Clare M. Herald

Clare M. Herald, 91 of Stanton passed away Friday, March 2, 2012 in Alma.  Clare was born on April 16, 1920 in Stanton to Michael and Edna (Stewart) Herald.          

Clare was a proud veteran of WWII serving in the United States Army the National Guard where he was a Heavy Machine Gunner and a Sgt. In the Military Police and earned several ribbons and medals including 3 Bronze Battle Stars.  He was a member of the 32nd Red Arrow Infantry Division “Ghost Mountains Boys”, New Guinea Campaign.

He enjoyed boxing and participated in several Golden Glove competitions. On January 8, 1946 he married Mae H. (Welch) in Stanton. Clare and his wife owned Stanton Watch Shop where he repaired watches, jewelry, and fixed many clocks in the area including the Court House Clock.  He also operated the Secretary of State Stanton branch for 23 years.  He retired from the United States Postal Service after 18 years.

Clare is survived by his children, Sheryl Lund of Mt. Pleasant, Sheila Herald of Arizona, Curtis and Suzanne Herald, David Herald and his fiancé Vera Wood all of Sheridan; grandchildren, Patrick Lund, Trevor and Jessica Brooks, Oliver Brooks, Shelley and Rick Treynor, Laura and Dustin Bensinger , Amanda and Clinton Moomey, and Sarah Herald;  4 great grandchildren; his sisters, Helen Hansen and Patricia Cook; and several brothers and sisters in law, nieces, and nephews.

Clare was preceded in death by his wife Mae in 2004; brother, Jim Herald; sisters, Fern Brooks, and Mitsie Herald.

A memorial service honoring Clare will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at the Barden Funeral Home, Stanton.  Pastor Kurt Hoffman from Trinity Evangelical Free Church will officiate.  The American Legion Post 0452 will give Military Honors.  Burial will be in the Fort Custer National Cemetery.

For those desiring to do so, Memorial Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Stanton American Legion Auxiliary; envelopes will be available at the funeral home. 

Clare M. Herald, 91 of Stanton passed away Friday, March 2, 2012 in
Alma.  Clare was born on April 16, 1920 in Stanton to Michael and Edna
(Stewart) Herald.          Clare was a proud veteran of WWII serving
in the United States Army the National Guard where he was a Heavy
Machine Gunner and a Sgt. In the Military Police and earned several
ribbons and medals including 3 Bronze Battle Stars.  He was a member
of the 32nd Red Arrow Infantry Division “Ghost Mountains Boys”, New
Guinea Campaign.

He enjoyed boxing and participated in several Golden Glove
competitions. On January 8, 1946 he married Mae H. (Welch) in Stanton.
Clare and his wife owned Stanton Watch Shop where he repaired watches,
jewelry, and fixed many clocks in the area including the Court House
Clock.  He also operated the Secretary of State Stanton branch for 23
years.  He retired from the United States Postal Service after 18
years.

Clare is survived by his children, Sheryl Lund of Mt. Pleasant, Sheila
Herald of Arizona, Curtis and Suzanne Herald, David Herald and his
fiancé Vera Wood all of Sheridan; grandchildren, Patrick Lund, Trevor
and Jessica Brooks, Oliver Brooks, Shelley and Rick Treynor, Laura and
Dustin Bensinger , Amanda and Clinton Moomey, and Sarah Herald;  3
great grandchildren; his sisters, Helen Hansen and Patricia Cook; and
several brothers and sisters in law, nieces, and nephews.

Clare was preceded in death by his wife Mae in 2004; brother, Jim
Herald; sisters, Fern Brooks, and Mitsie Herald.

A memorial service honoring Clare will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday,
March 8, 2012 at the Barden Funeral Home, Stanton.  Pastor Kurt
Hoffman from Trinity Evangelical Free Church will officiate.  The
American Legion Post 0452 will give Military Honors.  Burial will be
in the Fort Custer National Cemetery.

For those desiring to do so, Memorial Contributions may be made to the
Alzheimer’s Association or the Stanton American Legion Auxiliary;
envelopes will be available at the funeral home.  Online condolences
may be left for the family at bardenfuneralhome.com

Dorothy H. Brien

Dorothy H. Brien, age 86, of Ithaca and Petoskey, passed away peacefully at Hiland Cottage in Petoskey on Friday, February 24, 2012.

Dorothy was born June 8, 1925 to Oscar and Susie (Bendle) Knowlton in Gladwin, Michigan. She married Harvey E. Brien July 15, 1944. Harvey preceded her in death October, 1972.

Dorothy enjoyed baking, driving her friends on errands, helping at the Senior Activity Center, visiting with her grandchildren, and especially enjoyed her dog, Cindy Lou. She worked for many years at the Gratiot County Herald as a proofreader and office manager. Dorothy was a member of the United Methodist Church.

Dorothy is survived by her sons Carl D. (Jil) Brien of Petoskey, Michael H. (Wanda) Brien of Lake Mills, Wisconsin, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her children David and Patricia Ann; and her brothers, Walter Knowlton, Floyd Knowlton, and Leslie Knowlton.

Funeral services for Dorothy will be 2pm, Monday, February 27, 2012 at the Ithaca United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1pm until the time of service. Pastor Cindy Greene will officiate and burial will follow at Ithaca Cemetery. Family and friends will then meet at the Ithaca Senior Activity Building for a luncheon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ithaca Senior Activity Building, Alzheimer’s Association or the American Heart Association

Betty Ruth Woods

Betty R. Woods, age 85, of Sumner, passed away Thursday, February 16, 2012, at Warwick Living Center in Alma.

Betty was born October 23, 1926, in Traverse City, the daughter of Ernest Francis and Marguerite Esther (Henney) Mills.  She worked at the Masonic Home in Alma, retiring in 1985.  She enjoyed gardening, shopping, cooking, music, and dancing.  She married Ted Woods on September 17, 1988, in St. Louis. Betty was a very loving person who loved and cared about her family.  In the past few years she enjoyed traveling with her husband and spending winters in Zephyrhills, Florida.  

Betty is survived by her husband, Ted; her children, Shirley (Gary) Mikesell of Frankfort, Indiana, Randy(Becky) Wolfe, of Crossville, Tennessee, and Patty (Mark) Edgar of Ithaca;  5 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; her sister, Mary Thackham of Fond Du lac, Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews.  Betty is also survived by her step children, Gary (Carol) Woods of Pewamo, Terry (Dawn) Woods of Belding, and Rick Woods (Julie Musial) of St. Johns; many step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her grandson, Justin Wolfe; and her brother-in-law, Richard Thackham.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, February 20, at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca with  Pastor Doug Strait officiating.  Interment will follow in Ithaca Cemetery.  Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday.  Memorial contributions may be made to Ithaca Wesleyan Church. 

Vernon “Wayne” Ross

Vernon “Wayne” Ross, 79, of Vickeryville passed away February 12, 2012 at home. 

 Wayne was born in Vickeryville on May 20, 1932 to Orman N. and Mildred M. (Hodges) Ross. He lived in this area his whole life and joined the United States Army in 1952 during the Korean Conflict. On October 9, 1954 he married Delores Wolverton in Stanton. After working 30 years, he retired from Fisher Body in Lansing. He was a member of the Vickeryville United Methodist Church, a member of UAW #602, and a lifetime member of the Sheridan VFW. He liked taking walks, riding bicycles, watching NASCAR races, hunting, fishing, and was an avid gardener. Most of all, he enjoyed his family and friends and was called the “Best Grandpa Ever”.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Delores; his sons and their wives, Douglas and Deb Ross of Sheridan, Brent and Sally Ross of Stanton; his daughter Susan Flowers of Sheridan; 7 Grand daughters, Kim and Kylee Flowers, Keri, Sydney, and Britta Ross, Shannon Maudsley, Jeni Santoski; 3 Great Grandchildren, Morgan, Ford, and Kadence Mae, 1 sister, Rosemary and Bernard Long; 1 Brother in law, Irv and Judy Wolverton; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his Father and Mother in law, Guy and Fernie Wolverton; 1 sister JoLena Clark; and 1 infant brother, Orman Ross Jr.

 Wayne’s family will greet friends from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15 at the Barden Funeral Home, Stanton. A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the Vickeryville United Methodist Church. Pastors Larry Nalett and Bill Dye will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Ridge Cemetery.

 In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to Wayne’s church. Envelopes will be available at the church and the funeral home.