Obituaries
Pamela M. Gibson
Pamela Marie Gibson passed away in her home on October 23, 2018 at the age of 46 after a courageous battle with cancer.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Rosalie Gibson and her grandparents.
Pamela is survived by her life partner, Darrin Harmon; her children, Darrin Jr., and Anastasia Harmon; father, Terry Gibson, Sr.; siblings, Terry (Ted) Gibson, Jr., and Amanda Gibson; and many more family members.
Visitation will take place Thursday, November 1, 2018, from 10 to 11 a.m. at New Hope Community Church, located at 436 W. Harris Street in Charlotte. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon.
If desired, memorial contributions can be made to: Darrin Harmon, C/O John Boy Electric, 317 Hall St., Charlotte, MI 48813.
A special thank you to Joyce and Bill Gavaldon for their support through this troubling time.
Matilde R. Silvas
Matilde “Matt” R. Silvas, 79, of Charlotte, passed away on October 15, 2018. He was born on February 26, 1939, to Pedro and Felicitas (Rodriguez) Silvas in New Braunfels, Texas. His family of eleven moved to join the Rodriguez cousins who had made their home in Michigan. He married Linda Whitinger on July 29, 1961. Matt was fun, generous, happy, helpful and willing to help whenever and wherever he could. Matt and Linda’s family grew by four, and each of those children had friends who thought of the Silvas house as their own. Their welcome sign was always visible, and the pair were thought of as Mom and Dad by many. There were multiple cousins on both sides of the families, and they meshed often for gatherings. Picnics, tug-of-war, annual Cedar Point trips, go to the lake trips. A carful and caravan was always the Silvas way of traveling. Matt was a hard worker from the moment he left school until he retired from Fisher-Body. He worked hard so he could play hard. He loved to golf, and he loved his Detroit Tigers. He installed a pool in their backyard so his family could swim, but more importantly so extended family and friends could come on over to swim and share a cookout. His love for his family, beginning with Linda has come first, then the children, and then he absolutely adored his grandchildren, great, and great-greats. He was the kind of papa/uncle who spoiled kids by not really meaning “no,” and no harm/no foul. He fiercely loved his family out loud, like a magnet to steel.
Matt is survived by his wife, Linda; children, Jodie (Steve) Driver, Rob (Michelle) Silvas, Amy (Aaron) Sawatzki and Angel (Eric) Bartlett; grandchildren, Jennifer (Thomas) Hoffman, Kenny (Annalesha) Silvas, Todd (Sarell) Driver, Rikki (James) Shepherd, Randi Sawatzki, Rob (Kayla) McElhaney; great-grandchildren, Martina and Landon Hoffman, Devin and Drake Silvas, Aubrie and Kameron Driver, Madeline and Gemma Shepherd, Stevie and Raelynn Sawatzki, Ellie Mae McElhaney; and a great great-granddaughter on the way, Dylan Rae; siblings, Mary Cruz, Sid (Dora) Silvas, Pete (Maria) Silvas, Bruce Silvas, Jobie Moist; in-laws, Cruz Silvas, Teresa Silvas, Wilma Campbell, Leila Whitinger, John (Sue) Whitinger; countless extended family, and lovingly known as “Favorite Uncle Matt,” his many nieces and nephews would throw down to claim they were his favorite.
Matt was predeceased by his parents; and brothers, Pedro, Juan, Frank, David; and life-long cousin and cherished friend, Joe Rodriquez; in-laws, Sherrie Silvas, Lucille Tuckey, Marion Whitinger, Norman Campbell.
Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte. Visitation will be held Monday, October 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home.
If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Alzheimer’s Association.
Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences on Matt’s tribute page at PrayFuneral.com.
Helen L. Bly
Helen Lucille Bly, a kind, gentle, and loving family matriarch, died October 12, 2018. Helen, 97, was born September 15, 1921 to John and Atha (Schneckenberger) Grimes, and lived her entire life in Charlotte. A CHS graduate in 1940, she married Kay Charles Bly on October 24, 1941 in Charlotte, and together they created a beautiful, loving home and family. She loved cooking and baking, especially molasses cookies, which she enjoyed sharing with company in her home. Talented in the garden, Helen enjoyed flower gardening, as well as vegetables that she would can for her family, always striving to be the best homemaker ever. Helen also loved camping in Harrison, trips to Florida, writing in diaries, and putting together puzzles. She was an excellent role model for her children and grandchildren, she loved her family and they adored her.
Helen is survived by her children, John (Brenda) Bly, and Rebecca (Richard) Fain; grandchildren, John Kay (Lisa) Bly II, Chuck (Kelly) Fain, Elizabeth (Paul) Lee, and James Kay Bly; great-grandchildren, Stephanie, Ashley, Scott, Kaycee, Taylor, Brendan, and Grant; as well as seven great great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Kay in 2003; infant sister, Mary Louise, brother, Dick (Delores) Grimes, and her parents.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, October 17, at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte.
If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Helen on her tribute page at PrayFuneral.com.
Ross A. Reed
Ross Allen Reed, 74, of West Branch, Mich., passed peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, October 16, 2018.
Ross was born to Gerald and Nina Reed, in Battle Creek, Mich. on November 20, 1943 and was raised in a loving family in Vermontville, a close-knit community where he met and married his high school sweetheart Izetta Jane Boyer.
Ross and Izetta were married on August 4, 1963. They began their married life stationed in San Diego, Calif. while Ross served in the US Navy during Vietnam on the USS York Town. In 1966, they moved to West Branch to create a home and raise their family. Ross was an athlete and avid outdoor sportsman. He also played an active role in the church and in the community. A loving husband and father, he was committed, above all, to raising his children to know the love of Jesus Christ, joyfully singing in his church choir for 26 years. Ross was a lifelong example of hard work and perseverance in any role he undertook, whether personal, professional or in the community where he served on the West Branch City council. Ross took great pleasure in watching and teaching his grandchildren the importance of God, family, and commitment and loved seeing them enjoy life through their childhood activities and at his home on the lake. In later years, he felt blessed to greatly enjoy 15 years of retirement sharing life and laughs with the love of his life, Izetta and beloved friends and family, often while traveling, on the golf course or playing cards.
He is survived by his wife, Izetta (Boyer) Reed; children, Denise (Neal) Niswonger and Eric (Tricia) Reed; his sister, Kay (Mitch) Vader; and his five grandchildren, Lauren Niswonger, Courtney Reed, Zoe Niswonger, Alec Reed and Delaney Niswonger.
Visitation at Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Homes in West Branch will begin on Sunday, October 21, 2018 from 3 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be on Monday, October 22, 2018 at Ogemaw Hills Free Methodist Church at 11 a.m., with visitation starting at 10 a.m. Pastor David Kurtz will officiate. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at Meadowbrook Cemetery in Mulliken at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Wounded Warriors Project.
Online condolences can be shared at steuernolmclaren.com.
JoAnn Teichman
JoAnn (Smalley) Teichman, of Charlotte, passed away Tuesday, October 9, 2018, at Golden Days AFC in Charlotte, which had been her home for the last five years. JoAnn was born May 4, 1938, in Charlotte to Kenneth and Merna Helen (Green) Smalley. She graduated from Potterville High School in 1956. Jo’s work as a secret shopper allowed her to travel extensively. She was well known by truckers and law enforcement officers as “the Happy Cooker” at Mary’s Truck Stop, where she worked as a cook for many years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Teichman; her parents; brothers, Francis J. (Smoky) Smalley, John Smalley and Kenneth Smalley, Jr.; and sister, Bernadine May Raines.
Jo is survived by nieces and nephews, Jim Smalley, Doug Smalley, Linda (Smalley) Amey; Christine (Smalley) Lake, Melody (Smalley) Townsend, Steve Smalley, Cindy Raines, Sandy (Raines) Davis and Brian Raines.
A memorial service will be held at Golden Days AFC, 1493 N. Cochran Avenue in Charlotte on Saturday, October 13, 2018, at 1 p.m. Please come and share your favorite stories and some of Aunt Jo’s favorite jokes.
To view Jo’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family, please visit burkhead-greenfuneralhome.com.