J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home

08/26/2026

Many of us will become a caregiver at some point in our lives. The stress and strain of caregiving can take a toll on your health. It’s important to find ways to care for yourself while caring for others. Depending on your circumstances, some self-care strategies may be more difficult to carry out than others. Choose what works for you. Read more: https://bit.ly/3HtWCYC

08/24/2026

08/24/2026

Vera Belle Simpson passed on August 19, 2026, at the age of 94. She was a resident of Albion, Michigan.

A Family Hour will be held at Grace Temple Church of God in Christ, 711 Grace St, Albion, MI, on September 5, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by a Home Going Celebration at the same location on September 5, 2026, beginning at 11:00 am.

A full obituary is coming soon, please check back later. In the meantime, please feel encouraged to share memories, photos, condolences and/or comments of love and support with Vera's family through this online guest book.

Celebrate the life of Vera Simpson, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home.

08/24/2026

Our dearly loved Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Uncle, Brother, and Husband, left his Earthly home to be forever in his Heavenly home with his Lord and Savior on August 16, 2026 at home with his family at his bedside. His loved ones, family and friends that have gone ahead of him were eagerly awaiting his arrival with open arms. Jesus patted him on the back and said welcome home son, well done!

Raymond Sheldon Hoag Jr. was born in April of 1938 to Raymond Sheldon Hoag Sr. and Bessie Ruth (Keck) Hoag. He was one of three children, having an older brother, Kip, and a younger sister, Sue.

Ray graduated from Albion Senior High School in 1955. In his yearbook it stated how he enjoyed choir, and even what his favorite food was. It also mentioned how he was going to join the service after high school. After high school, he joined the national air and army guards. He was actually deployed and was en route when they called them back home.

In September of 1959, Ray married Lois Ann Collins in Albion, MI. They had two children, Rick and Sharon. Ray and Lois were married for 41 years until her passing in February 2001.

Ray then met Leneah Powell in Bellevue, MI and they were married in February of 2004. Leneah passed in January 2007, and Ray was heartbroken for a second time.

Ray went on to find love for a third time with “Sis” Doris Hayes from Pennsylvania. They spent 19 years together. 16 of which they spent travelling to Florida for the winters and they would go between Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Ray loved and enjoyed many things in life. Cars being one of his favorite things. You could see him light up when talking about his cars. Burgandy/red being his favorite vehicle color. Golfing was his other passion. He said he should’ve been a pro golfer. He was very precise in his game and could teach anyone his techniques (mainly because you did it over until you did it correctly). He played every day the weather permitted.

Ray’s love for choir and singing continued throughout his life. He sang karaoke and in church. He also enjoyed dancing. Ray loved his family. He was the protector, the fixer, the rock. He had a tough love mentality but his family always knew he would do anything for them. He attended the birthday parties, graduations, weddings, sporting events and even participated in family game day shenanigans. His laugh and smile will be missed.

Ray’s love for God was his strongest trait. His faith and beliefs he held steadfast throughout all the struggles he faced along his journey. During a surgery, he saw a glimpse of Heaven but had to come back to tell his family that it’s very real.

Ray was a member of the Marengo Methodist Church for many years. He was also part of Family Altar Bible Church in Battle Creek, MI, as well as, attending church services in Florida when he was there.

Ray was a hard-working man. In his younger years, he worked for Tom Felpausch in Albion, MI, Corning Glass for a short time before working alongside his dad at Union Steel. In the early 1970’s, he began his career with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department. He began in the Animal Control Division and later went on to be in the Corrections Division, of which he retired from in 1999. Ray was very proud of this service with the department. Ray was also a member of the Marshall Rotary and Exchange Club.

Ray is survived by his significant other, Sis, his son, Rick (Tammy) Hoag, daughter, Sharon (Brian) Nelson, granddaughter, Heather (Darrek) Chichester, grandson, Jake Hoag (Tiffany), granddaughter, Kayla Nelson (Doug), granddaughter Katie (Cody) Seedorff, grandson, Matt Nelson (Ricky), great-grandchildren, Makenzie Chichester (Marcus), Hudson Chichester, Hailey and Khloe Elkins, Lee Bregg, Patrick and Lanna Seedorff, Taylor Hoag, David and Gavin Chapman, and Parker Behling, and sister, Sue Payne of Jackson, MI. Ray is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, friends, and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sheldon and Bessie Hoag, brother and sister-in-law, Kip and Bonnie Hoag, in-laws, Castle and Alice Collins, and wives, Lois Hoag and Leneah Hoag.

Services will be held at J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home in Albion, MI, with visitation on August 27th from 6:00PM – 8:00PM and services with Pastor Travis Davis officiating on August 28th at 1:00PM. Internment will follow at Albion Memory Gardens at 2:30PM following the service.

Donations may be made to Dementia/Alzheimer’s Awareness.

Celebrate the life of Raymond Hoag, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home.

08/21/2026

The Bo people, a community who lived in China's Sichuan and Yunnan regions, overlooking the longest river in Asia, were referred to "sons of the cliffs." The tribe vanished, but it left behind the Hanging Coffins of Asia. There is no confirmed explanation for these cliffside burials, but theorists believe they could have been a way for the bodies to be nearer to God or avoid being broken apart by wild animals.

https://bit.ly/3xXiFUv

08/20/2026

An alternative to traditional ground burial, a mausoleum is a final resting place above the earth.

An alternative to traditional ground burial, a mausoleum is a final resting place above the earth in a building or enclosure. A variety of factors will influence cost, such as type, size and location in the cemetery and geography.

08/16/2026

Whether you choose in-ground burial, above ground entombment or an option for cremation, cemetery property provides a final resting place for family and friends to visit and reflect on your legacy. Dignity Memorial® cemeteries offer a wide range of burial options, and Dignity Memorial professionals are here to help you choose the property that best suits the personal wishes, family preferences and cultural traditions of you or your loved one. Watch this video to see these different options:

There are several types of cemetery properties and different burial options. Learn more about in-ground and aboveground options for you and your loved one.

08/14/2026

As the name suggests, the Merry Cemetery is filled with wildly colorful grave markers that often depict scenes from the lives of the deceased. The goal is to create a true representation of the departed's life.

08/13/2026

Thomas Nelson Shedd of Albion, Michigan passed away on July 2, 2026. He was born on February 2, 1950, to Reta Payne Shedd and George Shedd.

Tom was a sheriff deputy and sergeant with Calhoun County for 20 years. He was a firefighter, EMT, chief of police, and after retirement, a salesperson at Schupbach’s Sporting Goods. He loved to hunt and play golf with his buddies.

Tom was born and raised in Albion. He was baptized, married, and will be interred at St. James Episcopal Church in Albion.

He died peacefully in his sleep at Henry Ford Hospital Jackson after a five-year battle with renal failure and heart disease.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Kitty Brautigam; daughter, Meaghan (Shedd) Caine of Holt, son-in-law, Justin Caine, and granddaughters Felecity and Silas. He also leaves his brother, James Stahl of Albion; sister, Janine Stahl of Reading; his special friends, Eric and Cheryl Krause. He had many nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and cousins. He considered all law enforcement members his friends. He leaves his rescue dogs, Betsy and Penny, in the loving care of his wife.

Tom is preceded in death by his father, George Shedd, mother, Reta Shedd Stahl, stepfather, Richard Stahl, and brother, Eric Stahl.

A visitation will take place on August 13, 2026, from 5:00PM – 7:00PM at J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home, 811 Finley Drive, Albion, MI. A funeral service will be held the following day, August 14, 2026, at 11:00AM at St. James Episcopal Church, 119 W. Erie St., Albion, MI.

Memorials can be made to Jackson County Animal Shelter (a no kill facility) or St. James Episcopal Church, Albion, Michigan.

Celebrate the life of Thomas Shedd, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home.

08/13/2026

Margaret (Peg) Ann Mitz passed away on August 1, 2026, in Plymouth, Michigan. Peg was born on June 12, 1938, to Frederick and Gladys Mitz of Albion, Michigan. She graduated from Washington Gardner High School in 1956 and from Western Michigan University in 1961 with degrees in Spanish and History. She married Leon E. Poirier III the same year and they made their home in Battle Creek. In 1966, they had a son, David J. Poirier. Her marriage to Leon ended in divorce in 2000.

Peg worked as an Executive Assistant at the Battle Creek office of the Social Security Department until the mid-1970s. She also worked for her mother’s business in Albion, Albion Lettershop, throughout her high-school years and then again in the 1980s until 1987. Peg moved to Charlevoix, Michigan in December 1999, where her mother retired and sister Patricia Carland lived. While in Charlevoix, she was active in the community, volunteering for the Charlevoix Senior Center, the Charlevoix United Methodist Church and the Charlevoix Area Hospital Foundation.

Peg enjoyed singing, quiz and game shows (Jeopardy! and Match Game were her favorites), word games, cards, golf, genealogy and desktop publishing. She took great pride in attending her son’s many sporting and academic events. She was a loving “dog mom” to the family dogs, Bing, Sparkle and Goldie. Peg was a champion of the underdog and known for her sense of humor and kindness to others.

Preceding Peg in death were her parents Frederick (1941) and Gladys (2002) and her ex-husband Leon (2023). Surviving are her son, David Poirier, of Plymouth and her sister, Patricia (Michael) Carland of Charlevoix. She will be interned at Riverside Cemetery in Albion. Any contributions may be given to the Humane Society of South-Central Michigan.

Celebrate the life of Margaret Mitz, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home.