Nelda Ries

Nelda J. Ries, 69, of Echo Towhsnip, died Thursday, May 8, 2014 at her home.
She was born July 26, 1944 in Central Lake Township to Ira and Cleo (Everett) Higbee.
In 1960 she married Howard Barraw Sr. in Central Lake. They lived in East Jordan and Ellsworth and divorced in 1983.
On July 25, 1986 she married Donald Ries in East Jordan. They lived in Ellsworth for 20 years and later moved to Echo Township. Don died in 2011.
Nelda worked at Morweld Steel Products in Ellsworth for 19 years and later at LexaMar in Boyne City.
She enjoyed camping, sitting around the bonfire, bird watching, gardening and yard work.
Surviving are her children Howard (Trudy) Barraw Jr. of Central Lake, Dianna (Tony) Hughey of Owasso, Oklahoma, Junie Barraw of East Jordan, and Bryon (Tina) Ries of East Jordan; 14 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; sister Jeanie McCleese of Bellaire; brother Charles (Jeannie) Carver of Bear Lake; sisters-in-law Nancy Higbee of Ellsworth, Sandy Schenck of Grand Ledge, Sue and J.T. Taylor of Suttons Bay; brothers-in-law John LaDere of East Jordan, Larry Smith of Bellaire, Duane Ries of Grand Rapids. She was preceded in death by brothers Richard Higbee and Ernest Higbee, sisters Shirley Smith, Patricia Colantuono, Sharon Freeman, and Joanne LaDere.
Friends may call at Hastings Funeral Home in Ellsworth on Sunday, May 11, from 5 to 8 p.m.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, May 12, at Hastings Funeral Home with Pastor Si Doctor officiating. Inurnment will be in Southern Cemetery, Central Lake.
Visit our web site at hastingsfuneral.com and sign the online guest book.