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Obituaries

Marie E. (Swagart) Phelps-Reason died May 4, 2000 at the age of 100. She was born February 10, 1900 in St. Louis, Michigan the daughter of Frank E. and Emma (Huber) Swagart and lived in Lansing and Florida before moving to Bath in 1991. Marie was retired from the payroll division of the Dept. of Mgmt. & Budget. She had attended Bath Baptist Church and Bath Senior Citizens. She was a former member of the Lansing Craft and Hobby Guild and the Square Dance Federation. Marie married Darrow Phelps on March 9, 1924 and he preceded her in death April 2, 1964. She married John L. Reason in 1968 and he preceded her in death in 1995.

Surviving are two daughters, Nanette (Russell) Brown of Bath and Norma (Wayne) Figg of Dimondale, 4 grandsons, Lynn (Dee) Figg, Vere (Sheri) Brown, David (Jill) Figg, and Jack (Dawn) Brown, 7 great grandchildren, one brother, Frank (Frances) Swagart of St. Johns and one sister, Donnah McMaster of Alma. Marie was preceded in death by two brothers, Elmer and George Swagart, and three sisters, Katie Woodruff, Jane Fiedler-Weir, and Marguerite Swagart.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 P.M. Monday, May 8, 2000 at Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns, burial at Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Saturday and Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Memorial Healthcare/Hospice, 1480 N. M-52, Owosso, MI 48867.

Stanley H. Smith

Stanley H. Smith, age 79, died May 4, 2000. Born September 28, 1920 the son of John and Margaret (Piggott) Smith and retired from Sealed Power as Quality Control Supervisor in 1977. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Stan married Joan E. George November 13, 1943 and she survives him.

Also surviving are three daughters, Kay (Gil) Sparks of Washington, Patricia Thelen of Mt. Pleasant, and Jeannie (Carl) Murray of Ashley, three grandsons, Russ Sparks and Chris Sparks of Washington, and Andy Murray of Ashley, and two granddaughters, Jennie Thelen of Mt. Pleasant and Becky Murray of Ashley, and two brothers William (Marian) Smith of California and Don Smith of St. Johns.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00 A.M. Monday, May 8, 2000 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, burial in Mt. Rest Cemetery with Rev. Fr. Jose Mundadan and Rev. Fr. Fred Thelen as concelebrants. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Saturday and Sunday at the Osgood Funeral Home with a Vigil Service prayed 8:00 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Clinton Home Health or Meals on Wheels.

Louise C. Platte

Louise C. Platte, 93, of Westphalia died April 29, 2000. She was born in Westphalia June 23, 1906, the daughter of Mathias and Mary (Schafer) Spitzley. Mrs. Platte was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Westphalia and the Christian Mothers.

Surviving are children, Marie (Alphonse) Thelen of Fowler, Grace (Celestine) Simon of Stanton, Therese (Edward) Perrient of Ionia, Gerald (Nancy) Platte of Westphalia, Duane (Barbara) Platte of Westphalia, Sharon (Clark) Becker of Fowler, Joseph (Mary) Platte of Dearborn, and Mary Catherine Platte of Westphalia; 41 grandchildren, 76 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild; brother, Norman Spitzley of Westphalia; sisters-in-law, Marcella Spitzley of Westphalia, Carolyn Spitzley of Lansing, and Marge Platte of Westphalia; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Aloysius (1976), and two grandsons. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated May 3 at St. Mary's Church with the Rev. William Ashbaugh officiating. Rite of Committal followed at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements were handled by the Schrauben-Lehman Funeral Home, Portland.

Janet R. Klein

Janet R. Klein died April 30, 2000 at the age of 59. She was born in Fowler on July 3, 1940, the daughter Gilbert and Marie (Sontag) Simon and lived in Fowler all her life. She was a homemaker, a member of the First Baptist Church in St. Johns and Mom’s In Touch. Janet married Clarence Klein in Fowler on September 2, 1961 and he survives her.

Also surviving are three daughters, Cindy (Keith) Dalton of Brighton, Becky (Scott) Becker, and Cathy (Richard) McCune, all of Fowler, two sons, Tom Klein of St. Johns and Rick Klein of Brighton, twelve grandchildren, her father, Gilbert Simon, brothers and sisters, Ken Simon, Eugene Simon, Larry Simon, Ted Simon, Theresa Thelen, Mary Ann Rademacher, Jim Simon, Susie Hurren, Diane Schneider, Dennis Simon, and Neil Simon.

Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, May 3, 2000 at the First Baptist Church in St. Johns, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Pastor Tim Knaus officiating. The family will receive friends 7-9 P.M. Monday, 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Tuesday at the Goerge Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Fowler. Memorials may be made to Mom’s In Touch or Family Life Radio.

Viola Cramer

Viola L. Cramer, 88, of Bath, passed away April 30, 2000. She was born October 30. 1911.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Cramer, in 1988.

Surviving are her seven children, James (Marilyn) of Bath, Pat (Stanley) Baird of DeWitt, Jack of Bath, Ronald of Perry, Richard (Judy) of St. Johns, Sally Hartsuff and Connie Rice both of DeWitt; 19 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren; one brother, Bob (Doris) Zink of Texas; two sisters, Helen Adolph of Oak Park and Virginia (Russell) Ash of Plymouth; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held May 3 at Gorsline-Runciman DeWitt Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Richard Cole, pastor of Bath Baptist Church, officiating. Interment was at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Bath. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sunny Seniors, c/o Bath Baptist Church, 13527 Webster St. Bath, 48808.

Milford Clark

Milford H. Clark, 98, of Elsie, passed away April 29, 2000. He was born June 16, 1901 in Elsie the son of Edward and Lena Bell (Morton) Clark.

He lived most of his life in the Elsie area. He retired from the Elsie Elevator, and he was a farmer. He was a member of the Elsie United Methodist Church, Elsie Senior Citizens and United Methodist Men.

He married Algurtha Munson Nov. 24, 1921, at the Elsie United Methodist Church. She preceded him in death March 12, 1986.

Survivors include his three daughters, Phyllis (L.D.) Prebble of Dansville, Fern Waggoner of St. Johns, Shirley (Gale) Wood of Middleton; one son, Stanley (Beulah) Clark of Owosso; 12 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; one sister and two brothers.

Funeral services were held May 2 at Elsie United Methodist Church, burial at Riverside Cemetery, Elsie, with the Rev. Merlin Pratt officiating. Memorials may be made to the Elsie United Methodist Church. The family was served by the Smith Funeral Home, Elsie Chapel.