Obituaries
Don Eaton
Don Eaton passed away on August 13, 2024. The family will receive friends from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 3, at the Covered Bridge Farm County Park, 56705 Covered Bridge Road, Three Rivers, MI 49093. Funeral services celebrating the life of Don Eaton will also be at the Covered Bridge Farm County Park Wednesday, September 4 at 4 p.m. with a Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Memorial Ritual at the conclusion of the service. A reception will follow funeral services at the Sturgis Elks Lodge #1381 on September 4, 66200 Grey Lake Rd., Sturgis, MI 49091.
Larry L. Sevitts
On August 19, 2024, with his loving wife at his side, Larry L. Sevitts “The kid from Morenci,” lost a long battle with cancer. Larry had a long and full life, he was born August 6, 1937, in Morenci to Leroy and Anne (Meyers) Sevitts. After serving in the Navy, Larry attended Adrian College where he met his lifelong love, Susan. They had three children together. Earning his master’s degree in education, Larry went on to become a school principal. His career in education went from Flint to Albion, and finally Charlotte where he eventually opened the Sport Center to enjoy his true passion, golf, and he retired from this business in 1999. Most golfers are lucky to get one hole-in-one in a lifetime, Larry had five!
Larry is survived by his wife of nearly 61 years, Susan; children, Michael Sevitts, Lynn Hicks, and Sheryl Haahr; grandchildren, Sydney Hamilton, Saydie (Bryan) Hogeland, Karlie Hicks (Chase Metts), and Adrian Sevitts; great-grandchildren, Kalub Hamilton, Piper Hogeland, and Henry “Hank” Hogeland; sisters, Marcia Reardon and Sandy Miller; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers, LeRoy, Johnny, Kenneth, and Rick Sevitts; and sisters, Joanne Beard, and Sharon Strong.
Friends are encouraged to support Larry’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation is Wednesday, August 28, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home Gardens in Charlotte. Family Affirmation Services will follow at 1:00 p.m. on August 28 in the Pray Funeral Home Gardens with Judge Paul Berger and Owen Whitkopf officiating. The service 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 Larry’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 either the Charlotte High School Hall of Fame, or St Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Halle Ann Vaive
Halle Ann Vaive, a passionate, matter-of-fact woman, who always expressed her love for loved ones, died on Friday, August 16, 2024. Halle, 72, was born on August 5, 1952, in Lansing, the daughter of Earl and Evelyn (Williams) Vaive. After graduation she continued her education earning her associate’s in arts degree and later on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. Halle worked at Bronson Hospital as the IT Manager for Help Desk Services. Halle was a master sewer and arts and crafts enthusiast. She enjoyed cross stitch, making homemade cards and jewelry. She was a very hands-on mother who loved family summer trips on Lake Michigan, and traveling for Jason’s BMX racing, who she was most proud of. She also loved her cats, her Coke, and being on the beach.
Halle is survived by her son, Jason (Shelly) Bates; grandchildren, Grace (Austin), Kathryn (Brendin), Justin, and Zachery; and siblings, Guy (Vickie) Vaive, Steve (Mary) Vaive, and Gary (Kathy) Vaive; and best friend Kay Mundt. She was predeceased by her parents, and brother, Christopher.
Friends are encouraged to support Halle’s family by sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. A Celebration of Life take place at a later date. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
June F. Johncock
June F. Johncock, age 90, was called home to Jesus on August 16, 2024, from her home in Olivet, Michigan. She was born to Fred and Laura (Blausey) Kunkel, September 11, 1933, in Shelbyville, Michigan. The family moved to a larger farm in Eaton Rapids in 1943 to raise onions. After graduating, she married Robert Johncock on December 31, 1952, after the New Year’s Eve church service at First Lutheran Church, in Charlotte, Michigan.
June and Robert raised their children on a farm, in Olivet. June became a secretary for the Olivet Community School Superintendent. She attended KCC and Western Michigan University to become a teacher. June taught 21 years at Bellevue Elementary School. After retiring, she helped homeschool her grandchildren.
June was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church. Faith was very important to June, and she was involved in Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and was also a Sunday school teacher. She enjoyed attending Bible studies and reading her devotionals. June also loved to travel with her family, and they visited all over the United States, including Alaska, Maine, Texas, and Florida. She had also traveled to Germany and Jerusalem.
June is survived by her children Susan (David) Moody of Olivet, Michigan and Steven (Diane) Johncock of Frostproof, Florida and Bellevue, Michigan; grandchildren Elizabeth Moody, Jonathan Moody, Nathan Moody, Joseph Moody, and Nehemiah Moody; great-grandchildren Isabelle Moody, Tobias Moody, and Juniper Moody.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert; siblings Alfred Wittman, Lao Kunkel, Eleanor Vasques, Louisa Nail, Mae Getter, Dale Kunkel, and Ronald Kunkel; and her parents.
June is at Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services where visitation took place on Friday, August 23, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will take place at Zion Lutheran Church on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Anthony Voltattorni officiating. June will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids, Michigan
For memorial donation, please consider Zion Lutheran Church.
Rev. Arthur Robert Salisbury
Rev. Arthur Robert Salisbury, a loyal husband and father lived his life as his testimony to Christ. He passed peacefully at home in Idaho on Thursday, August 15, 2024. Arthur moved to Idaho to be near his children and grandchildren after his loving wife, Norma Salisbury passed in August of 2021. He wasborn in Lapeer, Michigan on February 27, 1932, to Hilda and Elmer Salisbury. He grew up and attended school in the rural area of Lapeer, that is where he met his future bride Norma, and they married on August 11, 1951.
Arthur was always helping the people around him and abroad, including many trips to different countries and mission fields. He was involved in the community, as a minister, on the School Board, Eaton County Sheriff Chaplin, as well as instrumental in the creation and operation of the first Eaton County Drug Counseling Center.
He loved construction work, during his time as pastor of the Charlotte Church of the Nazarene, with the help of the men in the congregation, the sanctuary was completely remodeled, and the basement was dug out by hand with a chapel and classrooms added. He also loved masonry work, building many split stone, marble, and sandstone fireplaces over the years.
Arthur is survived by his children, son, Arvid (Katie) Salisbury, and daughter, Arla (Lee) Barnhill; five grandchildren, Jenica Lawrence, Astin Salisbury, Brock Salisbury, Cody Barnhill, and MaLeesha Wilmoth; and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Elaine Salisbury and his parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Arthur’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was Friday, August 23, 2024, from 7– 9:00 p.m., at Pray Funeral Home. Funeral services are Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 1 p.m. at New Faith Church of the Nazarene in Charlotte with Pastor Tom Surdenik 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 Arthur’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 Horizon Home Care Hospice of Meridian, Idaho. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.