Obituaries

Rhoda Mary Nickerson

died peacefully Sunday morning, September 18, 2022, at Chelsea Retirement community.

Rhoda was born on August 28, 1942, in Kingston, New York, the daughter of Carl William and Alma Louise Miller Nickerson. Rhoda's early years on the family farm in Saugerties, NY were defined by hard work, love of animals, family gatherings, the outdoors, gardening, and 4-H.

Richard “Dick” de la Barre Duke

of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Clinton, Maryland; East Lansing and Ann Arbor, age 91, died Saturday, September 24, 2022 at Silver Maples of Chelsea. He was born December 19, 1930 in Washington, D.C., the son of James Paul and Florence Ilda (de la Barre) Duke. Dick grew up on a small farm in Clinton, Maryland with 7 brothers and sisters where he milked the family cow, delivered newspapers, and went fishing in the Chesapeake with his dad. He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings Paul, Kate, Nelson, Florence, David, and Joan. His brother Ted survives.

Taylor Jane Heldt

of Manchester, Michigan, age 30, died Saturday, September 24, 2022, due to a car accident. She was born August 31, 1992, in Huntsville, Alabama, the daughter of Lynn Michael & Karen Marie (Stein) Heldt.

Taylor graduated from Manchester High School in 2010. She earned her bachelors degree from Ferris State University, and her masters in architecture from Kendall College in Grand Rapids. Taylor worked for TK Design in South Lyon. She was passionate about animals, including her dogs, cats, ducks, chickens, and guinea hens. Taylor would take in animals that needed to be rescued, and baby sat many dogs and cats. She enjoyed being outdoors, hunting, camping, and spending time on the pontoon with her family most Sundays. Taylor was kind and determined, and is remembered for her welcoming smile.

Gerald "Jerry" Smith

Gerald R. Smith, 87, died peacefully at home on Sandhill Farm, Chelsea, September 20, 2022, under the loving attendance of his wife, Catherine Badgley, his son, Keith Smith, and his sister-in-law Barbara Badgley. Jerry was born March 20, 1935 in Los Angeles and was raised in Salt Lake City, Utah where he earned a B.S. (1957) and M.S. (1959) at the University of Utah. In 1965, he completed his Ph.D. in Zoology at the University of Michigan, and in 1969, after three years on the faculty at the University of Kansas, he returned to Michigan as Curator of Fishes for the Museum of Zoology and Curator of Lower Vertebrates for the Museum of Paleontology, affiliated with what is now the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.