Trinh Bui Pifer
of Chelsea, Michigan, age 51, died Sunday, June 6, 2021 at U of M Hospital in Ann Arbor. Born on April 17, 1970 in Saigon, Vietnam, Trinh Thi My Bui was a child born in the midst of a civil war that was confusing to those caught on both sides. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, Trinh, her parents Kha and Thai Bui, and siblings, Khanh (Khanh), Thuy, Thu (Tom), Nu (Mark) were sponsored by St. Williams Catholic Church in Walled Lake, MI. Empathy and support of this faith community was the key to the Bui family’s ability to transform from refugees who arrived with just the clothes on their backs to becoming contributing US citizens. After being in the U.S. for two years, her brother Paul (Jennifer) was born.
Trinh and her siblings started school in Walled Lake, knowing limited, if any, English. Her parents drilled the importance of education as the key to accessing the American Dream. While the children fought to assimilate and blend into the 99.9% white community of Walled Lake her parents held on to Vietnamese traditions. The main teaching instilled by her mom during this time was her love of cooking and expressing love through sharing food.
The world lost a truly unique soul and bright light on June 1 , 2021 when Gerald William Smith passed away suddenly in Chelsea, Michigan at age 68. Born and raised in Detroit to Shirley (Peters) Smith and Douglas Smith, Gerry there met and wed his true love and partner, Fran (Gomula) Smith. He poured his heart into raising their three girls, Theresa Clark, Rachel Smith, and Brianna Smith, and was an incredibly proud and wonderful father and later, grandfather to Quinn and Rosie. Brother to Christine Kukier, (Donald), Douglas Smith, (Priscilla), Margaret Smith, (Chuck), David Smith, (Beth), Thomas Smith, Steve Smith, (Mary), Larry Smith, (Tina), Elizabeth Smith, and Marilyn Smith. Brother-in- law to Mary, Michael, Louise, and Ed; father-in-law to Zachariah Clark, uncle and friend to many more.
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.
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.