Obituaries
Lesley Dean Emard
Lesley Dean Emard, age 78, of Charlotte, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. He was born May 14, 1945, in Marquette, Michigan the son of Roy and Clarion (Loveless) Emard. Les graduated from Springport High School in 1964. Soon after graduation he served his country in the United States Navy. Everyone who knew Les could tell you that his life revolved around music. He had a passion for bluegrass music and could play and sing just about any song you could imagine. He was extremely talented on the guitar and loved entertaining others. He played with the Hallway Pickers for years and later in life joined The Ovations. Les loved his family and friends and enjoyed spending time picking and singing together.
Les is survived by his siblings: Raymond Emard of Thorp, Wisconsin; Lois (Ken) Granger of Newago; Michigan, Dan (Vonda) Emard of Battle Creek; great granddaughter, Annie Haeck; numerous nieces, nephews, and countless friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Stella; five brothers; and three sisters.
Funeral services were held on Friday, June 16, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Rice Creek Cemetery.
Those desiring may make contributions in Les’s honor to the American Cancer Society.
To view Les’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com.
Martha Mae Frey
Martha Mae Frey, 86, a caring and loving, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, died on Friday, June 9, 2023, at her home. Martha was born on October 22, 1936, in Charlotte, the daughter of Cleve and Venus (Towe) Harmon. She graduated from Charlotte High School in 1954. It was in school where she met Wayne Frey, and on June 16, 1956, the couple began their love story. She devoted her life to the Lord and was an active member of Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church, the same church where she and Wayne were married. Martha was a proud homemaker working on the farm alongside her husband and lifelong companion Wayne. In her younger years she worked as a Clerk at Revco Drug Store, Carter’s IGA and also as a PTA volunteer at Parkview Elementary School. Her pride and joy in life was being a mother. Martha made delicious meals for her family from scratch and was known for her scrumptious pies. Martha was very active as a 4-H leader, she oversaw the float making and one year her float was crowned 1st place.
Martha’s hobbies included working in her flower gardens, reading, playing cards, enjoying concerts at Shipshewana, and traveling. Every summer the family would always take a trip away from the farm. In 1976 rented a popup trailer and hit the road for Disney World, a trip that was an experience with five people in one little trailer. They also rented cabins in Northern Michigan. In recent years Martha and Wayne wintered in Florida. Above all Martha adored her time spent with her family and the home that she and Wayne built on the farm.
Martha is survived by her husband of 66 years, Wayne; children, Mark (Rhonda) Frey, Cathy Frey, William Frey, Michael (Mary) Frey; grandchildren, Christine (John) Westfall, Elizabeth (Jacob) Smith, James Frey, Amanda Morris, Stacy Morris, and Andrew Morris; great-grandchildren, John Bennett Westfall IV, and Hazel Joyce Westfall. She was predeceased by her parents; and siblings, Lawrence, Gertrude, Dora, Bessie, Robert, Florence, Richard, and Mary.
Friends are encouraged to support Martha’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation is Thursday, June 22, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at The Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church in Charlotte. A Memorial Service will follow at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Jack Conklin officiating. Interment will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte. 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 Martha’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 Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church or Eaton Area Senior Center. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Jeri Allan
Jeri Allan passed away peacefully at Sparrow Hospital on June 11, 2023, while holding the hand of her beloved husband. Born on February 4,1954, she married her high school sweetheart, K.C. Allan in 1976 who was a faithful companion and loving husband for 46 years. Jeri channeled her love of reading into a fulfilling career serving as the Olivet High School Librarian. She enjoyed spending time in nature and taking walks around her pond.
Jeri is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Carolyn (Baldwin) Natusch. She is survived by her husband, K.C. Allan; daughters, Amber (David) Stiles, Bridget (Jeff) Boucher, Elizabeth (Jacob) DeMott; grandsons, Calum and Bryson Stiles; brother, David (Sandy) Natusch; sister, Joelyn (Lee Yonker) Aitken and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial gathering was held Friday, June 16, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids chapel. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to Pawsibilities of Olivet. To share memories or leave online condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Ray Lawrence
Ray Lawrence of Charlotte, Michigan, departed his life on earth on January 10, 2023, surrounded by his loved ones. His life on earth began November 18, 1934, in Miami, Florida.
A celebration of Ray’s life will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 12 p.m. at the Center Eaton Community Center, 2093 Narrow Lake Road, Charlotte, MI, 48813. The family received friends on Friday, June 16, 2023, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. just prior to the service at the Center Eaton Community Center. Burial will follow in the Center Eaton Cemetery.
To view Ray’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.
Betty Ann Cartwright
Betty Ann Cartwright, aged 93, died peacefully on Monday, May 29, 2023, after suffering a stroke. Betty was born Betty Ann Sophia Hulsmeyer on August 15, 1929, in Sidney, Ohio, to Silas and Eva Amalia (Metz) Hulsmeyer. She grew up in Anna, Ohio, and graduated from Anna High School in 1947. She married Charles Hugh Cartwright of Sidney, Ohio, on May 1, 1949. She and Chuck moved around for several years while he served in the Air Force before finally settling in Eaton Rapids, MI, in 1957. They spent the remainder of their 73-year marriage building their lives and raising their family in the Eaton Rapids community.
Betty was an accomplished seamstress and worked for Laura’s in Eaton Rapids for nearly a decade doing alterations. She also did work for individuals in the community as well as her family, including altering several of her granddaughters’ wedding dresses. Later, Betty sold Avon for more than 30 years, and she loved the connections it gave her to her friends and neighbors. She was an avid gardener, an enthusiastic fan of Spartan football and basketball, a loyal follower of Detroit Tigers baseball, and a devoted viewer of TV’s “Survivor.” Above all, Betty loved her family and friends.
After her husband Chuck died last year, she made the difficult decision to leave her home and move to StoryPoint Independent Senior Living in Rockford, MI. She quickly made many new and dear friends, and she eagerly joined in on a wide variety of activities, like cardio drumming, yoga, and balance class. Most days, you could find her playing game after game of euchre with anyone who would join her.
Betty is survived by her daughter, Lori (Eric) Maxey of Grand Rapids; her son, Bruce (Deb) Cartwright of Littleton, Colorado; her son-in-law, Andrew Curtin of North Yarmouth, Maine; her daughter-in-law, Peggy (Larry “Doc”) Mueller of Mason; her sister, Donna (Jim) Cowperthwaite of Cincinnati, Ohio; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Cartwright; her daughter, Cynthia Cartwright; her son, Craig Cartwright; and seven siblings.
A memorial service for Betty will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church at 600 S. Main St. in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, with a visitation from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., a celebration of life service beginning at 4 p.m., and a reception to follow. If you would like to honor Betty’s life with a donation, please consider contributing to the First United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids or the Eaton Rapids Senior Center.