Obituaries
Paul Scott Ritchey
Paul Scott Ritchey of Eaton Rapids, passed away March 15, 2024, at the age of 65. Paul was born in Lansing, MI on May 6, 1958, the son of Paul and Dora Jean (Friese) Ritchey. He was a truck driver for Caster Concepts where he had developed some amazing friendships. Paul’s co-workers were a great support group for him while he was going through his illness. He had a passion for motorcycles. Paul owned several bikes and enjoyed working on them and going for rides when he could. He liked music and was a talented guitarist.
Paul is survived by his siblings, Susan (Jeffrey) Valerio, William (Kathryn) Ritchey; nephew, Joseph Hector; niece, Kasey Hammond; several great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Ritchey and Dora Jean Trierweiler.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to Eaton County Humane Society in loving memory of Paul Scott Ritchey. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. To leave condolences for the family, visit our website www.millsfuneral.com.
Linda Sue Kay
Linda Sue Kay, a loving wife, mother and grandmother, known for her generosity and thoughtfulness, died peacefully at home on Sunday, March 17, 2024. Linda, 75, of Grand Rapids, was born December 2, 1948, in Ypsilanti, MI, the daughter of Paul Birtie and Lora Louella (Lawson) Baird. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and went to work in education. Linda married the love of her life, Thomas Patrick Kay on February 4, 1978. Soon after their marriage, Linda and Tom took ownership of Kay’s Natural Living Health Foods on MLK in Lansing. They happily operated the store together for just over 20 years. Linda was also known to greet each customer warmly and was always a listening ear. Linda will be remembered for her kindness and empathy for others, qualities she put to use in the classroom as a substitute teacher for the Lansing School District. After they closed the store, Linda continued her teaching with various school districts in the Tri-County area.
Her family will always cherish Linda’s preparation and care in creating the most meaningful and beautiful family gatherings at the home. Her attention to detail was especially evident in her Christmas Tree, which was always trimmed to perfection. She loved to cook for her family and spent many hours in the garden and canning food. She also loved constantly working on the family home, preparing for renovations or work around the grounds. Perhaps her greatest personal joy was camping up North in the Upper Peninsula with her family. Linda found peace around the bonfire and in nature. She was especially thankful for the Michigan State Parks and the comfort extended to visitors by the employees.
Linda kept in touch with her sister and extended family. She enjoyed trips “down home” to Essex, MO, for family reunions. She loved watching movies, time spent with her grandchildren, and generally interacting with others. She would give everything she had even if it meant she would go without so that someone else would not be without. Above all, Linda will be remembered as someone who cared deeply for others, someone who truly knew that it was better to give than receive, someone who was always ready and willing to be there for others, someone who put family first, and someone who never gave up. Even when she faced health troubles early in her cancer stages, she continued to teach, right up to her retirement.
Linda is survived by her husband of 46 years, Thomas Kay; their son, Jonathon (Robin Meester) Kay; two grandchildren, Lillian and Jackson Kay; siblings, Paulette Croghan and Robert Baird; and several nieces, nephews and extended family. She was predeceased by her son, Brandon Kay in 2003; her brother-in-law, John Croghan; and her parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Linda’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024, at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte. Funeral Services were at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Pray Funeral Home with interment to follow in Woodlawn Cemetery in Vermontville. The funeral will be webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Linda’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Meals on Wheels. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Kory Wertz
God gained a passionate, gifted individual in Kory Wertz who passed away unexpectedly at a young age of 38 on March 2, 2024.
Kory’s passion for fitness was unwavering and very dedicated. He proved this by his continued fitness education with multiple certifications achieved in different fitness fields. The day he cut the ribbon on ODP Fitness (Open Door Policy) was the highlight of his career. Owning his own business was something that Kory had always dreamt of. ODP Fitness was a huge accomplishment for Kory, but he wasn’t done yet. Kory had an outstanding amateur fighting career and continued on following his dreams in Mixed Martial Arts. Leveling up to a professional fighter status was an accomplishment itself he had always dreamt of and was so proud of himself for achieving. He loved MMA fighting.
He was more than proud of the family community he built within the gym and as a personal trainer. His drive to help people get fit was endless and admirable. Kory had this magnetic personality that you just wanted to be around him. It seemed magical in a way. From this he was able to form connections with his clients and helping them reach their ultimate goals was his reason for it all. Setting Kory apart from other fitness centers was his ability to do programing with endless hours put into strategizing each workout for the next two weeks out. Targeting the proper flow in body muscle usage to protect from injury never left his mind. It was important to Kory, and it showed. He never formulated one workout, class setting, or personal training session without thorough preparation with such compassion and experience included.
Hosting various fund-raising events at ODP Fitness also was a strong passion of Kory’s. From supporting the Autism Foundation to raising enough money to build several homes for the Mujeraue and the women and families in Totonicapán, Guatemala, are just to name a few. It was important to the ODP members, so it was important to Kory.
Once Kory made the move to Denver, Colorado he increased his knowledge of fitness and Mauy Tai, climbing mountains with his dog Josie, forming many connections, and making some lifelong friends. Following his return from Denver with all of the knowledge he had gathered, Kory was adamant and beyond excited on opening ODP 2.0. Gathering equipment, making workout plans, and all the preparation that comes with opening a gym, he had done it all.
In his “free time” he loved doing construction jobs and constructing things based off of his own intricate blueprints. He was a perfectionist and made sure it was done right and correct the first time. Kory had always been an adrenaline seeker; from a very young age he was fearless in anything he did or tried. In his younger years his passion was BMX bikes, building crazy jumps, jumping over semi boxes, and so much more.
Kory genuinely loved all the time he spent with his friends, family, and his beloved dog Josie. He always wanted the best outcome for those he loved. To him the gym he created wasn’t a gym, it was a family, a community. This is reflected on the “Remembering Kory Wertz” page on Facebook. In true Kory fashion, his favorite saying, “I may not be there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday.”
Kory is survived by his parents, Van and Mary Wertz; brother, Trevor Wertz (Trevor’s fiance Tracey Birman); niece, Jaelan Wertz; nephew, Brody Wertz; grandparents, Darry and Dee Wertz and Britt and Faith Morgan; aunts and uncles; Diane and David Franz, Cindy and Gil Vanneste, Julie Wertz, Rebecca Wertz-Dahlgren; numerous cousins, and countless more family and friends.
Kory is preceded in death by his Grandfather Kenneth Baur, Grandmother Marjorie Baur-Ballard; uncles, Wade Wertz, Shane Wertz, Paul Baur, and Dwight Baur.
A time of sharing and remembrance will be held on Friday, March 22, 2024, between 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home. Friends are encouraged to support the family by attending the service on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 11 a.m., held at Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home, with a luncheon to follow at Hidden Creek Farms, 2181 E. Vermontville Hwy., Charlotte, MI 48813. Please come and share your stories and celebrate Kory with us.
Donations can be received at the funeral home or you can contact Megan Large at (517) 983-0888, by text, if you would like to make a donation to help with covering the costs of funeral expenses.
To view Kory’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com.
Kenneth Edward Mathis, Jr.
Kenneth Edward ‘Ed’ Mathis Jr., age 56 of Nashville, Michigan, passed away in Lansing on Sunday, March 3, 2024. He was born to Ken and Anna (Moncrief) Mathis Sr. on August 25, 1967, in Charlotte. Ed graduated Charlotte High School with the class of ’86. After high school Ed was taken under the wing of his stepcousin who was his mentor in auto mechanics. After graduating, Ed went on to work for him for the next few years. He loved to go up flying with his stepcousin as well and was invited to go up several times. Ed eventually moved to Rapid River in the U.P. of Michigan. His love of vehicles and working on them led him to running his own mechanic and welding shop in Escanaba, Michigan. He was a member of The Rebels motorcycle club, which he was very proud of. Later in life, Ed spent many years as an over-the-road truck driver. Another one of Ed’s favorite pastimes was eating out with his friends and just plain hanging out with the people he cared about most. He will be missed tremendously by his family, friends, and loved ones.
Ed is survived by his stepfather, Jim Mullins of Nashville, and many cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ken Mathis Sr.; his mother, Anna Mary Mathis-Mullins; and several aunts and uncles.
Those desiring may make contributions in Ed’s memory to the American Heart Association at heart.org
In keeping with Ed’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.
To view Ed’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com
The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home.
Linda Jean Shetenhelm
Linda Jean Shetenhelm, a humble and God-loving woman, died March 9, 2024. Linda, 72, of Charlotte was born April 6, 1951, in Elyria, Ohio, to Joseph Lowery and Donna (Lawrence) Lowery. Linda graduated from Elyria High School in 1969. During her senior year of high school, she began writing letters to Timothy Shetenhelm while he was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. On November 29, 1969, Linda married Tim, and the two began a family together. She worked at Christensen’s Furniture in Charlotte for many years, and later attended college in her 50’s to earn an Associate’s Degree in Child Development. Owner and operator of The Children’s Village Daycare, Linda was happiest when caring for children. Linda and Tim were foster parents for many years, welcoming children into their home from all walks of life.
Linda had never traveled outside of her hometown until she met Tim. In her leisure time, Linda enjoyed camping in the summer, mentoring children through church and Kid’s Hope, quilting, sewing, and taking pictures of her grandchildren and daycare children. Linda touched many people throughout her life, adults, and children alike. She was very active at the Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church and most recently the Charlotte Church of Christ. Linda’s faith in God gave her strength and compassion, and she will always be remembered for her unwavering, selfless nature.
Linda is survived by her husband, Timothy Shetenhelm; sons Joseph (Sarita) Shetenhelm, William (Brandy) Shetenhelm, and Jason Shetenhelm; daughters Michelle Vorndran and Holly Berteau; grandchildren Malik Cochrane, Braeden Vorndran, Anne, Kaitlyn, Emmaline, Grace, Timothy, and Louis Shetenhelm; sisters Carol Megyesy and Susan Burgett; and brother Joey Lowery. She was preceded in death by her brother, Terry Alan Lowery.
Friends are encouraged to support Linda’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was Thursday, March 14, 2024, from 5-8:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home; and again, on Friday, March 15, 2024, from 10-11:00 a.m. at the Charlotte Church of Christ. Funeral services were Friday, March 15, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Charlotte Church of Christ with Pastor John Bailey officiating. Interment took place following the funeral at Woodlawn Cemetery in Vermontville, MI. The funeral will be webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Linda’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Suitcases 4 Kids MI or the Charlotte Church of Christ. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.