Edward Pethers, former Battalion Chief of the Flint Fire Department, died Tuesday surrounded by family. He was 72. Mr. Pethers, a 1958 graduate of Davison High school, worked for several years at the Chevrolet Plant in Flint before joining the Fire Department. He retired after 25 years of service to the city.
Ed was married to his high school sweetheart, the former Lynda Morgan, for more than 54 years. He often said the luckiest day of his life was when he met this pretty girl at locker number 159.
As a young man, Ed operated a small farm, growing wheat on 80 acres. At the same time, he invested in real estate, and, along with Lynda, managed several rental properties-all while working in "the shop" or fire department. He was a jack of all trades; an amateur auto mechanic (back when GM vehicles could be worked on in your garage), electrician, plumber and carpenter. He repaired almost anything that broke, and if he couldn't fix it, that usually meant it couldn't be fixed.
Ed was an avid ruffed grouse and deer hunter, trout fisherman and all-around outdoorsman. He was passionate about nature, its power and its beauty. He once said that he loved to hunt, but it was really just an excuse to go for a walk in the woods. He enjoyed nothing more than going to that magical place called "Up North", especially the north woods of Upper Michigan and the Canadian wilderness. He had a hunting cabin in Ontonagon County named "Little Creek Camp," and made many fly-in fishing/canoe trips to Northern Ontario.
In addition to his beloved wife, Ed is survived by his daughter, Sherry, son John, daughter Kathy Klemkow, brothers Bob and Mike, and sister Ruth Avitts, along with grandchildren Sarah, Eric, Molly and Hannah, great-grandchildren Nathan and Persephone, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Louise, and an infant brother, Georgie.
Per Ed's wishes he has been cremated. His ashes will be thrown to the wind and spread in the woods in the vicinity of Ten-Mile and Sisson-Lilley Creeks in the Upper Peninsula.
Visitation with the family will be from 2:00 – 4:00 and 6:00 – 8:00 pm Monday April 1, 2013 at the Hansen Funeral Home, 421 Main St. Davison, A Memorial Service will be conducted at 12:00 noon Tuesday April 2, 2013 at St. John the Evangelist Parish, 404 N. Dayton St. Davison. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Ed's honor to The Nature Conservancy, Tribute No. 12728355, 4245 N. Fairfax Dr. Suite 100, Arlington, VA. 22203. Share your condolences at www.hansenfuneralhome.net