Services for James Gains, 66, of Westland were Sept. 17 in Vermeulen Funeral Home with burial at Cadillac Memorial Gardens, West in Westland. Officiating was the Rev. Drex Morton.

Mr. Gains was born Oct. 6, 1935, in Doddridge County, W.Va., and died Sept. 13 in Ann Arbor. He was a production manager for General Motors.

Surviving are his wife, Glenda; sons, Gary Gains of Toledo, Ohio, and James (Sunday) Gains of Westland; daughter, Cheryl (Roger) Martinex of San Antonio, Texas, and Susan (Michael) Howell of Boston, Mass.; mother and stepfather, Ruby and Clair Dennis of Mt. Morris; five brothers; and three sisters.
 

Maxine Marie King

Services for Maxine King, 70, of Plymouth were Sept. 20 in Schrader-Howell Funeral Home with burial at Knollwood Cemetery in Canton. Officiating was the Rev. Michiael Bryan.

Mrs. King was born Sept. 19, 1931, in Washington, Ohio, and died Sept. 17 in Superior Township. She was a homemaker. She worked in insurance claims at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital 13 years. 

Mrs. King came to the Plymouth community in 1950 from Van Wert, Ohio. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Plymouth. She enjoyed traveling, playing bingo, crocheting, cooking and baking for her family, and especially Thanksgiving with her family.

Surviving are her husband of 51 years, Thomas; sons, Thomas (Lola) King of Westland and James King of Jacksonville, Fla.; brothers, Richard Wiler of Ft. Wayne, Ind., Carl Wiler of Oklahoma City, Okla., and George Wiler of Olympia, Wash.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial tributes may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital.
 

William J. Rais

A memorial Mass for former Livonia resident William Rais, 87, of Denton, Texas will be 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, in St. Colette Catholic Church. The family will be celebrating his Life with a Memorial in his Honor following the Mass.

Mr. Rais was born April 21, 1915, in Detroit, and died Aug. 15, 2002, at his residence in Denton, Texas. He was a long time resident of Livonia and was retired from the Water Department of the City of Livonia.

Surviving are his sons, Robert (Deborah) of Northville, Ronald (Monica) of Pilot Point, Texas, Ralph and Raymon of Livonia and Roger of Westland; daughters, Elizabeth Grimshaw of Denton, Texas and Elaine (Robert) Nevel of Flat Top, Tenn.; brother, Walter Rais of Detroit; sisters, Stephanie Flis and Helen Rais of Detroit; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Mr. Rais was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, May 4, 1993. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Aug. 20 at St. Mark Catholic Church with burial in Belew Cemetery in Aubrey, Texas.
 

Darlene Seesholtz

Services for Darlene Seesholtz, 67, of Livonia were Sept. 13 in John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home with burial at Cadillac Memorial Gardens, West, Westland.

Mrs. Seesholtz was born Dec. 5, 1934, and died Sept. 9, 2002, at her home in Livonia. She was employed by Kmart 28 years, working in the Westland and Livonia stores.

Surviving are her sons, Michael (Revonda) and Ken (Natalie); daughters, Kelly (Mike) Camilleri and Holly (Bill) Pajot; father, Edward Traylor; brother, Lee (June); sisters, Sandra (Doug) Hayes and Marilyn (Neal) Hochkins; and 10 grandchildren, Kylie, Kaitlyn Seesholtz, Chelsea, Kendra, Brianna Seesholta, Becky, Amanda, Brandon Camilleri and Lindsey, Collin Pajot. Many nieces and nephews also survive. 
 

Alfred D. Ellis

Services for Alfred Ellis, 86, of Westland are Sept. 27 in L.J. Griffin Funeral Home with entombment at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Officiating was the Rev. Drexel E. Morton from St. Michael Lutheran Church.

Mr. Ellis was born Sept. 16, 1916, in LeGrand, Iowa, and died Sept. 22 in Garden City. He was an electrician for an electric motor repair shop.

Surviving are his wife, Bernelle; sons, Craig, Kenton (Michelle) and Bud (Mary); daughter, Donna Ruel; one brother; one sister; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
 

Jack R. Seal

Services for Jack Seal, 69, of Westland were Sept. 25 in R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home, Garden City, with burial at Cadillac Memorial Gardens West, Westland. Officiating was the Rev. Roy Forsyth.

Mr. Seal was born Dec. 3, 1932, in Detroit, and died Sept. 23 at his home in Westland. He lived in this community many years. He was a club manager for a Veterans organization. He was a member of V.F.W. of Garden City-Post Commander, Westland Moose, Amvets and American Legion. 

Surviving are his wife, Rosalie; children, Deborah Hughes, James Seal and Audra (Jason) Moriez; sisters, Doris Theobald and Virginia Rousakis; and seven grandchildren.
 

Patrick S. Thornton

Services for Patrick Thornton, 30, of Westland were Sept. 24 in Vermeulen Funeral Home. Officiating was the Rev. Jack H. Baker.

Mr. Thornton was born Feb. 4, 1972, in Detroit, and died Sept. 20 in Westland. He was a hi-lo driver. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church.

Surviving are his daughter, Kiana Thornton; father, Michael (Judy) Thornton of Milan; mother, Diane Thornton of Atlanta, Mich.; brother, Steven Thornton of Wayne; and sister, Angela Morina of Westland.
 

Robert Cockrum

Services for Robert Cockrum, 68, of Westland were Sept. 23 in Vermeulen Funeral Home with burial at Maple Grove Cemetery in Westland. Officiating was the Rev. David A. Kipfmiller. 

Mr. Cockrum was born June 26, 1934, in Wayne, and died Sept. 20 in Dearborn. He was a retired truck driver. He was a veteran and served in the Army.

Surviving are his wife, Elaine; sons, Robert Cockrum of Ingelside, Ill. and Jamie (Dara) Cockrum of Canton; daughter, Sandy (Joe) Harbottle of Hamilton; brother, Tommy (Barbara) Cockrum of Westland; sisters, Ethel Doran of Ypsilanti, Evelyn Frances of West Bloomfield, Alethea Barker of Warren and Doris (Richard) Shuman of West Bloomfield; and four grandchildren, Jordan Cockrum, Benny Cockrum, Alyssa Harbottle and Luke Harbottle.

Memorial tributes may be made to American Cancer Society, 29350 Southfield Road, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48076; or American Diabetes Association Michigan Affiliate Inc., 23100 Providence Dr., Suite 400, Southfield, MI 48075-3680
 

James McGeachy 

Services for James "Sam" McGeachy, 37, of New Boston were Sept. 25 in Michigan Memorial Funeral Home in Huron Township. Burial with Military Honors was at Michigan Memorial Park.

Mr. McGeachy died Sept. 21, 2002. He was employed by Sun Pipeline, Inc. of Taylor. He was an Air Force Veteran.

Surviving are his wife, Frances "Marie"; children, James, Smantha and Daniel; mother, Betty "Jean" McGeachy; and sisters, Beverly O'Neill, Kathryn McGeachy, Vicky (Eric) Ide, Branda (Mike) Bucata, Lori (Mike) Mousseau and Amy (Dean) Mascarello.

Mr. McGeachy was preceded in death by his father, Alex.
 

George Wilson Hafer

Services for George Hafer, 93, of Westland were Sept. 17 in Vermeulen Funeral Home with burial at United Memorial Gardens in Superior Township. Officiating was the Rev. Tom C. Hansen.

Mr. Hafer was born Sept. 4, 1909, in Claunch, Ark., and died Sept. 13 at his home in Westland. He was an automotive factory worker, employed by McCord Corp. 30 years. During World War II he worked on defense contracts. Mr. Hafer enjoyed sports and had played semi-pro baseball. He also enjoyed gardening.

Surviving are his wife, Hattie; daughter, Betty (John) Cole of Plymouth; sister, Dorothy Carpenter of Arkansas; grandchildren, Linda (Kean) Choma, Lisa (Kevin) Hille and John (Ruth) Cole; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial tributes may be made to Angela Hospice, 14100 Newburg Road, Livonia, MI 48154-5010
 

George Willis Kengle

Services for former Westland resident George Kengle, 73, of Monroe were Sept. 24 in Uht Funeral Home, Westland, with burial at Jefferson Memorial Park, Pleasant Hills, Pa. Officiating was the Rev. Jerome Smith.

Mr. Kengle was born Nov. 14, 1928, and died Sept. 22 in Monroe. He was an engineer.

Surviving are his wife, Emily; children, Mary Lou (Mark) Sommerfield, James (Marianne) Kengle and Sondra (Gerry) Gardetto; brother, Robert Kengle; sister, Marilyn Kengle; and eight grandchildren, Adam, Alyson, Rachel, Daniel, Nathan, Caitlin, Janelle and Michelle.

Memorial tributes may be made to Arbor Hills Hospice of Allen Park.
 

Malta Noma Lord

Malta Lord, 86, of Westland died Sept. 27.

Mrs. Lord was born March 9, 1916, in Cranks, Ky. She lived in the Westland community 65 years. She was a manager for Tri-Daly and Minders Drug Stores. She owned a restaurant and a charter yacht business in Bradenton, Fla., and was a director of tours for Wein Artic Airlines.

Surviving are her daughter, Lenore Walters; brother, Lawrence Greene; five grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Lord was preceded in death by her husband, Leland.

Arrangements were made by R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home, Garden City.
 

Bernice Kaske

Services for Bernice Kaske, 99, of Westland were today, Thursday, Oct. 3, in the chapel of John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home with burial at St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn Heights. Officiating was the Rev. Ray Lucasinsky from Mariannhill Mission Society.

Mrs. Kaske was born March 21, 1903, and died Sept. 29 in Westland. She was a packer.

Surviving are her son, Leo Kaske; and daughters, Lorraine Byrnes of Wayne and Dorothy (Joe) Lademan.

Mrs. Kaske was preceded in death by her husband, Leo.

Bradly Allan McCarthy

Services for Bradly McCarthy, 36, of Taylor were Oct. 2 in Vermeulen Funeral Home. Officiating was the Rev. Leonard Partensky.

Mr. McCarthy was born March 5, 1966, in Dearborn and died Sept. 29 in Ferndale. He was a paralegal.

Surviving are his father, Thomas McCarthy of Westland; mother, Linda McCarthy; stepmother, Evelyn McCarthy; and brother, Thomas McCarthy.
 

Verne E. Keeth

Verne Keeth, 93, of Westland died Oct. 2 in Farwell, Mich. Mrs. Keeth was born June 13, 1909, in Detroit. She had lived in this area all her life.

In her later years, she began writing memories of her life in the early 1900s in the Livonia area on the family farm. Several of her stories were published in the Detroit Free Press. She was a secretary and retired from Hawthorn Center in Northville. 

Surviving are her sons, Keeth Keeth of Marietta, Ga., Donald (Robbie) Keeth of Plymouth and Michael (Diane) Keeth of Plymouth; daughter, Leslyn (Bud) Young of Farwell; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Keeth was preceded in death by her husband, Vivian; son, James Keeth; one granddaughter; and one great-granddaughter.

There are family members who reside in the Garden City community.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements were made by Vermeulen Funeral Home.
 

Marie M. Petz

Services for Marie Petz, 97, of Westland were Oct. 3 in St. John Neumann Church with burial at Roseland Park Cemetery in Berkley. Officiating was the Rev. George Charnley.

Mrs. Petz was born June 3, 1905, in Philadelphia, Pa., and died Sept. 30 in Westland. She and her husband moved to the Detroit area in 1941 from Ohio. During World War II, she worked at the American Red Cross. She was a sales representative for Wholesale Drugs, Frank W. Kerr Co. in Detroit and was the first female salesperson in that field in Michigan. She was very active in her church and the Masonic organization. 

Surviving are her son, Sidney (Yvonne) Greenberg of Plymouth; daughter, Mary Alice (Thomas) Armstrong of Charlevoix; stepson, Weldon (Shirley) Petz of West Bloomfield; five grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Petz was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin.

Memorial tributes may be made in the form of Mass cards.

Arrangements were made by Vermeulen Funeral Home.
 

George H. Stroyan

Services for George Stroyan, 87, of Plymouth were Oct. 5 in St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church with burial at Parkview Memorial Cemetery, Livonia. Officiating was the Rev. Peter M. Berg.

Mr. Stroyan was born March 13, 1915, in Louistown, Pa., and died Oct. 3 in Livonia. He was retired from Burroughs Corp. in Plymouth. He came to the Plymouth community in 1951 from Detroit. He was a member of St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Plymouth.

Surviving are his wife, Jean; children, Pat (Norm) Kraetz of Santa Ana, Calif., Debbie (May) Guthart of West Bloomfield, George (Florence) Stroyan of Boyne City, Harvey Stroyan of Plymouth, Sheree (Dennis) Chapman of Westland, Frank (Darlene) Stroyan of Gaylord, David (Wyline) Stroyan of Plymouth and Mary (Mike) Dix of Westland; siblings, John Stroyan of Belleville, Walter (Wanda) Stroyan of Westland, Najia Lozon of Colorado and Joe Stroyan of Florida; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Mr. Stroyan was preceded in death by his sons, John and Doug.

Memorial tributes may be made to St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Arrangements were made by Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, Plymouth.
 

Charles E. Wooliver

Services for Charles Wooliver, 77, of Wayne-Westland will be 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, in Pollock-Randall Funeral Home, Port Huron. Officiating will be the Rev. Daniel S. Bakay from First Baptist Church. Visitation is 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today, Thursday, Oct. 10, in the funeral home. Burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery in Port Huron.

Mr. Wooliver was born July 6, 1925, in Port Huron and died Oct. 7 in Dearborn. He was a graduate of Port Huron High School. He worked for Ford Motor Co. 1955-85 when he retired.

Mr. Wooliver served in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1946. He studied drawing and engineering drafting in Inglewood, Calif. He was a lifetime member of the Yankee Air Force and a member of the American Legion.

Surviving are his brothers, Eugene (Nina) Wooliever of Fort Gratiot and Richard (Dolly) Wooliever of Mason; sister, Yvonne (Wilson) Pelton of Puyauup, Wash.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mr. Wooliver was preceded in death by a half-sister, Louella (Charles) Cook. Memorial tributes may be made to First Baptist Church of Port Huron.

(correct spelling of brothers' names Wooliver and Wooliever)
 

Estelle E. Yearout

Services for former Westland resident Estelle Yearout, 86, of Upland, Calif., were Oct. 5 in Ontario, Calif.

Mrs. Yearout was born June 15, 1916, in Leatherwood, Va., and grew up in Eden, N.C. After moving to the Westland community, she became a very active member of Westland Free Methodist Church. She was a resident of Canton and Westland until 1998, when she retired to California.

Surviving are her sons, Gentry (Sharon) Yearout of Belleville and Dempsey Yearout of Upland, Calif.; daughter, Verna "Dolly" (Clarence) Miller of Austin, Texas; sister, Thelma Smith of Stoneville, N.C.; and grandchildren, Susan (Chris) Peacor, Kurt (Robyn) Yearout, Joy and Sarah Yearout, Brett and Adrienne Miller; and great-grandson, Austin Yearout.

Mrs. Yearout was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon, and daughter, Anita Yearout. 

Arrangements were made by Draper Mortuary of Ontario, Calif. Burial will take place at Red Oak Grove Cemetery in Floyd, Va.
 

Meyer E. Shon

Private services for Meyer Shon, 91, of Westland were held recently. Arrangements were by John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home.

Mr. Shon, "Mike," died Oct. 6. He worked at Hershey's Shoes in Garden City 1975-85.

Surviving are his wife, Maybelle; daughters, Virginia Williams and Sara Lightfoot; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Mr. Shon was preceded in death by his son, Larry.

Memorial tributes may be made to Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, Michigan Chapter, 17250 W. 12 Mile, Suite 204, Southfield, MI 48076.
 

Irene T. Couveau

A funeral Mass for Irene Couveau, 66, of Farmington Hills was Oct. 7 in St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, Farmington Hills, with burial at Glen Eden Memorial Park, Livonia. Officiating was the Rev. Frederick J. Klettner. 

Mrs. Couveau was born July 22, 1936, in Detroit and died Oct. 3 in Royal Oak. She was a cashier at Wrigley's Supermarket. She was a graduate of Cooley High School, Detroit.

Surviving are her husband of 44 years, Frank; sons, Robert (Carolle) Couveau of Farmington Hills and James Couveau of Farmington Hills; daughter, Lida Couveau-Morris of Farmington Hills; sisters, Alice Mis of Westland and Patricia (Russell) Robbins of Romulus; and three grandchildren, Christopher, Jacob and Lucas.

Memorial tributes may be made to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, OH 44720.

Arrangements were by Thayer-Rock Funeral Home in Farmington.
 

James E. Bates

Services for James Bates, 62, of Romulus were Oct. 8 in Vermeulen Funeral Home with burial at Christian Memorial Park, Rochester. Officiating was the Rev. Drex Morton. 

Mr. Bates was born Dec. 21, 1939, in Centerville, Tenn., and died Oct. 5 in Romulus. He was a tool and die maker.

Surviving are his wife, Barbara; stepchildren, Victoria (William) Sims of Taylor, Renee (Douglas) Wyrybbowski of Westland, Andrew (Kristi) David of White Lake, Andrea (Joseph) Hahnenburg of White Lake and Jamie David of White Lake; brother, John (Brenda) Bates of Tennessee; sisters, Betty (Albert) Horner of Westland and Katherine (Gary) Weed of Westland; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Mr. Bates was preceded in death by his son, James Bates Jr.

Memorial tributes may be made to the family fund.
 

Jacqueline Fay Adler

Services for Jacqueline Adler, 68, of Canton were Sept. 25 in Church of Jesus Christ with burial at Cadillac Memorial Gardens West, Westland. Officiating was Bishop Ken Mlynar. 

Mrs. Adler was born Feb. 21, 1934, and died Sept. 20 in Canton. She was a medical record technician.

Surviving are her son, Alan Adler; daughters, Gale (Yehuda) Oren and Paula (Gary) Magid; four sisters; one brother; four grandchildren, Dalit Oren, Kristin Mendenhall, Stefan Ashdown and Nurit Oren; and great-grandson, Jackson Mendenhall.

Mrs. Adler was preceded in death by her husband, Yale Adler.

There are family members who reside in the Westland community.

Arrangements were by Uht Funeral Home.

 

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