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In Memoriam

Charlotte Read (Byers) - Class Of 1965

Charlotte Read (Byers)

I'm so sorry to notify all that our beloved classmate passed away today (Monday, September 26, 2022) at 3:00 pm.  Click this link to obituary and Memorial Service.

Visitation Friday, September 30, 2022, 2:00 to 4:00 with Memorial Service at 4:00

All at Watkins Brothers Funeral Homes,

Corunna Chapel

302 West Corunna Avenue

Corunna, MI 48817

Rod Ellis '65


Charlotte Pauline Byers class of 1965, age 75 of Lansing, passed away on Monday, September 26, 2022 at Sparrow Hospital.

Memorial service will be held at 4:00 PM Friday, September 30, 2022 at Watkins Brothers Funeral Homes, 302 W. Corunna Ave. Corunna, MI. Family will receive visitors starting at 2:00 PM until the service at 4:00 PM.  Memorials are suggested to St. Paul Episcopal Church in Corunna, 111 S. Shiawassee St.  48817.

Charlotte was born in Munising, MI on January 18, 1947, the daughter of Harry & Marcella (Solem) Read.   She graduated from Okemos High School and attended Lansing Community College.  Charlotte worked at the Veterinarian Hospital at Michigan State in the medical records department where she retired.  She liked to gamble, travel and take care of her flowers.  Charlotte is survived by son Darren (Lesa) Smith of Britton, MI; daughter Ingrid Walker of Holland, MI; and granddaughter Caitlynn Smith.  She is also survived by her brother Donald Read class of 1970, and was predeceased by her parents.   Online condolences may be sent to the family by going to www.watkinsfuneralhomes.com



The traveling companions say "bon voyage" with one last Okemos cheer, "We Are the Chieftains, Mighty, Mighty Chieftains..."!

Kathy Moulton, Charlotte Read

Margaret Wiley and Judy Dury

Classmates that traveled the world together.

 

 

 

Also at her funeral to say fairwell were Judy Bowden (Brown), Patti Leary (McMillan), Dave Premoe and Rod Ellis.

 

 

 

https://www.watkinsfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Charlotte-P.--Byers?obId=25958939

 
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09/27/22 05:05 PM #1    

Margaret Wiley (Shaw) (1965)

Oh my, where do I start. Charlotte and I have been neighbors and classmates since third grade.  She loved every person she met, and every animal, too.  She could start a conversation with a perfect stranger and by the time their conversation was finished, she had another new friend.  She, Judy (Drury), Kathy (Moulton) and I took many lovely trips together.  And for the past many years we had lunch together on a monthly basis, trying every new restaurant we could find.  I know she will be waiting and organizing a reunion for all of us when we join her some day.  Good bye my friend.

Margaret (Wiley) Shaw


09/29/22 12:40 PM #2    

Brock Hotaling (1965)

When I first moved to Okemos in fifth grade at Cornell School, Charlotte was my primary spelling bee competitor, and worthy opponent. Over the years, as we traversed Central Jr. High and that horrible campus-style high school together, I became more and more impressed by what a special person she was, a multi-faceted woman with much to offer. Of course, me being a nerd and pretty well into the autistic spectrum, only in retrospect did I belatedly realize how few people exist in this world who are smart, giving, wise and spiritual as Charlotte was.

Girls like Charlotte and Margaret (and Judy and Kathy) who sit quietly and observe and don't make waves tend to be less noticed, and I confess that many of us guys rarely appreciate their qualities until too late. Charlotte and her good friend Margaret were not in my "crowd" in high school, but probably should have been. I remember showing up at the first class reunion way back (thanks to my dear friend Rod and others of whom I have fond memories), and nobody but nobody recognized Margaret, who had transformed into a butterfly, and with Charlotte, had a conversation that would never have happened back in high school. How we change!

Later, when Charlotte showed up at my Dad's funeral, I finally, finally! felt that I knew what Charlotte had long been about, yet had too few moments to reprise our past and present. It's my one regret that I didn't take more advantage of that opportunity, likely due to the fact that I was a bit off due to my own grieving.

Charlotte and Margaret, unbeknownst to them, have a place in my own mea culpas and in my forthcoming book (names not mentioned) about how we sometimes miss the really good and true things right in front of our eyes because of preconceptions and confirmation bias.

So I wish to give a shout out to Charlotte's spirit here, that I, along with others I'm sure, have been impacted by her approach to life and her wisdom of seeing the world in balance, while living a life truly worthy of emulating.


10/03/22 09:50 PM #3    

Sherry Saites (1965)

I am stunned to learn of Charlotte's passing. When I moved to Okemos in the 10th grade Charlotte became my first friend and we began a lifelong friendship. She had a wicked sense of humor and was so kind and caring. It was so easy to enjoy our time together. We talked often and long into the night. Regardless of how much time passed between calls it was like we had just talked the day before. I will deeply miss my dear sweet friend.


10/06/22 11:03 AM #4    

Nancy Mason (Brzak) (1965)

My thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends. I moved to Okemos in the 10th grade. A very difficult year for me.. Charlotte was one of the few that in-spite of my disability, reached out and was sweet and kind. She will be missed

 

 


10/10/22 03:34 PM #5    

Laurel Winkel (1968)

 

From Patrica Harrison:

"Please give my condolences to her family. She was such a wonderful person in school and when I saw her at our reunion. She made everyone feel important. My prayers are to her whole family."


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