Bethany Eva Wiese

WIESE, Bethany Eva (Lawton) - age 70, of Fenton, died Saturday, September 1, 2007 at Spectrum Health Care in Grand Rapids. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Thursday, September 6, 2007 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Rd., Fenton. Interment will follow at Flint Memorial Park, Mt. Morris. Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-9 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Michigan Association for Retarded Citizens, 1004 Pinckney Rd., Suite 201, Howell, MI 48843. Mrs. Wiese was born April 21, 1937 in Flint, the daughter of Thomas A. and Frances Eva (Chisholm) Lawton. She married John Wiese on March 3, 1956. Mrs. Wiese was a progressive homemaker. She and her husband were fundamental leaders of the Association of Retarded Citizens in Genesee County and were instrumental in developing State aided programs for retarded citizens. She was active in the outdoors, enjoying fern gardening and interior decorating and was an avid collector of Native American artifacts and art. Mrs. Wiese was active in her children's lives, being a Girl Scout Leader and having one of the longest running Girl Scout Troops in Genesee County. She was a master baker and gourmet cook, a great seamstress and enjoyed reading and spending time at the beach in Ludington. Mrs. Wiese was also a real estate agent on Lake Shannon. Surviving are: husband, John of Fenton; four children, Carol Ann and husband, Robert McDonald of Naples, FL, Sara Lynne and husband, Kurt Jensen of Hudson, NH, Thomas Emil Wiese, PhD and wife, Suzanne of Metairie, LA, Paul Andrew Wiese of Lansing; three granddaughters, Stephanie Bates, Meredith Mitchell and Samantha Kobs; six great-grandchildren, Lars, Duncan and Conner Bates, Grace Mitchell and Carly and Eli Kobs; two brothers, Bruce Peter Lawton and wife, Joyce of Swartz Creek, Richard Thomas Lawton and wife, Mary Lynne of Eaton, OH; sister, Ruth Frances and husband, Mark O'Neill of Grand Blanc; two cousins, Dr. Peter Kilburn of Seattle, WA, Jane Kilburn of Port Townsend, WA; many nieces and nephews. Her parents preceded her in death. Friends may share an online condolence with the family on the obituaries page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.