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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.

Edward Ivan Ball

Edward Ivan Ball, 72, died Thursday, October 3, 2024, at the VA Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, after a battle with liver and kidney disease. Ed was born on Aug. 28, 1952, to Norma (née Wood) Ball and Ivan J. Ball in Quantico, Virginia, where his father was stationed as a serviceman in the Marine Corps. Norma and Ivan moved back to Iowa City, Iowa, when Ed was a baby so that they could be closer to their families. He attended public schools in Iowa City, graduating from West High School in 1971. After high school, Ed enlisted and served eight years in the U.S. Navy. Achieving the rank of Petty Officer First Class, Ed ran the jet engine test cell on the flagship aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. He received an honorable discharge and later became a professional butcher, a career he enjoyed for many years until retirement.

Raymond John Sleep

Raymond John Sleep was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 11th, 1931 to Alice (Neish) and John Sleep. He was the eldest of their three boys, including Richard and Ernest.

Ray’s love for literature, writing and learning began at a young age and he loved to teach himself. In childhood, he skipped school to lie on the roof of their Detroit home and read. He and his brothers had many adventures boating and swimming in the Detroit River near Belle Isle. Ray graduated from Southeastern High School in 1949 and went on to Wayne (State) University. He left Wayne University in pursuit of his dream of becoming a writer and moved to Manhattan in 1949 for six weeks, when he ran out of money and claimed, “my pen just wouldn’t write a story”.  

Don Gargaro III

 June 13, 1954– Sept. 15, 2024

After a prolonged illness, Don Gargaro III, 70, died peacefully at home at Ellsworth Lake on Sept. 15, 2024 with his devoted partner, Lynne Spencer, and their sweet dog, Davi, by his side. Born in Detroit, he was the eldest of the late Don II and Joann Gargaro’s six children.

Don was an artist at heart. As a teen, his untrained hand and uncanny perception produced sophisticated sketch caricatures, capturing the essence– visible and invisible– of his subjects mostly his family. He was an avid reader, whose recommendations were typically spot-on. He particularly loved music, ranging from the Chicago blues to the British Invasion to the plaintive soul of the Texas Hill Country. He was an excellent guitar player with a great ear and a deep appreciation for the passion of the musicians whose songs he studied and played. His tastes were cultivated with curiosity and wonder, and his opinions were often unyielding. His musical aesthetic remains an enduring influence on his siblings, nieces, nephews, and friends. Most would agree that their playlists and record collections bear Don’s indelible imprint.

Betty Ann Bock

of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA and Buffalo, New York, age 98, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Silver Maples of Chelsea. Betty Ann was born August 23, 1926, to John Armstrong Young and Anna Mae (Kelly) Young in Oakdale, Pennsylvania. Betty Ann graduated from Oakdale High School and Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA.

Betty Ann worked in Pittsburgh before her marriage and after the family was raised. She and three friends owned Paper Parade in Plymouth, MI.

She enjoyed flower arranging and the competition of flower shows. She was Past President of the Farmington Garden Club, an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, a reader for the blind, active in PTA and on several committees at Silver Maples. She loved Northern Michigan and especially the Frankfort summer place and the good times with family and friends.

Linda Marie Smith

of Chelsea, Michigan, age 79, passed away Monday, September 16, 2024, at her home. She was born June 25, 1945, in Pontiac, Michigan, the daughter of James M. and Peggy (Edwards) Dickerson.

Linda graduated from Clarkston High School in 1963. She worked as a Computer Tech at Chelsea Hospital, retiring in February of 1998. Linda enjoyed bowling at Chelsea Lanes during the 80's and 90's, and liked to golf. She loved to read and travel with Hank in the RV. Linda and Hank went to St. Augustine, Florida for the last 35 years.