Obituaries

Martha Jo (Lutchka) Miller

of Gas City, Indiana age 74, died Monday, May 4, 2020 at the Wesleyan Health and Rehab Center in Marion, Indiana. She was born January 8, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Joseph and Josephine Barbara (Blass) Lutchka. She was baptized at the Bushnell Congregational Church in Detroit, MI.  Martha graduated from South Lyon High School in South Lyon, Michigan in 1964. She attended Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1968 and Masters degree in 1969. She was a member of Tau Beta Sigma a band fraternity. She received her teaching license in 1971 as a speech therapist and taught at the South Lyon elementary school. She taught there until she married Lewis Miller in 1974, who worked at the Environmental Automobile Certification division of the EPA at Ann Arbor, MI. She moved with her husband for the next 30 years when he began working for the Veterans Administration moving to various locations within the United States. The first move was to MN, then TX ,PA, IN. OR, NB, and OK. They retired to Gas City, IN in 2003, where she resided until her death.

Helen F. Brainerd

formerly of Munith, MI, age 95, died Friday, May 1, 2020 at the Chelsea Retirement Community due to complications from COVID 19.   She was born October 20, 1924 in Brownville, Minnesota, the daughter of Matt & Francis (Hartel) Mollner.  Helen was best known as the “Garage Sale Lady”.   Everyone will miss her freezer jam her cakes, and especially her cereal cake. 

Donald "Bud" L. Davis, Jr.

of Milan, MI, formerly of Gregory, MI, age 73, died Sunday, May 3, 2020 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Chelsea. He was born March 11, 1947 in Altoona, PA , the son of Donald L. & Ida Belle (Daughenbaugh) Davis, Sr.  Don attended Wayne High School, then join the US Army during the Viet Nam war, serving in Korea.  He was a member of the American Legion #570 in Stockbridge.   Don and his first wife, Marcia, owned “Don's Snack Shack” in Stockbridge.    He also worked for Paramount Coffee for over 20 years.  He loved boating and lived on Woodburn Lake in Gregory for many years.  He attended Crossroads Community Church in Stockbridge, and after they moved to Milan, attended Calvary Baptist in Ypsilanti. 

Katherine R. Purdy

Of Ann Arbor, Michigan, formerly of Whitmore Lake & Mancelona. Age 95, died Thursday, April 30, 2020 at Brookdale Senior Living in Ann Arbor. She was born January 10, 1925 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the daughter of Frederick & Daisy (Edwards) Altenbernt.   Katherine worked at Dapco in Dexter, Ulrich's Bookstore in Ann Arbor, the IGA in Dexter, and she also cleaned houses. She was a member of the Dexter Seniors and was part of several card game groups with the Chelsea Seniors. Katherine enjoyed sewing and gardening; and drove a lot as she liked to travel and go camping with her family.