Edith Elsie Williams

         Edith Elsie Williams (nee Moon) of Ithaca, 96 years of age, passed away on September 2, 2019, at her home in the presence of family and friends.

        She was born August 28, 1923 in Muskegan, Michigan.  Edith grew up in Pompeii, Michigan, the daughter of Claude Freeman Moon and Elsie Anne Balmer Moon.    She married Ervin George Attenberger on Dec. 7, 1938 and had two children, Pearl and Stanley.  After Ervin passed away, she married Earl Williams on Jan. 20, 1983.  Edith had worked in Ithaca as a  waitress, a cook, and for many years as a presser for McClow's dry cleaning. For a period of time, she was  the custodian for the  Church of God in Ithaca where she was a long time member.   She  was a  Red Cross  volunteer during World War II and a Grey Lady at Gratiot Community Hospital.  In later years,  Edith enjoyed producing skits at the Ithaca Senior Activities Building and taught Sunday School classes at times.   She enjoyed history and genealogy.

    Edith was predeceased by her husband Ervin, her daughter Pearl,  her second husband Earl, and her siblings Alice, George, and Leroy.  She will be missed by her son Stanley (Peggy) of Madison, IN; her son-in-law Lyle Rausch of Ithaca; her grandsons Tim Rausch (Linda) of Lake, MI; Tony Rausch of Ithaca; and great grandchildren Zachery, Josh, and Quinton Rausch and their families.

        Edith left this parting sentiment in her file drawer:  There is a door that separates life from eternal life.  That door is Christ Jesus, the son of God who said , "I am the door.  If any man enter in he shall be saved."  I step through that door to eternal life.  I hope to see all of you there.

      Funeral services will take place at Bardens Funeral Home in Ithaca at 11am Saturday September 7th.  .  Burial will take place in the North Star Cemetery with dinner following at the Senior Activity Building in Ithaca.  Visitation will be Friday September 6th from 2 - 4pm and 6-8pm.  Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.

Clara E. Kimbley Boyer

Clara Elizabeth Boyer, age 81, formerly of Ithaca, passed away peacefully, with her family at her side, on August 26, 2019, at Warwick Living Center in Alma.

Clara was born September 2,1937 in LaGrange, Oregon, the daughter of Carl and Edna (Nation) Kimbley.  

For many years Clara cooked meals for Food with Friends, and after retiring from cooking, enjoyed attending the lunch every day at the Ithaca Senior Activity Building.  She also enjoyed collecting black and white cows.

Clara is survived by her children, Mark (Sue) Boyer of Ithaca, Sue (Stella) Boyer of Fremont, Ind., Tony Boyer of Daytona, Fl., and Jan (Ed) Boyer of Alma; 3 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by Don Boyer, the father of her children; and she joins her siblings, Leatha Evitts, Hazel Evitts, Tom Kimbley and Wayne Kimbley.  

A memorial service for Clara will be held at a later date.

Clara will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Bettie M. Lund

 Bettie M. Lund, age 93, of Sheridan, passed away August 21, 2019, at Country Friends AFC in Sumner, Michigan.

Bettie was born on March 10, 1926, in Morley, Michigan, the daughter of Darrell and Mabel (McAlexander) Starr. Bettie grew up in Grand Rapids. After her father passed away her mother married Harold VanderMel. They moved to Belding, and she graduated there in 1944. On January 24, 1946, she married Leland Lund in Belding, and they moved to Sheridan.

Bettie enjoyed knitting, crocheting, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Bettie is survived by her children, Bob Lund, Jim (Bev) Lund, Linda Lund, Randy (Kim) Lund, Barb Lund, and Danny (Lynn) Lund: 22 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren; her brothers, Gordon (Jan) VanderMel of Indiana, and Phil VanderMel of Michigan; and her sister, Sandra Luce of Ionia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leland Lund; her parents; her infant daughter, Kathy Lynn; two infant granddaughters, Andrea Lund and Olivia Prebble; and two brothers, George VanderMel and Paul VanderMel.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, August 23, at the Barden Funeral Home in Stanton, with Pastor Ken Harger Officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. Online condolences may be left at bardenfuneralhome.com.

Shelba Lauer

Shelba was born September 6, 1942 in Ohio and later moved to the Grand Rapids area and subsequently to Stanton. She went home to her Lord on Wednesday, July 3, 2019, while residing at Heartland Health Care, Ionia.

Shelba is survived by her husband William Lauer, Fulton; her sons, Richard Davis, Stanton; Wade Lauer (step son), Carson City; Bruce (Renee) Day, Stanton; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren and three sisters, Anna Chloe (Pepple) Venhuizen (Phillip), Lake City; Constance Lucille (Pepple) Visser (Timothy), Grandville; Peggy Sue (Pepple) VanderWeide (Thomas), Jenison; and a special friend Helen Hamler Caris.

Shelba was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Eula (Santmire) Pepple and her son Brian Day.

Shelba worked at the Montcalm Intermediate School District for nearly 28 years as an Administrative Assistant and retired in 2010. She enjoyed crafts, camping, traveling and visiting with friends and relatives. She loved her family with her whole heart and her dog, Raffy.

Cremation has taken place and private services may be planned for a later date. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Sheridan. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice.

The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home in Stanton. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.

Mark Howard Chaffin

Mark Howard Chaffin went home to be with the Lord on August 6, 2019 in Ithaca, Michigan at 64 years of age.  

Mark was born September 13, 1954 to Robert and Sue (Krum) Chaffin in Alma, Michigan.  He was a 1973 graduate of Ithaca High School and graduated from Michigan State University in 1977.  Mark married his high school sweetheart, Jeanne Dayringer, on September 6, 1975 in Alma, Michigan.  They enjoyed 43 years of marriage and had 2 children, Ben (Alyssa) and Josh (Wendi).

Mark loved his family and prayed for them faithfully.  He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather.  As a lifelong farmer, even in the thick of harvest, he made a priority to attend all of his kids’ sporting events.  In recent years, Mark delighted in spending quality time with his grandsons, Asher, Titus, Zeke and Glee.  He enjoyed giving them tractor rides and teaching them how to ride motorcycles and four-wheelers.  He was looking forward to the birth of his first granddaughter in September.  

Mark was a founding Elder of Amazing Grace Church in Wheeler, MI.  He faithfully served the local church and supported the Lord’s work globally.  During a visit to China with the Michigan Agricultural Leadership Program in 1986, Mark brought a suitcase of Bibles to smuggle across the border.  He loved the Lord and enjoyed sharing His goodness with others.  

Mark started farming with his father and brother Mike and continued with his son Ben.  While he enjoyed planting and harvest, Mark was a servant leader and would do any job on the farm with a smile.   He considered his employees to be friends and included them in his daily prayers.  He especially appreciated the faithfulness of Fred Woodcock and Bruce Wiltfong, who have been loyal employees for many years.

Mark is survived by his wife, Jeanne Chaffin; his children, Benjamin (Alyssa) Chaffin of Ithaca, MI and Josh (Wendi) Chaffin of Mt Pleasant, MI; four grandsons, Asher, Titus, Zeke, and Gleeson; his parents, Robert and Susan Chaffin; his siblings, Mike Chaffin and Julie (Reza Mohkami) Chaffin; his mother-in-law, Mable Dayringer; his brother-in-law Bob (Debbie) Dayringer; and many nieces and nephews. 

Mark was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Robert Dayringer.

There will be a service of remembrance and celebration at Amazing Grace Church (9232 E Monroe Rd. Wheeler, MI) on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 11:00am, with visitation on Friday, August 9, from 3-5pm & 6-8pm and Saturday from 10-11am at the same location.  

Memorial contributions may be made in Mark’s honor to Amazing Grace Church or His House Christian Church, Mt. Pleasant, MI.  

The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.