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Eloise May (Forrest) Reath
Born: 12/14/1926
Died: 8/19/2025
Age: 98
Community: Funeral service will be held at Owosso First Church of the Nazarene, Owosso, MI
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Eloise May (Forrest) Reath, age 98, of Owosso, passed away Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at Owosso Memorial Healthcare Long Term Care, with her four children gathered by her side.
The family will receive friends at Nelson-House Funeral Home on Sunday from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 25, 2025, at Owosso First Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Jerry Walden officiating. Burial will take place at a later date at Deerfield Cemetery.
Born December 14, 1926, in Alpena, Michigan, Eloise was the youngest of Thomas and Florence (Clark) Forrest’s ten children. At just 16, after the loss of her mother, she moved in with her sister Myrtle and her family. Looking back on those days, she said simply: “With my dad out of the picture, no one knew what to do with me.”
World War II soon altered the course of her life. Eloise entered nursing studies through the Cadet Nurse Corps, which provided free education, room, and board in exchange for service. She later continued her studies at Michigan State University, combining her training in nursing and education. She lived in an apartment above a drugstore near campus, sunbathed on the rooftop, and shopped at Prince’s Market-where she met a young student and butcher named James Reath. He offered to grill her a steak at the park on Valentine’s Day, and from that chance meeting grew a lifetime together.
Eloise and James were married on June 21, 1952, at People’s Church in East Lansing. A June bride, Eloise soon began her next vocation as mother to four children. Together she and James built a home rooted in faith, hard work, and hospitality.
Eloise worked as a nurse for more than 30 years, much of it in geriatric care. She ended her career in a long-term care facility much like the one where she spent her final year, and she was deeply grateful for the kindness and skill of the nurses who cared for her at Memorial Healthcare.
She was a devoted member of Owosso First Church of the Nazarene and enjoyed cooking, sewing, crafts, and traveling. Most of all, she loved family gatherings-whether noisy holidays or simple visits, her family was her treasure.
She is survived by her children Michael (Pat) Reath, Steve (Kelly) Reath, Wendy Reath-Burns, and Ellen (Rick) White; 14 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her husband James, grandson Eric Reath, her parents, and her nine brothers and sisters.
Her family will remember her as a woman of faith, resilience, and quiet humor-who gave generously of herself, loved deeply, and lived with devotion to both her family and her God.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the family.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at Nelson-House.com. |
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| Visitation |
| Date: |
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8/24/2025 |
| Time: |
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12:00 PM |
| The family will receive friends at Nelson-House Funeral Home on Sunday from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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8/25/2025 |
| Time: |
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11:00 AM |
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| Location: |
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Owosso First Church of the Nazarene
1865 S. M-52
Owosso, MI 48867Get a Map to this location...
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| Official: |
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Pastor Jerry Walden |
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