Person Page 2,899

Merle Mae Potter was born on 8 September 1905 in Vevay, Ingham, Michigan.^1,2 She and Albert Fred Howery were married on 4 December 1921.³ She and Emerson (Curley) Henry Bryde were married on 22 January 1972.³ She died on 5 December 2007, at age 102, in Weimar, Placer, California.^1,2 She was buried in Felt Plains Cemetery, Leslie, Ingham, Michigan.¹

Merle Mae Potter Howery Bryde, born to Henry Potter and Winnie Barker. She also had one sister, Irene Potter Asletine, deceased. Their mother died when both girls were young, and they were raised by their maternal grandparents, William & Ida Barker.

On Dec. 4, 1921 she married Albert Fred Howery, he died on May 29, 1970.

They had 2 children, Albert Lester and Beverly. Lester died on June 17, 1981. Beverly resided in California, and took loving care of her mom for several years.

So Merle is survived by daughter Beverly 2 daughters-in-law: Elaine Howery and Janet Howery 4 grandsons, Kim, Kris, Jeff & Rob and their spouses and their children 3 nieces Marie, Laurine, Helen (one niece, (Verlee), is deceased) 1 nephew Roger.

In Jan. 22, 1972 Merle married Emerson (Curly) Bryde now deceased, and she is survived by his children: Gerry & Stanley, and their children and grandchildren.

Irene Annette Potter was born on 5 March 1907 in Holt, Ingham, Michigan.^3,2 She and William Walter Aseltine were married on 10 April 1928 in Mason, Ingham, Michigan.^2,4 She died on 8 April 1941, at age 34, in Ingham County, Michigan.³ She was buried on 11 April 1941 in Hawley Cemetery, Mason, Ingham, Michigan.³

Irene Annette Potter was a Shot by Husband.³ Irene Potter was the daughter of Henry Potter and Winnie Barker. Her mother died when she was about 3.

She had a older sister, Merle. The 2 girls stayed with their grandma Barker and saw their father on weekends when he came from work in Lansing.

Irene married William Azeltine and they had 3 daughters, Verlee, Marie, and Laurine.

One morning, just after the girls left for school, William shot Irene and then himself. The 3 girls were raised by relatives, Mildred and Laurence Osterlee, who taught them the Christian way of Life.

Irene is buried in the Hawley Cemetery.

Albert Fred Howery was born on 4 December 1900 in Leslie, Ingham, Michigan.² He and Merle Mae Potter were married on 4 December 1921.¹ He died on 29 May 1970, at age 69, in Lansing, Ingham, Michigan.¹ He was buried in Felt Plains Cemetery, Leslie, Ingham, Michigan.²

Albert Fred Howery was a School Teacher.¹ Albert Howery was born to Fred Rudolph & Minnie May Stid Howery on Dec. 4, 1900 in Leslie Twp. Ingham Co, MI. On Dec. 4 1921 he married Merle May Potter, the daughter of Henry Potter & Winnie Barker. They were married by Rev. J. I. Batdorff. Their children: Lester Albert Howery (Oct. 5, 1925 Bunker Hill twp. Ingham Co. MI; )Beverly Jean Howery (Nov. 17, 1927 in Bunker Hill twp, Ingham Co., MI). Albert attended college in Ypsilanti, Mich., and had taught school in several schools (Housel, Hubbard, Felt Plains) in the Leslie/Mason area. When he was teaching at Felt Plains School, they also took care of the Felt Plains Cemetery. Albert would mow the grass (with a push lawn mower) and Merle would trim around the stones with a pair of scissors. If only people were so conscientious today! He finally bought a farm on Plains Road, just east of his father's farm, and this is where he lived the rest of his life, and farmed with his brother, Robert. They shared ownership of many tools. If one owned the mower, the other owned the rake, etc. NEVER HEARD THEM ARGUE. They used to do combining for many in the community. He had a wonderful sense of humor, and was always ‘jolly'. Albert had a series of strokes. At one time he had a hard time talking, but he and Merle went to special therapy and he regained a lot of his abilities. But in the end, he had a serious blood clot in his left leg. He was in the hospital on April 28…came home on May 10, and returned to the hospital on May 23. On May 28, he had his left leg amputated and died the next day of internal bleeding.

Albert Lester (Les) Howery was born on 5 October 1925 in Bunker Hill Township, Ingham, Michigan.¹ He and Elaine Pearl Raymond were divorced in Yes.¹ He and Elaine Pearl Raymond were married on 24 September 1948.¹ He died on 18 June 1981, at age 55, in Kearney, Antrim, Michigan.¹ He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Petoskey, Emmet, Michigan.¹

U.S. Army.¹ Albert Lester (Les) Howery was a Wickes Lumber Company/Carpenter.¹ Albert Lester "Les", was born to Albert Fred & Merle Mae Potter Howery. He graduated from Mason High School in 1943. He was a pilot, often "buzzing" our barn.

Les served his country in the Army. On Sept. 24, 1948 he married Elaine Pearl Raymond (Mar. 4, 1926) daughter of Ray & Marjorie Raymond. They had 2 sons, Kim & Kris. They divorced.

On Sept. 23, 1961 Les married Janet Opdyke (Aug. 19, 1939) in Mason, MI. Janet's parents were Ivan Ray Opdyke (1913) and Bessie Johnson (1920). They had 2 sons: Jeffrey & Robert.

He was a very good carpenter, and knew a lot about woods and carpentry. He built several houses. Les also worked at Wickes Lumber Co. in Mason, and then moved to Petoskey to work at Wickes there. He also liked to collect wood planes (the tool that smoothes wood).

Les was a volunteer fire fighter for the Mason Dept. On Feb. 20, 1970 he was injured at the Mason Elevator fire, when the roof fell on him. He had a broken arm and internal injuries.

He was a soft-spoken, quiet individule. Very "laid-back".
He taught me, his little 3 year old cousin, to "drive" a tractor...in an open hay-field, so I couldn't hit anything!
And he knew where and how to find morell mushrooms!

Beverly (Bup) Jean Howery was born on 17 November 1927 in Bunker Hill Township, Ingham, Michigan.^1,2 She and Umberto George Costanzo were married on 19 September 1961.¹ She died on 6 May 2017, at age 89, in Mason, Ingham, Michigan.² She was buried in Felt Plains Cemetery, Leslie, Ingham, Michigan.²

Beverly, 89, of Mason, and formerly of California, passed away on May 6, 2017. She was the daughter of Albert Fred Howery and Merle Mae Potter Howery.

She grew up on a farm in Ingham Co. on Plains Road, Leslie, MI. She was a graduate of Mason High School. Then she became an airline hostess for TWA, serving many years in that capacity. She met her husband George (Umbarto) Costanzo while working for TWA, as he was a purser for the airline.

They lived for a while in New Jersey, and then in California.

Beverly took good care of George after he had a heart attack, in an airplane over the Pacific. They landed in Guam and George was put in the hospital there. After George's death, in California, Beverly took care of her mother, Merle.

Beverly finally came home to Michigan, and 2 nephews assisted her. When she lost her memory, she was placed in a nursing home, (Green Acres) which is where she died.

She was predeceased by her parents, and a brother, Albert Lester, and a cousin, Verle Asletine Flick.

She is survived by 4 nephews, Kim, Christopher, Jeffery, and Robert, their spouses and their children. She is also survived by 2 sisters-in-law, Elaine and Janet. Her surviving cousins were: Helen, Roger, Marie, and Laurine.

Emerson (Curley) Henry Bryde was born on 24 September 1911 in Montcalm County, Michigan.^2,3 He and Merle Mae Potter were married on 22 January 1972.¹ He died on 27 March 1998, at age 86, in Satsuma, Putnam, Florida.² He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Leslie, Ingham, Michigan.¹

Emerson (Curley) Henry Bryde was a Farmer/ Manager Liquid Fertilizer Plant, Eden, Michigan.¹ Emerson Henry (Curly)Bryde (Sept. 24, 1911 Montcalm Co. MI - Mar. 28, 1998 Satsuma, FL.) Curly was the son of Tom and Pearl Bryde. He is buried in the Leslie Cemetery, next to his first wife, Eulalia Rosina (Bobby) Fernholz . Curly had worked at Moter Wheel in Lansing, was a farmer, and managed the Liquid Fertilizer Plant in Eden, MI. He later married Merle Potter Howery on Jan. 22, 1972 they were married for 26 years, living in Florida in the winter and in Michigan in the summer. Curly also had a son, Stanley (Sharon); a step-daughter, Geraldine (Lou) Sperry. He had 8 grandchildren: Russell, Todd, James, Linda, Kathy, Kevin, Scotti & Lisa, and several great grand-children.

Elaine Pearl Raymond was born on 4 March 1926 in Leslie, Ingham, Michigan.¹ She and Albert Lester (Les) Howery were divorced in Yes.¹ She and Albert Lester (Les) Howery were married on 24 September 1948.¹ She died on 31 January 2018, at age 91, in Mount Pleasant, Isabella, Michigan. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Leslie, Ingham, Michigan.

Elaine, 91, passed away on January 31, 2018.

Elaine was a talented flower gardener and nature lover, She lived in Midland and formerly in Mason, Michigan. Elaine was born in Leslie to Ray and Margie (Childs) Raymond. She grew up in Ingham County, and was a graduate of Leslie High School.

In her early years she loved dancing. Elaine was very involved with her church, assisting those in need. She always had a beautiful flower garden, and knew the name of every flower. Elaine enjoyed nature, and had many bird feeders so she could watch the birds in her yard. Elaine was very festive and loved to decorate her house for the holidays. Southern cooking was also a specialty for Elaine.

Elaine worked at MSU for the Department of Agriculture, and then for the United States Department of the Interior in the National Park Service. She later transferred to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, where she was a instrumental in the development of the National Park. In 1975 she transferred to Georgia with the National Park Service, Fort Pulaski National Monument at Tybee Island, Georgia, where she retired in 1989. She returned to Mason, Michigan in 2006, then in 2015 moved to Midland, Michigan to be near her son and daughter-in-law Kris and Claudia, and her grandchildren Joshua and Kristine.

Elaine was predeceased by her parents; brothers, RJ, Jack, Rod, and George Raymond; and sister-in-law Beverly Howery Costanzo (whom she spent many Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with).

She is survived by her son, Kris (Claudia) Howery; grandchildren, Joshua, Kristine, son, Kim and children Jason, Jeremy, Stephanie, and Samantha; sister, Pat Pierson; niece, Tammy; nephew, Troy; and many other cousins.

Funeral services were Monday, February 5, 2018, at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Pastor Rich Mitterling officiating. Burial in the Leslie Cemetery on Tuesday, February 6, 2018.

If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to American Lung Association for COPD research or the Alzheimer's Association.

The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.