December 11, 1999

Obituaries

SOPHIA M. ANDERSON, 70, of East Jordan, died Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999, at Grandvue Medical Care Facility in East Jordan. She was born Oct. 12, 1929.
      The family will receive friends from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc. in East Jordan. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
     
      GEORGE WILLIAM ASIALA, 53, of Brethren, died Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999, at West Shore Hospital in Manistee. He was born Jan. 2, 1946, in Brethren.
      Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Terwilliger Funeral Home in Kaleva. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Maple Grove Township Cemetery.
     
      GARY G. HOTCHKISS, 49, of Kingsley, died peacefully in his sleep Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999, at his home.
      No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are being handled by Covell-Smith Funeral Home in Kingsley.
     
      FRANCIS HENRY SAVAT, 79, of Mancelona, died Friday, Dec. 10, 1999.
      A funeral Mass will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the St. Anthony Catholic Church in Mancelona, where visitation will be held from 2 p.m. until the time of service. Arrangements by Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes.
     
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      Rex Allen Burton
      Died December 3, 1999
      ANCHORAGE, Alaska -Rex Allen Burton, 65, died Friday of natural causes at his home in Anchorage.
      Born March 12, 1934, in Detroit, Mich., he was the son of Jack H. Burton and Chauncie (Vaughn) Burton.
      Rex graduated in 1952 from Southeastern High School in Detroit. He served for two years, from 1956 to 1958, in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He worked for Michigan Bell Telephone Co. in Detroit for 14 years. He moved to Traverse City, Mich., in 1969 and owned and operated the Red Pine Restaurant in Glen Arbor, Mich. Rex retired in 1995 from North Star Communications in Traverse City.
      He moved to Anchorage in February 1999 to join his daughter and son-in-law, Robyn and Dennis Yates.
      Rex enjoyed collecting antique guns and history. Some of his special qualities included an outstanding personality, jokes, storytelling and never going a day without popcorn.
      Survivors include five children, Kenneth A. Burton (Laurie) of Jackson, Mich., Karyn L. Burton of Cedar, Mich., Mark E. (Lisa) Burton of Maple City, Mich., Thomas J. Burton of Medford, Ore., and Robyn C. (Dennis) Yates; five grandchildren, Sarah, Desiree, Michael, Erica, and Kenlee; siblings, Hayward V. (Sandra) Burton of Livonia, Mich., Kay F. (Donald) Helwig of Tampa, Fla., and Gary L. Burton of Grand Rapids, Mich.; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
      Rex was preceded in death by a son, Robert Scott Burton, his parents, and a nephew, Alan D. Helwig.
      Cremation has taken place. A private family memorial service will be held at the home of his son Kenneth A. Burton in Jackson.
      Memorials may be directed to Hospice or Cherryland Humane Society of Traverse City.
     
      Larry L. Gray
      Died December 9, 1999
      WILLIAMSBURG - Larry L. Gray, 55, of Williamsburg and formerly of Ft. Meyers, Fla., died Thursday morning at the home of his aunt Mary Lautner.
      Larry was born on July 24, 1944, in Dundee, and soon after was adopted by Garl and Claribel (Boerner) Gray. He had been a summer resident to the Grand Traverse and Benzie areas, and became a permanent resident in 1994.
      Larry attended the Flint School for the Deaf until his 18th birthday. He was a very caring and loving person, who especially loved children and animals. He read his bible faithfully and shared his knowledge with others. He was an excellent signor, which helped him in his many travels.
      Larry is survived by his aunts and uncles, Mary (Merlin) Lautner and Alice Gates of Williamsburg, Helen Gray and Zane (Virginia) Gray of Interlochen, Bryce (Darlene) Gray of Honor, Pauline Boerner of Grand Rapids; many, many cousins; and a very special friend, Greg Dobbs in Ft. Myers.
      Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Perry Chapel, McElduff Funeral Homes in Benzonia. Services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with Rev. Floyd McCrimmon officiating. Entombment and committal services will be held at Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens.
      Larry's family has asked that his caring for children continues and suggests a memorial contribution to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
     
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      Wilmot Jackson
      Died December 9, 1999
      KINGSLEY - Wilmot Jackson, 52, of Kingsley, died Thursday at the home of his sister after a long illness.
      Born July 30, 1947, in Mt. Pleasant, he was the son of Andrew and Isabella (Koon) Jackson.
      Wilmot grew up and attended schools in Mt. Pleasant and Coleman. After serving in the U.S. Navy he worked as a farmer in the Delwin area. Because of illness, he retired in 1994 and made his home with his sister, Wilma.
      He is survived by three brothers, Bernard and Andrew of Mt. Pleasant and Maurice of Clare; and four sisters, Zelda Jenkins of Traverse City, Norma Rapp of Mt. Pleasant, Wanda Lautner of Traverse City and Wilma (Mrs. Lairy) Gionet of Kingsley.
      He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Ronald, Lamont and Raymond.
      Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday and will continue until the 2 p.m. funeral service Tuesday at the Chippewa Indian United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant; Rev. Owen White Pigeon will officiate. Burial will be at Denver Township Cemetery.
      Arrangements were handled by Hall Funeral Chapel in Manton.