20 Thursday, October 17, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com
Dolores
Jean (Singer)
Howley, 79, of
Battle Creek,
passed away
peacefully at her
home on Friday,
September 6,
2024, with her
sons Bob and
Patrick at her
side.
Dolores was born May 3, 1945,
in Wheeling, W. Va., the daughter of
Theodore and Ruth (McCoid) Singer and
was the oldest of six children. Dolores
grew up in a military family, which
took her all over the world, spending
much of her early years in Germany and
France. Her family eventually moved to
Pittsburgh, Pa., where she graduated
from Vincentian High School in 1963.
Dolores went on to take classes at La
Roche College,- also in Pittsburgh. In
her later years, even while she was
receiving treatment for breast cancer,
she studied at Kellogg Community
College and obtained certification as a
Certified Nursing Assistant. While she
spent much of her life suffering through
pain and illness, she always persevered.
Dolores found her vocation in being a
mother. While she desperately wanted
a large family, her health complications
created a difficult path. After her first
two children, Alana and James, were
born, she suffered many miscarriages
and a stillbirth. Through the grace of
God and to everyone’s surprise, Dolores
eventually welcomed two more children,
Bob and Patrick, while Alana and James
were teenagers. Dolores raised two sets
of her own children to adulthood, back-
to-back.
Dolores attended St. Joseph Catholic
Church. She also devoted much of her
time to volunteering with her children’s
schools and organizations She was
involved in the PTA and volunteered
regularly at Riverside Elementary school
in Battle Creek. She spent over 30 years
involved with the Boy Scouts of America
across the United States in various
positions, including Den Leader, Asst.
Pack Leader, and as a District Executive.
She was even honored by Rotary
International for her dedication to ser-
vice with the Paul Harris Fellowship.
Later, Dolores found more purpose as
a participant at CentraCare in downtown
Battle Creek. She happily used her time
there to help all those around her. She
enjoyed helping participants with crafts
and games, patient advocacy, and offer-
ing advice to her fellow participants
and staff. Beyond CentraCare, Dolores
assisted multiple people in finding some
stability, safety, and companionship in
their lives by allowing them to stay with
her in her home.
One of Dolores’s favorite pastimes
was watching her Detroit Tigers play
on TV. She was a dedicated fan who
watched nearly every game and always
rooted for each player to do his best.
Dolores is survived by her four chil-
dren: a daughter, Alana (Ben) Levy, of
Cincinnati, Ohio; three sons, James
(Kathleen) Howley of Columbus, Ind.,
Robert “Bob” Howley of Royal Oak,
Mich., Patrick (Lyssa) Howley of Atlanta,
Ga.; seven grandchildren, Aaron Howley,
Jessi (Jake) Goodroe, Gabriel Levy, Julia
Howley, Audrey Howley, Emily Davies,
Spencer Davies; two great-grandchil-
dren, Amelita Goodroe and James
Goodroe; four sisters, Johnette Singer-
Williams of Prairie Grove, Ark., Pat
Livermore of San Antonio, Texas, Sue
Singer of Pittsburgh, Pa., Vicki Singer
of Albuquerque, N.M.; one brother, John
Singer of San Antonio, Texas; and her
at-home caretaker for the past 10 years,
Lindsay Wheeler.
Dolores was previously married for 33
years to Robert Michael “Mike” Howley,
who preceded her in death. She was
also preceded in death by her parents.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated by
Fr. Christopher Ankley at St. Joseph
Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Saturday,
October 19, 2024. Dolores’ ashes will be
interred with her parents in Wheeling,
W, Va., at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contribu-
tions can be made to the
P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water
Program at http://www.csdw.org.
Personal messages for the family may
be placed at http://www.farleyestesdowdle.
com.Crystal Maria
Lee was born
January 27,
1947, in St.
Croix, Virgin
Islands, to
Clothilda
Simpson and
Warren King.
Crystal passed
away on October
8, 2024.
Crystal spent her early years in the
Virgin Islands, where she was raised
by her aunt, Edith Simpson. She later
moved to New York to join her father
and siblings. During her time in New
York, she met her late husband, William
Thomas Sr., and the two married in- In 1978, they relocated to Battle
Creek, Michigan, where Crystal began
a career in nursing and pharmacy. She
eventually retired from the VA Hospital
after many years of dedicated service.
Crystal had a passion for cooking,
gardening, listening to music, and was
a devoted member of First Assembly
Church, where she attended weekly.
Known for her kindness and generous
spirit, she volunteered regularly and was
always ready to lend a helping hand to
her community. Crystal will be remem-
bered as a loving wife, mother, grand-
mother, and friend.She is survived by
her sons, Bruce (Robin) King, John Lee;
grandchildren, DeMarkus King, Myra
Taylor, Nijee Lee, Emmanuel Lee, Koren
King, Brooklyn Lee, and Jalen King;
brothers Ray King, Loren King, Glenn
King, Dana King and John Jarvis; sisters
Margaret Marshall, Elsa Lynch, and Eva
King Frederick; and great-grandchildren,
Myren Taylor, Joslyn D., Tristan, Konnor
Colbert, and Daxton Colbert. She also
leaves behind a large extended family,
including nieces, nephews, cousins, her
church family, and many dear friends.
Crystal was preceded in death by
her beloved husband, William Lee Sr.;
parents, Clothilda Simpson and Warren
King; parents-in-law, Ruth and Shack
Lee; children Joseph King Lee, William
Lee Jr., and Joseph McVain Lee; broth-
ers Henry, Milton, Clement, Wayne,
Dayle, Neil, Keith; and her sisters
Maryam and Edith King.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude
for the many comforting messages, flo-
ral tributes, and acts of kindness during
this time.
A celebration of Crystal’s life will be
held at the Baxter Funeral & Cremation
Service on Saturday, October 19, 2024
from noon to 3 p.m.
Arrangements entrusted to the Baxter
Funeral & Cremation Service. 269-788-
9800; http://www.baxterfuneral.com.Thomas
Jefferson
Reed, 67, of
Battle Creek,
Mich., passed
away Wednesday,
October 9, 2024.
He was born July
31, 1957 in Gary,
Ind., the son of
Hanford Tellefero
and Earia Lee (Pulley) Reed. He loved
his mother, father, and siblings.
Thomas attended West Side High
School and graduated with the class
of 1975. While attending high school
Thomas met his first love, Valerie
Mathews. They had one son together
named Donzell Reed.
Later, Thomas relocated and attended
college. Thomas attended Kellogg
Community College, Western Michigan
University, and Milwaukee School of
Engineering. He obtained his bachelor’s
from Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Early in his work career, Thomas
worked at Blaw Knox Foundry. He
later transitioned to working complet-ing cable installation and carpentry.
He loved working with his brother
Benjamin. They often did many things
together. There was seldom a time the
two of them were apart.
He is survived by his son, Donzell
Reed, Sr.; grandchildren Donteya
Reed, Da’Niya Reed, Donzell Reed,
Jr., Da’Quan Reed, and Desiree Jones;
great-grandchildren Zaire Rhim and
Zakari Jones; siblings Hanford Reed
III, Caludia Sumbry, Helen Coy, and
Benjamin Reed; and a host of nieces,
nephews, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his par-
ents, Hanford (Earia) Reed; and two sis-
ters, Onetha Reed and Barbara (Reed)
Hardiman.
Visitation will be held at Bachman
Hebble Funeral Service on Friday,
October 18, 2024 from 11:30 a.m. to
1:30 p.m. Graveside services will fol-
low at 2 p.m. at Bedford Cemetery in
Bedford Township, Mich.
Arrangements by the Bachman Hebble
Funeral Service. (269) 965-5145; http://www.
bachmanhebble.com.