Obituaries
Judy Mae Keefer
Judy Mae Keefer, 78, a fiercely independent, loyal and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at her residence in Mulliken. Judy was born December 3, 1944, in Plainwell, MI, the first daughter of Lester William and Katherine Susanne (Wahmhoff) Kennicott. She graduated from Olivet High School in 1962 and went on to study physical therapy and began her time of caring for others. Judy married the love of her life, Larry Keefer, on July 23, 1966. Together, they raised three sons on the family farm. Their life was one of farming. Larry, with Judy’s help, raised corn and soybeans for crops. Judy would be there for all of it, sometimes driving the tractors or trucks during harvest time. Nothing would slow her down.
Judy enjoyed time spent with her two sisters. Together they were known as the “Three Amigos,” and made spring and fall trips every year together, most notably to Traverse City. Their time spent together as sisters will be forever cherished and remembered. Judy made all who knew her feel like family, and to know Judy was to become a better person. She brought out the best in everyone, and always remained positive, even when she lost her leg. Judy and her family loved riding horses and loved raising goats. Judy became a 4H goat leader in Eaton County for several years while her kids would show goats. She always maintained a soft spot in her heart for all animals.
Judy was also fiercely patriotic and a Faith-filled person. She maintained great pride and respect for those serving in the armed forces, even picking up the tab when she would see a service person at a restaurant. The American Flag was always close by her, and she was extremely proud of her family members who served. Judy and Larry were faithful members of Mount Hope Church of the Flags in Lansing. She lived a life of devotion to others, to God, and to her family.
Judy is survived by her husband of 57 years, Larry; their sons, Keith (Jennifer) Keefer; Scott (Virginia) Keefer and Dan (Audra) Keefer; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother, Jim Kennicott; sisters, Jane (Pat) Dotson and Pat (Bob) Fuller; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; brothers, Bill and Bruce Kennicott; and numerous aunts and uncles.
Friends are encouraged to support Judy’s family by sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte. Interment has taken place in Meadowbrook Cemetery in Mulliken. 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 Judy’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 Wounded Warriors Project. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Bradley Clayton Johnson
Bradley Clayton Johnson, 54 of Charlotte, a mechanically minded guy who could figure out how to fix almost anything, died September 1, 2023. Born in Lansing, MI to Winston and Dianne (Howard) Johnson, he attended Charlotte Schools and as a teenager he was a very successful motorcycle racer. Very artistic in many ways, it showed in things that he enjoyed like woodworking and drawing. With a mind for fixing things, it was no surprise that he enjoyed construction, operating a forklift and construction equipment, and iron work as jobs, and the harder the work the more he liked it. Bradley also enjoyed doing landscaping work for his family.
Bradley is survived by his son, Gage Johnson; parents, Winston and Dianne Johnson; sister, Barbara (Scott) Werner; aunts and uncles, Gerry and Deanna Becktel, Larry and Christine Johnson Reynolds; Yvonne Roll, Bill (Barb) Howard, Ron (Jamie) Howard; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Marion and Clayton Johnson and Leona and Donald Howard; and uncles Gregory Johnson and Gary Roll.
Friends are encouraged to support Bradley’s family by sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Gilbert Gale Bishop
Gilbert “Gil” Gale Bishop, a WWII Veteran and a man always available to help whenever and wherever needed, passed away at his home in Charlotte, MI, on September 3, 2023, at the age of 96. Gil was born on January 1, 1927, at home in Macedonia, Illinois. This New Year’s bundle brought great joy to his parents Orlie and Nancy (Anna Roberson) Bishop. Gilbert was the third of five children born into this loving home. Serving in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1947, Gil lived onboard the USS Albany, the USS Dayton and the USS Missouri, faithfully developing a reputation for being diligent, dependable and pouring his heart and soul into every task.
After his return from the Navy, he worked in many occupations before working at the Owens Illinois Glass Plant in Streator, IL. On April 15, 1961, Gil married Marjorie and together they raised four children. In 1963, Gil and his family moved to Charlotte, MI when he transferred to the O-I Glass Plant here. Shifting careers again Gil become a carpenter for the Local Union #1449 where he worked for 24 years before retiring after a successful career. Always an active man, Gil found time for being a member of the American Legion Post #42 of Charlotte, MI, a Charter Member of The Charlotte Eagles Aerie #3552 and The Moose Lodge #2565.
During his younger life, Gil was once an award-winning archer, and he also enjoyed billiards and bowling. Fishing was his passion, with trips to Canada with friends, or fishing with his grandsons. He also loved hunting, going to deer camp every year. A highlight for Gil was a hunting and fishing trip to Alaska one year. Travel to Las Vegas with his wife Marjorie was also part of his yearly itinerary. His games of choice were Texas Hold ‘Em and Euchre. Gil’s journey through life was marked by hard work, dedication to country, family and friends, a love for the outdoors, and a talent for being a warm and welcoming gentleman to all he met. Rest easy Dad, you’re finally pain free we love you, until we meet again.
Gilbert Gale Bishop is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marjorie; children, Deborah (Foy) Davis of Laingsburg, MI, Donald (Pansy) McMeen of Charlotte, MI, Douglas (Regi) Bishop of Charlotte, MI, and Sherry (Steven) Wythe of Eaton Rapids, MI; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and brother, Robert (Sandy Hubbell) Bishop of Missouri; sisters-in-law, Norma Noble of Lansing, Mi, Helen Noble of Las Vegas, NV and Beverly Meyer of Minonk, IL. Gilbert was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Cuma Page; brother, Jesse Bishop; son-in-law, Shane Copher; grandsons, David D. Rosenbrook Jr., and Nickolas S. Bishop.
Fred Loren King
Fred Loren King, age 95, of Charlotte passed away doing what he knew best, working. Fred was born April 2, 1928, in Jonesboro, Illinois the son of Nathaniel and Myrtle (Pender) King. Fred grew up during the depression and soon established an unbeatable work ethic. He began working on the family farm at age six hauling wood and doing chores. At the ripe old age of nine years old he got his first job off the family farm at a local sawmill hauling sawdust. Fred would tell that in those days everyone worked doing whatever they could to help earn a living for their family. On June 29, 1949, he married Norma Jean McLane in Jonesboro, Illinois. Fred worked the majority of his life as a maintenance/boiler engineer at Charlotte Public School. He was one of the founding members of the Eaton County Educational Credit Union, which started at the old Charlotte High Schools. He was a devoted Christian and founding member of Calvary Baptist Church.
Fred is survived by his children, Brenda (King) Thomas of Flint, Darlene (Tim) Leever of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Fred King of Charlotte; grandchildren: Jason (Arlene) King, Steven (Stephanie) King, Destiny (James) Forward, Joshua King, Elizabeth (Chuck) Eagan; 8 great grandchildren; three great great-grandchildren; sisters, Mary Elkins, Ruth Spiller; sister-in-law, Tia King; brother-in-law Henry (Vicki) McLane; sisters-in-law Pat Parrent and Clara Dobbs; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Norma; grandson, Caleb King; daughter-in-law, Shirley King; siblings: Roy (Myrtle) King, Betty King, Geneva (Walter) Jackson, Richard King; and brother-in-law, Raymond (Geraldine) McLane.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home with Pastor Tim Potter officiating. Burial took place at West Carmel Cemetery.
Those desiring may make contributions in Fred’s memory to Calvary Baptist Church, 825 N. Cochran Ave., Charlotte, MI 48813.
To view Fred’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com.
M. Douglas Burkhead
M. Douglas Burkhead, age 89, passed away at his home in Ft. Myers, Florida in the early morning hours on Saturday, September 2, 2023. He was born August 8, 1934, in Battle Creek the son of M. Donald and Irma (Irish) Burkhead. Doug grew up in Charlotte and Olivet. He went on to graduate high school from St. John’s Military Academy in 1952. After high school he attended Olivet College and Worsham College where he obtained his degree in mortuary science. On June 16, 1956, he married Marguerite Louise Green at the First Congregational Church in Charlotte. Doug and his family proudly served the Olivet and Charlotte communities for many years. The Burkhead Funeral Home was established in Olivet in 1909, by Maurice D. Burkhead, who was Doug’s grandfather. Originally it operated as a furniture business/funeral home. They also operated an ambulance service out of the funeral home. In January of 1968, Doug purchased the business from his father. He along with his wife Marguerite operated the funeral home until 1980. Doug also proudly served as the Eaton County Coroner for several terms as did his father before him. He was also a volunteer on the Charlotte Fire Department, served with the Charlotte Rotary Club, and the Shriners for many years. Doug loved his family with a deep devotion and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his daughters, Sabrina (Kurt Feikert) Burkhead of Traverse City, MI, Lizabeth (Michael Schaefer) Riebow of Traverse City, MI, Danielle (Kevin) Kenworthy of Fort Myers, Florida; son-in-law, Barry Riebow; grandchildren, Spencer (Ashley) Riebow, Taylor (Alex) Favreau, Kailee Kenworthy, Kasside Kenworthy, Keaton Kenworthy; great grandchildren, Lucy Riebow, Etta Favreau; brother-in-law, Charley (LeAnn) Green of Charlotte; sister-in-law, Susan Carpenter of Whitehall; sister, Jean (Allen) Fine of Florida; and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Margueritte.
Funeral services were held on Friday, September 8, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home at Millerburg Cemetery.
Those desiring may make contributions in Doug’s memory to the Charlotte Fire Department, 111 E. Lawrence Ave., Charlotte, MI 48813.To view Doug’s obituary online or to leave your condolences for the family, please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com.