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Leon Dwight Searles
Leon Dwight Searles, age 77, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Monday, August 7, 2023 at Oliver Woods Retirement Village, Owosso, MI.
Private services were held and burial took place at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, MI.
Leon was born in St. Johns, Michigan on July 10, 1946, the son of Willard and Lillian (Brown) Searles. He graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School. Leon married Ann (Purtill) Smith on November 26, 2010 in Arizona.
Leon worked alongside his dad and brothers for many years in their family construction business. Leon was the owner of Searles Construction for forty years. He loved being up north at his cabin spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed elk, deer and bear hunting and he was an elk guide up north. Leon was a member of the Mule Deer Foundation and the Elk Foundation. He was always a big supporter of the Clinton County 4-H.
He is survived by his wife Ann Searles; his children: Debbie Skriba, Michael Searles, Brian (Bonnie) Searles, and Kristi Swanchara; his step-children: Stacey (Jonathan) Strayhorn, and Garrett (Ari) Smith; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters: Sharon (Gary) Conklin, Joyce Weinley, and Cindy Geller; brothers and sisters-in-law: Robbin Clandenning, Patrick (Ellen) Purtill, Michael (Cruz) Purtill, Michelle (Paul) Murray, and Scott (Deanne) Purtill; and father and mother-in-law Robert and Patricia Purtill. He was preceded in death by his parents Willard and Lillian Searles, siblings: Bill Searles, Randy Searles, step-sister Sandy Washburn and brothers-in-law: Joe Geller and Gary Weinley.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and Clinton County 4-H. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.
Delores Louise Cornell
Delores Louise Cornell, 88 of Charlevoix, went to be with our Savior Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at Grandvue Medical Care Facility in East Jordan.
Born in Lansing, Michigan on July 19, 1935, she was the daughter of Charles and Winifred (Abbott) Adams. Delores grew up in Lansing, graduating from Lansing Sexton High School in 1953.
On March 7, 1953, Delores and Harry D. Cornell were united in marriage. They recently celebrated 70 years of marriage. They lived primarily in Portland, Michigan where Delores was a homemaker and stay at home mom, raising four children. Later, after the children were older, she went to work as a bus driver at Portland Schools. In 1989 they moved north to Wolverine, and then to Charlevoix in 2016.
Delores was a dedicated member of Hope Lutheran Church in Portland, and later at Hope Lutheran Church in Indian River.
When their family was young, she enjoyed family camping trips. She also enjoyed spending time outdoors, gardening, tending to her flowers, and watching butterflies and hummingbirds.
She was an accomplished crafter, painting often on ceramics and on wood crafts that Harry made, and she also enjoyed sewing.
Delores also loved music. She played organ for many years in their church, and she played the accordion, making the difficult to play instrument look so easy. She and Harry played in a band, the Maple Sugar Band, with several friends. They played in northern Michigan, often in and around Gaylord, in parades, senior residences and other places.
Delores was also an active member of the Northern Michigan Antique Flywheelers Club where she could be found working in the Pie Shack with the ladies and on stage playing her accordion with the Maple Sugar Band during the annual shows.
Delores is survived by Harry, her husband of 70 years; a brother, Lynn (Margie) Adams of Lansing; daughters, Lynette (Al) Grams of Charlevoix, MI, and Vicki (John) Reed of Lyons, MI; sons, Brian (Kim) Cornell of Wenatchee, WA, and Kevin Cornell of Lyons, MI; grandchildren, Grant (Mason), Jacqueline (Jonathon), Chloie, Codee (Madison), Kevin Mitchell, Lindsay (Casey), Kreg (Kristen), Adam (Natalie), Kimber (Matt), Nick, Jim (Annette), Albert Jr., Jessica (Amanda), and Christopher (Jenni); 16 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Kenneth Adams.
Memorial service arrangements are pending and will be announced later. Those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions to Hope Lutheran Church, 6193 South Straits Hwy, Indian River, MI 49749.
The family would like to thank the staff at Grandvue Medical Care Facility for the excellent care provided to Delores, and her family.
Arrangements are by Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Please share your memories and personal messages with the family at www.gaylordfuneralhome.com/obituaries/delores-cornell
Ralph Stanley Dara
Ralph Stanley Dara, 83, of Elsie, MI died suddenly on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
Ralph was born on January 4, 1940 in Detroit to Stanley and Phoebe (Lesniewski) Dara. Ralph was the owner of Arborland Dodge in Ann Arbor; Community Dodge in St. Johns, then employed at Bee’s Chevrolet in St. Johns from 1978 until he retired in 2008. Ralph was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns where he had been a fourth-degree knight with the Knights of Columbus. Ralph had many passions including airplanes, boating, golfing and bowling. Many people will remember him for his community involvement over the years, sponsoring softball, bowling and the soap box derby.
His ultimate joy was with family. Left to cherish his memory are his brother Gerald, beloved wife of 26 years, Maggie; daughter Donna (Brad) Burggrabe and son Ralph (Renee) Dara. Stepchildren Laurie (Eric) Woodruff, Alex (Debbie) Shaw, Sam (Joanne) Shaw, Edwin (Tricia) Shaw. Grandchildren Richard (Kelsey) Potes, Maggie (Phil) Carlson, Michael (Brittnee) Potes, Dean Burggrabe and Camden Burggrabe. Step grandchildren Caleb, Bailey, Abigail and Dawson Woodruff; Samuel and Max Shaw; Kamella and Dominique Shaw. Great grandchildren William, Annabelle and Jay Potes. He is preceded in death by his parents, and his wife Camille.
A funeral Mass is planned at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 109 Linden St., St. Johns, MI 48879 for Thursday, August 10 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be an hour before Mass beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either St. Joseph Catholic School, 201 E. Cass St., St. Johns, MI 48879 or Caring and Sharing Family Life Services 1000 E Sturgis St., St. Johns, MI 48879.
For more information please visit McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel.
Chris Alan Devereaux
Chris Alan Devereaux, age 61, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Thursday, August 3, 2023, at Sparrow Health Systems, Lansing, MI.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Chris was born in St. Johns, Michigan on May 10, 1962, the son of Robert W. “Bert” and Stella (Miller) Devereaux. He graduated from St. Johns High School with the class of 1980.
Chris founded “Dirty Work” in 2009 and was still operating his business until his passing. He felt blessed to work along side his sons everyday and was proud to pass the business on to them. His customers meant a lot to him and many became family. He previously worked at AIS in Lansing and Smalley’s Auto body in St. Johns. Chris was a hard worker and never sat still.
Chris was a giver; he was always there to support family and friends, whether it is sending a card in the mail, providing a meal or helping with a project. Chris had a unique sense of humor and he loved to pull pranks on people. He was an avid Michigan football and basketball fan and enjoyed friendly rivalry with MSU “AG” fans. Chris was an animal person and loved the company of his cat Spot and his grand dogs: Jax and Murph.
Chris and Lori enjoyed their getaways together to Put-in-Bay during the summer and Petoskey in the fall. Chris and Lori looked forward to weekly card games with her parents. He enjoyed the outdoors, gardening and fishing. Most of all, he loved spending time his family, especially his grandchildren.
He is survived by fiancé and best friend Lori Barrett; sons: Brandon Devereaux, Brent Devereaux and Jamie Glowacki, and Cody Devereaux; grandchildren: Kaeleigh, RaeLynne, Journey, and Christopher; and his siblings: Robert “Bob” and Beaty Devereaux, Jayne and Jim French, and Todd and Lori Devereaux; sister-in-law Brenda Devereaux; and brother-in- law Gordon Harris. He is also survived by his step-children: Heather Barrett and Stewart Iler; James and Kaity Barrett; Michael and Lisa Barrett; and Dillon and Hailee Barrett; and in-laws Jerry and Nadine Vining. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Rhonda Simmon, siblings: Sharon (Jon) Bottum, Linda Harris, and Gary Devereaux, and grand-dog Sam.
Memorials may be made to his family. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.
Gladys Jean Lublow
Gladys Jean Lublow, age 94, passed away at home in Saint Johns with family members by her side on Wednesday August 2, 2023.
Jean was born March 31, 1929 in Coldwater, Michigan, the daughter of Percy Mills, Sr. and Beryl A. Barton. Jean attended Coldwater High School and graduated with the Class of 1947. She served as class Secretary as well as on “The Mirror” (school newsletter) and on “The Cardinal” yearbook staff. She also was a Varsity cheer leader. During her Senior year she and Robert began dating and spending free time together. On Graduation night, in the hope of continuing and extending their relationship, Robert proposed and put an engagement ring on Jean’s finger. It’s apparent she said “Yes” as the following October, 1947 they were married in the Methodist Church in Coldwater. They celebrated 75 years of marriage this past October 2022.
Jean is survived by her husband Robert Lublow, sister Virginia (William) Cantrell, son Edward (Vicki) Lublow, daughter Diane (Dan) Howland, grandsons Edward Lublow III, Nicholas Richmond, Austin Howland, Logan Howland, Ryan Howland, Robert (Janell) Hicks, Brian (Heather) Hicks, granddaughter Elizabeth (Erik) Penski, 4 great granddaughters, 5 great grandsons, and one great great grandson, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death among her immediate family by her mother Beryl Mills, daughter Sandra Hicks, father Percy Mills, Sr., stepmother Ruth Bracy Mills, and brother Percy Mills, Jr.
Jean and husband Robert have been members of Pilgrim Global Methodist Church since 1986. Prior to that, they were members of the First Methodist Church in Saint Johns for many years. In the early 1980s Jean served for 6 years as church Secretary at the First Methodist Church.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 from 4:00pm until 7:00 p.m. at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel, 1500 Waterford Parkway, St Johns, MI 48879. A funeral service will take place on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour before the service at the Pilgrim Global Methodist Church in St. Johns, MI. Burial will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery.
Memorial donations can be made to the Pilgrim Global Methodist Church.