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November 28, 2000

Obituaries

ROBERT RODNEY KEENE, 63, of Maple Forest Township, died on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2000, at home.
      He was born on April 30, 1937, in Romulus. He was the former manager of the MarJon Sawmill and also worked for Waste Management.
      Visition will be held today from 3 to 9 p.m. at Sorenson Funeral Home, McEvers Chapel, in Grayling. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grayling. Burial will follow in Maple Forest Township Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Sorenson Funeral Home, McEvers Chapel.
     
      HUBERT NEIL WHITE, 94, of Traverse City, died Sunday, Nov. 26, 2000, at home. Graveside services will be held later in Indiana. Local arrangements have been entrusted to the Covell-Smith Funeral Home.
     
      ALICE M. BLOCK, 84, of Manistee, died on Monday, Nov. 27, 2000, at the Manistee County Medical Care Facility.
      She was born on July 31, 1916, in Manistee. She retired from the Manistee County Register of Deeds office.
      Friends may call from from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday at the Johnson Funeral Home in Manistee. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Manistee Assembly of God Church. Arrangements are being handled by the Johnson Funeral Home of Manistee.
     
      CLARA BELL BANNON, 90, of Traverse City, died Monday, Nov. 27, 2000, at Munson Medical Center.
      A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday at the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes, where visitation will be held from noon until the time of service. A full obituary will appear in the Record-Eagle on Wednesday.
     
      CHARLES S. NOONAN JR., 84, of Maple City, died Monday, November 27, 2000. Cremation has taken place.
      Graveside services will be held on Thursday afternoon at Rosehill Cemetery. A complete obituary will be in the Wednesday Record-Eagle. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes.
     
      Frederick N. Gustin
      Died November 27, 2000
      SUTTONS BAY - Frederick N. Gustin, 73, of Suttons Bay, died Monday, Nov. 27, 2000, at his home.
      Born on Dec. 22, 1926, in Flint, he was the son of James and Julia (Bromley) Gustin. On Feb. 15, 1947, he married Bernice Marie Walter at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Suttons Bay.
      He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and represented the Disabled American Veterans for over 30 years. He retired as a toolmaker after 37 years of employment with Cone Drive Gear.
      Fred was a member and past president of the Good Sam Club; ran the Bad Boys Golf League; and was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church.
      He is survived by his wife, Bernice; three daughters, Jean Ann (Douglas) DeGrow of Kokomo, Ind., Janice (Carl) Walter of Suttons Bay, and Kathy (Larry) Coleman of Traverse City; seven grandchildren, John, Jody, Bruce, Sam, Keith, Theron and Brent; and five great-grandchildren, Blythe, Zachary, Alyssa, Haleigh and Kendra.
      He was preceded in death by four sons, John, Joseph, James and Charles.
      Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at Martinson Funeral Home, where a wake service will be held at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Michael's Catholic Church. The Rev. Walter Anthony will officiate. Burial will be at St. Michael's Cemetery.
      Memorials may be directed to Mass intentions or to Grand Traverse Area Hospice. Arrangements are being handled by Martinson Funeral Home.
     
      Violet Esther Kincaid
      Died November 26, 2000
      TRAVERSE CITY - Violet Esther Kincaid, 88, of Traverse City, died peacefully at home on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2000, surrounded by her family.
      Born on Dec. 13, 1911, in County Cavin, Ireland, she was the daughter of William and Margaret (Fair) Stafford.
      Violet was a treasured mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be long remembered and deeply missed. When her husband, John, was ill with Alzheimer's disease, Violet lovingly cared for him until his death in 1989.
      Violet retired from Sears in Flint after about 20 years of loyal service. She has been a resident of the Traverse City area for the past 25 years.
      She was a very active member of College Terrace Wesleyan Church. Violet also volunteered her time generously for many years at the Birchwood Nursing Home, and also was an enthusiastic supporter of the Gideon's. She gave unselfishly to others, and enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery and reading. She especially loved working in her yard and flower garden.
      Surviving is a daughter, Joyce (Con) Niergarth of Traverse City; a son, Herbert (Marion) Kincaid of Pigeon; and five grandchildren, Paula (Doug) Parshall and Steve (Lisa) Niergarth, all of Traverse City, Terri (Mike) Crnkovich of Clarkston, Kevin (Diane) Kincaid of Kokomo, Ind., and Ken Kincaid of Grand Rapids. She also will be dearly missed by her nine great-grandchildren, Bryan, Corey, Nick, Natalie, Jake, Melanie, Gregory, Courtney and Jeremy.
      Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City, where friends may begin calling at 10 a.m. The Rev. Timothy Morris officiating. Burial will be in Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.
      Memorials may be directed to her church, College Terrace Wesleyan Church, or to the Gideons International.
     
      Vernon LaLone
      Died November 25, 2000
      WILLIAMSBURG - Vernon LaLone, 88, of Williamsburg, died on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2000, at Meadowbrook Medical Care Facility in Bellaire.
      He was born on June 4, 1912, in Acme Township to Brenton and Maude (Smith) LaLone. On March 24, 1930, in Traverse City, he married Twila McLain.
      A Williamsburg resident since 1961, he owned and operated LaLone Fruit Farms of Williamsburg for 30 years and retired in 1995. He was a mentor to many young farmers. He also was a lathing and plastering contractor for 20 years.
      A lifetime member of the Elk Rapids Sportsman's Club, he also was a former member of the Eagle's Club in Detroit. A very outgoing person, he loved fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and singing.
      He is survived by three sons, Eugene (Bonnie) LaLone of Williamsburg, Romaine LaLone of Seabring, Fla., and Ronald (Elaine) LaLone of Bellaire; one sister, Marie Toner of Traverse City; 12 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.
      He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Twila; one son, Leonard; three brothers, Jessipe, Steve and Ralph; and one sister, Revella Nickerson.
      Dad will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
      Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Elk Rapids Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Pastor James Weber will officiate. Interment will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Elk Rapids.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to Meadowbrook Medical Care Facility. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Elk Rapids Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes.
     
     
      Lucille C. Loveland
      Died November 25, 2000
      WHEATFIELD, Ind. - Lucille C. "Lucy" Loveland, 78, of the Wheatfield/DeMotte area, passed away on Saturday, November 25, 2000, at Canterbury Place in Valparaiso, Ind.
      Born on July 17, 1922, in Petoskey, she was the daughter of Alfred and Emily (Spencley) Weimer. On July 27, 1942, in Midland, Mich., she married C.W. "Bill" Loveland.
      She moved to the Wheatfield/DeMotte area five years ago, after 10 years in Traverse City and 35 years in Paducah, Ky., and Oak Ridge, Tenn.
      Lucy attended Michigan State University and was self-employed in the market research field. Lucy was very active in the League of Women Voters in Kentucky and Michigan. She was honored as a "Kentucky Colonel" by Governor Nunn. She also was a member of the Bayview Association in Michigan and of the First Presbyterian Church in Paducah.
      She is survived by her husband, C.W. of Wheatfield; one son, Peter (Jeanette) Loveland of Wheatfield; one daughter, Pamela (Michael) Nims of Shaker Heights, Ohio; four grandchildren, John Loveland of Wheatfield, Ted Nims of San Francisco, Tory Nims of Boston, and Joy Nims of Princeton University.
      Lucy was preceded in death by her parents and one sister.
      In accordance with her wishes, her body has been cremated and there will be no public services. Memorial remembrances should be in the form of a memorial to Canterbury Place, 251 S. Sturdy Rd., Valparaiso, IN 46383. Those wishing to contact the family may do so at P.O. Box 92, DeMotte, IN 46310. Family Service Funeral Homes Miller K-V Chapel, Scully Square, Wheatfield, is in charge of the arrangements.
     
      Colin L. Smith
      Died November 26, 2000
      TRAVERSE CITY - Mr. Colin L. Smith, 90, of Traverse City and formerly of Higgins Lake and Birmingham, passed away on Nov. 26, 2000, at Birchwood Nursing Center.
      He was born on April 23, 1910, in Stanwood, to Edmund and Frances (Woodward) Smith. On Oct. 4, 1941, he married the former Frances Muvrin. She preceded him in death in 1983.
      Mr. Smith served as an attorney for the Michigan Employers Unemployment Compensation Bureau until 1975, and also was a former Michigan State Senator and State Representative. He also was a member of St. Michaels Catholic Church in Roscommon.
      Survivors include his daughter, Lynn (James) Robson of Traverse City; grandchildren, Kelly Lynn Hofley of Birmingham, and Patrick Shaun (Julie) Robson of Conifer, Colo.; a great-grandchild, Catherine Hofley; and a sister, Vi Smith of Mount Pleasant.
      A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Roscommon, with Father Anthony Citro as celebrant. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in Roscommon, and also one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. Interment will take place in Lakeview Cemetery in Calumet.
     
      Catherine Louisa Stebbins
      Died November 24, 2000
      FRANKFORT - Miss Catherine Louisa Stebbins of Frankfort died Friday, November 24, 2000, at The Maples in Frankfort. She was born in Syracuse, N.Y., the daughter of the Rev. Charles E. and S. Helen Stebbins. When she was a year and a half old, her parents moved to Illinois, where her father served in several churches, and it was there that she received her primary and secondary education and lived more than half of her life.
      Showing a talent for music at an early age, when six years old, after having had a few lessons earlier, she began serious study of the piano, which continued through college. She often commented that she could not remember when she could not read music, that she read music before she could read words. During her teens, she performed extensively in concerts and musicals, and also taught piano. While in high school, she studied under the head of the Piano Department of Rockford College for Women in Rockford, Illinois, then entered Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, from which she received an A.B. degree with a major in music, and minors in French and English. For two years after graduation, she devoted herself to music, playing in concerts and on the radio, and doing much accompanying with artists.
      Then, for financial reasons, Miss Stebbins turned to a business career and for a number of years held secretarial positions in Chicago with investment houses and Kiwanis International. Following the deaths of her parents, she returned to Oberlin College, where she served as executive secretary of Student Loans. However, after several years in that position she decided to move to northern Michigan, where, since her childhood, her family had a summer home at the Congregational Summer Assembly on Crystal Lake, and she continued her secretarial work in Traverse City and Interlochen for some time.
      However, a lifelong interest in history, inherited from her father, had increased through the years, which she had been pursuing, and she finally abandoned business to enter upon a third career - that of an historical researcher and writer. She specialized in the colonial period of New England and New France, and she devoted the rest of her life to intensive, in-depth research and writing of this period. She discovered primary records that threw fresh light on a number of subjects so she was able to successfully correct certain historical errors of long standing.
      Miss Stebbins' major writings are "Massacre at Deerfield" and a biography of a very important French-Canadian explorer "Jacques Denoyon." She also is the author of "Here I Shall Finish My Voyage," "The Marquette Death Site," "History of Site of Father Marquette's Death at the Betsie River," "The Marquette Death Site: Frankfort vs. Ludington," "Marquette - His Second Voyage and Last Day," "Pere Jacques Marquette's Chalice," and "Missilimakinak and Mission Saint-Ignance." Copies of her manuscripts and papers are being deposited in the Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa, in research libraries in Deerfield, Mass., and Detroit, and numerous other repositories in the United States. Her latest research, done in collaboration with the Public Archives of Canada, has been that of locating the French Fort Michillimackinac, some two miles west of the English fort in Mackinaw City.
      As official Historian/Archivist of the Congregational Summer Assembly, she also collected, mounted and captioned a very large and impressive Pictorial History of that organization. Her avocational interests covered a wide range of subjects, such as archeology, American Indian culture, Missions, and Biblical history.
      Private services have been held, with interment in Crystal Lake Township Cemetery North. Arrangements were entrusted to the Frankfort Chapel of McElduff Funeral Homes.