Obituaries

Barbara Ann Leach

   Age 84, died Sunday, December 8, 2019 at Henry Ford Allegiance Hospice Home. She was born September 21, 1935 in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of John H. & Sybil F. (Bird) Wilson. Mrs. Leach had worked for the Chelsea Public Schools for 10 years, and the Chelsea Community Hospital for 20 years.   She was a member of the Chelsea Suburbanettes.

Colleen Decker Weddon

of Chelsea, age 61, met the Lord peacefully in her sleep Monday, December 2, 2019, at Linden Square Assisted Living in Saline. She was born August 8, 1958, in Lansing, Michigan, the daughter of Thomas Raymond & Joyce Elaine (Dymond) Decker.

Colleen graduated from Lansing Everett High School in 1976, and attended Lansing Community College. She worked as a receptionist/bookkeeper for Farhat Law Firm in Lansing, MI. After moving to Chelsea in 1983, she worked for Dayspring Gifts, IHA for Chelsea Pediatrics, as a volunteer lunch mom at North Lake Elementary and as a teller for Chelsea State Bank. Colleen was a member of Grass Lake Assembly of God for 35 years. She loved hanging out with friends and family, shopping for presents online, a good movie, chardonnay with munchies and winning arguments. She was always willing to share her positive outlook with others, especially those with health challenges. As a younger resident at Linden Square Assisted Living facility in Saline, she spent much of her time encouraging and advocating for others and was loved by the staff, administration and fellow residents.  Colleen was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Despite a myriad of health problems and six brain surgeries over 24 years, rarely complained about her afflictions and complications.

Eric William Parker

Age 40, died on December 2, 2019 at the Jackson County Medical Care Facility, where he had resided for the past few months. Eric was born on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1979 in Albion, Michigan to Kathryn Tetzloff Parker of Marshall, MI and the late Christopher John Parker. Eric is survived by his mother, twin sisters Amy Parker Smyth of Albion and Cara Parker of Belleville, his grandmother Lura Parker, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. He had resided until recently with his aunt and uncle, Bill and Marsi Parker Darwin of Chelsea, who wish to thank Arbor Hospice, especially Sondra. Eric was predeceased by his father, twin brother Aaron, maternal grandparents and fraternal grandfather. 

Joyce (Foster) Gardner

Joyce died Monday, Nov. 11, 2019 in Florida.  She was born Nov. 30, 1926 in Chelsea to Harry & Mable (Rowe) Foster. Joyce was a member of The Chelsea United Methodist Church where she & Russell Gardner married in 1946.  Russ preceded her in death Feb 8, 2011.  They were married for 64 years.

Joyce attended Chelsea schools, graduating in 1944.  She worked at The Chelsea Bank, babysat for several preschoolers, taught Sunday school, & was a Cub Scout den leader.  She worked in a real-estate office in Big Rapids & continued as an unofficial realtor in Lake Bonnet Village, Avon Park, Fl.  Her passion in later years was caring for neighbors’ dogs, after her own Samoyed, Bo died.  Her only fee was a “thank you” & a friendly tail-wag.  She was the richest person we knew, because of all her friends, both two & four legged!  Her corner of the park was the “Feeding Station” for a sundry of birds, squirrels, & bunnies; her coffee pot was always on; & puppy biscuits were in plentiful supply!