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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.

Colleen Theresa Houle

Colleen Theresa Houle, of Alma, Michigan, formerly of Chelsea, age 90, died Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at Masonic Pathways in Alma, Michigan. She was born April 22, 1929, in Gladstone, MI, the daughter of Andrew & Prudence (Taylor) Rappette.

Colleen graduated from Escanaba High School Class of 1947.  She was the Delta County Potato Queen, then the UP Potato Queen in 1946, and finally was chosen to be the first UP State Fair Queen in 1946.  It was at the Fair Queen ceremony that she met her future husband, Robert Houle.  She worked at Chelsea State Bank for 27 years, where she was the executive assistant to Mr. Mann and Mr. Schaible.  Colleen was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and worked in the office for years. She was also a member of the Franciscan Third Order for several years.  She and Robert toured the Midwest with the Shroud of Turin.

Bette Joyce Margeson

Bette Joyce (Lindemann) Margeson, daughter of the late Ernest A. Lindemann and Lydia (Treder) Lindemann, was born on June 29, 1927 in Benton Harbor MI. She passed December 9, 2019 at Towsley Memory Village, Chelsea.  She graduated from Benton Harbor High School and then attended the University of Michigan where she received a BA in Music.  She was an accomplished pianist and singer. She sang with the choir at the Congregational Church in Benton Harbor and the U of M Choral Union.

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. 

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.