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Guy “Spike” Fleming

Orvel James Walter

James M. Somers

John H. Oven died September 11, 2005 at the age of 91. He was born in Ovid on September 26, 1913 and lived in Ovid until 1992 when he and his wife moved to Florida. John was a retired manager for Vaughn Seed Company, a 1935 graduate of Kalamazoo (MI) College and attended First Missionary Baptist Church in Auburndale, FL.

He is survived by his son, John H. (Lorna) Oven, Jr. of Auburndale, FL, 3 granddaughters, 3 great grandsons and sister, Violet Zimmerman of Birmingham, MI. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Esther I. Oven.

Burial will be made in Maple Grove Cemetery, Ovid, Michigan. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to the ABLE Fund, c/o First Missionary Baptist Church, 406 Main St., Auburndale, FL 33823. Local arrangements by the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Ovid.

Emil E. Tahvonen

Emil E. Tahvonen,  DeWitt, MI  passed away into Heaven on September 11, 2005 at the age of 83. Emil was born on January 10, 1922 to Carl and Tina (Thompson) Tahvonen in Grayling, MI. Emil honorably served our country during World War II, mainly in the Pacific Theater. On January 31, 1948 he married Alberta Joyce Murphy who predeceased him in 1995. Emil spent the majority of his career as an employee of the State of Michigan where he retired in 1989 as Administrator of the State Tax Commission. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed woodworking throughout his life. Most meaningful to him was the large family that he and Alberta nurtured with love and care.

He is survived by six children, Randy (Penny) of Elsie, Terry (Judy) of Portland, CMSGT (ret) Monte (Linda) of Huber Heights, OH, Marilee (David) Powell of DeWitt, Jeffrey of Haslett and Gregory of Newnan, GA; 15 grandchildren, Eryk (Christine), Daniel, Holland, Erin, Troy, Sarah, Nicholas, Kevin, Joseph, Zachary, and Emily Tahvonen, Nathan and Brandon Powell, Mandy (Adam) Graham, and Tammy Perry; Emil was also blessed with one great-grandchild, Kalle.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 15, 11:00 a.m. at Redeemer United Methodist Church, 13980 Schavey Road, DeWitt with the Rev. Dr. Rodney J. Kalajainen, Pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in DeWitt Cemetery, DeWitt. The family will receive friends at the Church Tuesday and Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. with Masonic services Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ingham Regional Medical Center Cornerstone Club or the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Emil. The family is being served by the Gorsline-Runciman Co. DeWitt Chapel.

Guy “Spike” Fleming

Guy “Spike” Fleming died September 10, 2005 at the age of 74. He was born in Lansing on October 5, 1930, the son of John and Pearl (Hitchcock) Fleming. Guy was a retired General Motors employee, a veteran of U.S. Air Force and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Ovid. He married Berniece Brown on December 27, 1951 and she preceded him in death in October, 2003.

Surviving are children, Terry Fleming of Ovid, Phil Fleming of Lansing, Rhonda Sheets of Lansing, Linda (Kevin) Mix of Grand Ledge, Connie Boeff of Durand, Tom (Patti) Hendrick of Lambertville, Ruth (Don) Mair of Elsie, two brothers, M.B.(Bernice) Fleming, John T. Fleming; two sisters, Phyllis (Ray) Salisbury and Marjorie (Lee) Prevost and one brother in law, Gerald Spayde. Also surviving are 20 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his sister, Nora Spayde.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at Calvary Baptist Church, 8975 E. M-21, Ovid, burial at Hillcrest Cemetery with Pastor Robert Magee officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday 6-8 P.M. and Monday 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. at The Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes.

James M. Somers

James M. Somers age 89 of Elsie, Michigan, died on Thursday, September 8, 2005 at Sparrow Hospital, St. Lawrence Campus, in Lansing, Michigan. Funeral services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel on Monday, September 12, 2005 at 1:00 P.M. Visitation will be on Saturday & Sunday from 2-8 P.M. with family present 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. and burial will take place at the Ford Cemetery, Gratiot County, Michigan. Pastor George Somers will officiate.

Jim was born November 18, 1915 & raised and farmed the family farm in Elsie, Michigan. He was the son of William F. & Alena ( Murray ) Somers. On April 17, 1949 he married Vivian A. Smith in Sickles, Michigan Jim was a member of the Chapin United Methodist Church and was a farmer who enjoyed woodcrafts, making maple syrup and taking photos.

Survivors include his wife, Vivian Somers of Elsie, Michigan, 3 daughters, Joyce Felton of Ashley, Michigan, Jane & Barney Unterbrink of Elsie, Michigan, Laurie & Greg Ringle of Elsie, Michigan, 2 sons, William Somers of Elsie, Michigan, Doug Somers of Bannister, Michigan, 12 grandchildren & 12 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, 1 grandson, Jimmy, 2 sisters Florence Ringle & Harriet Lindle, 1 brother Alfred Somers. Memorial can be made to the Chapin United Methodist Church or a charity of the donor’s choice. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel

Orvel James Walter

Orvel James Walter age 80 of Dewitt, MI died Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at Mid-Michigan Hospice House Lansing, MI

Funeral Services will be held at Parker Memorial Baptist Church Lansing, MI on Friday, September 9, 2005 at 11:00 AM. Dr. Donald Green and Pastor Bobby Knapper will officiate. Visitation will be held on Wednseday, September 7, 2005 from 5-8 P.M. & Thursday, September 8, 2005 from 2-8 P.M. A VFW Post #4005 Military Service Thursday, September 8, 2005 at 7:00 PM at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Corunna Chapel.

Orvel was born in Owosso, MI on October 21, 1924 the son of Chester and Marion ( Barkley ) Walter. He resided most of his life in Owosso, MI and graduated from Owosso High School. Orvel married Faye Marie Westfall on August 10, 1946 in New Carlisle, Indiana. He worked as an Auto Mechanic for Backus Ford Dealer of Owosso, MI, and as the Assistant State Service Officer for the Veteran's of Foreign Wars of Michigan. He served as a Submariner in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He attended Parker Memorial Baptist Church of Lansing, MI

He is survived by his wife Faye Walter of Dewitt, MI, 3 sons; Barry & Pam Walter of Dewitt, MI, Dennis & Deanna Walter of Louisville, KY, James Walter & fiancee Kris Schad of Owosso, MI, 2 daughters; Candy & Henry Reinewald of Owosso, MI, Jan & Jim Lawrence of Ovid, MI, 13 grandchildren, 6 great granchildren, 2 sisters; Betty King of Milwaukie, OR, Corinne Davis of Dewitt, MI, 1 brother Carlton & Pat Walter of Maine, and his aunt Ruth Yerke of Dewitt, MI. He was predeceased by his parents & brother Richard Walter.

Memorials may be made to the VFW National Home for Children, Sparrow Hospice Services of Lansing. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Corunna Chapel.