Month: July 2020

July 29: Twelfth Covid-19 death reported in Lenawee County

With no explanation, Lenawee County’s Health Department posted its 12th death from the Novel coronavirus on its website Wednesday, July 29.

There were also five new cases confirmed bringing the case total in Lenawee to 336, comprised of 162 males and 174 females, three of whom are hospitalized. There are 125 recuperating at home and the number who have emerged from isolation has risen to 196 from 187 the day prior. However, those five cases were added to prior days, according to the state’s michigan.gov test reporting site. It showed no new cases in Lenawee today, one Tuesday, three Monday, one Sunday and zero last Saturday.

In addition, there are 42 probable cases (32 females, 10 males) and all have discontinued isolation except two who are monitoring their symptoms at home.

The Michigan Covid-19 case count rose to 80,177 with a total of 6172 deaths. There were two deaths added statewide, one of which was the Lenawee County fatality. There were 996 new cases reported by the state, with an asterisk stating that 300 of those were old cases found through file reviews.

Monroe County has had 720 cases with 20 deaths; Hillsdale saw a five-case increase to 221 with 25 deaths; Jackson County rose in 24 hours from 613 to 631 with 32 deaths; and Wastenaw County added 32 cases to 2035 with 110 deaths.

Ohio’s case count rose today to 87,893 with 3422 deaths. The Buckeye State has had 10,553 hospitalizations. Lenawee County’s case load rose to 4407 overall with 313 deaths. Fulton County and Williams County did not report any new cases or deaths today, standing at 127 cases and no deaths in Fulton and 110 cases and three deaths in Williams.

Ann M. Slusher

PALMYRA – Ann M. Slusher, age 91 of Palmyra, passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2020, at ProMedica Toledo Hospital, Toledo, Ohio.    

She was born in South Lyon, on August 11, 1928, to Sidney J. and Corina L. (Bachand) Radeke. Ann graduated from Pioneer High School in 1946. On June 16, 1947, she married J. LeRoy Putney and he preceded her in death in 1968. On September 19, 1970, she married Robert “Bob” Slusher and he preceded her in death on June 26, 2015.

Ann was a very active member of the community until this summer. She loved to travel and saw 49 of the 50 states with Bob. She looked at life as an adventure! She helped Bob sell produce at a roadside stand for many years.  She enjoyed attending plays at the Croswell Theater. She loved bowling and loved to go dancing. She loved her flower garden, jigsaw puzzles, reading, and baking loaf cakes to give away. Ann had a generous heart and was loved by many.

Surviving Ann are her children, Carol Putney of Ann Arbor, MI Janet Putney of Taylor, Martin Putney of Ypsilanti, John Putney of Santé Fe, NM, and step-son, Robert (Sandra) Slusher of Fla.; a sister, Corrinne Rogers of Ellsworth, and four grandchildren, including Joelle Adams and Beth Putney, both of Ypsilanti. She is preceded in death by her parents, husbands’ LeRoy and Bob and a sister, Nancy Oberg.

,Visitation for Ann will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2020, from 4-6 p.m. at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and social restrictions that are currently in place, there will be limitations on how many individuals will be allowed in the facility at one time, and the wearing of masks is required. A public graveside service for Ann will be held on Friday, July 31, 2020, at 2 p.m. at Palmyra Cemetery.

Online condolences may be given to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made the charity of the donor’s choice. Envelopes are available at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home.

Rebecca Buyaki Ingram

SYLVANIA, Ohio – Rebecca Anne Buyaki Ingram, 73, of Sylvania, Ohio, passed away Monday, July 20, 2020, at Toledo Hospital due to complications from an emergency heart surgery. She was born on July 20, 1947, to Emery and Annie (Marsh) Buyaki in Toledo, Ohio. She graduated from Whiteford High School and then attended Michigan State University.
Becky had the dream job of every woman, being a secret shopper for JC Penney, traveling to every state including Alaska and Hawaii. She met her husband, Benjamin Ingram, while working in New Orleans and they lived there before she moved back to Sylvania. She also worked several years for The Catholic Diocese of Toledo and many years at Elder-Beerman as a sales associate. Becky loved to travel, returning to New Orleans often and especially enjoyed her trip to Ireland with her sister and cousins to meet the Irish cousins and also visiting her daughter in London, England.
Becky is survived by her daughter, Rachel (James) Troupe; sister, Brenda Buyaki Delgado; brothers, Emery (Jean) Buyaki, George (Michele) Buyaki, Andrew Buyaki and Brian (Stephanie) Buyaki; many wonderful cousins; eight exceptional nieces and nephews and so many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
Visitation will be Friday, July 31, 2020, at Berkey Christian Church from 11 a.m. until the funeral service at noon. Online condolences may be left at www.reebfuneralhome. Tributes can be made in Becky’s name to the donor’s choice.

Marlene Skeels-Wolfe

Marlene Nancy Skeels-Wolfe, age 85, of Blissfield, passed away on July 25, 2020, at Hospice of Lenawee.

She was born on December 6, 1934, in Adrian to Elwyn and Minnie (Hamann) Merillat. Marlene married Robert Wolfe on October 15, 2015, in Palmyra and he survives. Marlene was a member of the Adrian Church of Christ. She enjoyed quilting, sewing, knitting, and reading. She volunteered in the sewing group at Bixby Hospital.

In addition to her husband, Robert, Marlene is survived by her three children, Steve Skeels of Lapeer, Jere (Amelia) Skeels of Adrian, and Deborah (Robert) Kreighbaum of Jasper; two stepsons, Gary (Amy) Wolfe and Darin (April) Wolfe all of Blissfield; two half-brothers, Raymond (Debra) Merillat of Britton and Brian Merillat of Adrian; a half-sister, Rosanna Merillat of Adrian; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and two step-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and one daughter, Janella Fern Skeels.

Memorial services for Marlene will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2020, at 2 p.m. with visitation beginning at noon until the time of the service at Adrian Church of Christ, 719 W. Maumee St., Adrian with Pastor Bruce Blanton officiating.

You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lenawee. Envelopes are available at Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.

July 28, 2020: Lenawee County’s coronavirus case count at 331

The Lenawee County Health Department reported a three-case addition since Monday, July 27, to its overall caseload for a total of 331 people who have tested positive for Covid-19 since its first case in March.

Of these, there are 170 females and 161 males. Three are hospitalized, which is a drop of one since Monday, however, 130 people are still monitoring cases at home and 187 people have discontinued isolation. In addition, there are 41 probable cases with 31 females and 10 males, none of whom as hospitaled and only four of whom are still at home monitoring symptoms.

In Michigan today, there were 79,176 total cases with 6,170 deaths since the coronavirus was identified in the state. There were 669 new cases today and 16 deaths, but 11 of those were found through review of records so actually five were recorded today – and one of those was in Jackson County.

In the surround counties, Jackson now reports 613 cases with 32 deaths; Hillsdale has 216 cases and 25 deaths; Monroe has 706 cases and 20 deaths; and Washtenaw, the most populous of Lenawee’s neighboring counties, has 2003 cases and 110 deaths.

In the Lenawee County long-term care facilities, Lenawee County Medical Care Facility has had 10 resident cases and two resident deaths as well as seven staff cases; Lynwood Manor has one patient case, no deaths; Provincial House of Adrian has had three staff cases; and The Oasis at Adrian Rehabilitation facility has had one patient case and one death.

Meanwhile, the summer has not been kind to Ohio. Once reporting a fraction of the cases Michigan has, Ohio reported 86,497 cases Tuesday, surpassing the Michigan case count by 7321 cases. However, its death toll of 3382 is far beyond the Michigan death toll of 6170 – the majority of which were in the metropolitan Detroit area.

Lucas County (Toledo area), Ohio, has had 4305 cases, 723 hospitalizations and 212 deaths just to the southeast of Lenawee County. Directly south, Fulton County, Ohio, has had 127 cases and no deaths; and to the southwest, Williams County, Ohio, has 110 cases and three deaths.

Updated 7-29-2020, 3:25 p.m.

Dorothy Lou ‘Dottie’ Mitchell-Brown



Dorothy Lou (“Dottie”) Mitchell-Brown, 85, of Blissfield was called to our Father’s celestial home early Friday morning, June 12, 2020, to nurture, sow, and lovingly tend to The Master’s Garden.
Born February 17, 1935, in Blissfield, she was the daughter of Millard and May Jewel (Falk) Saxton.
Dottie was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She was a graduate of Blissfield High School.
Dottie was proudly employed at the GM plant in Adrian.
Dottie was an active member of the Wellsville Methodist Church. She was also a former member of the Blissfield Presbyterian Church.
On January 16, 1954, Dottie married Charles Mitchell. They shared over 34 years together, until he preceded her in death in 1988.
She later married William Brown on August 7, 1993. He preceded her in death in February 2007.
Dottie was kind and nurturing and left a lasting impression on every life that she touched. She was a former 4-H leader for many years, a member of Civitan, and a Campfire Leader. Dottie was known for her artistic ability. In her spare time, she loved gardening, tending to both flowers and vegetables.
Dottie is survived by her five children, Dawn (Robb) Harmon of Sarasota, Fla., Robert O. Mitchell, II of Hillsdale, Dennis D. (Barbara) Mitchell of Blissfield, Joy (Rodney) Wonderly, Blissfield, and Penny Mitchell of Sarasota, Fla.; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; sister, Andrea (Roger) Sunday; four step-daughters, Debbie (Jim) Babiaz, Linda Bailey, Cindy (Gary) Dempsey, and Dianna Brown; eight step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Charles; her second husband, William; and her sister, Virginia Jean Bachus.
Per Dottie’s request, cremation will take place. A memorial service will be held for Dottie at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12, 2020, at the Wellsville United Methodist Church with a celebration of life following in her garden at the family home. The family suggests contributions to honor Dottie be made to Lenawee Therapeutic Riding and Civitan of Lenawee. Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel, Blissfield, where online memories and condolences may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com.