Obituaries
Valerie Jean Matice
Valerie Jean Matice died April 12, 2018 in Bradenton, Florida. She was born in St. Johns, Michigan on February 14, 1949 to Lad and Jean Bartholomew. She was a mother, Cub Scout leader, soccer coach, mentor, wise old soul, straight shooter and a friend. She was a strong independent woman who lived life by her rules. One of her greatest passions was being an advocate in the women’s rights movement in the 1970s and working on elderly issues in Manatee County in the 2010s.
For close to 40 years she was someone who provided support, advice and shelter to people in their time of need on Anna Maria Island, where she lived for many years. Her greatest loves were her children, grandchildren and the island.
She is survived by her son Joshua’s children Canaan and Quentin; son Zachary and wife Jennie Makanoff and their children Noah and Ashlee; daughter Betsy Oliver McMullin and husband Kenneth and their daughter Jenna; son Robert and wife Alyson Robbins and their children Elle, Jaye and Wesley; and brother Kenneth Bartholomew.
The family will hold a celebration of life this summer.
In her honor, her wish was for people to slow down, get on “island time” and appreciate time with family and friends. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
June Frances Cary
June Frances Cary, age 87 years of Cassopolis, Michigan passed away on Thursday, April 26, 2018.
She is survived by daughters Karon (and Ronald Baker) Miars of Eau Claire, Michigan and Cynthia “Cy” (and Patrick) Werntz of South Bend, Indiana, and son, Steve (and Jane) Cary of Raleigh, North Carolina; grandchildren Lindsay Miars, Grant Miars, Marissa Miars, Ryan (and Megan) Werntz, Allyson Werntz, Cary Werntz, Robert Cary, Lauren Cary, Caitlin Cary, and Jenna Cary; great-grandchildren Dorr and Dylan Werntz; June’s sister Kay (and Jerry) Tiedt and brother Dorr (and Dana) Anderson; Bob’s brother, John C. “Tim” (and Pat) Cary; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Cary, Esq. and by her brother, Rick Anderson.
June was born on May 22, 1930 in Saint Johns, Michigan to Dorr and Margaret (Nienaber) Anderson, and graduated from Saint Johns High School. She earned a Bachelors degree from Michigan State University (East Lansing). On August 13, 1955, she married Robert Cary while he was stationed with the United States Army in Bad Cannstatt, Germany. They returned to the US in 1956, settling into a home nestled in the woods in Niles, Michigan to raise their children. They bought a summer cottage on Diamond Lake in Cassopolis, Michigan in 1974, the home to which the couple later retired. June, as an active member of the Diamond Lake Yacht Club, was instrumental in founding the bridge and women’s sailing clubs.
June was well known for her broad, expressive and unique artistic talents. Her interest in art was sparked in her youth by a gift of a set of paints. Art became a family affair for June, her mother, and sister, carrying their traveling easels to paint landscapes in various settings. She continued to develop her artistic techniques at Michigan State, the Toledo Art Museum, the Stuttgart Art Institute, and at the University of Notre Dame. June pursued a career in fine art after successfully raising her children and seeing them off to college.
Over the decades, June’s style evolved. Her style began with acrylic abstracts, and then moved to floral landscapes. She called her work “contemporary impressionist” style. June also created unique stone and metal abstract sculptures.
Her artwork has been exhibited in galleries from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Naples, Florida. She was also a featured artist at the South Bend Museum of Art, the Fernwood Botanic Garden and Nature Preserve, the University of Michigan, the Governor’s Mansion, Niles District Library, and many other venues throughout her career.
June’s major patron for her art is the high-end department store, Von Maur, Inc. Von Maur decorated twenty-four stores with her paintings, and created shopping bags and post-cards illustrating her work.
The late Robert A. Leader, former University of Notre Dame Senior Professor of Art, once described June’s award-winning work as having “a real sense of joy and light”. In a 1996 article about her show at the Bergsma Gallery in Grand Rapids, June made a statement reflecting the Professor’s remarks on her art, “I’m painting in a way I never originally imagined, but it’s fun. I enjoy the pleasure it gives other people.”
The family of June Cary will gather with relatives and friends to share memories and celebrate June’s life from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at the Visitor’s Center of Fernwood Botanic Gardens and Nature Preserve, 13988 Range Line Road, Niles, Michigan 49120.
The “June Cary Retrospective,” an exhibit demonstrating June’s life-long passion for art and creativity, is scheduled from August 3, 2018 through September 30, 2018 in the Clark Gallery at Fernwood. Family will be present at an open-house on August 5, 2018 from 2-4:00 p.m.
Contributions in memory of June may be made to Fernwood, http://www.fernwoodbotanical.org/; or to the Center for Hospice Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, Indiana 46637, http://www.centerforhospice.org/.Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles.
Marriage licenses filed the week of April 23, 2018
Brian Allan Nicholson, 43 of Lansing and Amy Kathleen Sjoberg, 47 of Lansing
Mitchell Dean Mott, 23 of Alma and Macy Rose Wieber, 22 of Fowler
Keefe Eric Johns, 44 of Elsie and Lisa Marie Bentley, 39 of Elsie
Samuel Mearl Spade, 25 of St. Johns and Hiliary Ellen Jenkins, 23 of St. Johns
Ray Philip Donley, 62 of St. Johns and Jennifer Lee Dobson, 51 of St. Johns
Jeremy Steve Hanses, 41 of Westphalia and Megan Lee Murphy, 30 of Westphalia
Ryan Scott Failing, 26 of Bath and Susan Ashley Moody, 24 of Valparaiso, Indiana
Divorce decrees filed the week of April 23, 2018
Brown, Jason Michael and Ahna Jean
Gerding, Amanda J. and Matthew R.
Hansbarger, Nathan B. and Tammy M.
Warren, Michael and Jesse M.
Cunningham, Shane and Nissa Nicole
Perry, Ann J. and Ronald R. Jr.
Prior, Benjamin Scott and Kelly Marie Nurenberg Prior
Lech, William Jacob and Amber Rose
Hart, Joseph M. and Trisha