Gladys M. Cassady

Gladys M. Cassady died November 21, 2001 at the age of 71. Born October 14, 1930 in Beal City, Michigan, the daughter of Henry and Leona (Cassidy) Ley. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, U.A.W. #925 having retired from Federal Mogul as a Tinplate operator after 33 years. Gladys married Alex G. Cassady in Corunna on April 2, 1966 and he preceded her in death September 30, 2000. 

She is survived by four daughters, Bonnie (Joe) Konopka of Virginia, Glenda McKee of Owosso, Julie (Mike) Heuer of St. Johns, Cindy (Dick) Schrader of DeWitt, two sons, Roger (Darlene) Cassady of Gulliver, MI and Michael Cassady of White Salmon, Washington, eighteen grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren.  Gladys also has one brother, Henry Ley, Jr. of Rosebush, two sisters, Beulah (Bernard) Neller of St. Johns and Donna (Ivan) Hines of Wiedman, five sisters-in-law, Dorothy Ley of St. Johns, Emma Ley of White Cloud, Mary Louise Ley of Mt. Pleasant, Mary Ley and Betty Ley Russell, of Concord and brother-in-law, Dean Stalter of Shepherd.  She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, Irene Henning, Helen Fedewa, and Aletha Stalter, and five brothers, Joseph, Kenneth, Edward, Leroy and Clarence Ley. 

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00 A.M. Saturday, November 24, 2001 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop officiating, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive friends 1-9 PM Thursday and 9-9 Friday at the Osgood Funeral Home with a Rosary/Vigil Service being prayed 8 PM Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Joseph Schneiders Foundation to support CJD research.

Anthony J. Waydak

Anthony J. Waydak died November 20, 2001 at the age of 91. He was born in Michigan City, IN on June 13, 1910, the son of Steve and Marie (Chesla) Waydak and lived in Ovid and Oakley most of his life. He was a milk hauler and retired from Vaughan Seed Co. in 1975 and was a member of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Surviving are two daughters, Tonilee (David) Robinson of Chesaning and Valjene Rohrer of WI, two grandchildren, two great grandchildren, brother, Joe Waydak of CA, and two sisters Sophie Nequist of Durand and Mary Nichols of Lapeer, step brother, Vincent Csapos of Ovid, and step sister, Mary Fleming of Nashville, TN. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kellee Brooks, two sisters and two brothers.

Funeral services will be 1:30 P.M. Saturday, November 24, 2001 at the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Ovid with Walter Wayne Katt officiating. The family will receive friends 2-9 PM Friday at the funeral home.

Opal G. (Walter, Sailor, Jason) Snyder

Opal G. (Walter, Sailor, Jason) Snyder, born August 31, 1914, passed into eternal life November 19, 2001. She was a devoted wife and mother and treated each member of her large family with special care. Opal was known as an avid caregiver to all who knew her. Her work at Carson City Hospital for 14 years made her very happy as she greeted all patients with a grand smile and a cheery hello.

Mother of 6 children: Phyllis Showers (Paul), Velma Chaffin (Hubert), Colleen Carter (Bob), Sharon Jason, Jean Peiffer (Tim) and Dean Sailor. Four surviving stepchildren: Joan Tucker, Ray Snyder (Elaine), Ralph Snyder (Frances) and Gary Snyder (Pam).

Preceding her in death: husbands Harry Sailor, Ralph Jason and Lyle Snyder, son-in-law Larry Wetzel and daughter and step children, Lyle Merle Snyder, Dottie Snyder and Rocky Snyder. She had 68 grandchildren, 81 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held Wednesday, November 21, 2001 at the Middleton United Methodist Church. Arrangements by the Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns. If you wish to donate, contributions may be made to Middleton Methodist Church.

Douglas W. Jolls

Douglas W. Jolls, 65, of Hubbardston died Saturday, Nov. 17, 2001.  Born June 1, 1936 in Gratiot County the son of Willard & Ruth (Setterington) Jolls.  Douglas graduated from Fulton High School in 1955 and had lived in the Gratiot County area all his life.  He was a retired Federal-Mogul employee.

Survivors are his daughter Krista & Scott Walton-Perrinton 2 grandchildren 2 brothers Jack & Mary Jolls of Carson City and Don & Sharon Jolls of   Hubbardston. Preceded in death by his parents.

Services were held.  Arrangements by Osgood Funeral Home-St. Johns.

Martin Blake Linell  (Blake Mason)

Blake Mason (Martin Blake Linell) died in his home in Laingsburg, Michigan on November 8, 2001.  Born on March 14, 1978 in Fort McMurray, Alberta to Ann Mason and Todd Armstrong, Blake spent most of his growing-up years in the Lansing area.

While very young Blake practiced Karate and earned his black belt.  The quiet and thoughtful discipline of this study stayed with him long after he moved on to other interests.  He enjoyed long-slow walks, reflected the wisdom of careful contemplation, and achieved the peace of self-awareness and spiritual balance.  Blake lived in the moment, was prepared for the unexpected, and had no regrets in life.

He was a musician and an armchair philosopher.   Never at home in the conventional school system, Blake left high school to pursue independent studies.  He enjoyed the community of  Rivendell Co-op and worked at The Brick House after moving away from home.  He attended Lansing Community College where he studied music, philosophy and comparative religion.  He practiced meditation and had an enduring interest in Tibetan Buddhism.

Though most comfortable at home, Blake still explored the world.  In 1998, he spent three months traveling in Turkey.  He also spent time in Paris and Amsterdam before returning home to Michigan.  The following summer Blake ventured to Ireland to test the culture of his ancestors. He returned home with fantastic socks, an invigorated passion for Irish music, and a refined taste for Guinness and Irish whiskey.  Most recently, Blake went to Iqaluit, Nunavit with his brother Audla to meet his Inuit family.

In 1999 Blake moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia to complete his BA in philosophy at Dalhousie University.  The community of Irish musicians in Nova Scotia welcomed him to their music sessions called Ceilidhs.  Blake happily complained of how busy he was playing guitar for demanding step dancers and fiddlers.

In July 2000, Blake returned to Laingsburg to help care for his mother, Ann Mason, who was dying from cancer.  An exceptionally committed and loving caretaker, Blake gave his mother great comfort in her final months.  He developed a deep respect for the care and gentle guidance offered by hospice; he thought about becoming a hospice volunteer

After his mother's death in January 2001, Blake found solace in his music and became a member of the band Millish. His enthusiasm for his beginning music career filled those who loved him with great joy. Friends and family recognized that Blake was one of the lucky few who did what he loved and loved what he did.  He was a master of living, and he appreciated all that life brought him.

Blake will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.  His mother, Ann Mason, and his grandmother, Joan Armour Mason preceded him. His survivors include:   grandfather and step grandmother Lowell B. Mason and Elizabeth Upjohn Mason, Kalamazoo; sister Whitney Ann Linell, Milford; wife Jessica Crabill, Halifax; father Todd Armstrong, step father Andre Cyr and step brother Audla Geetah-Cyr, Ottawa, Ontario; aunt and uncle Joan and Martin Mason-Grant, London, Ontario; uncle John Mason, Fennville; and a large and loving extended family.  Also, his cats Pekoe and Juice will remember him in their own furry way.