Obituaries

Betty Jane Durkee, age 82 of Tecumseh, passed away Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at Heartland Health Care Center in Ann Arbor with her family by her side.  She was born on June 16, 1927 in Vicksburg, MI, the daughter of Wayne and Pauline (Huff) Wescott.  She married Royce Durkee sixty-four years ago on October 17, 1945.

Betty was a waitress at the Tecumseh Country Club for about six years and then at the Harvey House Hotel.  She was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and the Low Vision Group.  She enjoyed bowling, knitting, cooking and spending time in her kitchen.  Her greatest joy was her time spent  with her family and many friends.  She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

In addition to her husband Royce, Betty is survived by her two sons; Richard and his wife Sue and Scott and his wife Lora, all of Tecumseh, her daughter Cynthia Durkee , of Tecumseh, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by one brother and one sister.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 12 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Tecumseh Chapel of Handler Funeral Homes.  Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 13 at 11:00 a.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church with Pastor Richard Webb officiating.  Cremation will follow services and burial of the cremated remains will be in Brookside Cemetery at a later date.  Visitation will also be held at the church on Saturday from 10:00 until the time of services.  Memorial contributions may be made to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.  Condolences may be offered to the family at www.handlerfuneralhomes.com.

Norma Greenfield Holdridge of Tecumseh, passed away on Monday, March 8, 2010. Norma was born in Tecumseh on Aug. 11, 1918. She was a graduate of Tecumseh High School Class of 1937. She married Lawrence Holdridge on Oct. 22, 1938.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her mother, Marietta Greenfield; and her sister, Laurel Kempf.

She retired from the high school cafeteria after 25 years of service.

She is survived by three sons, Terry and Cindy of Meshoppen, Pa.; Richard and Betty of Tecumseh; and Patrick and Karen of Tecumseh; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

She loved RV camping, winters in Florida, reading, and visits from friends. She was an excellent cook.

Visitation will be Saturday, March 13, 2010, at J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home in Tecumseh from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by the funeral service with Pastor Clayton Carn officiating. Interment will follow at Raisin Presbyterian Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lenawee County.

Condolences may be offered at: www.pursefuneralhome.com.

Madalyn E. Irwin, 78, of Britton, passed away March 5, 2010.  Madalyn was born Nov. 14, 1931, in Ann Arbor, Mich., the daughter of Leland and Fannie (Wadsworth) Downing.  On Aug. 30, 1950, she married Robert Irwin in Britton.  He preceded her in death  Sept. 14, 1993.  

She was a 1950 graduate of Britton High School. Madalyn was employed at Herrick Hospital, Britton Restaurant, as a bus driver for the Britton Schools as well as working along side her husband on the family farm.  She has resided at the Tecumseh Place II for the past three years.

She was a past member of the Tecumseh Rebekah's #338, Tecumseh Grange #66 and the State and National Grange.    She was a member of the Bowling Association, bowling at Airport and Ten Pin Lanes.

She was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church and sang in their church choir.

Madalyn is survived by two sons, Charles (Debbra) Irwin of Britton and Calvin (Therese) Irwin of Britton; three daughters, Connie (Michael) Raymond of Clayton, Carol Withrow of Tecumseh and Cheryl (Norm) Seegert of Petersburg; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; one brother Merlin (Myrna) Downing; and several nieces and nephews.

Besides her husband, Robert, she was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Catherine Louise; a grandson, William Lee Raymond; and a granddaughter, Jennifer Marie Irwin.

Funeral services were held Monday, March 8, 2010, at the Grace United Methodist Church, Britton, with Pastor Amy Mayo-Moyle officiating.  Burial followed in Ridgeway Cemetery.  Visitation was held at the J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh.

Donations in Madalyn's name may be made to the Tecumseh Place Memorial Fund or Hospice of Lenawee.

Condolences to the family may be made online at www.pursefuneralhome.com.

Robert M. Williamson, 84, of Tecumseh, passed away March 7, 2010.  Robert was born April 21, 1925, in Adrian, Mich., the son of Leon  P. and Lena (Foster) Williamson.  In 1946, he married Bette Purkey in Tecumseh.  She preceded him in death in February of 2009.  Bob proudly served his country in the U. S. Navy during World War II.

Bob is survived by his sons, Robert M. (Deb) Williamson of Columbus, N.C. and Barry (Trish) Williamson of Tecumseh; granddaughters, Sharon and Elizabeth; grandsons, Matt and Joe; and great-grandchildren, Savannah, Jessica and Keely.

Besides his wife, Bette, Bob was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Barbara Woodbury, Richard Williamson, Leon Williamson and Bettie Dawson.

The Williamsons will have a private memorial service.  They wish to acknowledge the excellent care Bob received at Tendercare of Adrian and ask that donations be made to Tendercare of Adrian, 130 Sand Creek Hwy.  Adrian, MI 49221,  C/O Tender Hearts in Bob's name.    

Arrangements were by J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh.  Condolences to the family may be made at www.pursefuneralhome.com.

Milford "Bud" Furgason,  81, of  Britton,  passed away March 6, 2010.

At his request, cremation has taken place.   Memorial services will be held at noon Friday, March 12, 2010,  at the J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh, with Pastor Bruce Davenport officiating.    A private burial will take place  at Norvell Cemetery, Norvell, Mich.    Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Friday, one hour  prior to the service at noon.    

Condolences to the family may be made online at www.pursefuneralhome.com.

Doris “Jean” Hammel, 82, of Rockford, Ill., died at 10:59  p.m. Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Rockford Memorial Hospital. Born Dec. 23, 1927, in Posey County, Ind., to Levi and Mildred (Carter) Wilkinson.  

She graduated from Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Evansville, Ind.  She was employed at Rockford Memorial Hospital from 1980 to 1993 and at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center from 1993 to 2000.  She was a former member of the Sandy Hollow Tuesday Niners Golf Group and the Oakvale Garden Club and Needlework Guild.  She enjoyed collecting angels, playing bridge, and doing needlework.

She is survived by a daughter, Barbara (Dan) Larson of Rockford; sons, Jack (Diane) Hammel of Naperville and Steve (Victoria) Hammel of River Ridge, La.; granddaughters, Kate and Beth Larson; grandsons, Keenan, Logan and Harrison Hammel; one sister; and three brothers.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 11, 2010, in Spring Creek United Church of Christ, 4500 Spring Creek Rd, with Pastor Michael O. Simmons officiating.  Burial will be in Scandinavian Cemetery. Visitation is from noon to 12:45 p.m. prior to the service in church.  

Family prefers memorials to Spring Creek United Church of Christ. Arrangements by Olson Funeral & Cremation Services, Ltd., Fred C. Olson Chapel, 1001 Second Ave.  To share a memory or condolence, visit olsonfh.com.