Obituaries
Nathan G. Potter
It is with both sorrow and celebration that we commemorate the life of Nathan G. Potter, a man whose courage and resilience were matched only by his loyalty and dedication. Nate was born on July 30, 1975, in Medford, Oregon, and later made his home in Georgetown Township, Michigan for 24 years. Nate’s life was a testament to the love of Jesus Christ, which was his guiding light and the cornerstone of his existence. His faith was echoed in the words of the Apostle Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Nate stood as a beacon of strength and dedication in his professional role as a Safety Director in the construction and manufacturing industries. His commitment to creating a culture of safety and continuous improvement was unwavering over his 13+ years in the role. His dedication was not confined to his career. He cherished his family deeply, showing steadfast loyalty to his beloved wife, Jenny, whom he married on June 6, 1997. His enduring love extended to his children and his extended family, consistently placing their needs above his own.
When not occupied with his work or family, Nate found joy in camping, shooting, cooking on the grill or smoker and gun-building; hobbies that reflected his adventurous spirit and skillful hands. Yet, above all, he was known for his willingness to help others. Whether it was car repairs or offering a listening ear, he was always there, a resilient rock in the storm.
Nate is survived by his wife, Jenny Potter; his mother, LuAnn Klont, brother Nicholas England (Jillian), sister Nicole Johnson (Todd), step-brother Greg Klont (Audrey), his children, Kenneth Potter (Marcos), Haleigh Massey (Justin), and Ashley Schimizzi (Nicole), father and mother-in-law John and Judy Wiggins, sister-in-law Jessica Reeves (Zach); many loving nieces and nephews, and his favorite fur buddy, Leo. He was preceded in death by his stepfathers Bob England and Rodney Klont.
Nathan G. Potter was a man who lived his life fully, loved deeply, and always gave of himself to others. His legacy of love, courage, and dedication will continue to resonate in the hearts of all who knew him. We invite you to share your memories of Nate and upload photos to his memorial page at www.MichiganCremation.com to celebrate his life. His story is not just in the past but lives on in each of us.
Visitation with the family was from 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at Georgetown Christian Fellowship, 3668 Port Sheldon Street, Hudsonville, where memorial services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday. A luncheon will follow the ceremony.
Memorial contributions may be sent to All Things Possible Ministry at victormarx.com, or to Jenison Pink Out at jenisonpinkout.org.
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, 616-452-3006.
Dorthea May Tallman
On October 11, 2024, our Lord and Savior called a truly wonderful soul home. Dorthea May Tallman, or Mrs. T to her many students, 87, of Charlotte, MI, passed away peacefully, joining her beloved husband, John, who predeceased her after 55 years of marriage, and her son Scott, who left this world at a young age. While her passing leaves a space in our hearts, we are filled with gratitude and joy as we remember a life well-lived, bursting with laughter, love, wisdom, and if you knew her, a stubborn attitude that knew no bounds.
Dotty is survived by her children, Jeff (Kellie) Tallman and Jayne (Duane) DeMuth; grandchildren, Adam (Marysa) Fisher, Victoria DeMuth, and Gabriella DeMuth; great-grandchildren, Melody and Maverick Fisher; as well as her beloved nieces and nephews, Rick (Lee) Epler, Erika (Forrest) James, Mike (Angie) Epler, and Debbie Epler. She is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Robert; nephews Robert and Paul; and many dogs who she also considered family.
Dorthea was born on February 28, 1937, to Virgil and Ida Epler, in Alma, Michigan, where she also attended college. Mrs. T quickly found her passion for teaching special education and never looked back. She spent nearly 50 years in the classroom, inspiring thousands of students within the Charlotte Public School System. She also spent many years teaching within the Eaton County Correctional Facility, helping children get their life back on track. Her students will remember her caring nature, quick wit, and dedication to their educational success. After her years of teaching, she ran into students wherever she went, even meeting one who was an Elvis impersonator at a show in Branson, Missouri.
Beyond the classroom, Dorthea was known for her ability to complete a word search book faster than Amazon Prime could deliver the next one, her love of animals of all variety, and her ability to cut the grass with paper sheers. She was known best however, for her love of friends and family, whom she cherished beyond words. For this author, she’ll be best remembered for her title of Grandmother, a role she was better at than anything else, and he considers himself beyond blessed for the role she played in his life.
A celebration of her life was held on Thursday, October 17, 11:00 a.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop officiating. Visitation was Wednesday, October 16, 6-8:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home. All were welcome to come as they are, with stories, memories, and willingness to complete a word search in her honor. Instead of flowers, Mrs. T’s family requested that you consider donating to the Capital Area Humane Society, a cause close to her heart. The family would also like to extend a profound thank you to the care team at Hathaway Hills of Greenville, for their excellent care and support of Dotty over the last several months.
The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, MI. Friends and family are also welcome to share memories of Dorthea on her tribute page at www.PrayFuneral.com.
Though Dorthea has moved on to her next great adventure, her vibrant spirit and unwavering kindness will continue to inspire those she leaves behind. We find peace in knowing that she’s finally reunited with her husband and son for an eternity. Rest easy Mom and Grandma and thank you for making our world a lot brighter.
Gaylord Hugh Harris
Gaylord Hugh Harris, age 91, of Olivet, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at his home in Walton Township. He was born September 26, 1933, in Olivet the son of Hugh and Margaret (Ligget) Harris. Gaylord graduated from Olivet High School in 1951. Soon after graduation he was drafted into the United States Army and was honorably discharged after several faithful years of service. Gaylord enjoyed spending time working in his gardens around the house. When he wasn’t busy at home you could often find him fishing or hunting. Gaylord loved his family and will be dearly missed.
Gaylord is survived by his children, Ken (Paula) Harris of Olivet, Kevin Harris of Bellevue, Karen (Jeff) Montgomery of Charlotte; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorma Heisler and Myrna Schrontz.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ardeth; and brother, Wayne Harris.
A private graveside service will be held at Bosworth Cemetery.
Those desiring may make contributions in Gaylord’s memory to Ainger Bible Church, 5484 Ainger Road, Olivet, MI 49076.
To view Gaylord’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com
Raymond Howard Bigford
Raymond “Ray” Howard Bigford, a man who was known as the favorite for his sense of humor, died on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at the age of 83, Raymond of Charlotte, was born on June 19, 1941, to Albert and Ester (Johnson) Bigford, Sr. in Jackson, Michigan. He attended and graduated from High School from Laingsburg in the class of 1959. Ray was a familiar face at Olivet College serving as the Head Housekeeper beginning in 1986 and retired in 2008 and took great pride in the relationships over the years. On April 23, 1966, Ray married Dorothy Collins, and they enjoyed their 46 years together until her passing in 2012. In his younger years he enjoyed fishing and hunting. Each year he looked forward to the family rabbit and squirrel hunting adventures and Deer camp spent with the guys each year. Ray loved to bowl, participating in various bowling leagues, and enjoyed singing as well as playing his guitar. He was a faithful member of the former South Cochran Church of God in Charlotte. Ray loved reading his Bible and attending church each Sunday. Above all his biggest joy in life came from his family.
Raymond is survived by his daughter, Dawn McLeod; grandchildren, Heidi (Jonathon Wicker) McLeod, Krystal (Arynn) Moon, Raymond McLeod, Tyler (Shasta) McLeod; great-grandchildren, Raylen, Leon, Sondra, Joseph, and Taylor-Rose; siblings, Marilyn (Jan) Vantassel, David Bigford, Shirley (Thomas) Mahoney, and Albert Bigford Jr.; and numerous extended family members. He was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Dorothy; siblings, Bob Bigford, Frank Bigford, Terry Bigford, and Cathy Bigford.
Friends are encouraged to support Raymond’s family by sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was Friday, October 11, 2024, from 4-7:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte. Funeral Services were Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home with Rebecca Douglas officiating. Burial will take place in the Greenlawn Cemetery, Orland, Indiana. The funeral was webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Raymond’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 the family payable to Pray Funeral Home to assist with funeral expenses. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Dennis Charles Kennedy
Dennis “Denny” Charles Kennedy of Charlotte who loved all kinds of outdoor activities and was very active with many organizations, died October 10, 2024 at the age of 73. Denny was born April 11, 1951 in Lansing to John and Marie (Geller) Kennedy and was a graduate of O’Rafferty High School in Lansing. He worked for 42 years in security and sales consulting, with 33 years of increased sales awards, and retired in 2020. Denny was instrumental in starting Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) in the Lansing area, and was also very active in other organizations, including The American Quarter Horse Association, American Kennel Club, American Hardware Association, and Michigan Association of Security and Investigative Professionals.
With a big heart and a dry sense of humor, Denny was the type that was willing to try to do almost anything. Fishing, woodworking, landscaping his property, and traveling with his wife to show horses were some of the things he enjoyed most. He also had a passion for Michigan State sports, something that he learned from his father. A proud family man, Denny enjoyed supporting his wife and daughter show horses, and watching his son play football at Northern Michigan. He greatly enjoyed the family farm that we created piece by piece. Denny and Carol were also dog breeders, and he was right there to support Carol with each new litter.
Denny is survived by his wife, Carol; children, Henry (Sally) Bowman III, Wayne (Melissa) Kennedy, and Darlene Kennedy; and grandchildren, Jessica, Abigail, Joseph, Matthew, Emma, and David. He was predeceased by his parents.
Friends are encouraged to support the Kennedy family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation is Saturday, October 19, 2024, 10-11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Charlotte. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 11:00 a.m. at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Sean Esterline officiating. 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 Denny’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 Tunnel of Towers. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.