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Obituaries

These obituaries are listed in order from newest to oldest.  If you want to look for a specific obituary, just type the last name in the search bar (at the top of this article).  You can click here to sign up to receive obituaries by e-mail.

Bernice S. “Sunny” Morse

Bernice S. “Sunny” Morse died after a short illness Tuesday, October 29, 2019, at the Chelsea Retirement Community in Chelsea, Michigan. She was 103 years old.   Born in Warren, Pennsylvania, in 1916, Sunny married William C. Morse of Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1937. Sunny and Bill lived for 70 years in Ann Arbor where Bill earned a PhD and became a professor of education and psychology at the University of Michigan. The couple personally built their own home on Penncraft Court in 1944 as part of a cooperative of friends. The cooperative spirit of the court continued over the years to provide a close-knit community for them and their children.
 
Sunny’s immediate family includes daughter Susan S. Morse of Chelsea, Michigan; son James D. Morse and daughter-in-law Katherine Gantz Morse of Granite Falls, Washington; and grandson Jeremy G. Morse, PhD, of Chicago. Sunny also enjoyed her extended family as aunt, great aunt and great-great aunt to Lori, Dennis and Andrew Dolan; David, Karen and Jamison Morse; Jessamy, Matt, Sam and Mack Mariani; Jan and Ray Toggweiler and their family; Bunny and Glenn Valli and their family; and Susie Greenman and her family.

Jack A Elsifor Jr.

of Chelsea, MI, age 75, passed away suddenly Thursday, November 14, 2019 at Michigan Medicine. He was born December 13, 1943 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the son of Jack A. & Katherine E. (Houseman) Elsifor Sr.

Jack graduated from Dexter High School in 1963. He served in the US Army, serving in Vietnam from 1966-1968. Jack worked for Federal Fluid Power in Plymouth, retiring in 2005. He enjoyed his family and taking care of his yard.

Jean Elizabeth Lewis

of Chelsea, MI, age 95, died Friday, November 8, 2019 in Jackson, Michigan. She was born September 19, 1924 in Genesee Twp., Michigan, the daughter of Edward & Jane (Gillie) Sanborn. Jean grew up in Rankin, a small town near Flint, Michigan and graduated from Grand Blanc High School in 1942.  After graduation, she worked at the Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint, starting in the business department and working her way up to secretary of the president, Dr. Harley Z. Wooden.  During this time, she volunteered to work with a group of teen deaf girls in the Stepping Stone Program for Self-Improvement sponsored by Mott Foundation of Flint.  

Shirley Ann Bowen

of Chelsea, Michigan, age 82, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, surrounded by her family.  She was born May 14, 1937 in Servia, Indiana, the daughter of Roy Moses and Iva Mae (Flohr) Krichbaum.
   Shirley grew up in Servia, IN, attended college in Ft Wayne, IN, and had lived in Chelsea since 1960.  Shirley was a member of  St. Paul United Church of Christ.  She loved spending time with family and friends, playing cards, and traveling. Shirley was an avid Michigan Wolverines fan, as well as Tigers, Pistons and Lions, and for years she loved to bowl.  She also did a lot of needlepoint projects, including Christmas stockings for all of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and painted hundreds of Tony's carvings for all of the kids and grandkids.

Nancy Bethke

Nancy Bethke passed away peacefully at her home on October 29, 2019. Born in Galesburg Illinois in 1933, Nancy started school in a rural one room schoolhouse, she had her own horse and brought her dog Robert to school every day.  Nancy graduated from the University of Illinois as a registered nurse. She worked in hospitals in Champaign, Chicago before moving to Ann Arbor to work at the VA hospital. Nancy married Bill Bethke in 1961 then focused on raising her daughters Carrie Barroso and Jennifer Bethke. She loved being grandmother to Morgen Barroso, Erik Barroso, Spencer Campbell and Blake Campbell. Nancy enjoyed art projects and treasure hunts with her grandchildren, vacationing on the beautiful beaches in Michigan, golfing, gardening, week-long birthday celebrations, baking phenomenal apple pies and eating ice cream every day.