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Velma M. Jarrad

Marian Orweller

Rolland E. Rathbun

Donald Robinson

Jeffrey W. Leydorf

Martha Mae Argersinger

James P. Lafferty

Roy J. Ebert, age 72, born February 17, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois; passed away on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at Clinton Memorial Hospital after a courageous battle with brain cancer. "God saw you getting tired and said ‘Come with me.’ God broke our hearts to take you, but He only takes the best."

Growing up in Elsie, MI and graduating in 1951, he attended and played football for the University of Toledo. He married Mary E. Coe on November 8, 1958 at St. Isidore’s Catholic Church in Laingsburg, MI. They spent most of their married life in St. Johns, MI where he was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. He was involved in many civic activities in St. Johns, including serving as Mayor and on the City Commission for many years. He also was a member of the City’s Planning, Zoning and Park Boards. He was a founding board member of the Clinton County Ambulance Service. Other civic activities included the St. Johns Exchange Club and Fund Committee for the Hazel I. Findlay Nursing Home.

His professional career consisted of the Federal Mogul Corporation, St. Johns Federal Credit Union and Director of Operations for Cooley Law School. In retirement, he found joy in golfing, fishing, his grandchildren and traveling to Ireland.

Surviving are his wife, Mary; son Dr. Patrick (Kristin) Ebert of Haslett; daughter Lori A. (Stephen) Thompson of Cincinnati, OH; 4 grandchildren, Benjamin and Katherine Ebert, Paige and William Thompson; brothers John Q. (Nicole) Ebert of Okemos, James (Joanne) Ebert of DeWitt, Thomas (Tonia Wynell) Ebert of Inman, SC, George Ebert of Portland, OR; and many nieces and nephews. Roy was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Helen and sisters Phyllis Ebert and Dorothy Mae Miller.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00 A.M. Saturday, March 27, 2004 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Johns, burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Laingsburg, with the Rev. Fr. Eoin Murphy officiating. The family will receive friends 6-8 P.M. Thursday, 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Friday at the Osgood Funeral Home with a vigil service prayed 7:30 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. Donations in memory of Roy can be made to Clinton Memorial Hospital or Hospice for Clinton County.

Velma M. Jarrad, Lansing, MI Age 86, was called home on March 22, 2004. Born March 1, 1918 in St. Johns, MI. Mrs. Jarrad was a very caring person and always cared for others. She was a 1939 graduate of St. Lawrence Nursing School. She was a Registered Nurse at St. Lawrence Hospital for many years before working at M.S.U. Olin Health Center and retired in 1983 after 17 years of service. She was an avid supporter of her grandchildren's activities. She was a M.S.U. sports fan and supporter and she enjoyed the theater and plays and loved to travel. She was a charter member of St. Gerard Catholic Church and was a member of the Catholic Women's Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale M. Jarrad in 1972, and her daughter, Jacqueline S. Jarrad in 1990.

Surviving are her 3 children, Peter W. (Karen) Jarrad, Patricia A. (Larry) Smith and Judith D. (Jim) Stark; 9 grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth Jarrad, Anne Jarrad, Dale Jarrad, Cecilee Jarrad, Lisa (David) Jones, Jodi (Chris) Hoag, Michelle (Rick) Houck, Lesley (Chad) Williams, and Tracy Stark; 11 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, James (Noma) Magner and John (Joyce) Magner; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation is from 6-8 PM Wednesday and 2-4 and 6-8 PM Thursday with a 7 PM Thursday Vigil Service in The Tiffany Funeral Home, 3232 W. Saginaw. Funeral Liturgy is 2 PM Friday, March 26, at St. Gerard Catholic Church, 4437 W. Willow, with Fr. John P. Klein presiding. Mrs. Jarrad will lie-in-sate at the Church from 1:30-2 PM Friday. Rite of Committal St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.

Donna Marie Downing, 68, of Delaware OH,  formerly of St.Johns, former Clinton Memorial Hospital employee, died Saturday morning (March 20, 2004) at her residence.

She was born Nov. 26, 1935 in Portland Township, Mich., to Joesph J. Fox and Rose Joan Bengel Fox. She held many positions at the Nippert Co., and retired from there as production scheduler. She had been a resident of Delaware since 1973, was a member of God’s Green Earth Garden Club, enjoyed flower gardening, traveling and cooking. She attended Hyatts United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her husband, Gene; two sons, Dan (Ruth) Downing and Scott Downing, all of Delaware; two daughters, Pam Downing and her husband Dennis Matko of Columbus and Pat Downing (Dale Kohler) of Delaware; eight grandchildren, Joshua, Christopher, Rose and Erica Downing, Matthew, Michael, Andy (Maria) Matko and Jennifer Crothers; a great-grandson, Michael Matko; and a sister, Marian Goodrich of St. Johns, Mich.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Robert Fox; and a sister, Betty Cummins.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in Hyatts United Methodist Church, with Pastor Tim Reeves officiating. Arrangements are being handled by Bennett Brown Rodman Funeral Home and Crematory.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hyatts United Methodist Church Building Fund or Hospice at Grady, 561 W. Central Ave., Delaware, OH 43015.

Marian I. Orweller died March 20, 2004 at the age of 89. Born in St. Johns, Michigan March 21, 1914 the daughter of Joseph and Lena (Beeman) Horn. Marian married Joseph W. Orweller October 13, 1933 and he preceded her in death July 29, 1988.

Marian is survived by three daughters, Patricia Greenfield of Owosso, Shirley May Orweller of Barryton & Charleen Bellingar of St. Johns, two sons, Robert (Bonnie) Orweller of Mecosta and Joseph Orweller of St. Johns, fourteen grandchildren, thirty five great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren and sister-in-law, Susie McDiarmad. In addition to her husband, Marian was preceded in death by two sisters, Ruth Myers & Josephine Moorse and two brothers, Raymond and Andrew Horn.

There will be no visitation. Memorial Graveside Services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 3, 2004 at South Bingham Cemetery, St. Johns with Pastor Jim Dibbet officiating. A luncheon will follow the graveside service at Salem United Methodist Church on West Maple Rapids Road. Memorials may be made to the Ashley Care Center or Barryton Senior Center.

Jeffrey W. Leydorf age 53 died Saturday, March 20, 2004 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. He was an art teacher at Ovid-Elsie Schools for the past 28 years.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at 2:00 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel. Pastor Diane Gordon & Pastor Jana Jirak will officiate. Burial will take place at Ford Cemetery in Gratiot County, Michigan. Visitation will be Monday & Tuesday from 2-8 P.M. with family present 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. both days.

Jeff was born on April 12, 1950 in Owosso, Michigan the son of Elmer John & Maxine Ruth (Barker) Leydorf. He attended Owosso Public Schools and graduated with the class of 1968. He then went to Central Michigan University and graduated with a teaching degree in 1975. On October 27, 1973 he married Kathryn Bowerman at the People’s Church in East Lansing, Michigan. He resided most of his life in the Bannister area.

He was a member of the Bannister United Methodist Church; he enjoyed doing family genealogy, antiques and drawing. Jeff was a member of Wood County, Ohio and Gratiot County, Michigan Historical Societies.

Survivors include; his wife, Kathryn Leydorf of Bannister, Michigan, his son, Nicholas & Anjuli Leydorf of Baltimore, Maryland, mother, Maxine & Charles Tufford of Bannister, Michigan, brother, Michael & Rosemary Leydorf of Beaverton, Michigan, nephew, Scott & Kelly & Reece Leydorf of Midland, Michigan. He was predeceased by his grandparents and his father Elmer.  In lieu of flowers, the family request that a memorial can be made to the Jeff Leydorf Memorial Fund. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie chapel.

Rolland E. Rathbun, 72, of St. Johns, passed away March 20, 2004. He was born in St. Johns to Rosco and Ruth (Bandt) Rathbun, March 9, 1932. He attended school in St. Johns, worked at Clinton County Republican News for a few years, then worked at Oldsmobile for 25 years from which he retired. Rolland married Mary Ellen Reiber, June 13, 1992. Rolland and Mary Ellen were members of the Bible Missionary Church of Grand Ledge. Rolland was preceeded in death by his parents Rosco and Ruth Rathbun and a sister Rosetta (Rathbun) Ames.

Surviving are his wife Mary Ellen and two sisters, Marion (George) Maron of Ovid and Rebecca Thayer of St. Johns along with many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at the Osgood Funeral Homes, burial at North Star Cemetery with Pastor Jack Shell officiating.

Martha Mae Argersinger,  Laingsburg, MI Age 77, passed away Thursday, March 18, 2004 at The Laurels of Fulton Nursing Home. She was born May 1, 1926 in Lansing to Robert and Louisa (Biedersteade) Martens. She married Stanley Scott Argersinger in St. Johns, February 18, 1947, he preceded her in death in 1999. She was a member of St. Peters Lutheran Church, St. Johns. She was a wife, mother, homemaker and cook.

Survivors include 4 daughters, Brenda (Jerry) Chester of Indiana, Linda (Thomas) Smith of Laingsburg, Sheila (James) Doyle of Laingsburg, Lisa (Jeff) Fiedler of Lansing; 2 sons, Robert (Kay) Argersinger and Roger Argersinger, both of Lansing; 14 grandchildren and 4 step-grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Predeceased by grandson, Chad Argersinger, step-mother, Myrtie Martens; parents and 2 brothers, Maynard and Lorenz Martens; also 3 step-brothers.

Funeral Services will be held at Watkins Brothers Funeral Home, Laingsburg, Sunday at 2 PM, with Rev. Fr. Duaine H. Pamment officiating. Burial in Laingsburg Cemetery. Visitation Friday and Saturday, 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the funeral home. Memorials to Hospice of Clinton County.

James P. Lafferty,  Elsie, MI Formerly of Warren, MI Born January 6, 1970, in Bellevue, NE; died March 17, 2004 at the age of 34. James was a loving father who adored his 2 little girls and had been Lisa's soul mate for the past 8 years. He was very spiritual and had a very loving and generous heart. James was preceded in death by his grandfather, William Huczek, grandmother, Betty Lafferty, and family friend, Bernice Bator.

Surviving are Lisa, his wife of 5 1/2 years; daughters, Asher 3 years and Brynn 10 months; his parents, Raymond and Marianne; and brothers, Michael (Sharon) and Jonathan (Kelly) Lafferty.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, March 22, at 11 AM at Okemos Community Church, 3734 Okemos Rd., Okemos, with the Rev. Jeanne M. Randels officiating. The family will receive friends at the Gorsline-Runciman Co. East Chapel, 1730 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, on Saturday and Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM with a Prayer service on Sunday at 7 PM. Those desiring may make contributions to the Okemos Community Church Community Church Benevolence Fund, P.O. Box 680, Okemos, MI 48805 in memory of James.

Donald Robinson

Donald Robinson died March 8, 2004 after a long illness. Born on December 12, 1930 in St. Johns, MI, Don was the seventh of eight children born to Floyd and Lela Robinson.

He served as a Radio Operator for the Air Force in Korea. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He worked as a project manager and contractor in projects ranging from commercial buildings, to aerospace structures, and housing developments.

He is survived by his daughter Corinne Robinson Ball, his son-in-law Brian Ball, and his grandsons Gregory and David. He was preceded in death by his daughter Deana.

A memorial service was held 10:00 Sunday, March 14, 2004 at the Redwood City Commons 675 Walnut, Redwood City, CA,