This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Mead, Stratton, Crocker, Cooper, Ethridge, Berner, Mittol, Ryerson Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/QFB.2ACE/860 Message Board Post: Mrs. Crystal Cooper Mead - 10000 Cressey Rd., Delton, passed away Monday (Nov 29, 1976) morning in Comstock Twp., after a lingering illness. Mrs. Mead was born Nov. 4, 1906, in Oshtemo, the daughter of Edith and Lewis Stratton, who are deceased. She was then adopted by her maternal grandparents, Hugh and Ethel Crocker, who are also deceased. She was the first lady realtor in Three Rivers and St. Joseph county, holds a brokers license and was a licensed saleslady with the Don MacLeods Agency, Plainwell. She was a member of St. Joseph County Farm Bureau, Marguerite Rebekkah Lodge No. 363 of Prairieville and had held most all offices. Received a Declaration of Chivalry and was a Lady Canton of Auxiliary Association No. 12 of Kalamazoo. Member of the Pine Lake Association and served as a director, secretary and Past President, Pine Lake Unit of the Pipp Community Hospital Guild and the Three Rivers Hospital Guild, Past President of the Pine Lake Helping Hand Club and Past ! President of the District No. 26 Deputy Study Club, Mrs. Mead had donated her eyes to the Michigan Eye Collection Center. She was married to David Cooper in 1932, and they owned and operated the Cooper Farm & Dairy Bar in Plainwell. Mr. Cooper passed away in 1965. She was married to George Mead Dec. 10, 1971, who survives. Also surviving are 3 sons, David Cooper of Grand Ledge, Russell Cooper of Kalamazoo and Clifford Mead of Grand Rapids; one daughter, Mrs. Virginia Ethridge of Kalamazoo; 2 sisters, Mrs. Donna Berner of Kalamazoo and Mrs. Dorothy Mittol of Rochester, Mich.; 5 brothers, Chester Stratton, Donald Stratton and Kenneth Stratton, all of Kalamazoo, Richard Ryerson of Portland, Mich. and Raymond Ryerson of Wisconsin; 14 grandchildren; one great-grandson; several nephews and nieces. By Mrs. Mead's request, cremation services have taken place. Private graveside services will be held for the family at a later date. Arthur Freet, pastor of the Plainwell Presbyte! rian Church, will be officiating. Those who desire, may make contributions to the charity of their choice. Arrangements by the Marshall-Gren Chapel, Plainwell. source: Kalamazoo Gazette Tues 30 Nov 1976 (submitted by a volunteer, no family connection)