Ruth M. Thompson

of Ann Arbor MI, our loving and nurturing mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on November 15, 2025 at the Chelsea Retirement Community (Chelsea, MI) at the age of 95 years. Ruth was born to James A and Alice Barton Payne on January 16, 1930 in Newburgh, NY, and grew up in nearby Highland Mills, NY. Following High School, she graduated from St Luke’s Nursing School in New York City in 1950. After two years of hospital nursing, she left the city for Denver, CO eventually moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan to work at the Women’s Hospital at the University of Michigan (1955).

She met a young resident physician, George R Thompson, MD and within a year they were wed (1957). They lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan to raise their family, then in their late years resided at the Chelsea Retirement Community. Ruth was our stay-at-home mom, shuttling us to this and that, helping with homework, raising us to be productive adults, all the while modeling a quiet faith and teaching us how to interact in the world with grace. She was active in the United Methodist Women at the Calvary UMC for much of her life, International Neighbors (assisting spouses of international students), and made the finest potato salad ever served at the church potluck dinners. She was also an expert pie chef and was fascinated by Lady Slippers.

Joy Renee Sexton

born July 13, 1973 in Detroit was set free from the bonds of this earthly life on Sept 10, 2025. Left to remember her amazing but shortened life are her daughter Kynze Gilbert (19), her stepson Ken D. Gilbert (25), sister Chelsea Plymale, brother Ian Kummer, nephew Paul Heck, and her parents Lorin and Joseph Kummer. She leaves behind many other caring family members and dear friends. Her last few years found her also surrounded by devoted health care workers who were essential to her well-being during her illness and disability.

Vale Salkauskas

Vale Salkauskas of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Manchester, age 79, passed away Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at the Chelsea Retirement Community Kresge Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. She was born September 21, 1946, in Lubeck, Germany, the daughter of Leo and Bronislava (Astrauskas) Rutkauskas.

Vale was a wonderful cook. She loved to cook, bake and feed everyone that came across her path, including her friends at the Pines. If you ever stopped in to see Vale, you left with a full stomach or a bag with some wonderful snacks in it. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting and crafting. Vale loved doing craft shows with her family and friends. She was an adoring grandmother and loved her grandchildren to no end. Her paying job was being a nurse, but it never ended there. She was a nurse to the very end. Vale loved to take care of people and had the biggest, caring heart. Even when the MS took away her ability to walk, she was always taking care of people. Vale was an amazingly caring, wonderful woman who made a big impression on a lot of people's lives.

Gail Disbrow Esty

of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of New Jersey, and Florida,

beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at the age of 85. She was born August 29, 1939, in Keyport, New Jersey, the daughter of Harvey G. and Ruth (Disbrow) Hartman.

Gail was a member of Farmington/Ann Arbor Unitarian Universalist. She received her undergraduate degree from Hood College and her MSW from Wayne State University. In 1979, she was one of the first to join FirstStep, a shelter for domestic violence. She continued in private social work practice for 20 years. Gail loved to learn and explore other world religions. She and her husband loved to travel.