Randy Henry

Randy Lee Henry, age 60, of Manchester, MI, passed away from complications of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital - Livingston on September 19, 2020. He was born in Ypsilanti, MI on November 9, 1959, son of James E. and Dolores A. (Vinson) Henry.

Randy lived in Washtenaw County for most of his life. He was a tractor sales and service technician at G. E. Wacker in Manchester until he left to focus on his fight with MS. Farming was important to him, beginning with the FFA (Future Farmers of America) in high school. He especially liked John Deere equipment and enjoyed watching NASCAR races. As he continued the battle with MS throughout the years, he helped his parents maintain their homestead and helped his friends with their farms.

Living family includes his children, Courtney (Graham) Nichols of Adrian and Nicholas (Nicole) Mahrle of Clinton; grandchildren Mikey Mahrle and Lydia Nichols; his mother, Dolores, of Sturgis, MI; siblings, Bradley (Alena) Henry of Lansing, Irene (David) Taylor of Sturgis; brother-in-law, William Sprinkles (Dawn) of Rockwood; nieces and nephews, Jason (Mandi) Taylor, Christopher (Britney) Taylor, Andrew Taylor, Kayla Henry, Isaac Henry, Zackary Sprinkles, and Katelynn Sprinkles, as well as several great nieces and nephews. Randy was preceded in death by his father, James; sister, Wendy Sprinkles; and infant brother, Scott.

Special gratitude is expressed to Dr. Jennifer Doble and trusted friends, Lewis, Matt, Todd, and Harold, for their humor, support, and friendship.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date, likely the Spring of 2021. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Randy may be given to Disabled American Veterans. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, MI.

Melissa Revill

Melissa Ann (Hamilton) Revill, age 53, of Manchester, MI, passed away at Michigan Medicine on September 18, 2020, surrounded by her family. She was born on January 3, 1967, daughter of Douglas and Cheryl (Werner) Hamilton. On May 16, 1998, Melissa married Jeffery A. Revill, and he survives her.

Melissa lived in the Manchester area her entire life, graduating from Manchester High School in 1985. She was a beach girl, loving the sand and water, an avid reader of books, and she enjoyed crafting/was super-creative. Melissa especially liked entertaining family and friends, and when not doing that, she loved to travel. Her granddaughter meant the world to her.

In addition to her husband, survivors include her children, Corinne Davis of Dexter, Jessica Revill of Chicago, IL, Christopher (Mandy) Revill and Nicholas Revill, all of Ann Arbor, and Michael Ahrens and Tyler Ahrens, both of Manchester; granddaughter, Peyton Davis; sister, Lisa (Greg) Brown of Chelsea; and several nephews and nieces, including Samantha and Madison Brown, who were particularly close to their Aunt Melissa. Melissa was predeceased by her parents.

A private Memorial Service will be held. Expressions of sympathy may be made in memory of Melissa to Michigan Ability Partners, helping veterans, people with barriers to employment, and those experiencing homelessness. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Kenneth D. Lindstrom

Kenneth D. Lindstrom, age 58, of Ypsilanti, MI, passed away on Monday, September 14, 2020. He was born in Jackson, MI on July 8, 1962, the son of William D. Lindstrom and Vivian M. (Whitaker) Kessler.

Kenny had lived in the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area for several years, and had previously lived in Chelsea, MI. He was self-employed, working as a painter for Lindstrom Painting Company. He loved hockey and was a big Detroit Red Wings fan. He also loved to cook.

Ken is survived by his mother, Vivian M. Kessler of Indiana, one brother, Larry Lindstrom, also of Indiana, a step-sister, Cheryl (Pat Stahl) Kessler of Jackson, an uncle, Mitchel Whitaker, a niece, Katelynn Kessler Stahl, and two cousins, Sean and Tracy Whitaker. He was preceded in death by his father, and his grandmother, Pearlie Patrick.

A private burial will take place at a later date. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Ray E. Wurster

Ray Edward Wurster, age 74, of Manchester, MI, passed away on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born August 23, 1946 in Tecumseh, MI the son of Edward and Roena (Gieske) Wurster.

He had lived in Manchester his entire life, and he was very immersed in the Manchester Community. He retired from the Ford Motor Company Rawsonville Plant in 1999 after 35 years of service. After Ray retired from the Ford Motor Company, he worked for the Village of Manchester for 13 years as a crossing guard and also performed lawn maintenance.

He was a member of Emanuel United Church of Christ, the Manchester American Legion, and was involved heavily in the annual Manchester Chicken Broil. He was a Veteran, serving in the US Army in Germany. Ray also loved to garden and hunt.

On August 16, 1969, he married Vicky Sue (Roberts) in Manchester, and she survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Tricia (Joshua) Harju of Tecumseh, three grandchildren, Brady Hieber, and Karl and Nicholas Harju, one sister, Mary Scott of Adrian, as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Annette Wurster-Hieber, and his parents.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Wurster Park, 215 W. Main St., Manchester. Visitation with the family will be held at the park from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m before the Memorial Service. Funeral directors are following current CDC recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and those in attendance will be instructed accordingly; masks must be worn and social distance maintained.

Those wishing to make a contribution in honor of Ray, may do so to the Manchester Community Schools Scholarship Fund, put in memo: for Ray Wurster Memorial Scholarship. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Leonard H. Doorn

Leonard H. Doorn, age 74, of Curtis, MI, passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2020, at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor, MI.  He was born in Grand Rapids, MI, on September 2, 1946, the son of Sam and Martha (Krommenhoek) Doorn.

Following graduation from Creston High School in 1965, Len entered and completed an apprenticeship program at the GM Fisher Body Plant in Grand Rapids, where he then worked as a Journeyman Patternmaker for 32 years. After retirement, he spent four years consulting with GM, Ford, and Chrysler stamping plants working to improve metal formability processes. Outside of work, he was a talented builder, fabricator, craftsman, and welder.  His Upper Peninsula home, where he and Tina retired, reflected all of his many talents.  He was also the neighborhood “go to” guy for anyone who needed help with a project.  He enjoyed fishing, water sports, downhill skiing, golfing, building construction, and reading.

On June 22, 1974, he married Christina M. (Nelson), and she survives.  Also surviving are one sister, Ann Dykema of Grand Rapids, brother-in-law, David (Dianne) Nelson of Big Rapids, and three nephews and one niece.  He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother-in-law, David Dykema.

Cremation has taken place.  A celebration of his life will take place at a future date.  Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, MI.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Leonard Doorn can be made to Mayo Clinic for ILD Research.  Send to:  Department of Development, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN  55905.

Judith Grau

Judith Lynn Grau, 66, of Chelsea, MI, passed away on September 14, 2020 peacefully at the home of her Uncle James Grau. She was born on July 13, 1954 in Detroit to Alton and Arlene (Koebbe) Grau.

Judith lived in this area her entire life. She loved to sew, help around the farm, and just care immensely for others, in general. She was an excellent cook and kept a neat and tidy home. She is survived by her children, Emily (Chris) Orlandi of Chelsea, Laura (Frank) Richards of Utah, Mellissa (Josh) Fraker of Fenton, MI, Jacob Carty of Waterloo, MI, Joshua (Nicole Gotte) Carty of Whitmore Lake, MI; mother, Arlene Grau of Chelsea; siblings, Cheryl (Samuel) Dimon of Rye, NY, Susan (Alan) Cohen of Princeton, NJ, Michael (Lynne) Grau of California, Timothy (Debra) Grau of Kentucky, Christopher Grau of Chelsea; uncle, James Grau of Chelsea; and former spouse and dear friend, Ken Carty. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, as well as her father in April of this year, Alton Grau.

A private Graveside Service is planned. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Judith’s name to Arbor Hospice. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Verlin Thomas

Verlin Ray Thomas, age 72, of Munith, MI, passed away at Henry Ford Allegiance Health in Jackson, MI on Saturday, September 12, 2020. He was born April 23, 1949 in Stockbridge, MI, the son of William and Cassie (Bailey) Thomas.

Verlin lived in the Munith area since 2004, moving from Royalton, KY. He served in the US Army during Vietnam, and he worked as an auto body painter. He loved listening to music—especially bluegrass—and going fishing.

Verlin is survived by two children, Justin (Tosanna Regan) Thomas of Jackson, and Julie Fletcher of Stockbridge; the mother of his kids, Jan Fletcher of Stockbridge; two sisters, Carol Rudd of Quincy, MI, and Nancy Thomas of Jackson, MI; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and one sister, Joanne Millhouse.

Cremation has taken place, and a Memorial Service will be private. Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in Verlin’s memory may do so to the Stockbridge Area Emergency Service Authority (SAESA). Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge, MI.

Patrick E. Monaghan

Patrick Edward Monaghan, age 78, of Munith, MI, died Sunday, September 13, 2020, at home in his sleep of natural causes. Born November 13, 1941 at old St Joe's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he was the oldest of three children born to Pearl Wooden Monaghan, a nurse, and Edward James Monaghan, a mason. He was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother, Stephen.

Pat began working as a mason's apprentice for his father at the age of 14 and graduated from Ann Arbor High School in 1960. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1962 and was covertly deployed to the hills around Guantanamo Bay Naval Base during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

When he was discharged from the Marines, he was deputized to the two-man police force in Dexter, MI, then operating out of the tiny building in the park in downtown Dexter. The police station did not have its own telephone, but residents could call the Dexter Pub, and they would send someone to alert the police. He said the first thing he learned as a deputy was to circle the block a couple times before going in to break up a bar fight (and let the combatants wear each other down a bit.) Police work was the profession he loved. He tried to join the Michigan State Police, but at 5'9”, he was an inch too short, according to the then height requirement.

He hired in at the Plant Department at the University of Michigan and worked there for 40 years, the last 30 as the University Inspector overseeing large or unusual roof repairs. He oversaw jobs as varied as the re-roofing of Crisler Arena, the replacement of the old copper roof on the Burton Memorial Carillon Tower, and the historical renovation/reconstruction of the old Detroit Observatory.

But his real love was police work, and his entire working life he held a second job as a Ranger with the Metroparks, first at Kensington and then at Hudson Mills Metropark near Dexter. He was proud of his many acts of courtesy and courage - rescuing a dog who had been swept away by the Huron River in a flood, helping birth a baby when a mother couldn't get to the hospital in time - and many other incidents of bravery and empathy. He always said that he thought that the good things he did in his work would offset his lapses when he came to be weighed in the balance.

He was a knowledgeable hunter and fisherman, often called in to track a wounded deer lost in a marsh. He began hunting with his father at the age of nine, and this will be the first year since then that he will miss deer hunting season.

He is survived by his sister, Rosemary Trowbridge (Charlie), of Moses Lake, WA, wife, Beth Monaghan Metty of Munith, MI, former wife, Judy (Baker) Monaghan of Jackson, MI; his children, Kathy Gipson of Jackson, MI, and Ed Monaghan (Peggy) of Munith, MI; grandchildren, Kristy Gipson, Ethan Monaghan and Emma Monaghan; and several nieces and nephews.

Cremation and memorial services will be private. Memorial gifts may be made to Glioblastoma Cancer Research, the Henry Ford Cancer Institute, Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital, Jackson, MI.

Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge.

Howard L. Ledbetter

Howard L. Ledbetter, 89, died at his home in Chelsea, MI, on September 7, 2020, surrounded by family. Together for 71 years, he was predeceased by his beloved wife, Lois, in May. Born in East Detroit, MI, Howard was a graduate of East Detroit High School. He served his country in the Korean War, and upon return, attended and graduated from Wayne State University. He spent his early career working for the City of Detroit and the City of Ann Arbor as a tax assessor, followed by 28 years in the corporate tax department at Dow Chemical in Midland, MI, where he retired.

Howard was a dedicated and scrupulously honest businessman who brought his deep intelligence to his tireless work. He enjoyed getting to know people of all backgrounds and loved the everyday banter he had with friends, neighbors, and everyone he encountered at the Cedars in Dexter. He loved jokes and enjoyed gently ribbing people. His weekends were spent doing chores and fixing things—Howard’s way of relaxing—and he was a voracious reader of fiction and non-fiction. Howard loved to travel with Lois. Trips to China, Spain, and Sweden were highlights. Annual camping trips in northern Michigan were special family time. For the last 20 years, Howard looked forward to relaxing at the shore in New Hampshire with his family. He loved dogs, photography, going to movies, exploring new restaurants, going out for coffee and donuts, talking politics, and railing against what he felt were the wrongs in society. Howard’s greatest joy was his time spent with family.

A much-loved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Howard will be greatly missed by his son, Steven Ledbetter, and daughters, Jan Ledbetter, Susan Romano, and Nancy Castle, as well as his daughter-in-law, Sandra Ledbetter, and his son-in-laws, Marshall Goldberg, Sam Romano, and Gordon Castle. He loved his grandchildren, Sarah Bettencourt (Greg), Aaron Ledbetter (Sarah Spaziano), Nick Romano, Gabby Castle, Audra Castle, and Sofia Castle, as well as his great-grandchildren, Dylan and Emerson Bettencourt. Many nieces, nephews, and dear friends also survive him. Howard was predeceased by his mother, Minnie Moldenhauer, and his stepfather, Edgar Moldenhauer.

With many thanks to the kind-hearted nurses and doctors at the University of Michigan hospital, his family is especially grateful for the gentle care provided by Dr. Linda Terrell, Dr. Michael Shea, as well as his Arbor Hospice team. We also are filled with deep gratitude for Susan and Sam Romano who have provided additional loving care, scheduled appointments, run errands, and responded to many emergency calls over the past two years.

A celebration of Howard’s life will be held at a later date. ln lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Howard’s memory to: Arbor Hospice (www.arborhospice.org, 888.992.2273) or the American Heart Association (www.heart.org, 800.242.8721). Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Melva (Myers) French

Melva (Myers) French was born on December 14, 1927 to John A. and Sarah J. Myers, and she passed away on September 6, 2020. She graduated from Chelsea High School in 1945. On June 16, 1946 she married Leonard J. French, and her husband of 48 years preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her six brothers, George, Stewart, Jay, Earl, Clifford, and David Myers as well as their wives and two sisters, Lenora Szalay and her husband, and Jessie Welch.

Melva is survived by three daughters, Sandra K. Sercombe, Diane S. Strong, Cheryl L. French, and three grandsons: Randy J. Ehnis (and daughter, Lindsey Ehnis, and her fiance, Darren Murray, and great-great-granddaughter, HalleQua Murray); Charles Strong (wife, Holly, and daughters, Journey and Abigail Strong); Jason Strong (Adiea); brother-in-law, Richard French; and several special nieces and nephews.

She enjoyed reading, sewing, crocheting, and being a caregiver for neighbors.

In accordance with Melva’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and no services are scheduled at this time. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.