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Obituaries

Gertrude Janet “Trudy” Boyles

Jonathan Harris Burkett age 15, of Elsie, died Saturday, August 16, 2003 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. He attended Ovid-Elsie Schools and would have been a freshman this year.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, August 21, 2003 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Cyril’s Catholic Church in Bannister, Michigan. Rev. Fr. Wolfgang Streichardt will officiate. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6-8 P.M. and Wednesday 2-8 P.M. with family present 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. Rosary will be prayed on Wednesday evening at 7:00 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel.

Jonathan was born in Niceville, Florida on June 16, 1988 the son of Jonathan B. & Ann M. ( Harris ) Burkett. He and his family moved to Elsie 8 years ago. He was a member of St. Cyril’s Catholic Church in Bannister and he enjoyed sports especially being on the O-E Football & Track Team, he also enjoyed swimming, computers & bike riding.

Survivors include his parents, Jonathan & Ann Burkett of Elsie, 1 sister Lauren Burkett of Elsie, 2 brothers Steven & Aiden Burkett of Elsie, grandparents, Hugh & Eileen Harris of Ireland, grandmother, Diane & Woody Harris of Tennessee, grandfather, Harvey Burkett of Colorado, great grandparents, Lucille & Howard Burkett of Indiana, aunts, uncles & cousins also survive him, his girlfriend, Alicia Stevens of Elsie.

Memorials may be made to the Ovid Elsie Youth Football Program. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel.

Gertrude Janet “Trudy” Boyles died Friday, August 15, 2003 at the age of 92.  She was born in Clinton County, Michigan on October 29, 1910, the daughter of John and Katherine (Campbell) Findlay. She graduated from St. Johns High School and from Michigan State University in 1932.  She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.   On October 12, 1935, she married Dale K. Boyles.  Mrs. Boyles moved from the Detroit area to Ann Arbor in 1959 when her husband was transferred with the opening of the Parke-Davis Research facility there.  In 1996, she and her husband moved their residence to Beaver Island, and thereafter seasonally divided time between the island and Ft. Myers, Florida.  She was a member of the Christian Church on Beaver Island.   In April this year, they entered Clinton Commons in St. Johns, Michigan.   Trudy’s health soon required her transfer to the adjacent Hazel Findlay Country Manor where she died of congestive heart failure. 

Trudy is survived by her husband, Dale Boyles of St. Johns, two daughters, Jane E. Boyles-Visel of Ann Arbor and Kay Barbara Flournoy of Waterford, one son, Frederick J. and his wife, Barbara Boyles of Grand Blanc, two brothers, Loree and his wife, Myrtle Findlay and Donald and his wife, Glenna Findlay of St. Johns, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  

At her request, the only service will be at the gravesite in Lowe Cemetery, Essex Township, Clinton County, Michigan, close to the farm where she was born.  Pastor Jim Dibbet will be officiating.  A brief viewing and visitation will be held 9:30 – 11:30 A.M. at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns.  Memorials tributes may be made to the Emergency Medical Service or to the Rural Health Center, both on Beaver Island, Michigan 49782. 

Harold P. Stoddard

Harold P. Stoddard died August 14, 2003 at the age of 78. Born in Hubbardston, Michigan May 26, 1925, he was the son of Edgar and Julia (McKeone) Stoddard and lived most of his life in the Hubbardston and St. Johns areas.  He was employed as an inspector at the Oldsmobile plant and was a veteran of the U.S. Army.  

He is survived by his children Michael (Terri) Stoddard, Marlene (Rodney) Walling, all of St. Johns, Richard (Barbara Hensinger) Stoddard of Mason and Catherine (Robert) Elliott of Lansing, twelve grandchildren, one great grandson, three brothers, Allen Stoddard of Huntington, WV, John Stoddard of Hubbardston and Donald Stoddard of St. Johns, three sisters, Mary Caris of Hastings, Joanne Kimball of Lyons and Helen Stoddard of Muir, two sisters-in-law, Therese Johnson of Potterville and Joyce Stoddard of Hubbardston, and brother-in-law, Gerald Osborne of Pewamo. He was preceded in death by his brothers, an infant brother, twin brother Gerald, Alton, Lester, Eugene, Robert and Clarence Stoddard and sister, Patricia Osborne. 

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 16, 2003 at the Osgood Funeral Home, burial at St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Hubbardston, with Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop officiating. The family will receive friends 3-5 and 7-9 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. Military graveside services provided by American Legion Post #182, Hubbardston.

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