Obituaries

Melvin "Mel" Leach

Of Chelsea, MI, age 89, died Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at his home. He was born April 27, 1933 in Chelsea, Michigan, the son of Clarence L. & Theresa M. (Schwab) Leach.

Mel served in the Army from 1953-55. He worked for the Village of Chelsea in the Wastewater Treatment Plant for 33 years. Mel was a member of the Rod and Gun Club and the American Legion.

On August 10, 1957, he married Barbara Wilson in Toledo, Ohio, and she preceded him in death on Dec. 8, 2019. Survivors include two daughters, Cynthia (Wesley) Mikesell of Fremont, and Susan (Ron Wolfe) Leach of Jackson; sons-in-law Adrian Carlino of Carlos Paz, Argentina, Daniel Spaulding of Jackson; 3 grandchildren, Nicole (Jason) Adams, Justin Degregorio, Anthony Degregorio; 4 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and 4 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Karen Carlino and Kathy Spaulding, and one brother, Merle Leach.

Betty L. (Lausen) Pope

of Chelsea, Michigan formerly of Ann Arbor.  Betty passed away just one day shy of her 100th birthday, yet the legacy of her strength, will and heart live on.

Betty was born March 15th, 1923 in Rockford, Illinois, beloved daughter of Howard and Bessie Lausen. At the age of 15, she moved with her parents to Ann Arbor where she lived until moving to the Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC) in 2006. During her 25-year career at Hoover-NSK she worked as a supervisor in sales paving the way for future women in business. Betty was passionate about her family, instilling integrity, a good work ethic and kindness to others.

Lois Ada Marie Gibson

Lois Ada Marie Gibson of Brighton, Michigan, age 89 passed away Friday, March 17, 2023, at Trinity Health Hospital in Ypsilanti. She was born April 24, 1933, in Oceana County, the daughter of Earl Willard and Elizabeth Caroline (Boelke) Shirtum.

Lois graduated with a Bachelor’s of Education from Albion College and a Master’s Degree from Wayne State University. While raising her family, she and Harry fostered 5 children and hosted foreign exchange students. With her family raised, she continued her devotion to service by teaching the visually handicapped in the Detroit Public School system for 20 years, retiring in 1995. Spare time was spent taking their grandchildren on adventures in education. Lois was an active and devoted member of Immanuel United Methodist Church in Eastpointe, Grace United Methodist Church in Chesterfield Township and Chelsea First United Methodist Church in Chelsea. For 25 years in retirement, Lois volunteered first at Corewell Health (Beaumont) Hospital in Troy and then at Chelsea Hospital in Chelsea where she served as President of the Auxiliary.

Theodore "Ted" Cheever

Age 86, died Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at Glacier Hills Assisted Living surrounded by his family. He was born June 4, 1936, in Hillsdale County, Michigan, the son of Gaylord Wilbur and Gertrude Mary (Bowditch) Cheever.

Ted graduated from Ann Arbor High School in 1954, and then joined the US Navy, serving from 1954-1957. He did heating and cooling work for the University of Michigan, and then started his apprenticeship with Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 190. He worked on the Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Plant, U of M Chemistry Building, North Creek School, Chelsea Hospital, and the Beach Middle School pool. He was a member of the Chelsea Rod & Gun Club and Wild Goose Flyers (a radio controlled plane club). He was passionate about model airplanes, hunting and fishing; he was a big U of M football fan, and loved to share stories.