Charlotte Rife

Rife, Charlotte - Age 71, of  Fenton. Funeral services will be held  1 PM Wednesday, June 22 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel,  1000 Silver Lake Rd., Fenton. Interment in Fairview Cemetery, Linden. Visitation will be held  2-8 PM Tuesday, June 21; and 12-1 PM Wednesday, June 22. Those desiring may make contributions to the Deerfield Church. Charlotte Matney Rife was born December 9, 1950 to Henry and America Matney of Laurel Creek Hurley, Virginia. Charlotte met her husband Leroy Rife when they were students at Hurley High School. They married and moved to Fenton, Michigan where they raised their family. They were blessed with two sons Ryan and Brad Rife and a daughter Robyn (Tibbitts) Rife. Two grandsons Zakk Rife and Nick Tibbitts. Having raised her children Charlotte went back to school and got her associates degree in business administration at Clinch Valley College, Claypool Hill Virginia where she met and made friends with many of the students there. Upon moving back to Michigan she worked at Fenton Family Medical until she retired. Charlotte was a member of the Deerfield Primitive Baptist Church. Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and America Matney; husband, Leroy Rife; three brothers, Carl, Junior, and Ernie Matney; brother-in-law, Bill Mullins; two sisters, Naomi Spencer and Pearl Tate. Charlotte left us to go be with her savior Jesus Christ June 11, 2022 following a long illness. She left behind to love and cherish her memory her children, grandchildren, brother Paul and Pam Matney, sisters Lydia and Charles Justus, Ruby and Dave Hampton and Ada Clevinger. Charlotte has a large number of nieces, nephews and cousins that loved her dearly and she loved them. Charlotte loved gardening and decorating her home. Time spent with family was important to Charlotte. She loved and enjoyed the many trips with Leroy and her family in addition to the twice yearly "siblings visit" to Virginia with Ruby, Paul and Ada. She so looked forward to our yearly "Matney girls trips" they won't be the same without Charlotte and Naomi to join us. We will love and honor them each year. In addition to immediate family Charlotte was loved and will be missed by sisters-in-law Jean (Matney) Nichols and Artha (Matney) Otto, two brothers-in-law, Steve Spencer and Doug Clevinger.
Charlotte's beautiful smile and sweet hugs will be with us forever. Let us not dwell on the sickness and pain but let us reminisce on what was a beautiful life.

Charlotte my sister; my friend: A slow walk down memory lane taking down the photo album from a dusty shelf. Our fingers touch the crumpled pages and a smile spreads our face from looking at the faded images. Not only does the story tell our childhood but our friendship. Growing up hand and hand then going our separate ways. Getting lost and stumbling knowing we can depend on each other. Excited for holidays and counting the days until you would arrive. Wiping away a tear when life gets to much. Laughing and talking until daylight. Your life was full you savored much. My hear breaks your time was brief  but I won't falter with undue grief. There's something God has given us more than family; he placed a love for you, my sister, deep down in the heart of me. Always, Ada.