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KNIGHT, LORRAINE LaBELLE, 96, of Oro Valley, AZ, formerly Mt. Pleasant, MI, passed away on Tuesday, November 17, 2015, in Oro Valley, AZ.

Born October 28, 1919 to Fred and Alma (Gerth) Link in Sebewaing, Huron County , Michigan. She was the 5th of 7 children. At the age of 5 the family moved to Saginaw, Michigan where she grew up and graduated from Michigan Lutheran Seminary. Lorraine married Norman LaBelle on May 17, 1941. Norman was drafted into the Navy in 1943 and was sent to the war in the Pacific and was gone for over 2 years. Lorraine having one child and pregnant for a second child, went to live with her parents until Norman returned home after the war ended in 1946.

In 1947 the family moved to Mt. Pleasant, MI. where Norm and Lorraine went into the used car business with Cliff Turner. Two more children were born in ’48 and ’49. Norm and Lorraine built the first of several restaurants in 1948 calling it the ‘Pixie”; it is still operating to this day.
In 1958, the LaBelles joined with Clarence Tuma and opened the Embers Restaurant, and in 1967 sold their interest to Mr Tuma. The LaBelles continued to expand the businesses and during this entire period Lorraine helped in all the LaBelle businesses, the Embers, the Pixie, the Sweet Onion as Hostess, bookkeeper, payroll and accounts payable functions.

Lorraine was very active in the Mt. Pleasant community and her church. Her community involvement included the American Cancer Society for 25 years, 12 of which were as Chair of Volunteer Activities for Isabella County, a volunteer at CMCH Hospital, a member of the Zonta Club of Mt Pleasant, and the Tourist Club for 25 years. She was also named in “Who’s Who in America” in 1969.

After 31 wonderful years, Norman passed away suddenly in April, 1972. In September of 1973, Lorraine married Eugene Knight. Eugene and Lorraine were also co-developers of Beau Pre Condominiums in Mt Pleasant. After 27 more wonderful years, Eugene passed away in July, 2000. Lorraine continued to live in Arizona and Michigan and had great friends in both locals.

She is survived by her sons, Bart (Sarah), Doug (Missy) all of Scottsdale, AZ and northern Michigan; daughters Janice of Florida, Sue (Gary) Forrest of Tucson, AZ and Dayton, Ohio;
step family members Susan Knight of Mt Pleasant, Dennis (Linda) Knight of Sarasota, Florida, Kay (Richard) Wantland of Saginaw, Michigan; as well as over 60 grand and great grand children, whom she always called her Treasures. She was preceded in death by her parents, step-son Gary Knight, sisters Vera and Marion, brothers Edward Link, Walter (Tuffy), Frederick (Fritzie) and John.

Funeral Services for Lorraine will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 3, 2015, at Immanuel Lutheran Church with Pastor Dana Hendershot officiating. Interment will follow in Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:30-6:30 on Wednesday, December 2, at Clark Family Funeral Chapel. Visitation will continue the day of service from 9:30-10:30 at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

In lieu of flowers, Lorraine requested memorials be sent to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 320 S. Bradley Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858, Woodland Hospice, 2597 S. Meridian Road, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858, or Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, 2250 E. Broadway Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85719, Attention: Splendido School Fund.

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