Henrietta “Dot” Viola Williams

Helen May Demoray, age 80, of Alma, formerly of Ithaca, passed away Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at Warwick Living Center in Alma. Helen was born in Elm Hall, Michigan, on October 3, 1929, the daughter of Edmund and Lottie (Worthing) Smith. She married Nicholas Demoray on February 6, 1948, in Alma.

Helen loved being a waitress because it was so much fun and she met so many people. She began working at the Sky Top Drive In Theater in St. Louis, then the Super Hamburg in Alma, Colony House in St. Louis, the Clover Leaf and the Big Boy in Alma. After waitressing she began working in retail at the Tempo and then the Fisher Big Wheel, however she never brought home a paycheck as she spent all of her money on clothes for all of the grandchildren. Later she worked in home care, and brought her clients to her own home for holidays with her family. She loved babies and all of her grandchildren. She also enjoyed going for rides in the country, where she knew all of the back roads, playing Canasta and putting jig-saw puzzles together. Helen was a people person, and felt very much at home at Warwick Living Center with all of her friends, both residents and staff, who loved her so.

Helen is survived by her 6 children, RoseMary Cater of Alma, Carol (Roger) DeRosia of Fife Lake, Bonnie (David) Bowen of Ithaca, Laurie (Alan) Godley of Alma, Richard Demoray of Mt. Pleasant, and Nicki (David) Oswald of Ithaca; 19 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and her sisters and brothers, Ann Burton of Ithaca, Mary (Carl) Wheeler of Stanton, William (Marcy) Smith of Sumner, and Lee Smith of Alma. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Lawrence Holmes of Alma, and her sister-in-law, Maxine Smith of Sault Ste. Marie. She was preceded in death by her husband, Nicholas, in 1986; her brothers, Robert and John Harold Smith; her sister, Hildred Holmes; her son-in-law, Jim Cater; and her infant granddaughter, Breanna Demoray.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 5, at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca, with Pastor George Showers officiating. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday.

Helen May Demoray

Helen May Demoray, age 80, of Alma, formerly of Ithaca, passed away Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at Warwick Living Center in Alma. Helen was born in Elm Hall, Michigan, on October 3, 1929, the daughter of Edmund and Lottie (Worthing) Smith. She married Nicholas Demoray on February 6, 1948, in Alma.

Helen loved being a waitress because it was so much fun and she met so many people. She began working at the Sky Top Drive In Theater in St. Louis, then the Super Hamburg in Alma, Colony House in St. Louis, the Clover Leaf and the Big Boy in Alma. After waitressing she began working in retail at the Tempo and then the Fisher Big Wheel, however she never brought home a paycheck as she spent all of her money on clothes for all of the grandchildren. Later she worked in home care, and brought her clients to her own home for holidays with her family. She loved babies and all of her grandchildren. She also enjoyed going for rides in the country, where she knew all of the back roads, playing Canasta and putting jig-saw puzzles together. Helen was a people person, and felt very much at home at Warwick Living Center with all of her friends, both residents and staff, who loved her so.

Helen is survived by her 6 children, RoseMary Cater of Alma, Carol (Roger) DeRosia of Fife Lake, Bonnie (David) Bowen of Ithaca, Laurie (Alan) Godley of Alma, Richard Demoray of Mt. Pleasant, and Nicki (David) Oswald of Ithaca; 19 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and her sisters and brothers, Ann Burton of Ithaca, Mary (Carl) Wheeler of Stanton, William (Marcy) Smith of Sumner, and Lee Smith of Alma. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Lawrence Holmes of Alma, and her sister-in-law, Maxine Smith of Sault Ste. Marie. She was preceded in death by her husband, Nicholas, in 1986; her brothers, Robert and John Harold Smith; her sister, Hildred Holmes; her son-in-law, Jim Cater; and her infant granddaughter, Breanna Demoray.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 5, at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca, with Pastor George Showers officiating. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday.

Hattie Nell (Guthrie) Moomey

Hattie Nell (Guthrie) Moomey of rural Alma passed away April 5, 2010 at Masonic Pathways in Alma after a short illness. She was born November 15, 1924 in Oklahoma the daughter of Pearl (Board) and Earl Guthrie. She came to Michigan in 1933 with her family, her father worked in the oil fields so they traveled much with his work. She attended Breckenridge and St. Louis schools.

She married Russell Moomey Jr. January 16, 1943 in Alma. They lived in Gratiot County all their married life. They celebrated 65 years in January 2008 before Dad preceded her in death on June 15, 2008.

Hattie was very active in the Forest Hill Church of Christ, teaching Sunday school and vacation Bible School in the summer. In later years they attended the Seville Community Church of God. She was also involved with the 4-H program as a leader for 30 years and a supporter of the fair. She enjoyed “her 4-H girls” watching them grow up and enjoy the skills they learned in 4-H. She loved her flower gardens, crocheting, and cooking. She enjoyed her family and friends with an open back door and open arms with cookies and pies.

Even though she lived many years in Michigan, she still loved her West Virginia roots. She loved her three grandson’s dearly, enjoying many simple pleasures such as picnics in the hay field, hot dog roasts in the woods, and fairs, flea markets, and swap meets.

She is survived by her daughter Beth (Ron) Litwiller, three grandsons Jed, Kevin, all of Perrinton, and Dustin of Ithaca; brother Tom (Lizzie) Guthrie of Hemlock; sister-in-laws, Maxine Guthrie of Bay City and Carol Guthrie of Arizona; special nephew and wife LD and Verna Hollenbeck of Ithaca; honorary son Kenneth Moomey and wife Kay Toben of Ithaca; numerous nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors she so much enjoyed each one of them.

She is predeceased by her husband Russell, brothers: Harold (Sally) Guthrie, Walter Guthrie both of Bay City; sister LeuVerne Hollenbeck of Alma; brother Sanford Earl Guthrie (Jr) of Arizona; sister-in-law Kathy Guthrie of Bay City; and one nephew David Guthrie of Hemlock.

Funeral services for Hattie will be 11am Thursday, April 8, 2010 at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Pastor George Showers will officiate and burial will follow at Hamilton Township Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4pm and 6-8pm Wednesday April 7, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Seville Community Church of God in Elwell, or to the charity of your choice.

Her faith in her Savior sustained her through her whole life.

Harold Edward Watson

Harold Edward Watson, age 71, of Ithaca died Thursday evening, October 7, 2010, at his home.

He was born in Illinois on May 6, 1939, the son of Harold Clyde and Lola Francis (Warren) Watson. He married Yvonne Harrell of Georgia after his service at the Moody Air Force Base and then moved back to Michigan to work at the Wolverine Shoe Factory. He drove truck for Wolverine for 39 years, first as a short haul driver to Rockford and in later years as a long haul driver to the different factories across the country.

He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Yvonne Watson of Ithaca; two sons, Edward and Cindy Watson of Ithaca and Jeffery Watson of Lakeland, Georgia; two grandsons, Corey Watson of Dewitt and Jacob Watson of Ithaca; one great grandson, Jason Tyler Watson; his mother, Lola Watson of Forida; two brothers, Lester and Patricia Watson of Georgia and Jerry and Darlene Watson of Nevada. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold Clyde Watson and his brother Lee (Beaver) Watson.

Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, October 11, 2010, at 2 pm at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca, with Pastor James Conn officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. Burial will be in the Ithaca Cemetery. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the American Heart Association.

George Campbell “Happy” Tait

George C. “Happy” Tait, age 94, formerly of Greenbush Township, died Wednesday, April 14, at Carson City Hospital.

George was born in Detroit on May 30, 1915, the son of Tisdale Livingston and Sarah Elizabeth (Campbell) Tait. He married Beth Reed King on July 29, 1939 in Detroit. She preceded him in death on September 3, 2002. He worked as an electrician for Mobil Oil for 35 years before he retired in 1970. 

George enjoyed going to the AuSable-Oscoda senior center, where he played the mandolin and harmonica in two bands. He also loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping.

George is survived by his daughter, Barbara (John) Swanson of Sumner; three granddaughters, Sara (Jon) Morrison of St. Johns, Amy (Chip) Underwood of Aurora, Il., and Anna Swanson of Lansing; three great grandchildren, Ian Underwood, Mallory Morrison, and Callie Morrison; his sister, Emma Crawford of Rochester Hills; his sisters-in-law, Jean Day of Plymouth and Joan Tait of New Canton, Il; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Dale Tait; his brother, John Tait; and his sisters, Thelma Marshall, Sarah Elaine Krueger, and Mary Wilson.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, April 24, at the Burnesh-Bennett Funeral Home at 212 W. River Ave, Oscoda, Michigan. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 23. Interment will be in Mikado Cemetery.