Obituaries
Robert E. Wood
Robert Eugene Wood was born July 16, 1944 to James and Donna Wood of Charlotte. He passed away on April 5, 2018. He served 3 ½ years in the United States Marine Corp, and was a loyal employee of General Motors for 36 years. Robert enjoyed being an active Boy Scout leader with his three sons in troop #654. On March 14, 1969 he married the love of his life, Sandra Dickinson of Potterville. He will be remembered fondly by fellow Marines, Orioles, poker and cribbage players and his dialysis family.
Robert is survived by his wife, Sandra; their four children, Jason (Angie), Justin (Jennifer), Jameson Wood, and Amanda (Nick) Pocalujka; eight grandchildren, Brandy, Hilary, Abigail, Shelby (Coty), Kody, Hope, Ella and Camille; five great-grandchildren, Billy, Megyn, Brynlee, Ezra and Braelyn; six siblings, Norm (Jackie) Wood, Nancy Adams, Wilmont (Deborah) Wood, Sarah Nichols, Edgar Wood, and John (Nicky) Wood; and mother-in-law Lila Dickinson.
He was predeceased by parents, Jim and Donna Wood; father-in-law, Howard Dickinson; niece, Mary Nichols; and brothers-in-law, Chuck Adams and Harold Nichols.
A memorial service was held Monday, April 9, 2018 at Pray Funeral Home.
If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the “Mary Nichols Fund”-For the Good of Others. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Robert E. Wood on his tribute page at PrayFuneral.com.
Sui K. Shepherd
Sui Kabuki Shepherd, 84, of Charlotte, passed away Saturday, April 7, 2018, at her home. She was born August 15, 1933, in Kagashimi-Ken, Japan, the daughter of Toda and Hichiro (Watanabe) Kabuki. Sui married the love of her life, Thomas L. Shepherd on February, 20, 1954, in Japan. In October of 1957 the family moved to Michigan. Sui enjoyed playing Bingo, trips to the casino, and gardening. She adored her family and loved spending time together.
Sui is survived by her children, Linda (Mark) Royston, Robert (Debra) Shepherd, Larry Shepherd, Susan Shepherd; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Thomas in 2006.
A memorial service was held Thursday, April 12, 2018, at Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home in Charlotte. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment took place at Fort Custer National Cemetery.
Those desiring may make contributions in Sui’s memory to the American Cancer Society.
To view Sui’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family, please visit burkhead-greenfuneralhome.com.
Wilmena R. Carpenter
Wilmena “Billie” Ruth Carpenter of Charlotte passed away on Monday, April 2, 2018 at the age of 80. Billie was born on August 9, 1937, the daughter of William and Eve (Brown) Lyons in Tacoma, Wash. She was raised, in part, by her grandmother, Edna Brown and attended Auburn Adventist Academy in Auburn, Wash., and attended Pacific Union College. She moved to Royal Oak, Mich. in 1960, then to Clawson, Mich. and eventually to West Branch in the late 1960s. While in West Branch she sold books, worked for a pallet company, drove a school bus and worked as a treasurer for the West Branch Seventh Day Adventist Church. Billie moved to Downers Grove, Ill. for a few years to serve as an infant formula representative before returning to Michigan. She has spent the last 13 years in Charlotte, where she is a member of the Charlotte Seventh Day Adventist Church. Billie loved to travel, she loved people, but most importantly she loved her family. In 2000 Billie set off on an amazing journey to walk Route 66 from Santa Monica, Calif. to Chicago, Ill. to raise funds and gain awareness for birth defects. She completed her journey in about five months traveling an average of 20 miles a day.
Billie is preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Ray E. Gardner Jr.; second husband, Herbert Riemann; grandson, Zane Gardner; stepson, Mike Carpenter; stepfather, Raphael Nichols; and son-in-law, Jon Kallioinen.
Surviving are her husband of 13 years, Bruce Carpenter; children, Cindy (Dennis) Kempl, Dean Gardner, Todd (Lynette) Gardner, Julie (Mike) Matyasic; stepchildren, Nancy (Cory) Sheppler, Cathy Kallioinen, Cris Carpenter; grandchildren, Scott Gooch, April Simpson, Wyatt Gardner, Logan Gardner, Sierra Gardner, Savahanna Matyasic, Jeremy Mortenson, Mike Mortenson, Nathan Heinrich, Mandy (Duane) Evans, Mindy (Jonathan) Durner, Tristan Sheppler, Molly Sheppler; great grandchildren, Alexis Simpson, Hunter Simpson, Ashton Rutledge, Brayden Durner, Liam Evans and Gage Evans.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at the Charlotte Seventh Day Adventist Church.
To share memories or condolences please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Roberta Cartwright
Roberta “Berta” Cartwright, 74, formerly of Charlotte, died peacefully in her sleep on March 10, 2018 in Chevy Chase, Md., after a long illness. She had a sharp, dry sense of humor and will be sorely missed.
She is survived by her ex-husband, Lawrence “Larry” R. Cartwright of Washington, D.C. (formerly of Charlotte); her brother, Richard T. Jamsen; sister-in-law, Jane (Marinelli) Jamsen of Marquette; her daughter, Sarah Cartwright, son-in-law, Scott McDermott Cartwright; and granddaughter, Shan Shan L. Cartwright of Washington, D.C.; and nephew, Kris M Jamsen, his spouse, Michelle, and their daughter, Mae of Melbourne, Australia.
She is predeceased by her sister, Patricia A. Jamsen (in childhood); her father, Richard “Dick” Jamsen of Copper Harbor, Mich.; and her mother, Lillian A. (Johnson) (Jamsen) Richards of Copper Harbor, and Fort Myers Beach, Fla.
Roberta Lynn Jamsen was born Sept. 20, 1943 in Hancock, Mich., to parents, Richard “Dick” and Lillian A. (Johnson) Jamsen. She earned her B.A. in special education from Eastern Michigan University in 1965. “Miss Bert” moved to Bay City where she taught deaf and hard-of-hearing children and was active in community theater. She married Lawrence Robert Cartwright on March 16, 1974, in his hometown of Unionville, Mich. They moved to St Louis, Mo., where they had their only child, daughter Sarah Elisabeth Cartwright. They returned to Michigan in 1976 and lived in Charlotte until 2012. Berta and Larry legally separated in 2012, and Roberta moved to Montgomery County, Md., to be closer to her family.
Roberta’s career and volunteer work focused on early childhood development. She was particularly proud of her position as the home visitation liaison for the early childhood intervention program at Eaton Rapids Public Schools. Roberta’s role was to visit preschoolers and their families in their homes. She truly treasured each relationship and was proud of her colleagues’ teamwork. Roberta retired in 2010.
A memorial open house will be held on Sunday, August 5, 2018, from noon to 4 p.m., hosted by Janet and Dennis Hogan, 2221 Grass Lake Ave, Lake, MI.
Memorial contributions may be made to montgomeryhospice.org, your local hospice, or your local elementary school.
Merlin F. Guilford, Sr.
Merlin F. Guilford, Sr., 93, of Charlotte, died April 1, 2018 in Portland. He was born February 7, 1925 in Mulliken, a son of Russell and Agnes (Holbrook) Guilford. Merlin was an Army veteran of World War II, a P.O.W. and a retired employee of Lindell Drop Forge.
He was preceded in death by his wives, Dorothy and Mary; and his son, Merlin F. Guilford, Jr.
Surviving are his daughters, Brenda Harper, Barbara (Paul) Holland and Janet (Tom) Wohlscheid; nine grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 15 great great-grandchildren; sisters, Faye Foltz, Sue (Bob) Walker and Linda (Pat) Patton; brother, Greg Guilford; several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Thursday, April 5, 2018 at Barker-Leik Funeral Home in Mulliken, with Pastor Ross McElroy officiating. Interment followed at Meadowbrook Cemetery with military honors provided by the U.S. Army and the Portland V.F.W. Pallbearers were Brian Holland, Paul Holland, Jr., Randy Raines, Brian Richards, Scott Webert and Trenton Webert.
Memorial donations may be made to Great Lakes Caring Hospice.