Obituaries

Virginia "Kathy" Hart

Age 84, passed away Friday, March 21, 2025, at the Chelsea Retirement Community. She was born January 2, 1941, in Haleyville, Alabama, the daughter of James Arley and Geneva Paralee (Bailey) Stevens.

Our mom, Kathy, loved the Lord with all of her heart. She sang gospel music for many years and was active in her church. Giving back to her community was very important to her, from volunteering at soup kitchens to organizing charity galas and fundraisers. She was involved with CCRMC Auxiliary and the RTA Hospice Committee. She was also strong and brave, with a side of sassy. When she was 62 years old, she went back to college and became a certified CNA. She then worked in hospice with RTA and with Visiting Angels, which was perfect, since to us she was an angel on earth.

One of her most amazing qualities was that she never met a stranger. Whenever she met someone she left them better than she found them and with a smile on their face. She was truly the epitome of all that is good and kind in this world.

Mary Ann Daane

of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Birmingham and Ann Arbor, age 93, passed away on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Chelsea Retirement Community. She was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, the daughter of Thomas Marion and Alice (Werfel) Pryor.

Mary Ann graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master of Social Work degree. Following graduation, she worked in a private practice as a clinical social worker. In 1979, she was elected the first President of the University of Michigan School of Social Work Alumni Association and continued to serve on its board of governors for many years. She was a gourmet cook and consummate entertainer and an invitation to a dinner party at her dinner table was always a hot ticket. In part because of her cooking talents, she was selected as co-chair of the Bravo! Cookbook project, an ambitious undertaking which was a very successful fundraiser for the University’s Musical Society. When the weather warmed continuing through snowfall, she could be found in her beautiful perennial garden which was almost an acre and was featured on the Ann Arbor Garden Walk, a tradition in its now thirty-second year.

Donald Lee Erskine

of Manchester, Michigan, age 71, passed away Friday, March 21, 2025, at Ashley Court of Brighton. He was born February 13, 1954, in Chelsea, Michigan, the son of Clarence “Glenn” and Minnie Mae (Piatt) Erskine.

Don volunteered with Guitars For Vets. He was very proud that he had 2 children in the military.

Isabelle May Miller

91, of Jackson, formerly of Marshall, died Thursday January 2, 2025, at Jackson County Medical Care Facility.

Isabelle was born on December 15th, 1933, in Detroit, Michigan to Irene (Elliott) and Ralph McGhee. She was married to her beloved husband Gerry for over 70 years.

Isabelle was a mother of 8 children, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. Her life was devoted to raising her children and taking care of her husband. She was tough when she needed to be, very resilient, and she always had an abundance of love for everyone. The kindness she shared was beyond measure. In later years she enjoyed crocheting, taking care of their birds, going for walks, working out at the Life Improvement Center and visiting the clerks in the downtown Marshall stores. She truly loved spending time with Gerry especially when he was playing guitar at “The Respite” in downtown Douglas. She loved the music and their desserts. She was his greatest fan. She liked attending plays and musical performances at the local theatre in Marshall. She also enjoyed being at their property in Saugatuck, visiting with the neighbors and going for boat rides on Lake Michigan. For relaxation, she loved working word find puzzles, eating peppermints and watching Wheel of Fortune.