William Carl Brown (Bill)
William Carl Brown (Bill)
William Carl Brown (Bill), 88, son of Wesley Carl and Donie Brown, passed away on March 10, 2022. Bill grew up in Kansas City, Mo., where he participated in the Boy Scouts, earning the rank of Life Scout. He graduated from Southeast High School and moved to Flint, Mich., to attend General Motors Institute, where he earned an industrial engineering degree and met his future wife, Nancy.
Following graduation, Bill and Nancy married and moved to Edgewood, Md., where Bill served in the United States Army Chemical Corps. Later he served in the Army reserve.
After going to work for General Motors, Bill continued his education, earning a master’s in engineering from University of Michigan, and a doctorate in business administration from Indiana Northern University.
His long career with GM both in the United States and in Strasbourg, France, let him work where his passion lay: cars (both new and classic). When he was manager of the Hydramatic plant in Ypsilanti, Mich., he established the first programs to help inner city workers stay on the job, to enable those with addictions to turn their lives around, and to develop women’s managerial skills and advancement potential.
In addition to work, Bill gave to the community by serving as president of the library board in Northville, Mich., as a leader at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Livonia, Mich., as chairperson of United Way campaigns, and as president of the school board (where he worked to make sure girls had equal access to all classes, especially in the sciences).
When his daughters were young, he was an energetic, enthusiastic parent: a nurturer, changer, feeder, bather, and super teller of bedtime stories. When the girls were older, he supported them in their pursuit of engineering at Michigan State University and was even able to say, “Go green” when watching college football.
After retiring from General Motors, Bill pursued one of his other passions, flying. He became a licensed private pilot, and he and Nancy logged many flight miles in their Piper Archer. After they bought their home in PebbleCreek in 1998, Bill joined weekly poker groups, played tennis and golf, and met with friends for breakfast every Tuesday.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, his daughters Sheri Allen (Don Boucher) and Caralyn Brown, and grandsons Wesley Cashman (Olivia Mast) and Ian Faulkner.
A Celebration of Life will be held May 21, 2022, in the Chianti Room at 11 a.m.
Yvette Deleyer Nelson
Yvette Deleyer Nelson
Yvette Deleyer Nelson died March 7, 2022, after suffering a stroke. Yvette was 92 years old. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald E. Nelson, age 94, 11 months earlier. Yvette was a retired elementary first grade teacher in Mankato, Minn. Yvette had recently celebrated her 67th wedding anniversary.
Mrs. Nelson is survived by three remaining sons, Kraig, K. David, and Scott, all who are living in the Valley, along with a grandson, Rylan, and her younger sister, Thama Knudson, from Omaha, Neb. Yvette was loved by all with her strong Christian faith. Her body was donated to Southwest Institute for Bio-Advancement through whole body organ and tissue donation for medical education and research. Services will be private.
Tony (Anthony) Palmer Jr.
Tony (Anthony) Palmer Jr.
It is with deep sadness that the Palmer family says Tony (Anthony) Palmer Jr. passed away on Feb. 21, 2022.
He was born in Boston, Mass. (the South End). He will be missed by many, especially his wife Pat (Trish) Palmer; his daughter Chrissy Marszalek; his sons Anthony and Craig Palmer; his grandsons Austin Palmer, Cade and Cole Marszalek, and Devan Olds; his sister Lorraine Kehoe of Boston, Mass.; and nieces Cherise Kramer of Long Island, N.Y., and Valerie Stewart of Boston, Mass.
He loved Karaoke and especially being part of Showtime at PebbleCreek! He enjoyed having people around.
He was a good cook, loved food, and would always try new recipes.
A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, April 16, 2022.