Eric Walter Crew of East Lansing passed away peacefully Wednesday evening January 5 2011 at Sparrow Hospital after a short illness. Eric was born in Harpenden England January 1 1924 and immigrated to the United States in 1949. He was employed as an engineer for 43 years with General Motors retiring in 1985 as General Superintendent of Parts Fabrication Engineering Staff. He is survived by his beloved wife Ethel of 63 years; his children Joyce Hight RN of Owosso; Dr. Ralph (Kay) Crew of Big Rapids and Dr. Douglas (Cristine) Crew of Grand Rapids; his grandchildren Alexis and Hilary Hight Eric Crew and Anna Cencer. Family requests memorial donations to the Meridian Senior Center Okemos Community Education 4000 N. Okemos Rd. Okemos MI 48864 in Eric's name. The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home East Lansing. Online condolences may be made to www.gorslineruncimaneastlansing.com

Published in Daily Tribune on January 9 2011.

Alfred Joseph Drouillard died January 6 2011. Born April 12 1926. Alfred Joseph Drouillard was of frontiersman French-Canadian stock born into a farming family and community in a French-speaking part of Canada near Windsor Ontario. His family moved to Detroit at the age of five when his father became employed with Ford Motor Company in River Rouge. But they visited and moved back regularly to Canada. He went to kindergarten in the U.S. speaking only French but made the transition quickly to English. As a teenager Al liked to travel around the state on weekends to go to square dances. He was a lifelong lover of classical and dance band music and was an amateur violinist of some ability. His favorite song to play on the violin was "Ave Maria." Al was an athlete. His specialty as a young man was fast-pitch underhanded softball. He was a "lefty" and had amazing speed and accuracy. As an adult he was hooked on golf. Many years he had multiple rounds of "par" and better. He was a small man but with amazing strength. Perhaps genetics or perhaps his job as a tool and die maker gave him the ability to loosen the tightest bolt. When in the hospital recently for pneumonia he graciously let his son beat him at arm wrestling. Al met the love of his life Pauline at the Greystone Ballroom in Detroit where performers like Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington performed. Pauline Paonessa was a recent graduate of the Wayne State School of Education embarking on a teaching career a first generation Italian from Little Italy in Detroit. They shared a love of ballroom dancing that lasted through their 59 years of marriage. He loved to cook and could equal his Italian wife's preparation of many dishes. Al apprenticed as a toolmaker with Chevrolet Gear and Axle as a teenager during WW II. He spent most of his career after the war at GM Research Labs at the Tech Center in Warren Michigan. With his knowledge of materials and metal forming engineers would bring unsolvable design problems to Al. He would produce the desired piece so the engineers could then make the drawings. He worked on a variety of interesting projects including early robots hovercraft and experimental Stirling and Wankel engines. He had a large role in the development of an important medical breakthrough the first-ever blood separation centrifuge which was actually developed by GM in response to a special request by medical researchers at Wayne State. He always felt the UAW did a poor job of representing skilled workers so he became active in an unsuccessful attempt to form a new union the ISST (International Society of Skilled Tradesmen) to listen more to the special needs of skilled tradesmen. Al was an incessant tinkerer. He developed two inventions outside of work. The first was a panic braking/collision prevention light for passenger cars. It utilized a patented inertia switch to detect panic braking situations displaying a bright rapidly flashing light in the rear window to warn cars coming from behind. While the widespread use of this invention was never realized shortly afterwards automotive companies began placing brake lights in rear car windows for additional visibility positioned similarly to Al's light. His second invention was a two-handled snow shovel a labor and back-saving device. He also constantly experimented with cooking golf technique and blackjack strategies. Al was a dedicated Roman Catholic ushering at St. Dennis for many years and also involved in many church building and renovation projects. His favorite book was the Mystical City of God a work of three large volumes devoted to Mary which he studied for many years. He prayed the rosary daily and attended Mass frequently. He was a believer in Christ man's noble heritage as made in God's image but also of man's need for redemption from sin. Al's defense of the weak among us led him to commit himself to protecting the unborn as a precinct delegate for Ronald Reagan his support of African-American equality in the '6

Published in Daily Tribune on January 9 2011.

Nancy (Gall) Gray age 46 passed January 4 2011. Beloved mother of Lauren Gray and Kirsten Gray. Loving sister of Bill (Sharon) Gall. Preceded in death by her mother Elizabeth (Lively) Gall and her father Jacob Gall. Memorial service Wednesday January 12 2011 at 11 a.m. at St. Columban's Catholic Church 1775 Melton Birmingham.

Published in Daily Tribune on January 9 2011.

Ingrid Haavisto Taylor of Royal Oak died January 5 2011 at Odyssey Hospice in Southfield Mich. The former Ingrid H. Haavisto was born October 19 1915 in Ironwood Mich; daughter of the late Heikki "Henry" and Hilja (SuoSaari) Haavisto; attended Ironwood schools and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1932. Ingrid met her future husband in Detroit. She also worked at Kresges for many years J.L. Hudson's and transferred to the Northland Center store the first mall in Michigan. She and her husband had their own business with Amway and Ingrid continued until she was 90. Ingrid was an active member of the Salvation Army in Royal Oak and a past member of the Royal Oak Wapiti Elks Auxiliary. Ingrid was very proud of her Finnish heritage. She wrote and spoke the language fluently. She was a first generation American and was the last of her generation in the American branch of the family. She was married to Charles H. Taylor on December 29 1937. Charles preceded her in death in October of 1993. They celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 1987. Surviving are a daughter Miriam (Clayton) Rund of Bessemer Mich; two sons Richard (Laura) Taylor of Clinton Township and Bruce Taylor of Royal Oak; six grandchildren Denise (Terry) Piotrowski of Roseville Deanna (Dwayne) Princler of Rochester Hills Jon Rund and James Rund of Wakefield Michelle (Chad) McPearson of Clinton Township and Andrew (Gail) Taylor of Roseville; eight great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and many cousins in Finland. Besides her parents and husband Ingrid was predeceased by two brothers Heikki "Henry" and Richard Haavisto of Ironwood; and three sisters Aileen Haavisto and Helia Longhini of Ironwood and Elsie Hnizda of Huntington Woods; sister-in-law Estelle Haavisto of Ironwood; brothers-in-law William Longhini of Ironwood and Dr. Vincent Hnizda of Huntington Woods; and a special cousin Eugene Haavisto. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5 p.m. until the time of the memorial service at 6 p.m. at the Salvation Army Royal Oak Citadel Corps 3015 N. Main Street Royal Oak. The inurnment will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer. The family requests no flowers. Arrangements by Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home Royal Oak 248-541-7000 www.sullivanfuneraldirectors.com.

Published in Daily Tribune on January 9 2011.