Tribute page
Lest we forget those who have gone before us…
This page is dedicated to the fond memories of the members of Post 7979 that are no longer with us to share in the friendship and camaraderie. We honor their service to this Post as well as our Country.
In Flander's Field
by John McCrae
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead.
Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved and now we lie,
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw,
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us, who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields.
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier who salutes the flag, Serves under the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Eugene Rolland Staats
He was born June 26, 1926 in Evart to Ezra Staats and Lenna (Blodgett) Staats. He married Bessie Mae Shiel March 9, 1946 in Roscommon, Mich. She preceded him in death April 1, 1997.
Mr. Staats attended Evart Public Schools and was a lifelong Evart area resident. He was a truck driver his entire working life.
Mr. Staats was an U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a life member and post commander of VFW Post 7979, Evart. He enjoyed flying, fishing and woodworking.
Mr. Staats is survived by two daughters, Sheila (Walt) Smedley of Farwell and Sharon (Carl) Moore of Evart; one son, Terry (Wanda) Staats of Greenville, Mo.; special friend, Maryann Swiger of Evart; 12 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Staats was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Bessie Mae; and siblings, Minnie Belle Servoss, Violet Staats, William Staats, Vernon Staats, Fay Staats and James Staats.
Services are 1 p.m. Monday, June 25 at Corey Funeral Home, Evart, with Rev. Edward Slate, pastor of Evart United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery.
Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 24 at the funeral home.
Oscar M. Griesa
Wayne Stevens Sr.
He was born on Sept. 4, 1926 in Osceola Township to Clyde E. and Ida Mae (Taylor) Becker. He married Marie Shadley on Dec. 14, 1946 in Evart.
Mr. Becker was a lifelong Evart area resident. He managed Smith Lumber Company for more than 20 years. He was a master carpenter.
Mr. Becker was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army in Manila, Philippines. He was a life member of VFW Post 7979 in Evart and enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Marie; daughter, Georjean (Steven) Knapp of Lansing; son, Calvin (Cheryl) Becker of Traverse City; grandchildren, Linda (Andy) Waisanen, David (Stephanie) Becker, Karen (Matt) Rich and Christine (Jon Andersen) Knapp; six great-grandchildren; brother, George A. (Virginia) Becker of Evart; and sister, Ann Becker Reynolds of Evart.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Services will be private. Burial is in Forest Hill Cemetery in Evart.
Fred Bilkey
Samuel P. Bartoletta (Sam the Barber) of Sears died Saturday, June 9, 2001 at Mid-Michigan Memorial Medical Center in Clare. He was 83. Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Evart, Father Joe Fix officiating. Visitati...
Military burial rites will be held for Calvin Talhelm at 1 p.m. Saturday at Forest Hill Cemetery in Evart. Mr. Talhelm died Dec. 23, 2000. Arrangements by Corey Funeral Home, Evart."...
Raymond E. Daniels of Evart died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2001 at Spectrum Health-Reed City Campus. He was 75. Services are 1 p.m. Friday at the Corey Funeral Home in Evart, Father Joe Fix officiating. Burial will be in Sylvan Township Cemetery
Orris W. Corey of Evart died Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002 at Mecosta County General Hospital. He was 82. Mr. Corey was born June 15, 1920 in Evart to George W. and Lydia Kitty (Lauman) Corey. He married Phyllis Ann Frey on July 2, 1951 in Angola, In...
