Obituaries

Arthur "Art" Allen

of Stockbridge, Michigan, age 97, passed away Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at his home. He was born in Royalton, Kentucky, the son of Taylor and Myrtle (Prater) Allen.

Art was an active member at the Stockbridge Church of Christ, helping out wherever needed. He enjoyed working and worked hard all of his life. Art retired from Kelsey Hayes, built houses, owned stores and gas stations; and bought rentals and fixed them up. Art believed in the Lord, family, and hard work.

Nancy Lou Chappel

Age 91, passed away Thursday, June 12, 2025, at Trinity Health Livingston Hospital in Howell. She was born May 3, 1934, in Michigan Center, Michigan, the daughter of James T. and Luella E. (Turner) Tierney.

Nancy grew up in Garden City, graduating from Garden City High School in 1952. She went to nursing school and worked at Deaconess Hospital and Wayne State University. Nancy was active in church wherever they lived, but especially so at the First Presbyterian Church in Howell. She was adventurous and very resourceful. Nancy enjoyed traveling and experiencing other cultures with her husband. She was an avid rock collector and enjoyed birding, camping, and gardening. She could never pass up a good rock or piece of driftwood. Nature truly inspired her creative side.

Larry Grant Blair

of East Lansing, MI, formerly of Westland, age 78, passed away Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Burcham Hills Retirement Community in East Lansing. He was born October 3, 1946, in Whitesburg, Kentucky, the son of Ralph and Helen “Louise” (Jones) Blair.

Larry graduated from Whitesburg High School in 1965, and took some classes at Kalamazoo Community College. He had many jobs, but worked for Ford Motor Company in Wayne, on the assembly line, for 33 years. Larry was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Westland. He took great pleasure in washing cars, both his and those of his family, and enjoyed fishing.

Shirley Anne Wahlstrom

Shirley Anne Wahlstrom
April 22, 1929 – June 6, 2025

Shirley Anne Wahlstrom (née Bottomley), 96, of Chelsea, MI, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on April 22, 1929, in Jackson, MI, the third of four children to Theo and Mildred Bottomley.

She is survived by her four children: Vickie Kooyers (Kevin), Rick Wahlstrom (Dawn), Randy Wahlstrom (Brenda), and Darryl Wahlstrom (Jack). Her legacy extends to her 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She is also lovingly remembered by her sister-in-law, Billie Wahlstrom (Mary), and many nieces and nephews from the extended Bottomley family.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and her three siblings—Max, Don, and Marcia Bottomley. She was formerly married to Dennis Wahlstrom (deceased), with whom she shared four children.

Shirley’s life and legacy were shaped not only by where she grew up, but also by the era in which she came of age. Raised during the Great Depression—and due to her father’s work as a civil engineer that required frequent relocations across states including Tennessee, Illinois, and Michigan—Shirley learned many enduring life lessons, including patience, quiet strength, and grace, that shaped how she approached life.