Marjorie E. Blizzard, Donald R. Boak, Charles W. “Bud” Palen, Nancy Karen Lopez, Farquhar “Bruce” MacRae, Milan R. “Roger” Thurston, Mary Ellen Buggs
Marjorie E. Blizzard
Marjorie E. Blizzard, age 100, passed away peacefully on January 5, 2015. She was born on June 3, 1914 in Bingham Twp., Clinton County, the daughter of Martin and Minnie (Harris) Peck and lived all of her life in Clinton County. Her marriage to Neil Blizzard on September 22, 1935 ended with his death on March 23, 1999. Marjorie graduated from St. Johns High School in 1931, was employed as a secretary for the Production Credit Assoc. from 1934 to 1944 and was a member of First Congregational Church, and active in many church groups. She was a loving wife and mother and was very devoted to her family.
Marjorie is survived by daughter, Marilyn (Douglas) Wakefield of Okemos and son, Douglas (Jacqueline) Blizzard of Hope, sister in law Marguerite (Don) Strayer and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Neil, parents and sister, Hazel Plumstead.
Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 10, 2015 at First Congregational Church with burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Pastor Matt Olson officiating. The family will receive friends 4-8 p.m., Friday at the Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns, and one hour prior to the funeral service on Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
The family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.
Donald R. Boak
Donald R. Boak, 67 of St. Johns, MI died Sunday, January 4, 2015 surrounded by his family. Don was born on November 17, 1947 in St. Johns, MI the son of Cecil D. and Lucille (Patterson) Boak. He graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School in 1965 and on March 15, 1987 he married Pamela J. (Roof) Martens in Las Vegas, NV. Don owned and operated Boak’s Upholstery for over 42 years. He enjoyed old cars, was active in the auto program at St. Johns High School. He also enjoyed being at Silver Lake camping and being on the sand dunes.
Don is survived by his wife, Pam, sons Donald R. Boak II of Byron, MI and Corey (Sherrie) Boak of Fowlerville, MI. Step-children, Eric (Tonya) Martens of DeWitt, MI, Sherie Martens of St. Johns and Mary (Patrick Sullivan) Martens of Mattawan, MI; grandchildren, Brandi Boak, Erin (Anthony) Rae, Nathaniel Boak, Colin Boak, Clay Boak, Logan Martens, Rhiann Martens and Tyler Sullivan; great grandson A J Rae and brother Douglas (Margie) Boak of St. Johns, MI. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family will receive friends and relatives at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, 2-8 P.M. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, January 8, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Kathy Leydorf-Keck officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Clinton County RESA Auto Service Program, 1013 S. US 27, St. Johns, MI 48879 or The ALS of Michigan Association, 24359 Northwestern Hwy., Unit 100, Southfield, MI 48075-6800.
Charles W. “Bud” Palen
Charles W. “Bud” Palen, of Ovid, MI, died Saturday, January 3, 2015 at the age of 91. Born May 27, 1923 in Lansing, MI to Charles B. and Ivah (Morehouse) Palen, Bud was a World War II Army veteran and owned and operated Michigan Livestock Service, Inc. In 1947 he married Jean Cheney at People’s Church in Lansing, MI.
Surviving are his sons: Greg (Sue) Palen of Ovid and Grant (Linda) Palen of Elsie. Grandchildren include Megan (Ryan) Schrauben, Meredith (Jeffrey) Mills, Brock Palen, Charles Day Palen, Morgan Palen; great grandson, Calvin Schrauben; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Bud was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jean, one brother, Bobby Palen, and one sister, Marietta Baker.
Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes in Ovid, MI. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 PM Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Hospice House of Shiawassee County, 2005 E. Copas Rd, Owosso, MI, 48867; VFW Post #8964, c/o Leonard Huyck, 1106 N. Shepardsville Rd., Ovid, MI 48866; or the National Dairy Shrine, PO Box 725, Denmark, WI 54208 dairyshrine.org.
The family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes. Please view the website, www.osgoodfuneral.com, for online condolences.
Nancy Karen Lopez
Nancy Karen Lopez, age 73, passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on January 1, 2015. She was born on April 18, 1941 in Ithaca, the daughter of Howard and Elizabeth (McRoberts) Lamey. Nancy was a wonderful mother and grandmother who cherished spending time with her family. She enjoyed oil painting, fishing, sharing her Christian witness and was a soldier for the Lord.
Nancy is survived by her former husband and lifelong friend, Joseph Lopez, children, Mary (Randy) Holton of Charlotte, MI, Tammy (Gary) Palmatier of Charlotte, MI, and Steven (Parita) Lopez of Plano, TX, four grandchildren, Nicole Holton, Brandy Holton, Tyler Palmatier (fiancé, Ashlee Marks) and Amber Palmatier, two sisters, Janet Bartz and Kathy (Dennis) Morgan, two brothers, Tom (Caroline) Lamey and Bill (Trudy) Lamey, along with many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death are her parents, one son, Joey Lopez, two sisters, Barbara Losee and Laura Lamey.
Memorial Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 5, 2015, at Duplain Church of Christ, 5565 E. Colony Rd, St. Johns, with Chuck Emmert officiating, burial to follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will see friends from 10:00-1100 a.m., one hour prior to the service at Duplain Church of Christ.
The family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.
Farquhar “Bruce” MacRae
Farquhar “Bruce” MacRae, 93, a resident of Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor in St. Johns and a former resident of Fowler and rural Cass City, passed away December 31, 2014.
Bruce was born Aug. 16, 1921, in New Greenleaf to the late Kenneth William and Sarah Ann (McLellan) MacRae. He attended the country school and graduated from Cass City High School in 1939. Bruce attended Bay City Junior College and Wayne State University with an original ambition of becoming a math teacher, but eventually returned to the family farm where he raised and managed a Registered Holstein dairy herd before unofficially retiring in April 1981.
Bruce married Lois Joan (Howard) on August 14, 1965, in Marlette. He was a long-time member, elder, member of Presbytery, choir member and Sunday School teacher at Fraser Presbyterian Church in rural Cass City, and had attended the First Congregational Church in St. Johns. Bruce was a past supervisor of Greenleaf Township in Sanilac County, member of the Sanilac County Farm Bureau and the Michigan Milk Producers Association, member of the District 1 Holstein Association and a 67-year member of Holstein Association USA. He enjoyed attending and helping at dairy sales and shows and caring for his daughter’s show heifers.
Bruce is survived by his wife of 49 years, Lois; daughter Sara (Ron) Long, of Lansing; grandson Keagan Long; one brother-in-law, Eaton (Margaret) Kelly; one sister-in-law, Evelyn (K. Ivan) MacRae; nephews Jeffery (Judy) Karr, Kenneth and Christopher (Cheryl) Kelly, and Douglas MacRae, M.D.; and nieces Marilyn (Allyn) Abel, Jacqueline (James) Chandler, Karen Slippy, Margaret Jean Zorn, and Barbara (Phil) Rockwell; and several grandnephews and grandnieces. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers Leonard Douglas (Edna) MacRae, M.D., Kenneth Ivan MacRae, D.O., Archibald Raymond (Marian) MacRae and Calvin (Verna Mae) MacRae; sisters Anna Marjorie, Dorcus Evangeline, Christina Alexandria, Lorna Belle (Keith) Karr, Lela Irene (Alvin) Hall, Thelma June MacRae, D.O. and Margaret Elizabeth Kelly; three infant sisters Florence, Mary Elizabeth and Rosalie; nephews David and Alan MacRae; and niece Charlene (John) Nipper.
The family will receive friends and relatives at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns with visitation from 4:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday, January 2, 2015, and from 10:00 to 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 3, 2015, with funeral service following at 11:00 AM. Dr. John Nipper will officiate. Interment will be in the Elkland Township Cemetery in Cass City at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Michigan State University Dairy Cattle Judging Program or the Lansing Community College Foundation/Nursing Program.
The family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.
Milan R. “Roger” Thurston
Milan R. “Roger” Thurston, 79 of St. Johns, MI died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, December 31, 2014. Roger was born on October 15, 1935 in Clinton County, MI the son of Milan “Mike” C. and Myrtle (Irving) Thurston. He graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School in 1953 and on December 26, 1953 he married Verna E. Nichols in Angola, IN. Roger worked at General Motors as a skilled trades pipe fitter, retiring in 1989. He enjoyed traveling, motorcycling, camping, his pets and spending time with his family.
Survivors include his wife Verna, children Roger (Karen) Thurston and Richard (Lori) Thurston both of St. Johns, Robert (Sandy) Thurston of Columbia, TN and Linda (Bob) Smith of Charlotte, MI. 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Brother Leo (Jan) Thurston of St. Johns and sister Janice Howell of Gay, GA. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Bobby and 2 sisters.
Memorial services will be held at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home on Saturday, January 3, 2015 with Pastor Ellen Zienert officiating. The family will receive friends and family at the funeral home on Friday, January 2, 2015, 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be given to Great Lakes Caring Hospice or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Mary Ellen Buggs
NMry Ellen Buggs, age 86, retired registered nurse at Clinton Memorial Hospital, died on December 31, 2014. She was born on June 3, 1928 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Alfred A. and Marguerite (Walsh) Gannon.
Mary Ellen is survived by Karen (Bill) Pioszak, Richard Buggs, Joyce (Bob) Sherwood, Jean Buggs, Joe Buggs, Tim (Mary) Gannon, Mary Anne (James) Marshall. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Emily Pioszak, Eric (Val) Pioszak, Erika (fiancé, Randy Castillo) Sherwood, Kendall Buggs, Dylan Smith, Collin Gannon, Adam Gannon, Selby Smith and Grady Smith. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Lynne Buggs.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, January 17 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Johns with Fr. Michael Williams presiding. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the Mass at Osgood Funeral Home, 104 East Cass Street, St. Johns. Contributions may be made in Mary Ellen’s name to St. Joseph Catholic Church.
The family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.
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