Arlene Staley

Arlene L. Staley, 96, a life-long resident of Charlevoix County, passed away on June 23, 2022 at the American House.  She was born on March 24, 1926, in Eveline Township, MI, the daughter of Frank and Ethel (Hitchcock) Hayden, the oldest of eight siblings.

After graduation from East Jordan High School in 1946, she moved to Charlevoix and worked for Freedman Artcraft, now Harbor Industries.  She met this handsome Marine, Ken, and following their marriage on August 5, 1949, they joined the family business, Staley Grocery, at 401 Antrim.  Like many small businesses, they lived at the business and all hands were on deck while running it. After closing the store in 1983, she served the Charlevoix community for many years, as city clerk, in the city manager’s office, worked for the Census Bureau, a member of the VFW Auxiliary and volunteer for the Charlevoix Area Hospital.

Arlene enjoyed knitting and loved to donate hats to the Charlevoix Hospital nursery, the Charlevoix Christmas Project, Toys for Tots, the Good Samaritan Moms & Tots Center as well as sharing her work with all her family.  An avid bowler, for many years sponsored the “Staley Grocery” Bowling team.

Surviving are 3 daughters, Donna (Dave) Heeres of Ellsworth, Marian (Gary) Van Koevering of Fremont, MI, Martha Staley of Grand Rapids, 5 grandchildren, Scott (Kristen) Heeres of Denver, CO, Carrie (Dan) Elzinga of Grand Rapids, Deb (John) Rozanski of Fremont, MI, Monica Weaver of Grand Rapids, MI, Melisa (Chris) Schut of Byron Center, MI, 9 great-grandchildren, Aiden, Emilia and Eliana Heeres, Henry and Alexander Elzinga, Ashlee (Ted) Watson, Ryan Stroven, Trae Siemasz, and Kaitlyn (Justin) Vander Woude. Also, great-great-grandchildren Jaxon and Cora Stroven, Edison Watson.

Also surviving are 2 brothers, Stephen (Marjorie) Hayden of S.C., Douglas Hayden of Kalamazoo, MI, 23 nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband Kenneth Staley, 3 brothers, Thomas, Ernest and Larry Hayden, and 2 sisters, Kay Chew and Mary Gibbons.

Funeral services will take place on Friday, July 8 at 11:00 a.m. at the Charlevoix United Methodist Church “Draw Bridge Life”, 104 State St., Charlevoix, MI, 49720.  Visitation will be on Thursday, July 7 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Charlevoix Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes and at the church one hour prior to the service.

Burial will take place in Brookside Cemetery, Charlevoix.

Memorial contributions may be made to Toys for Tots, Marine Corp League, PO Box 278, Petoskey, MI 49770-0278 or to Moms for Tots, 9100 Pleasant Hill Road, PO Box 206, Ellsworth, MI 49729.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Charlevoix Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.