Marjorie E. Smith

Marjorie E. Smith, 88, of Crystal passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 2, 2010.

Marjorie was born August 2, 1922 in Butternut to John and Myrtle (Gunther) Felton. She married Olen Smith on May 26, 1941 in the Alma Chapel. 

Marjorie was a lifetime resident of the Crystal area and she and her husband enjoyed many years at Crystal Lake. She loved to fish, bowl, garden, and camp. Marjorie was a U.S. Postal Clerk while her husband was the Post Master. She was a member of the Eastern Star and was a devoted worker in the Women’s Fellowship at the Crystal Congregational Church. Her greatest joy was her family, especially her grandchildren.

Marjorie is survived by her children, Sharon Smith of Crystal, Sue and Curt Hausser of Gowen, and Sheila Smith of Ypsilanti; her grandchildren, Laurie and Craig Schaffer of Sheridan and Gregg Spencer of Greenville; great grandchildren, Ryan, Trenton, and Delanie; several nieces, nephews, and friends; her caretaker of the past few years, Linda Davis; and special friends, Kathy Roberts, Raychell Gavitt, and Cheryl Smith. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and her brother, Stan Felton.

A celebration of Marjorie’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at the Crystal Congregational Church. Pastor Ried Martin will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral service. Memorial contributions may be made to the church; envelopes will be available at the church or Barden Funeral Home, Stanton.

Marie Lucille Bare

Marie L. Bare, age 90, of Ithaca, died Friday, April 16, 2010, at Rosewood.

Marie was born August 2, 1919, in St. Louis, the daughter and fourth child of Charles and Marguriette (Rockwell) Hawk. She married Stanley Bare on January 1, 1942. He preceded her in death on March 8, 1998.

Marie and Stan really enjoyed wintering in Florida for over 35 years, where Marie loved to spend her days playing shuffleboard. She enjoyed cooking and canning, and made wonderful baked beans. She was a member of the Lafayette presbyterian Church all of her married life, and made many homemade noodles for church socials and dinners. She loved taking the time to make nice dinners for her family. Spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought her great happiness.

Marie is survived by her children, Marian (John) McDonald of Mt. Pleasant, and Fred (Connie) Bare of Ithaca; six grandchildren, Kelly McDonald, Rebecca McDonald, Anthony (Melanie) McDonald; Stacy (LeRoy) McCreery, Tina (Shawn) Snyder, and Andrew (Jill) Bare; her great grandchildren, Brandon, Carter and Ethan McDonald, Anne, Leigha and Jakob McCreery, and Derrick Snyder; and her sister, Ina “Ann” Miscisin of Sterling. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother and sisters, Lewis “Red” Hawk, Vera Jones, and Ruth Foster.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 21, at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca, with Pastor James Conn officiating. Interment will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 20. Memorial contributions may be made to Gratiot County Commission on Aging.

Margaret Gertrude Hughes

Margaret G. Hughes, of Alma, died peacefully on April 10, 2010 at Warwick Living Center in Alma.

Margaret was born September 5, 1925 in Pompeii, the daughter of Addison N. and Ruth May (Brattin) DeMott. She loved music, and in her younger years she would travel with her sisters Zelma and June to sing at different places. She played the piano by ear, and could play anything she had listened to. She was very active in her church, enjoyed gardening, and loved to play Aggravation.

Margaret is survived by her children, Rachelle (Jim) Mileshko of Loganville, GA, and Roger (Marcia) Baker of Punta Gorda, Fl; 4 grandchildren; 1 great granddaughter; her brother, Jim (Berneda) DeMott of Ashley; her sister, June Jaje of Johnston, Iowa; and her sisters-in-law, Laura DeMott of St. Johns, and Carla DeMott of Middlebury, IN.

She was preceded in death by her sons, Kenneth Michael Langin and larry Lee Baker; her brothers, Gerald DeMott, Mervin DeMott, Leo DeMott, Chester DeMott, Keith DeMott, Verne DeMott, Frank DeMott, and Clare DeMott; and her Sister, Zelma Payne.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 13, at the Alma Church of the Nazarene, with Pastor Robert Mitchell officiating. Interment will follow in Collier Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Memorial contributions may be made to the family.

Lorene Mae Stoner

Lorene Mae Stoner was born to Harry and Bertha (Peters) Stoner on November 6, 1928, in Gratiot County, Michigan. She passed away peacefully on May 19, 2010, at the Rosewood AFC Home in Ithaca, Michigan, at 81 years of age.

She realized her lost condition and gave her heart to the Lord at the age of 12 years. She was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, on February 17, 1941, by Minister Harry Wenger. She was a conscientious sister and remained faithful to the end.

She worked at various occupations in her lifetime, the primary one being at the Wolverine shoe factory, where she worked for 35 years. She was a faithful employee and enjoyed her work. She especially enjoyed her nieces and nephews, often taking them on vacations with her, leaving them many pleasant memories. She lived with her parents until their passing, and cared faithfully for her widowed, aged mother.

In June of 2001, her health declined to the point that she moved to the Mapleview AFC home. She enjoyed her stay there, but by February 2006, she needed more care than Mapleview could provide, so she moved to the Rosewood AFC home. The family has appreciated how lovingly she was cared for until her passing.

Those left with many happy memories of her are her brother, Harry and wife Natalee of Alma, MI; two sisters, Isabel and husband Allen Schmidt of Rich Hill, MO; and Betty Hibner of Ithaca, MI; two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Stoner of Elkhart, IN, and Connie Stoner of Ithaca, MI; and 19 nieces and nephews. Preceeding her in death are her parents; two brothers, Lester and Ben; and one sister, Pauline Thompson.

Funeral services will be 10:30 Sunday, May 23, at the Newark Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, with ministers Doug Salsbury, Mike Litwiller, Richard Litwiller, and Darin Litwiller officiating. Interment will follow in Hayes Road Cemetery. Visitation will be 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 22, at the church. The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca.

Leona Mae Little

Leona Mae Little, age 73, of Sterling, formerly of Ithaca, died Saturday, August 14, 2010, in Sterling, Michigan.

Leona was born January 28, 1937, in Ithaca, the daughter of R. G. and Lottie (Walters) Schlarf. She married Clifford J. Elliott in 1955 and married Lyle LeRoy Little in 1968.

Leona was a nurses aid and attending nursing school, when she stopped to start her family and be a stay at home mother. She enjoyed helping others, talking with her friends, doing crafts and sewing, bingo, shopping and gardening, growing her christmas cactus and african violets in her home. Nothing gave her as much joy as babies and her grandchildren.

Leona is survived by her children and step children, Bruce (Tracy) Elliott of Skidway Lake, Bryon (Leah) Elliott of Harrison, Diane Stager of Tawas,. Elizabeth (Robert) Hopkins of Breckenridge, Doreen Hitsman of Riverdale, Evelyn Elliott of Auburn Hills, Brenda (Kenneth) Haney of Ionia, Christina (Ryan) Greenhoe of Ionia, Scott (Dianna) Little of Ithaca, Raymond (Kathy) Little of Harrison, Roger Little of Harrison, Daniel (Patricia) Little of Harrison, Randall (Laurie) Little of Harrison, and Lyle Little of Saginaw; a whole lot of grandchildren and great grandchildren; her brothers and sisters, Shirley Gath of St. Charles, Ted (Laura) Schlarf of Perrinton, Robert (Olga) Schlarf of Ithaca and Harriett (John) Miller of Elwell; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her grandchildren, Jamie Hitsman and Matthew Haney; and her sister, Barbara Kanine.

Funeral services will be 1:00 pm on Wednesday, August 18, 2010, at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca, with Pastor Doug Strait officiating. Interment will follow in Eureka Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, August 18, from 10 a.m. until time of service.