Claretta C. Prior, 94

Claretta C. Prior, age 94, of Lawton, Michigan, formerly of Huntingburg, Indiana, passed away peacefully Thursday, February 14, 2013 at White Oaks Assisted Living in Lawton, Michigan with her children present.

She was born December 17, 1918 in Huntingburg, Indiana to Felix and Cora (Yeager) Sermersheim. She was a long-time member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Portage, Michigan where she sang in the funeral choir.

Claretta was known as the “Avon Lady” to many of her friends and family; and she loved sports – especially a big fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Notre Dame. She followed all of her grandchildren’s sporting events and enjoyed watching sports on television.

Claretta was reunited with her beloved husband, Garnett Prior, on Valentine’s Day. They were married for 31 years until his passing in 1976. She was also preceded in death by: her parents, five brothers and two sisters.

She is survived by:

One daughter and one son-in-law,

Barbara (John) Baltmanis – Paw Paw, MI

One son and one daughter-in-law,

Joseph (Diane) Prior – Schoolcraft, MI

One sister,

Joan Fuhs – Huntingburg, IN

And four grandchildren, Amy (Bryan) Edwards, Julie Baltmanis, Kimberly (Bryce) Ingram, and Michael Prior; and by several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Claretta C. Prior will be held at 10:00 a.m., E.S.T., on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Huntingburg with burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery (Huntingburg).

Friends may call for visitation at the Nass & Son Funeral Home in Huntingburg from 5:00-8:00 p.m., on Tuesday. A parish rosary prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday evening, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Hospice Care of S.W. Michigan or St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church.