Donald "Don" Earl Lloyd

  
Donald Earl Lloyd (October 29, 1939 – January 7, 2026)

Don Lloyd was born on October 29, 1939, to Roland Earl and Wilhelmena “Minnie” (VanderCreek) Lloyd. He was born in the farmhouse that his grandparents, Aaron Franklin and Martha J (Earl) Lloyd, built on their homestead in1890.

Early life was spent gathering eggs, milking cows, fishing, and visiting family. Under the guidance of his father, Don built a playhouse. He learned how to use carpentry tools, including a handsaw to cut all the boards. Don was twelve when his father died which placed a lot of responsibility on him. As a teenager, he worked as a farm hand for Pearl Richardson. He loved cars, going through quite a few transmissions. Don graduated from Marion High School in 1957. The highlight for him was going to Washington, D.C. for the senior trip.

Don met his “sweetheart” of 67 years, Jane Carr, while cruising the main street of Cadillac. They married on November 1, 1958, moved to Kalamazoo, and started their family. 

In Kalamazoo, Don worked as a carpenter apprentice for Ben Richards, Sr., formerly of Cadillac. When Ben moved back to Cadillac, Don forged a partnership with Kenny Cox who taught him the finer details of carpentry. Over the course of Don’s career, he framed approximately 645 houses. Work was important, and he instilled that importance in his children. After retirement from his carpenter/contracting business, he worked in landscaping, drove a lumber truck, and continued his firewood business. 

Don loved to drive and family vacations involved many excursions across the continent. Highlights were Alaska, Montreal, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, and the Grand Canyon/Mesa Verdes area. Don and Jane also enjoyed their weekend motorcycle journeys and a Viking Cruise through Europe.

Don was preceded in death by his mother and father; half-brother Joseph Clawson and his wife Johan; two half-sisters and their husbands, Betty and Mel Warner and Bertha (Clawson) and William Walton; brothers-in-law Elgene (Jay) Carr and Robert Henson; niece Diana Walton; and nephew Milton Walton.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Jane; their daughters and son, Teddie-Jean Phillipson-Mower (Rick Mower), Janis Hanchar (Jim), Linda Gorecki (Stan), Lisa Lloyd Hickman (BJ Jordan), and David Lloyd (Amiee); grandchildren Steven Phillipson, Eric Phillipson (fiancé Kim), Andrew Phillipson (fiancé Mal), Brian Gorecki, Joseph Gorecki, Madison Hickman, Emily Hickman, Lindsey Hickman, Zackary Lloyd, Ariah Jordan, Kenley Jordan and Sabrina Dando (Nate Whipple); great-grandchildren, Avery Sage Phillipson, Gia Jordan Trevino, and Alivia Whipple, and Tucker Whipple; sisters, Rose Marie Henson and Doris Bennett; brother and sister-in law, Ron and Glenda Lloyd; sisters-in-law, Jean and her husband Beau Montague, JoAnn Carr, Joyce Kage; brother-in-law and his wife, John and Debbie Carr; several nieces and nephews and their families, Ron (Cherry), Don, Judy, William, Julie, Ernie, Kim, James, Dawn, Audra, Mark, Robert, Jim, Joel, John, Jerry, James, Jason, Matthew; and several cousins and other family members. Especially close are Jesse and his wife Carolyn and their children Jesse (Molly) and Lori (Jim), Janet Goodwin, Roger (Luann) Anderson, Sandra Anderson, Donald Lee Lloyd (Darlene), and Derrick (Holly) Townsend and their families.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Marion Baptist Church, Marion, MI with public visitation beginning at noon and the memorial service at 1:00 PM. Pastor Mark Downing will officiate. 

Arrangements are being made by Fosnaught-Holdship Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Don Lloyd Marion Press Digitization Project at Central Michigan University’s Clarke Historical Library. Checks may be made payable to Central Michigan University with memo: Don Lloyd Memorial and sent to: Attn: CMU Gifts Processing, Carlin Alumni House, 524 East Bellow Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858. This project will begin the process of digitizing Marion newspaper microfilm from 1903 to 2011and make it freely accessible to the public.

The family thanks the amazing staff at the Health Center of Friendship Village of Kalamazoo and Elara Caring Hospice for making Don’s last days comfortable.

Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.Fosnaught-Holdship.com.

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