Milford (Mel) Lawerence Traves

Milford (Mel) Lawerence Traves, age 74, of Clinton, passed unexpectedly, peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, December 28, 2013, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor.Mel was born in Norvell Township, Jackson, Mich., on April 18, 1939, to George and Marian (Bronson) Traves. A lifelong resident of the rural Clinton area, he was a member of the Clinton High School Class of 1957. Mel married his high school sweetheart Caroline (Groeb) Traves.He worked as a Tool & Die Maker at Ford Motor Company, Rawsonville for 37 yrs., retiring in ‘97. His priorities were spending time with family, “drowning a worm” and continuing his love of farming and raising Black Angus. Mel and Carol enjoyed RVing, spending time with good friends, and traveling the world. His enjoyment of Rodeo led them to their second home in Las Vegas where they spent their winters for the past 15 years. He enjoyed farming, traveling, fishing, playing cards, and various collectables. Mel was a member of the Wolverine Knife Collectors Association, National Angus Association, and UAW Retirees- Rawsonville.Mel is survived by his wife Carol; daughters, Dawn (Mark) Miller of Clinton, Amber (Randy) Sterkenburg of Caledonia, Mich., Shannon Traves of Clinton; and son, Lance (Leslie) Traves of Medina, Ohio; six grandchildren, Nicole (Chad) Ward, Chelsea Miller, Austin Miller, Samantha Traves, Natalie Traves, and Clinton Sterkenburg; and his four “munchkins” (great grandchildren) Brianna, Haylee, Caleb, and Peyton. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother in-laws Philip and Ernest Groeb.Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, at J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, 210 W. Pottawatamie Street, Tecumseh, Mich.An additional visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 3, 2014 from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. when a Celebration of Life service will begin.Memorial donations: In place of flowers donations can be made to: St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis TN 38101-9929.Condolences to the family may be made online at: www.pursefuneralhome.com.