Visit the Osgood website

Beverly N. Merritt

Loreta Irene (Binger) Warren

Robert E. Upton

Jeffrey Patrick Owensby,  52, of Decatur, Ga., records information technician, died Saturday. Graveside services 12:30 p.m. Friday at Eureka Cemetery, Eureka. Arrangements by Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns.

Donald J. Findlay

Donald J. Findlay died Sunday, August 20, 2006 at the age of 82. He was born December 8, 1923 in Essex Township, Clinton County, MI the son of John and Annie (Campbell) Findlay and lived his entire life on the family farm. Don was a member of Lowe United Methodist Church, a former Essex Township Trustee, a former 4-H Leader and member of the 4-H Service Club. He was an avid basketball fan and coached for many years, including his children and grandchildren. He farmed and was a retired Sealed Power (Dana) employee. On November 3, 1945 he married Glenna Looman and she survives him.

Also surviving is one daughter, Patti (Roger) Gillespie of Clarkston, MI; two sons, Dan (Sue) Findlay of St.Johns, Jim (Janet) Findlay of Saginaw Township, MI; five grandchildren, Garett, Jim, and Jennie Findlay, Stephanie Gipper Ann Olson; one great grandson, Carter Findlay. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Todd Gillespie.

Funeral services will be 1:30 pm Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns 989-224-4422 with Pastor O’Ryan Rickard officiating. Interment will follow at Lowe Cemetery. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 pm on Tuesday and from noon until service time on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Great Lakes Hospice, 1011 S. U.S. 27, Suite A, St. Johns, MI 48879 or International Aid, 17011 W. Hickory St., Spring Lake, MI 49456.

Beverly N. Merritt

Beverly N. Merritt Lansing, MI Age 82, passed away on Thursday, August 17, 2006. She was born in Lansing, MI on July 21, 1924 a daughter of Elmer and Vera (Hankins) Norris. Beverly graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School in St. Johns at the age of 16 and was a member of the National Honor Society. She was an active member of Calvary United Methodist Church, a former member of the Mary Martha Circle within the church, taught Sunday School and led many of the children's activities at summer church camp. Beverly retired from Tranter Manufacturing, was a volunteer for many years at Ingham Medical's McRee House, was an avid baker and most of all cherished the time she spent with her grandchildren.

Surviving are her husband, Donald Merritt; 5 children, David (Judy) Merritt of Houston, TX, Tom (Kathy) Merritt of Rochester Hills, Scott (Barb) Merritt of Perry, Joe (Lori) Merritt of Holt and Christi Merritt of Lansing; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 1 sister, Katherine (Harold) Cummings of Lansing; along with several nieces, nephews and other extended family members. Beverly was preceded in death by her husband, Robert A. Merritt in 1991 along with 2 brothers and 2 sisters.

Funeral services will be held at Calvary United Methodist Church, 1919 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing, on Monday, August 21, 2006 at 12:00 p.m. with the Rev. Stephan Weinberger and the Rev. Jane Duffey officiating. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Those who wish may make memorial contributions, in loving memory of Beverly Merritt, to Calvary United Methodist Church or The Stoneleigh Residence.

Robert E. Upton

Robert E. Upton died August 17, 2006, at the age of 82. Born in Maple Rapids on July 13, 1924, the son of Percy and Grace (Heller) Upton. He owned and operated Upton Hardware for many years, was a veteran of the US Army during World War II, a member of Maple Rapids Congregational Christian Church, the Maple Rapids Masonic Lodge and V.F.W. Post #1735 in Perrinton. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, baseball fan and player. Robert married Mary Beth Barton in Maple Rapids on November 10, 1946 and she preceded him in death on December 25, 2002.

Surviving are his daughters, Linda (Fred) Gifford, Martha Upton, both of St. Johns, Brenda Upton of Lake, MI and Rebecca (Jim) Kremidas of Indianapolis, IN, 9 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and his sister, Maxine Drown of Largo, FL. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Doris Jean Loudenbeck.

Memorial services will be 11:00 A.M. Monday, August 21, 2006 at the Maple Rapids Congregational Christian Church with the Rev. John W. Robinson officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to Hospice House of Mid-Michigan, 1210 W. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48915. The family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.

Loreta Irene (Binger) Warren

Loreta Irene (Binger) Warren died August 15, 2006, at the age of 86. Born in Ovid Township, Michigan on September 29, 1919, the daughter of Arthur and Hazel (Scudder) Binger. Loreta married Donald Warren in Ovid on April 8, 1939 and he preceded her in death on August 18, 1999. Loreta was the original recipient of the Terry Cornwell Humane and Spiritual Values Award given by the Kiwanis Club of St. Johns, a charter member of the Ovid Acme Society and Ovid Historical Society. She was also a member of the Middlebury United Methodist Women and the M.A.R.S.P. Loreta was also a member of the Middlebury United Methodist Church for over 60 years and taught Sunday School for over 40 years. She volunteered at Ovid Healthcare and Meals On Wheels. Loreta retired as a cafeteria worker from the Ovid-Elsie Area Schools.

Surviving is her daughter, Susan (Chris) Gingrich of Apollo Beach, FL; her son, Richard (Nina) Warren of Wilsons Mills, NC; grandchildren, Gretchen Warren of Wilsons Mills, NC, Diana (Mike) Rock of Virginia Beach, VA, Rachelle (Jason) Parsons of St. Johns and MA1 Gary (Jaimie) Warren, USN of Virginia Beach, VA. Also surviving are great grandchildren, Andrew Warren, Matthew Warren, Jackson Warren, Tanner Rock and Talan Parsons. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Paul and Charles “Bud” Binger.

Services will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday August 19, 2006 at the Houghton Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes, 232 E. Oak St., Ovid, with Rev. Carl Cooke officiating. The family will receive friends 6-8 pm Thursday and 2-4 and 6-8 pm Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, sympathies may be expressed in the form of memorials to the Middlebury United Methodist Church, 8100 W. Hibbard Rd., Ovid, Michigan 48866.