Yvonne Eva Feneley
March 3, 1943 – March 12, 2025
Yvonne Eva Feneley, 82, of Engadine, died Wednesday evening March 12, 2025 at Golden Leaves Living Center in Newberry. Yvonne was born March 3, 1943 in Manistique, daughter of the late Neil and Eva (Lesatz) Kempf.
On September 30, 1961, Yvonne married Archibald “Archie” Feneley in Naubinway and resided in Indianapolis, Indiana where her husband was employed by U-Haul Inc. for 15 years. In 1976, Archie and Yvonne moved back to Engadine where she assisted her husband with the operation of Feneley Total. Yvonne was also employed as an office manager at the Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club for 28 years, until her retirement in 2013.
Yvonne was a member of the VFW Post #8372 Ladies Auxiliary and served with her husband as dispatcher for the Garfield Township fire and ambulance department for several years. Her hobbies included reading, watching TV and casino gaming.
In addition to her parents, Yvonne is preceded in death by her husband Archie on December 9, 2006, son Burton Neil Feneley and brothers Roger and Matthew Kempf.
Survivors include her loving sons Todd (Leslie) Feneley, Jeff (Nikki) Feneley and Sean (Amber) Feneley all of Engadine; grandchildren Alyssa (Cameron) Depew of North Carolina, Ethan Feneley of Engadine and Noah Keesler of Kincheloe; great-granddaughters Eva Depew and Adeline Depew both of North Carolina; siblings Mary (Will) Freeman of North Muskegon, Dawn (Roger) Berry of Engadine, Joan Troyer of Engadine, Flora McEvers of Engadine and Gail (Robert) Trammel of Rochester Hills; sister-in-law Sharon Kempf of Engadine; many nieces and nephews.
A gathering of family and friends will take place Wednesday April 16, 2025 from 12:00 noon until 1:00 pm at the Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry. Funeral services celebrating the life of Yvonne will follow at 1:00 pm at the funeral home with Pastor Tim Miller, of the Naubinway Christian Fellowship Church, officiating. Interment will follow at the Engadine Cemetery.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
John Thomas Gordon
November 8, 1944 – February 26, 2025
John Thomas Gordon of Curtis, Michigan, 80, died February 26, 2025.
A retired antique dealer, motel owner, and English teacher in the Middle East, he was always known to his friends and family as Tom.
He was born November 8, 1944, and moved from Ohio with parents Frank and Lillian Gordon to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As he grew up, Tom lived in Blaney Park, Hermansville, and Manistique, and as an adult he lived in the Middle East and Curtis. After graduating from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, Tom joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to India. In the 1970s, he began a career of teaching English in the Arab world. After the 1979 revolution in Iran, Tom found work in other Islamic countries. He taught English to future airplane pilots and workers on oil rigs in Saudi Arabia. He was working in Kuwait in 1990 when Iraq invaded the country, leading to the first Gulf War. Tom was taken prisoner as a hostage and held on a dam in Kuwait to discourage bombing by the Americans.
When he wasn’t working, Tom was enjoying his overseas life. He developed life-long friendships with some of his students. He had friends in London and Paris, and he once drove across Europe to Afghanistan in his BMW. One of his stories was making alcohol in a bathtub, to get around the problem of having a drink in a country where it is forbidden. Although he was a Christian and part-time member of the Curtis Community Church, he had no religious prejudice.
While in the Middle East, Tom enjoyed searching for Persian rugs and antiques. Tom spent many summer vacations on Whitefish Lake at his cabin in Curtis. After returning to Curtis to take care of his mother in her last years, he opened his own antique store in 1987 on Portage Creek, next to his motel that had been founded by his parents. When in Curtis, many friends remember Tom for his hospitality, whether for serving an authentic Indian meal or having friends on his front porch for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. He was always a gracious host, making everyone feel welcome in his home.
During his life, he had three pet schnauzers, all named Fritz. Fritz III preceded him in death last year.
Tom is survived by his brothers, Dick, Harry, and Jeb; his sisters, Mary and Sally; and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Tom’s life will be held in Curtis in the summer.
Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is assisting Tom’s family where memories and condolences may be shared at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.
Mary Jean Riley
June 17, 1944 – March 11, 2025
Mary Jean Riley, 80, from Manchester, MI, passed away on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at her home surrounded by family. Jean’s family and friends will gather from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., on Sunday, March 16, 2025, with Rosary at 7:30 p.m. and from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., on Monday, March 17, 2025, at Eineder Funeral Homes – Manchester Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, March 17, 2025, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Manchester, MI. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Rev. Fr. Bosco Padamattummal will officiate.
She was born on June 17, 1944, in Newberry, MI, to Francis and Edna (Barber) Vogel. Jean married the love of her life and high school sweetheart, William Riley, on June 22, 1963, in Newberry, MI. Jean graduated from Newberry High School in 1962. She was mostly a stay-at-home mom, who dedicated her time to her husband and 4 children. Jean could be found often at the Manchester bakery selling donuts, where she would work part time. She was a true “Yooper”, who loved being up north. Jean enjoyed cross country skiing, golfing, crocheting and fishing with her husband. She also loved to play cribbage with her boys and scrabble with her daughter. Jean was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where she would volunteer to work at all the events and activities. She will be remembered as a loving, devoted mother, wife and grandmother, who will truly be missed by all her knew her.
Jean will be missed by her children, Kari (Mark) Ball, William Riley and Toby (Michelle) Riley; her sisters, Fran (Don) Sauter, Cora (Richard) Mrakitsch and Diane (Al) Sundberg; her grandchildren, Nicholas Ball, David Ball, Stephanie Ball, Lauren Riley, Liam Riley, Mary Catherine Riley, John Curley and Katie Parks; her great grandchildren, Theodore Ball, Eloise Ball, Lucy Ball, Wesley Parks and Taylor Parks; and her son-in-law, Robert Curley. She is preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Edna Vogel; her husband, William Riley; her sister, Cathy Shelton; her daughter, Colleen Curley; and her grandson, Joseph Riley.
Memorial contributions are suggested to “Cuisine with Colleen” Scholarship with the Onsted Community School Foundation: P.O Box 92, Onsted MI, 49265. Please leave a message of comfort for Jean’s family or sign her guestbook at www.EinederFuneralHomes.com.
