Obituaries

Jack Lawrence

Jack Douglas Lawrence was born in Ypsilanti, MI on January 17, 1924, to Pearl F. (Gibbs) Lawrence and Therlo C. Lawrence. Jack attended Ypsilanti Public Schools. He was captain of both the football and baseball teams his senior year. After graduation in 1942, he attended what would become Eastern Michigan University. He also worked at the Willow Run Bomber Plant for a short few months before enlisting in the Marines on February 13, 1943. He earned the rank of Corporal, was a rifle sharpshooter, and aircraft mechanic. He served in the Southwest Pacific Area from February 29, 1944, to August 22, 1945. Jack participated in the consolidation of the Northern Solomons and Philippines Operations.

Jill Marie Powers

Of Jackson, Michigan, age 39, passed away Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, due to complications of Covid. She was born April 17, 1982, in Jackson, Michigan, the daughter of Thomas Richard Powers and Sue Alice (Hendrickson) Powers.

Jill graduated from Jackson Northwest High School in 2000, and then attended Jackson College. She worked in retail in the Jackson area and attended the St. John Catholic Church also in Jackson. Jill enjoyed dancing lessons when she was younger; she was artistic and funny.

Joan Marie (Keys) Lawrence

of Tecumseh, MI passed away on Monday, April 12, 2021. Joan was born in Detroit, MI on February 17, 1930 to Erma (Allport) and Roy Keys. When she was five, the family moved to Belleville, MI where she attended Belleville Public Schools. Joan was an accomplished singer and enjoyed singing in school theatre productions and dances, at weddings, and at her father’s Masonic Lodge. After graduating from Belleville High School in 1947, she attended Eastern Michigan University and earned a BA degree in education. While there she met her future husband, Jack Lawrence. They were married February 2, 1952 and raised their five daughters in Ypsilanti.

Joan worked as a substitute teacher, paraprofessional, and volunteer in the Ypsilanti Public Schools. She loved to play the organ and complete crossword puzzles.  Joan was a great friend to many; both young and old. Joan and Jack enjoyed playing cards and traveling with their friends. After Jack’s retirement, the couple moved from Ypsilanti to Clinton and eventually to Tecumseh.

William Blaine McAfee

of Milan, Michigan, formerly of Grass Lake and Chelsea, Age 79, entered into glory Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. He was born to William Kenneth and Alma Irene (Dragoo) McAfee, on April 30, 1942. Bill graduated from Strong Vincent High School in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1960 and then Allegheny College in Meadville, PA in 1964 with his BA in History. After graduation, Bill worked for the U.S. Public Health Service in New York from 1964 – 1966 until he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served until 1969 stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Bill worked in the Human Resources field and held a position as Reed City Manager from 1983-1986. In 1986, he accepted the position of Human Resources Director for the Washtenaw County Road Commission in Ann Arbor from 1986 –2005 when he retired.