Obituaries
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.
Tony L. Ames
Tony Lee Ames, a quiet, caring, and creative man, died peacefully on October 9, 2018 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Tony, 60, of Charlotte, was born July 1, 1958 in Charlotte to Melvin and Eleanor (Bennett) Ames. Tony was an amazing cook. One of his specialties was Shrimp Alfredo. He also had a quirky sense of humor, and loved to entertain people. Tony was a factory worker, working for General Aluminum, then later found his passion as a truck driver for Auto Zone. Some of his many hobbies include, traveling with his son to BMX races, woodworking, fishing, snowmobiling, and playing softball on co-ed leagues. Cedar Point was a favorite destination of Tony’s, he loved taking his family there and they cherish the memories made together.
Tony is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Kellie Jo; daughter, Heidi (Greg) Ide; son, Jeremy Ames; two grandchildren, Austin and Nevaeh; siblings, Cindy (James) Nichols, Tommy (Shonda) Ames, Sam (Sadie) Ames, and Beth (Chris) Eberhard; and his cat, Gary.
He was preceded in death by his father, Melvin Ames; mother, Eleanor Ottgen; stepfather, Ralph Ottgen; mother-in-law, Audrey Schray; son-in-law, Kurt DeMuth; and his beloved pet cats, Whiskers, Tigger, and Daisy.
Friends are encouraged to support Tony’s family at visitation and funeral services.
Funeral services were held Friday, October 12, at 1 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastor Charles Jenson officiating. Visitation was prior to the service on Friday, October 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the family (Kellie Ames) to help with Tony’s medical bills.
Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Tony on his tribute page at PrayFuneral.com.
Diana K. Coats
Diana Kay Coats passed away October 4, 2018 at the age of 71 after a long, courageous battle with cancer.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leon and Gladys Coats.
Diana is survived by her sister, Wendy (Bob) Sanders; niece, Kami Sanders; and nephew, Corey Sanders.
A graveside service will be held at a later date.
If desired, memorial contributions can be made to Eaton Community Palliative Care.
Mary J. Howe
Mary Jane Backofen Howe (Jane), 82, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 9, 2018, with loved ones by her side. She was born January 29, 1936, in Brookfield Township, to Shorty and Dorothy (Williams) Wolf. She married Maynard (Freck) Backofen in February of 1953, and raised four children with him. After Freck’s passing, she reconnected with and married George Howe. She worked various jobs and retired from the Wesley Credit Union in 1997 as the CEO. She was very involved in her faith community, the Peace Lutheran Church in Charlotte. Jane truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures; traveling, visiting with friends and family, bowling, and crocheting. Jane had an uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and positive way and an unobtrusive way of sharing her remarkable wisdom.
Jane is survived by her children, Jack (Susan) Backofen, Maynard (Sue) Backofen, Jodi Backofen and Sally (Annie Lange) Backofen; sisters, Joan (Duane) Royston, Judy (Bud) Faynor; grandchildren, Maynard (Andy) Backofen, Jessica Backofen, Alicia Backofen and Jason (Taylor) Backofen; and a multitude of stepchildren, step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins whom she loved dearly.
Family, friends, and others whose lives Jane touched are invited to Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte to celebrate her life. Visitation is Sunday, October 14, 2018, from 5 to 7 p.m., and funeral services are Monday, October 15 at 3 p.m. with Pastor Tom Ott officiating. Interment will follow at Perry Cemetery.
If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Eaton Community Palliative Care or Peace Lutheran Church in Charlotte.
Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Jane on her tribute page at PrayFuneral.com.