|
Lucille (Conklin) Smithson Lucille (Conklin) Smithson, 68, of Carmel, Calif., formerly of
St. Johns, retired U.S. State Department employee, died Wednesday. She was the daughter of
Delbert and Leona Conklin.
She is survived by her brother David (Carolyn) Conklin of
DeWitt. She was preceded in death by her sister, Stella G.
(Conklin) Earl and her parents.
There will be no services. Arrangements by Arlington
Funeral Home, Arlington, Va.
Delores E.
(Shifflet) Morriss
 Dolores “Dee” Eloise
(Shifflet) Morriss, 82, of Saint Johns died early Saturday morning (September 24) at the
Alterra Clare Bridge Memory Care Unit in Delta Township two days after suffering from a
cerebral hemorrhage. Dee was born on January 27, 1923, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, the
daughter of Fred B. and Estelle (Moon) Shifflet. As a little girl she contracted
tuberculosis and spent about 18 months in a sanatorium. It was there that she became
fascinated with the medical field and decided to become a laboratory technician. Following
her graduation from Cuyahoga Falls High School in 1940, Dee attended Kent State
University, then transferred to the University of Kentucky where she graduated in 1944.
She received straight A’s in her pre-med classes (including organic chemistry).
Despite urging by her professors to enroll in medical school, she stuck with her original
ambition and became a laboratory technician.
Dee met William (Bill) J. Morriss Jr., a GI in uniform, when he cut in on her at a dance
at the U. of K. They were married on Groundhog Day, February 2, 1946 at St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church in Akron, Ohio, less than a week after Bill was discharged from the Army
after serving in France during WWII. They were married for nearly 57 years. Bill took
advantage of the GI Bill and enrolled at the University of Michigan Law School in Ann
Arbor. Dee worked at University Hospital until their first daughter was born in 1949.
Dee was called to needlework like some are called to the ministry, or music. Her interest
in sewing began very early; by the age of three she already loved doing embroidery. As a
mother and homemaker, she made most of her clothing, her daughters’ clothing and
occasionally tailored her husband’s and son’s suit coats . The more difficult
the project was, the better she liked it. She took pride in upholstering her furniture.
She refinished all of the woodwork in her house and wallpapered many of its rooms. She
also loved roses and at one time she was tending over 250 bushes in her formal gardens. As
one of her good friends, Jane Idzkowski, said, “Dee was always busy.”
After raising four children, Dee turned her attention to lace making, and in a short time
she was teaching classes in bobbin and Honiton lace and was active in the Capital Area
Lace Group in Lansing.
Dee became skilled in metal-threads embroidery and organized a group of women from St.
Johns Episcopal Church. They made new altar hangings, fair linens, kneelers, chasubles and
stoles for each of the church seasons. Many of the items were designed by her husband. Dee
was active in Child Study Club, the Perrin Palmer Elementary School PTA, St. Johns
Woman’s Club, Crystal Sailing Club, St. Johns Episcopal Church, and various lace
groups. She also volunteered her services at Family Planning and the Clinton County
Migrant Clinic.
Bill and Dee moved to Saint Johns in 1952 after Bill graduated from U of M Law School. In
1955 Bill and Dee bought their home at 208 W. State Street where they raised their four
children. Dee lived there until March of this year after which she took up residence at
the Alterra memory care facility in Delta Township.
She is survived by four children, Jane Morriss of St. Johns; Carol Morriss of Milwaukee,
Wisconsin; Lee Morriss-Mueller of Atoka, Tennessee; and William “Jud” Morriss
III of Conroe, Texas; six grandchildren, Jeremy Miller of West Virginia; Jesse Simmons of
Ayer, Massachusetts; Brian Rueckert of St. Johns, William J. Morriss IV and Heather
Morriss of Spring, Texas; and Halie Hodge of Conroe, Texas; five great grandchildren, Cory
Miller, Kyle Miller, Tyler Miller, Travis Jack Miller, and Nathan Nicholas Miller, all of
Hanoverton, Ohio. Dee was preceded in death by her husband and one brother, Fred B.
Shifflet Jr.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 A.M. Wednesday,
September 28, 2005 at the St. Johns Episcopal Church with the Rev. Richard Anderson
officiating. The family will receive friends 5-7 P.M. Tuesday at the Osgood Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to St. Johns Episcopal Church, St. Johns.
Kenneth Munger
 Kenneth
Lawrence Munger 92, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, passed away Thursday, September 22, 2005.
Ken was born on December 3, 1912 in St. Johns, Michgian the only son of Roy and Louise
Munger. He grew up in St. Johns where he met and a married E. Doris Benson who remained
the love of his life. St. Johns was their home but they enjoyed living for a period in Hot
Springs, Arkansas as well as Shanty Creek, Michigan. In 2003, Ken moved to Crystal Lake,
Illinois to live with his son Scott and daughter-in-law Jill where he spent the last two
years with loving care and closer to many of his grandchildren. Ken was a long time owner
of R. E. Benson Plumbing and Heating in St. Johns and was a consistent contributor to the
community. He served on many formal and informal City committees and commissions including
the Zoning Board of Appeals. He was an active member of the 1956 Centennial Planning
Committee, the Chamber of Commerce and with other downtown merchants was involved doing
the many small things required to maintain a vibrant community. Ken also served for many
years as a member of the St. Johns Public Schools Board of Education, a commitment that
was very close to his heart. Ken was preceded in death by his wife Doris.
He is survived by his sons and daughters, Benson (Bette) Munger of Tucson, Arizona, Scott
(Jill) Munger of Crystal Lake, Illinois; eight grandchildren, Heidi (Andrew) Sung of
Bethesda, Maryland, Chad Munger (Tracy Hickman) of Chicago, Illinois, Derek (Debra) Munger
of Fairborn, Ohio and Stacy Munger and fiancé Brian Sanderson of Chicago, Illinois; plus
two great grandchildren, Brody and Cady Anne Munger of Fairborn, Ohio.
Visitation with the family will be 6 -8 P.M. on Thursday, September 29th at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns.
A service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, September 30th at the First Congregational
Church in St. Johns. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Johns Schools
Foundation for Excellence or the First United Methodist Church of St. Johns. His family
invites you to remember and celebrate his life. He will always be remembered by those who
know and loved him.
Ardith Ann Wheeler
 Ardith Ann
Wheeler age 72 of Maple Rapids, MI died Thursday, September 22, 2005 at Clinton Memorial
Hospital St. Johns, MI.
Graveside Services will be held at Sowle Cemetery Clinton County, MI on Tuesday, September
27, 2005 at 1:00 PM. Pastor Martin Cobb will officiate. There will be no visitation.
Ardith was born in Townsend, OH on July 25, 1933 the daughter of John and Grace ( Force )
Metek. She resided most of her adult Life in Maple Rapids. She graduated from Alma High
School with the class of 1951. Ardith married Lloyd Wheeler on August 27, 1960 in St.
Louis, MI. He died July 6, 1997. She worked for Carson City Hospital and as a Telephone
Operator in St. Johns, MI. She was a member of Maple Rapids United Methodist Church. She
was a member of VFW Auxillary in Perrinton, MI, United Methodist Women, a former 4-H
Leader, and a former Maple Rapids Village Clerk.
She is survived by 2 daughters; Patricia Ann & Gary Powelson of Riverdale, MI, Karen
Lee & Michael Martin of Wetumpka, AL, 1 son Wayne Wheeler of Maple Rapids, MI, 4
grandchildren, Bethany, Caili, Brandon, & Kyle 4 sisters; Iris, Judy, Kathy, &
Christine , 5 bothers Walter, Gene, John, Bill, & Robert and many nieces &
nephews. She is predeceased by her parents.
Memorials may be made to Clinton Memorial Hospice, United Methodist Women or VFW
Auxilliary in Perrinton, MI. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes,
St. Johns Chapel.
|
