Ronald Lee Rushford
August 19, 1948 – December 24, 2025
Ronald Lee Rushford, age 77, passed away peacefully at his home on December 24, 2025. Ron was born on August 19, 1948, to the late William and Edna (Zenker) Rushford. He was one of eight children.
Ron grew up in Gould City and attended Engadine High School, graduating in 1966. He lived in Gould City and Curtis most of his life. He worked at Inland Lime and Stone in Gulliver, moving to Minnesota for a couple of years to complete his retirement, retiring in 1993.
Ron enjoyed meeting new people, making friends, and helping others. He and his family managed Greenfield and Kelly’s Resorts in Curtis in the 1970’s and 1980’s, before buying Northshore Resort and Gift Shop in 1988 with his family. Ron liked working and being outdoors. He ran his small sawmill and owned Rushford Excavating. He was fond of operating and working on his equipment.
In his younger years, Ron enjoyed riding 3-wheelers, camping with his family at Simmons Woods and Big Knob, family vacations to amusement parks, fishing and hunting deer, in addition to two moose hunts in Canada. He liked both gardening and canning throughout his life. Ron loved his land and took pride in building roads, creating trails, and digging ditches on his property.
Ron is survived by his children Rhonda (Charles) Legault of Engadine, Melissa (Joel) Schultz of Hessel and Jennifer (Kirk) Miller of Gould City; grandchildren Devon Legault, Andrew Legault, Tia Miller, Matt Miller, Katie (Colton Hudak) Schultz , Ben (Heather) Schultz and Ally Schultz; siblings Russell Rushford, Jane (Leroy) Stefanich, and Jeanne Matchinske; brother-in-law’s Rich Pershinske and Bob Freeman; sister-in-law Carolyn Rushford. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers Fred (Janet) Rushford and Raymond “Mike” Rushford and sisters Janice Pershinske and Julie Freeman.
A gathering of family and friends will take place Monday January 5, 2026 from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm at the Gould City Community Church. Funeral services celebrating the life of Ron will follow at 1:00 pm at the church with Betty LaPointe officiating. Interment will take place in the spring of 2026 at the Newton Township Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the family for a future designation.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Kay Francis Ehn
September 8, 1934 – December 18, 2025
Kay Francis Ehn, age 91, of Gould City, Michigan, passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025, while receiving hospice care at her daughter’s home in Gould City. Kay lived independently until becoming ill in September of 2025.
Kay was born on September 8, 1934, in Newberry, Michigan, to Michael Cecil Smith and Marie Lillybelle Smith (née Gareau). She graduated from Newberry High School and went on to live a life marked by hard work, integrity, and devotion to her family and community.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Shirley Rockhold and Peggy Nance; her brothers, Mike, Ken, and Jimmy Smith; her grandson, Johnny Palmer; and her beloved husband of 69 years, Philip Peter Ehn.
Kay is survived by her four children: Michael “Bill” Ehn (Alice), Pam Mastroianni (Joe), Jay Ehn, and Gary Ehn; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Kay and Phil were the longtime proprietors of Phil’s One Stop in Gould City, which they operated for over 30 years. After leaving the business, they spent the next three decades traveling and living in Georgia, Florida, Michigan and ultimately returned home to Gould City.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Kay and Phil were enthusiastic square dancers, performing at numerous national conventions and even an international convention in Germany. Kay was also an avid and accomplished golfer, winning a club championship and proudly recording a hole-in-one.
A generous and compassionate person, Kay supported many charitable causes, with a special love for animals. She was a longtime supporter of the ASPCA and the Humane Society. She was also a voracious reader, especially fond of cookbooks, which she read cover to cover. She enjoyed cooking shows, home remodeling programs, and took pride in maintaining a spotless home.
During her time in Kalamazoo, Kay worked at the post office sorting mail and attended Western Michigan University with plans to become a children’s literature teacher. Those plans changed when the family returned to Gould City to take over the family business, then known as Judson’s. Through her work at Phil’s One Stop, Kay served in a position on the Mackinac County Social Services Board, where she was well respected throughout the Tri – county area.
Kay was a devoted Christian and a lifelong Democrat, firmly believing that government should help the poor and those unable to help themselves. Above all, she was known as a hardworking, honest, loving woman, a devoted mother to her four children, and a loyal friend to many.
Kay Francis Ehn will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew and loved her.
Graveside services will take place in the spring/summer of 2026 at the Newton Township Cemetery, with a date and time to be announced.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
