Laverne Homer Rylance

LaVerne. "Shorty" Rylance age 88 of Sanford died at Tendercare on Thursday, December 26, 2013. The son of the late Homer and Ellen (Mosher) Rylance was born on October 25, 1925 in Kawkawlin, MI where he was raised and educated. Shorty served in the US Navy during WWII and was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal. In 1945 he married the former Pauline Lambert and she predeceased him in 1969. He then married Jacqueline Sahr in 1970 and she predeceased him in 2002. On November 15, 2002 he married Wilma "Jean" Bridgewater and she survives him. Shorty had worked for General Motors as a painter for thirty two years, retiring in 1981. He was a member of Eagle Ridge Church of God and the American Legion Berryhill Post # 165. Shorty was a member of Centre Lodge #273 F. & A. M., the Bay City Consistory, Midland Area Shrine Club and Elf Khurafeh Shrine where he was member of the Shrine Clown Unit known as "Lucky".

LaVerne is survived by his wife Wilma "Jean" Rylance; daughters Paulette Bates of Midland, Wendy (David) Cummings of Midland; brother William (Ruth) Rylance of Virginia Beach; sister Eileen Brock of Pinconning; step son Daryl Sahr; five grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
He was predeceased by step sons Larry and David Sahr and sister Marge Hopkins.

Funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 am Tuesday, December 31, 2013 from the Eagle Ridge Church of God with the Reverend James Shanks officiating. Visitation will be at the Wilson MILLER Funeral Home on Monday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 where a Masonic Memorial Service will be conducted at 7:30 pm. Visitation will also be from 10:00 am until time of service at the church. Interment will be in Floral Gardens Cemetery, Bay City. Military honors will be conducted under the auspices of the Midland Area Veterans and the US Navy Honors Team. Memorials my be offered to Juvenile Diabetes c/o Centre Lodge F. & A. M.