Ola I. Stanley

Ola I. Stanley, age 96, of Marshall, died Friday, June 23, 2006 at Maplewood of Marshall. Ola was born March 1, 1910 in Clarendon Township at home to Roy and Eva (Sweet) Raymond. She attended country school and graduated from Albion''s Washington Gardner High School. She then attended and graduated from Calhoun County Normal . She also later attended Western Michigan University. Upon her graduation from County Normal, she taught country school near Albion, and in Fredonia Township until her marriage. She often remarked that she taught "kids bigger than I was!". Ola was married on June 10, 1933 in Battle Creek to Donald G. Stanley. The couple moved to Marshall Township in 1943 after a short time in Marshall. The family owned and operated the former Stanley Meat Packing on their farm there. Don preceded her in death on Dec. 8, 1979. She was an active member of her community for many years. She had served on the Conley and Lusk School Boards. She was an active member of First Baptist Church, where she formerly taught Sunday school. Ola belonged to a local Extension for many years. Ola''s family was most important in her life. She looked forward to the next baby to be born into the family that grew and grew over the years. She enjoyed playing cards, especially with her grandchildren, who soon learned that the rules tended to change each time you played! Ola crocheted, did crossword puzzles (where she liked to create her own words!), and played board games. She was an avid reader, who would pick up an encyclopedia to read if she had exhausted all the books in the house. Surviving are her daughters and son-in-laws, Laura J. and Richard Johnston, and Lois C. and Philip Lord, and son and daughter -in-law, Carlton R. and Patricia Stanley , all of Marshall; 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Ruth A. Bischoff, Ella Underwood, Laura Raymond, and Ora Raymond, and her brother''s Clarence Raymond and Clyde Raymond. Friends may call at Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home on Sunday 4PM-8PM, with family present 4PM to 6PM to greet friends and share memories, and again on Monday 9AM-9PM, with family present 2PM-4PM and 6PM-8PM. Funeral services to celebrate her life and remember her will be held on Tuesday at 11AM at Kempf Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Oakridge Cemetery. The family suggests that friends who wish to make a memorial contribution direct them to either Fountain Clinic or Marshall Area Community Services. Assistance with memorials available at Kempf Funeral Home.