November 7, 1999

Obituaries

Memorial services for BARBARA JO THUMM, of Bellaire, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999, at Bellaire Community United Methodist Church. Interment will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Bellaire.
      Arrangements are being handled by the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.
     
      Cleo Edward Ashley
      Died November 4, 1999
      FRANKFORT - Cleo Edward Ashley, formerly of Warren and a longtime resident of Frankfort, died late Thursday evening on his 71st birthday at St. Johns Hospital in Detroit.
      Cleo was born on Nov. 4, 1928, in Kanawha County, West Virginia, the son of Shellie and Arrinda (Brown) Ashley. He was united in marriage to Helen Mae Ashley on March 20, 1946, in Charleston, West Virginia. Helen passed away on Aug. 15 of this year.
      Cleo was a self employed automotive mechanic. He was the owner and operator of the Auto Spring Company of Warren since 1960. He enjoyed many things in life such as; racing, hunting, and working on motors, but what gave him the most enjoyment was the sincere love for his family and the many friendships he had with others.
      Cleo is survived by one son, Larry (Martha) Ashley of Algonac; two daughters, Karen Zsude of Grand Rapids and Sandy (Ralph) Slate of Macomb Township; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Bea of Florida and Freddy Jane of West Virginia.
      Memorial services for Cleo will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Perry Chapel, McElduff Funeral Homes in Benzonia. Pastor Rick Stieve of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Frankfort will officiate. No visitation is planned.
      Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider the Karmonos Cancer Institute or the American Diabetes Association.
     
      Helen Gilmore Hermann
      Died November 5, 1999
      LAKE LEELANAU - Helen Gilmore Hermann, 79, of Lake Leelanau, died Friday at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
      Born May 9, 1920, in Chicago, she was the daughter of John and Effie (Ferguson) Morrow. On Dec. 27, 1944, in Chicago, she married Clarence R. Hermann, who preceded her in death on August 21, 1980.
      Before moving to Lake Leelanau, Helen and her husband, Clarence, resided in Burbank, Ill. from 1949 to 1971. Helen was very active at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in the Ladies Aide Society and as a Sunday school teacher. She was instrumental in the founding of Prairie Trails Library and the first PTA in Burbank. Helen wrote a weekly column for the Southtown Economist and she was very active in many civic organizations in Burbank, Ill. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Leland and Leelanau County Republican Womens Club.
      She is survived by three children, Jean Hermann of Lake Leelanau, Richard Hermann of Lake Leelanau and Shirley Ellen (William) Partman of Bridgeview, Ill.; grandchildren, Peter and Andrew Hermann and Matthew and Elizabeth Partman.
      She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Charles, Robert and John Morrow.
      Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Leland. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the church with Rev. Lawrence K. Matro officiating. Burial will be in Beechwood Cemetery.
      Memorials may be directed to Immanuel Benevolent Fund or Lutheran World Relief.
      Arrangements were handled by Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.
     
      Donna Jean Miller
      Died November 5, 1999
      TRAVERSE CITY - Donna Jean Miller, a devout Christian lady, died Friday at her home.
      Donna was born in Detroit, July 24, 1947, but has lived in Traverse City the past 26 years.
      A wife of noble character, she opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. She is clothed with strength and dignity. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
      She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Robert A. Miller; five children, Kenneth and Crystal, Bryant, Robert L. and Danielle; parents, Frank and Doris Westlake; a sister, Judith (Randy) Schrader; a brother, Robert (Sue) Westlake; and several nieces and nephews.
      Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. Funeral services will be held at noon Monday at Faith Reformed Church in Traverse City with Rev. Philip Noordmans officiating. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.
      In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Traverse Bay Christian School Scholarship Fund.
     
      Myles P. Murphy
      Died November 5, 1999
      TRAVERSE CITY - Myles P. Murphy, 78, of Traverse City, died Friday at Grand Traverse Pavilions.
      Born March 3, 1921, in Saginaw, he was the son of John and Lina (Whitney) Murphy. On March 4, 1944, in Gatesville, Fla., he married the former Norene Brakel, who preceded him in death on July 6, 1998.
      Myles served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater. He was wounded in action and received the purple heart. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 23 years. He had also worked at Parts Manufacturing. He enjoyed woodworking and crafting.
      A special thanks to the Grand Traverse Pavilion staff (Birch) who took excellent care of dad.
      He is survived by three sons, Terrance (Judy) Murphy of Grawn, Frederick (Kathy) Murphy of New Lothrop and Tim (Retha) Murphy of Interlochen; two daughters, Dianne (Gary) Kilbourne of Auburn and Maureen (Rick) Scott of Interlochen; a brother, R.J. Murphy of Mt. Pleasant; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
      He was also preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Patricia Lynn Murphy in 1976; a sister, Maxine Murphy; and a brother, Jim Murphy.
      Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, where he was a founding member, in Grawn with Rev. Gerald Micketti officiating. Burial will take place in Oakwood Catholic Diocesan Cemetery.
     
      Margaret R. Thomas
      Died November 5, 1999
      TRAVERSE CITY - Margaret R. Thomas, 78, of Traverse City and formerly of Williamsburg and Kalamazoo, died Friday at Culver Meadows in Traverse City.
      Born Sept. 20, 1921, in Denver, she was the daughter of Theodore and Jean (McIntosh) Renault. On Aug. 15, 1946, in Ann Arbor, she married Baird Alexander Thomas.
      Margaret was a nurse anesthetist. From 1969 to 1974 she worked as a nurse and counselor at Project Recovery in Kalamazoo. She was a member of Elk Rapids Garden Club, PEO, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Elk Rapids, St. Paul's Altar Guild, Elk Rapids Golf Club, the Women's League and the VFW in Williamsburg. She was also a member of the Rapid City and Elk Rapids Women's Bridge Leagues. She enjoyed bridge, cooking, her family and especially her grandchildren.
      She is survived by three sons, Laurence Alexander Thomas of Sunnyvale, Calif.; Baird McIntosh Thomas of Williamsburg and his children, Justin and Ryan, of Westlake, Ohio and Theodore Bruce Thomas and his children, Joshua and Nathaniel Thomas of Olympia, Wash.
      She was preceded in death by her husband, Baird Alexander Thomas on Oct. 18, 1983; and a son, William Renault Thomas on March 9, 1988.
      A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Elk Rapids with Rev. Fred Myers officiating. Inurnment will be in St. Paul's Columbarium in Elk Rapids. Arrangements are being handled by Elk Rapids Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to The Margaret Thomas Fund in care of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.