Home

of Chelsea, Michigan, died Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at age 70. He was born February 28, 1955 in Freeport, Texas, the son of Gray Merriam and Electra Jane (Easton) Gorton.

In 1963 at age eight, Paul moved with his family from Texas to Midland, MI, where he later raised his daughters in the same house where he grew up. Paul graduated from Midland High School in 1973, where he participated in wrestling and ran track. He joined the Navy in 1975, where he served on submarines as a sonar operator, and was discharged in 1978. Paul then attended Michigan State University where he studied Political Science, Sociology, and Economics. Somewhere between the Navy and college, Paul took some time off to follow the Grateful Dead on tour. In 1986, he was employed by the Michigan Department of Corrections, where he worked for 33 years. While working for Corrections, Paul met Yvonne Wickey, and they were married on January 19, 1991 in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Paul rode a cobalt blue long edition FLH Harley-Davidson, and was a lifetime member of the Harley Owners Group. He participated in the Big Brothers program, volunteered for Special Olympics Michigan, and was an accomplished martial artist, achieving a black belt in Kuk Sool Won. Paul loved to travel with his family all over the U.S. and beyond. Paul was a kind and gentle soul with a great sense of humor. He could fix anything, gave great advice, and was absolutely devoted to his family.

JoAnn Palmer

of Grass Lake, Michigan, age 83, passed away Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at her home in Grass Lake. She was born March 24, 1942 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Joseph Edward and Edith Jane (Forbes) O'Malley.  JoAnn worked as an Assembler for General Motors before retiring after 30 years. She and Syd moved to Arizona for 3½ years before coming back to Michigan. They would return to Arizona for the winters until 2019. She was a member of the Napoleon United Methodist Church. Jo Ann enjoyed bowling and quilting with her sister.

On October 17, 1992, she married Sydney “Syd” Palmer and he survives. JoAnn is survived by a son, William Westenbarger of Garden City; a daughter, Martha (JB) Bellew of Mandeville, Louisiana; five grandchildren: Joshua, Lisa, Sharon, Christine, and Jonathan; several great-grandchildren; a brother, Michael O'Malley; and sister, Molly Harder. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Sharon Schwab and Kay Beasley.

Charity Frank

Formerly of Saline. Age 61, died suddenly Monday, October 13, 2025 at Spring Hill, Tennessee. She was born June 30, 1964 in Ann Arbor, the daughter of Roy & Bertha (Kruger) Clemons Jr.

Charity attended Ypsilanti Assembly of God, where she met her husband, Keith. She then attended Brighton Assembly of God for many years before attending Full Life Assembly of God in Franklin, TN. She loved cooking shows on TV, and enjoyed going to antique stores. Charity was active with the Prime Timers at Ypsilanti Assembly of God, and supported Well Outreach Pantry in Spring Hill, Tennessee. She also volunteered at the San Diego Rescue Mission of San Diego, California and Meals on Wheels in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Fred Wilson Looney

Age 76, died peacefully on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at Trinity Health in Ann Arbor. He was born September 10, 1949 in Princeton, West Virginia, the son of Irvin Wilson & Lena Viola (Phillips) Looney.

Fred attended Bluefield High School, WV, until 11th grade, graduating from Page High School in Greensboro, NC. He was recruited by Burlington Industries/Carolina Steel to work in computers. He then worked at McGraw-Edison, where he met his wife, and Albion Industries in Albion, MI. Fred began consulting in computers, eventually starting his own consulting company, CALL Information Systems. At home, he enjoyed computers, woodworking, and writing stories. Fred was one of a kind, boisterous, with a loud laugh. He loved music and played guitar when he was younger. Fred was very inquisitive, always wanting to know more about the people around him.

Robert H. Kadlec

Robert H. Kadlec, age 87, passed away Friday, October 3, 2025. He was born in Racine, Wisconsin, on June 11, 1938, to Alice (Chernohorsky) and Henry Kadlec. His life started on a small garden farm with outhouses and horse-drawn implements; and ended near his desk with two personal computers.

He graduated first in his class at William Horlick High School in Racine in 1954, and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin in 1958, one of only two people to finish that program with an all-A transcript. He received his Masters and PhD Degrees from the University of Michigan in 1959 and 1962. Robert then taught traditional chemical engineering at the University of Michigan for 32 years, advancing to full professor. During that time, he was affiliated with professional engineering organizations, and published dozens of papers on various ChE subjects in conjunction with over two dozen doctoral students. Bob was editor of the Journal of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers from 1975 – 1986. Robert was named professor emeritus of chemical engineering on May 31, 1995.

Eileen Cheek

Eileen Cheek, age 101 passed away on September 23, 2025, at Chelsea Retirement Community in Chelsea, Michigan. She was named Dorothea Eileen Hoff, but to friends and family was always known as Eileen. She was born September 24, 1923, near New Madison, Ohio to Harry and Hester Marie Hoff. She was one of 5 children. She married the love of her life, Forrest Cheek, her Navy guy, on June 24, 1945.

She worked at several different jobs including working at a greenhouse, and a job making reflective signs and screen printed cards. Perhaps her most interesting job was during WWII, when she worked at Kilgore’s Manufacturing in Westerville, Ohio. Her job there was to put gunpowder in fuses for bombs. She attended Otterbein College for a year and then transferred to the Ohio State University where she graduated with a degree in Home Economics Education. She and Forrest started their family in 1947.