Merita Gail Lippert, Houghton Lake, died Jan. 15, 2003, at the age of 49. The Rev. Dr. James N. Kent will officiate a service Sunday, Jan. 19, at 2 p.m. at Markey Community Baptist Church. Christler Funeral Home-Houghton Lake Chapel provided arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to Markey Township Firefighters Association.
Mrs. Lippert was born Nov. 14, 1953, in West Branch to Clifton James and Irene (Whipple) Omans. She lived most of her life in the Houghton Lake area. She and Paul Oliver Lippert were united in marriage March 31, 1990, at Houghton Lake. Her husband preceded her in death that same year.
Mrs. Lippert worked as a waitress and bartender at the Long Branch Saloon and Shenanigans Pub. She was also a member of the Markey Township Fire Department.
Preceding her in death were her sister, Arthela; and brother, Wilfred. Surviving Mrs. Lippert are her daughter, Theresa and husband Tim Hunsberger of Waterford; son, James Jacobson of Houghton Lake; mother, Irene Omans of Houghton Lake; five sisters, Sandra Snyder of Houghton Lake, WIlma Haveman of Arizona, Wava Hart of Lake City, Wroena Bair of Houghton Lake and Sharon DeWitt of Missouri; brother, Arnold Snyder of Houghton Lake; and five grandchildren.
Services for Irene M. Omans, 90, Houghton Lake, are scheduled for 11 a.m. April 5 at the Christler Funeral Home-Houghton Lake Chapel. Burial in Stittsville Cemetery, Missaukee County, is to follow the funeral, to be conducted by the Rev. Edward Wilder. Visitation is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. April 3 abd 2 to 8 p.m. April 4, Mrs. Omans died April 1, 2003, at King Nursing Centre, Houghton Lake.
Born in Muskegon April 19, 1912, she was the daughter of Earl and Edna (Shackleton) Whipple. She moved to Houghton Lake from Lake City in 1953 and was a cook for many years at Stevens Restaurant, Houghton Lake. Mrs. Omans is survived by a son, Arnold and his wife Diane Snyder of Houghton Lake; five daughters, Sandra Snyder and Roena Bair, both of Houghton Lake, Wilma Haveman of Arizona, Wava Hart of Lake City and Sharon DeWitt of Missouri; a sister, Delma Gresley of Lake City; a stepson, Russell Williams of Mason; two stepdaughters, Ardella McTaggert and Phyllis Davis, both of White Cloud; 38 grandchildren; 69 great-grandchildren; severl great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, Wilfred, and two daughters, Arthel and Merita.
