens Illinois (OI) with a large number of their family, where she worked in quality control until she retired in 1978. Jitterbug champions, Nancy and John loved to host family game nights and bible studies. Her faith was important to her. She was an amazing pie maker and would spoil her children and grandchildren whenever she had the opportunity. Nancy also loved bowling, Hallmark movies, decaf coffee and coffee shops with friends, word searches, reading, crafts, garage sales and flea markets and visiting the casino. Nancy had a heart of gold. The Christmas season was her favorite, and she would make sure that friends, family and strangers alike had gifts and a place at her table.
She is survived by her husband John; daughters Lorena Duggan-Scott, and Marcy Duggan-Beebe; grandchildren Derek (Cathlene) Beebe, Nicole (Thomas) Brown, Matthew Scott, and Renee (Allen Sours) Beebe; great-grandchildren Jackson Brown, Caroline Brown, Adrienne Beebe, Hunter Sours, Elizabeth Beebe, and Josephine Beebe; brother James Clinger; and Sisters Bonnie (Robert) Jones, Linda Shepherd and Norma Martin. She was predeceased by her parents; brother Louis Clinger; and sisters Mary Clinger Jones and Irene Clinger Etzel.
Friends are encouraged to support Nancy’s family at visitation and funeral services. Funeral services are Saturday, November 30, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Pastor Mark Booth officiating. Visitation was scheduled for Friday, November 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday one hour prior to the service. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Friends and family are asked to share memories of Nancy on her tribute page at www.PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
Karin Suzanne Avery
Karin Suzanne Avery — a loving, loyal and passionate, daughter, sister and partner — died Sunday, November 17, 2019, after a long battle with Huntington’s Disease — a disease she fought up to the very end. Karin, 50, of Charlotte, was born August 18, 1969, to Chester and Ella (Richardson) Wright. She worked as a legal secretary for different law firms. Karin was very competitive. Whether it was euchre, bowling, typing or playing board games, she was not losing. She loved the outdoors — hunting, fishing, boating, camping and going to the beach. Karin was an accomplished pool player and also enjoyed a cold beer. Karin was not able to have children of her own and this led to a strong love for animals, and her cats and dogs were her babies.
Family and friends meant the world to Karin. She always greeted you with a smile and a big hug.
Karin is survived by her significant other, Brian Burke; father, Chester (Tess) Wright; sisters, Michele (Ray) Johnson, and Amy (Scott Brainard) Wright; nieces and nephews, Jennifer (Remo), Joseph (Katherine), Tyler, Justin (Paige), India, Ava, and Kaitlyn; 3 great nieces and nephews; and her beloved dog, Whitley. She was predeceased by her mother Ella Wright; and nephew, Jacob Carroll.
Friends are encouraged to support Karin’s family at visitation and funeral services. Funeral services are Saturday, November 23, 2019, at noon at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Pastor Greg Pitchman officiating. Visitation will be held just prior to the service from 10 a.m. to noon. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Crosswalk Teen Center in Charlotte or the Eaton County Humane Society. Friends and family are asked to share memories of Karin on her Tribute Page at www.PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
Ernestine “Tina” Alice Ballard
Ernestine “Tina” Alice Ballard, 99, of Bellevue, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 16, 2019, with family by her side.
Ernestine was born August 17, 1920, in St. Johns, to Ernest and Margaret (Eisler) Waggoner. She grew up and attended school in Lansing. On August 2, 1938, Ernestine married Charles G. Ballard in Bryan Ohio. He preceded her in death in 1991. Charles and Ernestine lived in the Lansing area prior to moving to Vermontville in 1951 and then settling on their farm in Bellevue in 1956. Along with helping Charles on the farm, Ernestine was a stay-at-home mom to their two children, daughter Kathleen “Kay” and son Alfred, whom she lovingly referred to as “Butch.”
Tina enjoyed listening to music, especially her favorite country singer, Alan Jackson. She also enjoyed cooking, baking, dancing, playing cards and embroidery. She was an avid Detroit Tigers fan and enjoyed listening to them on the radio. She preferred the commentators on the radio over the ones on the television. Ernestine’s happiest times were spent with friends, family and numerous family pets. She loved many animals (except snakes) but had a special place in her heart for dogs and kitty cats.
Ernestine is survived by her daughter Kathleen (Roger [deceased]) Hosey and son Alfred (Sharon) Ballard, six grandchildren: Rae Alice (Jeff) Murphy, Roger Charles (Deb) Hosey, Paula (Jeff) Light, Wendy (Jonny) Thornton, Karen (Doug) DeLand, and Jason (Amanda) Ballard; 13 great-grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, stepfather, six siblings and a granddaughter.
Funeral services were scheduled for Friday, November 22 at the Bellevue chapel of Kempf Funeral and Cremation Services with Rev. Mikki Saandlin of the Bellevue United Methodist Church officiating. Interment was planned at Bellevue Riverside Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are requested to the Bellevue Fire Department or Bellevue Good Samaritans. To leave a personal message for the family and sign the online guestbook, visit www.kempffuneralhome.com.
Carol M. (Depeel) Tarr
Carol M. (Depeel) Tarr of Charlotte passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on November 5, 2019. She was born in Branch, MI, to Ruth and Ethro Depeel. She graduated from Mason County Central High School and attended Ferris State College. She was employed as a support specialist by the State of Michigan, from which she retired.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Stacey. She is survived by her four children, Robert (Barb) Tarr, Jeff (Lisa) Tarr, Sally Rankin, and Brad Tarr; six grandchildren, Jennifer Cameron, Melanie Wiegold, Casey Hussey, Bethany Rankin, Michael Tarr, and Luke Tarr; and seven great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions can be made in Carol’s name to Sparrow Hospice. A celebration of life is being planned.
Robert Earl Polhamus
Robert Earl Polhamus, 72, died on November 6, 2019, in Adrian, after a struggle with lung cancer. Robert was born in Hastings on April 24, 1947. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Tanya Barnes, and infant son, Robert Aaron-Earl Polhamus. Bob is survived by his wife, Jackie (Husted) Polhamus; adopted son, Gerry Polhamus; two step-children; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.