Obituaries
Sharon Frances Becker
Sharon Frances Becker, age 75, of Fowler, MI, passed away Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at The Laurels of Carson City, Carson City, MI.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fowler, MI, on Monday, August 13, 2018 at 10:30 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Dennis Howard officiating. Burial will follow at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery, Fowler, MI. Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 12, 2018 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Goerge Chapel, Fowler, MI. A Rosary will be prayed Sunday at 7:00 P.M.
Sharon was born in Westphalia, MI, on April 10, 1943 the daughter of Aloysius and Louise (Spitzley) Platte. Sharon resided most of her life in Fowler and was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School with the class of 1961. Sharon married Clark Becker August 1, 1962 in Westphalia, MI.
Sharon and Clark owned and operated Becker’s Bridal from 1975 until retirement. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting. Sharon loved to play cards and go bowling. Playing games with her grandchildren and doing puzzles with family and friends brought her much joy. She was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church Fowler, MI and a member of Christian Mothers.
She is survived by her husband Clark Becker of Fowler, MI; son Curt and Lisa Becker of Fowler, MI; son Scott and Becky Becker of Fowler, MI; daughter Michelle Mueller of Ionia, MI; son David and Sherri Becker of Fowler, MI; daughter Beverly and Mike Schaefer of Fowler, MI; son Timothy and Sharon Becker of Grand Rapids, MI; son Thomas and Janet Becker of Rockford, MI; daughter Jennifer Badgett of Fowler, MI; 23 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; sister Marie and Alphonse Thelen; sister Therese Perrien; brother Joseph and Mary Platte; sister Mary Catherine Platte; brother-in-law Celestine Simon; sister-in-law Nancy Platte; and sister-in-law Barb Platte. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, father and mother-in-law Frank and Eva Becker, her granddaughter Brooke E. Becker, sister Grace Simon, brother-in-law Edward Perrien, brother Gerald Platte, brother Duane Platte, and brother and sister-in-law Luke and Joan Becker.
Memorials may be made to No More Sidelines, Fowler, MI. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Goerge Chapel, Fowler, MI.
May Pulliam
Ethel “May” (Betz) Pulliam, 85, of St. Johns passed away peacefully August 8, 2018, under Hospice care at Grace Haven in St. Johns, slipping from the warm embrace of family and friends and into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ where she is enjoying the company of a beloved granddaughter, Elizabeth Koenigsknecht, who preceded her on the heavenly journey 18 years ago, August 8, 2000.
May was born November 9, 1932, the daughter of Tony and Elizabeth Betz. She loved people and life in general and was particularly enthusiastic about meeting and making new friends. She was genuinely interested in learning about them, gleaning information in a friendly and caring manner.
Her career as a teacher was life-long – beginning when she received a teaching degree from Michigan State University, and continuing well beyond her “official” retirement in 1992. She first taught at Gunnisonville, followed by Valier – a two room school in Midland with her sister, Wanda Betz; Alma Republic and concluding at St. Johns Public Schools.
May married the love of her life, Jerry Pulliam, on June 1, 1951. She and Jerry became the proud parents of twin daughters, Sheila and Sheryl, on July 20, 1952. Family was a mainstay of May’s life She was a devoted wife and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who enjoyed the laughter and spirit of her family. She especially enjoyed talking with and supporting the endeavors of all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
May also loved dancing. She and Jerry were well known around the mid-Michigan area for their skill at clog dancing. They enjoyed performing together at various functions, including assembly programs for young students at SJ Schools which suited their background in education.
Along with her dancing partner and husband of 67 years, Jerry, May is survived by daughters Sheila (Gery) Rehmann and Sheryl (Rich) Koenigsknecht; grandsons, Rich (Sara) Koenigsknecht, Chad (Kari) Rehmann and Craig (Stacy) Rehmann; and great-grandchildren Ella Elizabeth Koenigsknecht, Nolan Koenigsknecht, Kathryn Elizabeth Rehmann, Nicolas Rehmann, Kayden Rehmann, Micah Rehmann and Kenley Elizabeth Rehmann. She was preceded in death by 13 siblings and a granddaughter, Elizabeth Koenigsknecht.
Visitation will be Sunday, August 12th from 2-4, 6-8 at Keck Coleman Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., August 13, at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home with Pastor Tyler Barlage officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Cancer Unit at Clinton Sparrow Hospital, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Janet Lou Russell
Janet Lou Russell died Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at the age of 82. She was born September 21, 1935 in Oakland, CA the daughter of Frank C. Hansen and Gertrude L. (Carlson) Hansen. Janet and was a Photo Lab Technician in the U.S. Air Force for 3 years, then worked for Accounts Receivable in Lansing. On August 31, 1956 she married William Sherwood Russell in New Hampshire, and he preceded her in death in March of 2015.
Surviving Janet is a daughter, Kathleen (Gilbert A.) Baker of Fowler, and one grandson, Ian Michael Baker. She was preceded in death by her parents and a son Sherwood Dean Russell.
Funeral services will be held 1:00 PM, Monday August 13, 2018 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns with Rev. Dr. Joseph Mlaker officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery with military honors provided by the St. Johns Honor Guard. The family will receive relatives and friends 11:00 A.M. until service time on Monday. Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.