JANICE JO SCRUGGS
Saline
Janice Jo Scruggs of Saline died April 27, 2008. She was received by her heavenly father and was reunited with her husband, Tom, who went to prepare their home June 18, 2007.
Mrs. Scruggs was a native of Saline, where she was active with her high school class reunions and in her hometown church Fellowship Baptist, but she probably will be best remembered for having a hot cup of coffee and conversation for whomever stopped by.
Mrs. Scruggs was preceded in death by her parents, Leslie and Margaret Jordan, and her sisters, Judy Braun and Jane Raus.
She was survived by her sisters, Jean Scruggs and Jerry (Ron) Taylor, and a brother, Jim (Jeanette) Jordan.
Also surviving are her daughters, Lisa (Rob) Kaly, Kelly (Marc) Stratos-Duchene and Erin (Ken) Percy, as well as her stepsons, Al (Judy) Scruggs, Frank Scruggs, Jack (Connie) Scruggs, and a step-daughter, Denise (Carl) Wintheiser.
She was blessed with nine grandchildren, Valerie, Melanie, Caleb, Travis, Dillon, Genevieve, Remington, Kenneth and Collin, and nine step-grandchildren, Jennifer, Elaina, Tommy, Becky, Mathew, Kristen, Sara, Christopher and Alicia.
There are several nieces, nephews, cousins and great-step-grandchildren who survive, as well.
A funeral will be held 2 p.m. Friday at the Fellowship Baptist Church, 1045 W. Bemis Road, in Saline. Pastor Bert Spann will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Saline.
Friends may begin calling at the Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home in Saline from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fellowship Baptist Church Hope Mission Fund. A memorial dinner of her life on Earth and a celebration of her new life in heaven will take place 6 p.m. Friday at the church.
PEARL WARD JOHNSON
Humble, Texas
Pearl Robbins Ward Johnson, 83, of Humble, Texas, died April 24, 2008, at Northeast Medical Center in Houston, Texas, and is now home with the Lord. She was born Jan. 16, 1925, in La Follette, Tenn.
Mrs. Johnson enjoyed her extended family, traveling, crossword puzzles and country music.
She married Oscar Ward Sept. 12, 1939, and he preceded her in death May 19, 2000. Her second husband, Herman Ray Johnson, preceded her in death Feb. 25, 1989.
Mrs. Johnson was the mother of 10 surviving children, Charles (Wilma) Ward, Marvin (Jackie) Ward, Bessie (Larry) Tuschi, Patsy (Dewayne) Carter, Linda (John) Pyzik, Barbara Robbins, George (Janet) Ward, Michael (Jackie) Ward, Serena (Charlie) McGill and Brian (Shawna) Johnson, and step-child, Jean Hester.
She is survived by her brothers, Eyvind (Sharon) Claxton, George (Lola) Claxton, Alvin (Jan) Claxton and Leon (Sandy) Claxton; 38 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents, Della and Everett Claxton, and Pete Robbins; siblings, Anna Mae (Boots) Nolan, Pete Robbins Jr., Jimmy Robbins, Ervin Claxton and June Shemansky; two children, Melvin Ward and Carolyn Sue Ward; and great-granddaughter, Brittany Nicole Lamey.
A funeral was held Wednesday at Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home in Saline. Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Michigan Breast Cancer Research Program. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
DENNIS RALPH HEAD
Oxford, Wis.
Dennis Ralph Head, 62, of Oxford, Wis., a very good man with a great heart, died peacefully at home April 24, 2008, due to complications of cancer, with his wife, Zona, and daughter, Leanne, at his side.
Mr. Head was born Sept. 18, 1945, to Clark and Elizabeth "Betty" (Taylor) Head in Saline. He served his country in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967, and began his career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1948, working in Milan; Oxford, Wis., Lompoc, Calif.; and Oxford again before retiring after 29 years.
Four months later, he resumed working at the prison as a janitorial services instructor for another eight years. When he was diagnosed with cancer in August 2005, he had to leave the position.
It was during his first tour at the Oxford prison that he met his wife, Zona. They married in 1975 and celebrated their 33rd anniversary on March 22. For the past 11 years, he was the president of the village of Oxford and had served as trustee for four years prior.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford and was ordained as an elder on the Session. As a 29-year active member of the Oxford Lions Club, he filled many officer positions.
This is a brief capsule of his life, but it does not begin to describe the man he was. He was loving, honest and compassionate, with a great sense of integrity. Mr. Head was intelligent with a quick wit. His passions were sports, particularly baseball, socializing, gardening, reading, movies, watching television and trivia.
He endured years of treatment, side effects and pain without a complaint, to the very end. Mr. Head was a man who could never say "no" to his loved ones. This was such an easy man to live with and love.
Mr. Head is survived by his wife, Zona; his children, Leanne (Russell) McGuire of Oxford, Kirk (Joanne) of Portage and Marci (Steven) Mullens of Oxford; grandchildren, Danelle, Brittany, Jacey, Jacob, Joshua and Marlee; and great-grandchildren, Landon and Tierney.
Also surviving him are his brothers and sisters, Larry (Joyce) of Clinton, Jean Scheidle of Tarrytown, N.Y., Lonny (Mila) of Cedarburg, Wis., Kenneth (Terrezinha) of Ann Arbor, Diana (Joe) Pius of Grosse Pointe Woods and Leanne Perry of Huntsville, Ala., along with many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-laws, Albert and Bernice Ripley; a friend and brother-in-law, David Ripley in 2003; a son, Kent, in 2004; and innumerable relatives and friends.
"Dennis would not like to have us cry as we lay his weary body to rest, for it was only a small piece of who he was," his family said. "The most important parts of Dennis will live on forever in the lives and hearts he touched as he made his way through his life. Please remember him with love and happiness for nothing loved is ever lost and he was loved so much."
A private family burial was held Monday. Services will be held noon Saturday at the Oxford Funeral Home in Oxford, Wis., with the Rev. Carol Hermann officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Mr. Head's family would like to send a thank you to Dr. Michael Frontiera and the staff of nurses at the Dean Oncology Clinic for the special care they gave Mr. Head for nearly three years.