Obituaries

Betty J. Bailey

of Gregory, Michigan, age 77, died Monday, January 3, 2022 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Chelsea. She was born January 16, 1944 in Cleveland, Tennessee, the daughter of Agner & Emma Lou (Smart) Guffey.  Betty attended Garden City High School (class of 1962). She had 4 children (in 1963, 65, 66, & 77) and stayed home until Craig was born. She started working for Ford in 1969 at the Sheldon Road Plant in Plymouth, working there for 31 years. She was always part of the Presbyterian Church, at Belleville, Garden City, and most recently at Unadilla Presbyterian church, where she was Treasurer and Deacon. She volunteered for 10 years delivering meals to people for Catholic Charity in the Unadilla area. Betty was a strong, loving, caring person who raised three children on her own. She was an avid reader and loved watching Jeopardy on TV (and she knew many of the answers).

Mark B. Craig

Of Ypsilanti, MI, formerly of Ann Arbor, age 68, died Thursday, December 30, 2021 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. He was born March 5, 1953 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the son of Gerald & Esther (Gillespie) Craig.

Mark graduated from Pioneer High School in 1971. He worked as a cook at Rod’s Diner, and other restaurants. Mark had a beautiful voice and enjoyed singing. In high school he sang with an organizational choir and went to South America on tour. Mark had a remarkable faith and also sang with the choir in his home church, Zion Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, occasionally singing solo.

Roderick “Dick” Kaye Daane

Formerly of Ann Arbor, Michigan, age 90 passed away Sunday, January 2, 2022, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Chelsea, Michigan. He was born on April 7, 1931, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of Russell and Hildreth Daane.  Dick grew up and attended high school in Plymouth, Michigan and after graduating in 1948 he went on to attend the University of Michigan where he received a B.A. in English Literature in 1953 and a law degree in 1955.He had a distinguished career in the law. Dick was in private practice in Detroit, Michigan where he also served as Dutch Consul. As Dutch Consul he received a civilian award for chivalry, the Order of Orange-Nassau in 1971. Dick eventually accepted the position of general counsel at the University of Michigan, a position he held for seventeen (17) years. Perhaps his greatest achievement during his tenure as general counsel was his appearance and argument before the United States Supreme Court in the case of Regents of the University of Michigan, Petitioner v. Scott E. Ewing where he won a unanimous decision.  As a university attorney Dick was a member of the NACUA, a national association of college and university attorneys. He was elected president of the association in 1984.

Kyra A. Hillard-Muma

Of Taylor, MI, formerly of Jackson, age 70, died Monday, December 27, 2021 at Tender Care Lodge of Taylor. She was born August 23, 1951 in Orange, Virginia, the daughter of Earl Elmer & Alma Gertrude (Chewning) Watson.

Kyra was a firecracker. She was loud, fun, and feisty, and could spark conversation with a stranger, or light up a room with her laughter. She was strong and direct and a force to be reckoned with, she was also beautiful and flirty and occasionally a little over the top! (Understatement of the year.) She was born in the south, and grew up in Detroit where she attended high school. She later earned her GED, and additional accreditation to become a realtor and broker for Century 21 Welty-Farrell Realty in Jackson, Michigan. She was a co-owner of a 7-11 on West Avenue in the 1970s, and later did some modeling.