Obituaries
Griffith L. Williams
Griffith Leland “Lee” Williams, age 87, of Charlotte, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at home with his family by his side. Lee was born December 27, 1932, in Sand Run, Ohio the son of Griffith and Nellie (Doak) Williams. He graduated from Logan High School in 1950 and then went on to attend Ohio University. Soon after graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and proudly served his country during the Korean Conflict. On October 11, 1959, Lee married Joyce Eileen Bowers at the Hebron United Methodist Church. Lee had a passion for music. As a young man, he and his family often sang together. Later in life, he was involved in several barbershop quartets and sang in the church choir. Lee also collected and played many different instruments. He and Joyce enjoyed traveling in their motorhome together to numerous destinations across the country. He also enjoyed golfing in his spare time. Lee began his career in clay and concrete pipe sales for Logan Clay and later for Zurn Industries. He was a member of the Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church and Charlotte Optimist Club. Family brought Lee his greatest joy in life. He adored each and every member of his family but had a special place in his heart for his grandchildren.
Lee is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joyce; daughters: Gina (Duane) Hanrahan of Indianapolis, Ind., Julie (Wayne) Nash of Delaware, Ohio, Nancy (Bob) Loth of Pewaukee, Wis.; grandchildren: Chris (Annie) Hanrahan, Stephen Hanrahan, Geoff Hanrahan, Ben Nash, Chris Nash, Allison Loth, Megan Loth and Corinne Loth. He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters; and one brother.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at noon at the Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church with Rev. Gary Wales officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to noon on the same day. Burial will take place at Poplar Forks Cemetery in Gratiot, Ohio.
Those desiring may make contributions in Lee’s honor to Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church, 210 E. Lawrence Ave., Charlotte MI 48813 or Heartland Hospice, 865 S. Cedar St., Mason MI 48854. To view Lee’s obituary online, or to leave a condolence for the family, visit www.burkhead-greenfuneralhome.com.
Madge L. Cooley
Madge Loraine Sadowsky (Putney) Cooley, age 90 — a fun-loving and caring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother — died peacefully on Friday, February 14, 2020, at home in Battle Creek. Madge, formerly of Olivet and Montpelier, Ohio, was born December 4, 1929, at home in Clarence Township. She graduated from Olivet High School in 1948 and soon after married Kenneth Arthur Putney on August 7, 1948. Together, the two raised five children and enjoyed 25 years of marriage before Kenneth’s death in 1973. Aside from home life on the farm, Madge went to work for Olivet Schools as a substitute in the cafeteria, and in her eight years of service worked her way up to head of food service. She later married Robert Cooley, and the two spent 30 years of marriage in Ohio and enjoyed travel adventures to Germany, Alaska and Hawaii. She enjoyed many things — from sewing, crochet, polka dancing and traveling to canning vegetables from her gardens. Many will remember Madge’s amazing homemade cinnamon rolls, a tradition she passed down to her daughters. After Bob’s death in 2011, she lived in Battle Creek with her daughter, where she enjoyed time with family and watching wildlife.
Madge is survived by three daughters, Teresa Ballard, Dana Putney, and Linda (Bill Claggett) Putney; eight grandchildren, Joe (Joyce) Hoffdahl, Ben (Marcie) Graves, Jenny (Andy) Fry, Michael Hoffdahl, Amy (Claude) Plante, Stephanie (Tuffy) Collier, Michelle (Dan) Verhougstraete, and Elisabeth Keever; nine great-grandchildren, Tiffany Graves, Colton Graves, Joseph Graves, Cooper Fry, Luc Plante, Braiden Meininger, Andi Grochowsky, Kelton Plante, and Preston Collier; three great-great-grandchildren, Carter Kelley, Logan Kelley, and Remington Graham; and her brother, Gene Sadowsky. She was predeceased by her first husband, Kenneth Putney in 1973; second husband, Robert Cooley in 2011; son, Byron Putney in 1973; daughter, Evelyn (Putney) Cain in 2009; and two siblings, Eleanor Sadowsky and Paul Sadowsky.
Friends are encouraged to support Madge’s family at visitation and services. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Pastor James Gysel officiating. Interment took place at Lee Center Cemetery. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Southwest Michigan Humane Society at 2500 Watkins Rd., Battle Creek MI 49015. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Madge on her tribute page at prayfuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Henry F. Attwell
Henry F. Attwell, age 88, of Potterville died February 17, 2020. Mr. Attwell was born May 14, 1931, in Detroit, a son of Charles and Mildred (Barber) Attwell. He was a member of the Dimondale United Methodist Church, the Charlotte F. & A. M. No. 120 and retired from Consumers Power. Henry was preceded in death by his wives, Noreen and Shirley Attwell; son, John Attwell; grandsons, Benjamin Woodman and Travis Kelley; granddaughter, Amanda Kelley; and brothers, Chuck and George Attwell. Surviving are his children, Bruce (Lillian) Attwell of Florida, Debbie (Randy) Kelley of Charlotte, Jane (Rick Shirk) Love of Charlotte, Jim (Jerri) Attwell of Bellevue, Andrea (Pierre) deTarnowsky of Indiana, Heather (Frank) Goodrich of Ovid, Michele (Robert) Detweiler of Bellevue and Stephanie (Marvin) Cooper of Stanton; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; brother, Harold (Lillian) Attwell of Tennessee; sisters-in-law, Beverly Attwell of Alpena and Fran Attwell of Arizona; several nieces and nephews. Services were set to take place at 1 p.m. on Friday, February 21, 2020, at Dimondale United Methodist Church with Pastor Joseph Huston and Pastor Linda Farmer-Lewis officiating. Interment was in West Windsor Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Dimondale United Methodist Church, 6801 Creyts Rd., Dimondale MI 48821 or American Diabetes Association, 2451 Crystal Dr. Suite 900, Arlington VA 22202.
Sheryl L. King
Sheryl Lynn King, age 65, of Eaton Rapids passed away February 14, 2020. Sheryl was born in Mt. Clemmons, Mich., October 7, 1954, the daughter of William Klink and Darlene (Higgins) Miller. She was a talented transcriptionist, working at St. Lawrence Hospital. Sheryl also worked at the Flashes and John Henry. She faithfully attended the Community Christian Church. Sheryl enjoyed gardening, crafting and feeding the squirrels. She had many close relationships and loved her cats and dogs.
Sheryl is survived by her daughter, Mistelle Hackworth of Eaton Rapids; brothers, Michael (Beth) Klink of Conn., Randall Klink of Eaton Rapids, Jason (Amy) Garnsay of Charlotte, Darrell Garnsay of Charlotte; and sister Dorothy Whiting of Springport; and grandchildren, Mikahla, Thomas and Madeline Hackworth of Eaton Rapids. She was preceded in death by her parents; and brothers, Rodney Klink, Gary and Curt Garnsey.
Memorial services took place at the Community Christian Church in Eaton Rapids on Monday, February 17, 2020. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to Heart and Hands. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. Visit the website at millsfuneral.com to leave online condolences for the family.
Jacqueline Harns-Higbie
Jacqueline Miller Harns- Higbie, age 90, of Eaton Rapids, passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2020. Jackie was born on May 29, 1929, in Eaton Rapids, the daughter of Eber and Lois (Ashley) Miller. Although she spent most of her life as a homemaker, raising her five children, she also spent time working at Gulliver’s and Bentleys in Eaton Rapids. Jackie was always there to help her family and friends and would often babysit for many of her nieces and nephews. She would never forget a birthday, holiday, anniversary or special event and would always have a card in the mail. Jackie was a devout Christian who would regularly read her Bible and was very active at the Wesleyan Church and later at the Nazarene Church, both in Eaton Rapids.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Vergil Harns; late husband, Robert Higbie; grandson, Scott Kinney; sisters, Margaret Vincent, Gladys Dowding, Ella Brininstool, Madeline Coffey and brother, Robert Miller.
Surviving are her children, Evelyn (Larry) Kinney, Jan (Larry) Orr, Mary (Tom) Kleinert, David (Esther) Harns, Roger (Sara) Harns; step-children, Sonja (John Jr.) Oatley, Claudia (Dwight) Payne, Nanette Doxsie, Theresa Treadwell, Sherrel Crawley, 28 grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren, 8 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at 2 p.m. at the Eaton Rapids Church of the Nazarene, with visitation starting at 1 p.m. The family was scheduled to receive friends at Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids on the evening of Friday, February 21, 2020, from 5 to 8 p.m. For those desiring to make memorial contributions, they may be made to the Eaton Rapids Church of the Nazarene. To share memories or leave condolences, visit skinnerfuneralhomes.com.