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Shirley Pierman Root
Shirley Pierman Root, a resident of Bath, Michigan, died peacefully on April 27, 2022 at the age of 88. Born on January 13, 1934 in St. Charles, Michigan, the daughter of Claude and Pearl Wilson Thrasher, Shirley grew up in West Branch on the family farm. In 1968 she married Charles Root in Owosso.
Shirley owned and operated Shirley’s Beauty Boutique in St. Johns and worked at her husband’s family business, Spartan Printing Inc. in Lansing for many years. They later retired to Daytona Beach, Florida and built and operated a car wash there.
She is survived by sons, Jim Pierman (Kathy), Blake Pierman, Steve (Linda) Root, Fred Root, Randy (Kim) Root, and Eric (Geri) Root. She is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, her faithful Dachshund Mitzie, and many nieces and nephews including Sharon Schwab for whom her family would like to extend a special thank you for the care she provided Shirley, along with her family; Rita, Rhonda, Lavonna, and Ed. Shirley was preceded in death by Charles, her beloved husband of fifty-one years, and a son, Chris Root (Tina) in 2019, and her sister, Lillian Cox (Tom).
Services will be held privately. The family is being served by McGeehan Funeral Homes.
Merle “Donna” Eisler
Merle “Donna” Eisler, age 96, died on Sunday, April 24, 2022. Born in Olive Township on March 1, 1926 the daughter of Roy “Bert” and Clara (Merrihew) Harvey, Donna lived in Clinton County for over seventy five years. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Altar Society and was a proud and dedicated volunteer for Clinton Memorial Hospital, Hazel Findlay Country Manor, and Meals on Wheels. She was a retired caseworker from the Michigan Department of Social Services after twenty-seven years of service. Donna married Raymond Eisler on September 4, 1947. She and her husband owned and operated Eisler’s Superette in St. Johns, Michigan from 1952 – 1976.
Donna lived life to the fullest. She was kind and caring, loved by all and had a sense of adventure. In retirement, she was a worldwide traveler and recalled fondly of her travels to Banff, Canada. She loved playing card games, she was an avid walker and voracious reader, and enjoyed mowing her lawn, gardening, and watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Most of all, Donna loved spending time with her grandchildren, hosting family gatherings, and was known for her peanut brittle, date nut cookies and banana bread.
She is survived by son, Joseph Eisler; five grandchildren, Kelly Eisler, Kyle (Erin) Myers, Sara Myers, Bret (Jayden Suttlemyre) Myers, and Brittany McQuinn-Westleigh; six great-grandchildren, RaeAnna Renden, Jordan Rendon, McKayla Brooks, Ian Brooks, Nora Myers and Ausli McQuinn, as well as extended family members and dear friends. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Gunnisonville Meadows Senior Assisted Living staff for the care and love provided over the last four years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond in 1980; her daughter, Bonnie (Eisler) Myers; three sisters, Cora Reid, Doris Barker, Maxine Riddle; two brothers, Ronald Harvey and Max Harvey and longtime friend, Donald Ott.
Visitation will be held at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel, 1500 Waterford Pkwy, St. Johns, MI on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 from 8:30 AM – 9 AM, with a Rosary at 9 AM. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 109 Linden Street, St. Johns, MI on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 10 AM. Burial Mt. Rest Cemetery. The Mass will be live streamed on the church YouTube page.
Memorials may be made in her name to Briggs Public Library, 108 E Railroad St, St Johns, MI 48879 or to Meals on Wheels, St. Johns, 201 E Walker St, St Johns, MI 48879.
Dora Mae Linman
Dora Mae Linman, age 90, of St. Johns, Michigan, passed away Saturday, April 23, 2022, at her home.
Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, Michigan, on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at 2:00 P.M., with Pastor Kevin Smith officiating. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Elsie, Michigan. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 1:00 P.M. until the time of service at the funeral home.
Dora was born in Elsie, Michigan on December 31, 1931, the daughter of Bernard and Lucille (Loynes) Conklin. She graduated from Elsie High School with the class of 1950. On July 22, 1953 Dora married A.C. “Ace” Linman in Elsie, Michigan. Ace passed away on November 21, 2003. Dora collected dolls, enjoyed cooking, and working in her flower garden.
She is survived by her daughter, Cindy and William Wentworth, of St. Johns, Michigan; grandson Ace Wentworth; one brother, Gary and Sharon Conklin of St. Johns, Michigan; one sister Carol and Ed Polack of Empire, Michigan; many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her special friends: Laureen Wineland, Kaye Mitchell, and Greg Glowacki. She was predeceased her parents and a brother Terry Conklin.
Memorials may be made to American Heart Association or Charity of the Donor’s Choice. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.
Victor M. Higgins
Victor M. Higgins passed away the morning of April 21, 2022 at the age of 79 after a courageous battle with Covid, Sepsis, Mrsa, and pseudomonas. He passed at Pray Family Care Home in Clio with his caregiver Teresa by his side.
Victor was born to Gladys (Hurrell) and Earl Higgins on October 31, 1942 in Shiawassee County. He had 14 brothers and sisters. He met and fell in love with Barbara Watson, and they were married on August 10, 1961. Vic joined the Marines when he was just 17 years old and served from 1961 to 1966. While he was stationed in Camp Pendleton, his first child Cynthia Higgins was born.
Vic took great pride in his family. He was an amazing patriarch and the glue that held his family together. The simplest pleasures in life brought great joy to him. He was very involved in his community with Toys for Tots and church functions. He took great pride in his American Legion Post in Elise, and he enjoyed the monthly jamborees there. Vic always looked forward to providing Military Honors at the funerals of fellow servicemen; he was very proud of the time his group was invited to the Lansing Capitol.
Vic is survived by his wife, Barbara Higgins; daughter, Cindy Goodman (fiance Richard Ploeger); his grandchildren, Joshua Fuller and Jennifer Fuller; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Joshua, and Brantley Victor; as well as 12 of his siblings. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Lori Higgins; brother, Roger Pouillon; and sister, Janet Held.
Victor’s love of life didn’t come to end with his death. His loved ones will continue to keep his memory alive and honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 29, 2022 at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel in Owosso. The family will receive friends that day from 11:00 a.m. until the service.
Online condolences may be made at www.McGeehanFH.com
Jeanette Hazel Bellingar
Jeanette Hazel “Grandma” Bellingar, age 88, of St. Johns, Michigan, passed away on Friday, April 22, 2022, at her home with her family by her side.
A Memorial Gathering will be held on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, from 1-5 P.M. at Columbian Hall in St. Johns, with a service at 1 P.M.
Jeanette was born in Muir, Michigan on April 2, 1934, the daughter of Foster Charles and Viola Mae (Sprague) Lake. She was raised by her aunt Anna Elnora Morey. She married Dean Leroy Bellingar on June 24, 1951 at the St. Johns United Methodist Church. They were blessed with 49 years of marriage prior to his passing on December 7, 2000.
Jeanette was known as “Grandma B” by all who knew her. She owned and operated an adult foster care home. She was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church and the Handicap Travel Club. She dearly loved her family and she cherished her time spent with them.
Grandma B is survived by 3 daughters: Carrie Marie Anthony of Mason, MI; Elnora (Gale) Tabor of Elsie, MI; and Sherry (Dan) Hine of Owosso, MI; son-in-law Pat Sump of Perry, MI; fourteen grandchildren: Bonnie Williamson, Mae (Braun) Curvin, Crystal (Shayne) Sadler, Dorothy (Jon) Porter, Talenna (Rusty) Ackels, Patrick Sump, Jennifer (Jerry Bishop) Stewart, Jessie (Miranda) Sump, Eugenia (Josh Brady) Sump, Deanna (Jeffrey Pattengill) Hine, Greg (Tammy Wood) Bishop, Raymond (Ashley) Hine, Clara (John) Angell, and Tammy Mull; thirty-two great-grandchildren, and seventeen great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother Lloyd (Elaine) Lake, and five sisters-in-law: Betty Lake, Donna (Kenny) Wilson, Connie Ida, Charleen Bellingar, and Judy Bellingar; and one brother-in-law Robert Orweller; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Aunt Anna Elnora Morey, husband Dean, daughter Wanda Sump, granddaughter Janet Carlson, 4 brothers: Austin Lake, John Lake, Foster (Lynn) Lake, and Melvin Lake; 3 sisters: Pauline Pennington, Nora Stafford, and Betty (Dick) Northrup; and one half-sister Irene Ferguson.
The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.