John Edward Elias, 77, of Route 1, Weidman, died Saturday night in Mt. Pleasant Community Hospital. Mr. Elias was a resident of Ottawa township for 48 years.

Surviving are his wife Lavina, two daughters, Mrs. Wendal Simmer of Weidman and Mrs. Eugene Tillmann of Mt. Pleasant; two sisters, Mrs. Frank Shirtleff of Weidman and Mrs. Anthony Burman of Weidman; three brothers, Edward, of Wyandotte, Peter of Rosebush and Oscar of Florida; and thirteen granchildren.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. in St. Philomena's Catholic Church in Beal City. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call at the family residence. Rosary will be said tonight and tomorrow night.

The Crittenden Funeral Home in Remus is in charge of arrangements.

(Published in Daily Times News December 28, 1959)

Lavina K. Ellis, 91, 3120 W. Beal City Rd., Weidman, died Dec. 7 at Central Michigan Community Hospital.

She was born Feb. 8, 1885, in Fowler, and was a member of the Altar Sodality of St. Joseph the Worker Church, Beal City.

She is survived by her sons, Walter J., Beal City, and Gilbert J., Okemos; daughters, Mrs. Wendel (Thelma) Simmer, Weidman, and Mrs. Eugene (Elizabeth Jean) Tillman, Mount Pleasant; 16 grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and a sister, Josephine Bengal, Mount Pleasant. Her husband, John, three brothers and two sisters preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, at Sacred Heart Church. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, Beal City.

There will be a scripture service at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8, at the Lux-Rush Funeral Home.

Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Church in Beal City. Burial will be at St. Joseph's cemetery in Beal City. Friends may call at the Lux-Rush Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant from 7 to 9 p.m. today, from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday. A prayer service is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Fund or Hospice of Central Michigan.

Mr. Elias was born Dec. 7, 1920, in Nottawa Township to John and Lavine (Bengal) Elias. He married Muriel Elias on Oct. 29, 1966, in Farwell. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the European Theatre, a life member of the Beal City Knights of Columbus, a member of the VFW Borley-Hanel Post 3033, and a member of Pipefitters Local of Saginaw.

Mr. Elias is survived by his wife, Murial; three daughters, Jane Carey of Dexter, Virginia Mateman of Farwell, and Jean Rossiter of Texas; three sons, Doug of Weidman, Mark of Texas and Jim Carey of Dexter; a brother Gilbert of Okemos; two sisters, Thelma Simmer of Mt. Pleasant and Betty Tilmann of Weidman; four stepsisters and six stepbrothers; his in-laws, Pearl and Gabe Kitzmiller of W. Va.; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.