Obituaries

Carl Peatee

Howard Bishop

Max Barrett

Miles Smith

Bruce Hulbert

Nora May Evitts

Carl Peatee

Carl L. Peatee, 77, of St. Johns, died March 1, 1999. He was born May 15, 1921, in Milan, the son of Isadore and Mary Peatee.

He was a production supervisor for Ford Motor Company, where he was employed for 27 years. He was a Simmental cattle breeder.

Surviving are his wife, Thelma Jean Peatee, of St. Johns; daughter, Joyce (Dave) Eaton of Milan; two sons, Charles (Donna) Peatee of Milan, and Robert (Connie) Peatee of Milan; three sisters, Sister Helen Peatee of Monroe, Sister Catherine Peatee of Monroe, and Mary (Rudy) Rezak of Mayfield Heights, Ohio; one brother, Lawrence (Gerrie) Peatee of Las Vegas, Nev.; two step-daughters, Glenda Marx of Washington, and Sue (Bob) Johnson of Sebring, Fla.; one step-son, Gary (Vicky) Slaughter of Plymouth; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.

The funeral service was held March 5 at Vermeulen Funeral Home, Plymouth, with the Rev. Jay Samonia officiating. Burial was at The Marble Park Cemetery.

Howard Bishop

Howard A. (Big) Bishop, 68, of Baldwin and formerly of Ashley, died March 3, 1999. He retired from General Motors in Flint after 37 years of service. The funeral service was held March 6 at Smith Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel.

Max Barrett

Max D. Barrett, 72, of McMillan, died at home with his family Feb. 27, 1999. He was born Feb. 21, 1927, in Maple Rapids, the son of John and Ruth (Boatwright) Barrett. He lived most of his life in the Clinton County area.

He retired from Sealed Power after 40 years of service. He married Patricia A. DeGeer Dec. 23, 1972, in St. Johns, and she survives him. They moved to the McMillan area in 1994. He was a member of the VFW Post 671 in DeWitt, American Legion Post 0074 and the Eagles Lodge, both in Newberry.

Also surviving are seven children, Rosemary (Dick) Loynes of Elsie, Dennis (Mary) Barrett of East Lansing, Paul (Wendy) Barrett of Laingsburg, Kellie (Jay) Roll of McMillan, Mary Lou (Chris) Hill, and Matthew (Amanda) Barrett, both of Maple Rapids, and Kimberly (friend, Jeff Morrison) Barrett of McMillan; four stepchildren, Patricia (Dave) Mesh of Kinross, Debra (Julio) Jarvie of Rudyard, William (Joyce) Swanchara II of Ashley, and Joseph (Rose) Swanchara of Leslie; 44 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren, all very loved; two sisters, Carole Turner of Florida and Mona Lee Brown of Troy; a twin brother, Maynard (Shirley) Barrett of St. Johns; many nieces and nephews; and a very special friend, Jeff Morrison. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Jeannie Barrett-Dickinson; grandson, Derrick Welton; sister, Donna Harris; and his parents.

The funeral service was held March 3 at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns with Pastor Ronald Piette officiating. Burial was at Payne Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family.

Miles Smith

Miles Gary Smith, 63, of St. Johns, died March 1, 1999. He was retired from the Army National Guard and the U.S. Post Office. The funeral service was held March 3 at Smith Funeral Homes, St. Johns Chapel.

Bruce Hulbert

Bruce D. Hulbert, 62, of Ashley, died Feb. 28, 1999. He was an associate member of Salem United Methodist Church, and a member of the Alma Elk's Lodge and DeWitt Moose Lodge. The funeral service was held March 4 at Salem UM Church with Pastor Joe Spackman officiating. Burial was at Union Home Cemetery. Arrangements were made by the Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns. Memorials may be made to the Mayo Clinic Oncology Dept., or Hospice of Clinton or Gratiot counties.

Lester Becker

Lester Becker, formerly of Lansing and the St. Johns/Ovid area, died Feb. 25, 1999, in Haines City, Fla., after a long illness. He was employed in many aspects of the trucking industry, and after his retirement he owned and operated a farm in Ovid Township. He was a member of the Shepardsville United Methodist Church, and will be missed by his many friends and neighbors who loved him for his friendliness and generosity. He is survived by his wife, Rosetta. There were no funeral services.

Nora May Evitts

Nora May Evitts, 87, of St. Johns, died March 2, 1999. She was the first female piano tuner in Michigan, and was a piano teacher. Memorial services were held March 6 at the First Presbyterian Church, Ithaca. Arrangements were made by Smith Funeral Homes, St. Johns Chapel.