Jerry Lee Houghton, 77 of Bronson passed away on Friday, May 13, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center. He died peacefully, surrounded by family.

A funeral service will take place at 10:30 AM at on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Dutcher Funeral Home in BRONSON with Rev. Fr. Richard Fritz of St. Mary of Assumption Church officiating. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be at Dutcher Funeral Home in COLDWATER on Monday, May 16, 2016 from 4-8:00 PM, with Rosary being recited at 7:30.

Jerry was born July 7, 1938 at Sturgis Hospital in Sturgis, Michigan to Elmer Seymore and Doris Iva (Smith) Houghton, Sr. He graduated from Bronson High School as Salutatorian of the Class of 1956. Jerry married the love of his life, Anne Marie Schlautmann on May 9, 1959 in Bronson, MI.

Jerry’s accounting career began as an accounting assistant for Maurice J. Ryan, C.P.A. in Sturgis followed by working for the Gulf Oil Company, Toledo, Ohio; Bronson Specialties, Inc., Bronson and Associated Truck Lines, Coldwater. He later opted to be self-employed and worked in a number of roles from running a local Hobby Shop in Coldwater, to providing tax preparation services for a large number of local residents.
He enjoyed all team sports and spent many weekends over the years playing baseball, football, and basketball with his boys and their friends as they were growing up. For a number of years Jerry was a coach of the UCT Little League baseball team along with Tom Duke.

Jerry’s hobbies included stamp collecting, solving Sudoku puzzles, reading, jigsaw puzzles, and watching the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Lions as well as University of Michigan football. Jerry was also very much into politics and spent many hours watching the Congressional proceedings on the TV. Jerry especially enjoyed family gatherings with the eating, the camaraderie, and the many family pinochle games. He was always very proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 57 years, Anne, his children Mark David (Patty) Houghton of Bronson; Michael Elmer (Kyle) Houghton of Morgantown, West Virginia; Matthew Alan (Karen) Houghton of Lake Zurich, Illinois; Mary Christine (David) Cleveland of Reading, Michigan; and Martin Bradley (Elena) Houghton of Crofton, Maryland; his brother Elmer S. (Jacqueline) Houghton, Jr. of Wayland, Michigan; his sisters Helen Jean Roussey of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Judith A. Tracy of Bronson; his brother-in-law Fred (Janet) Schlautmann, Sr. of Bronson, sister-in-law’s Lillian Schlautmann of Port Huron, MI and Judith A. Garijo of Marysville, MI; his grandchildren Amy Marie (Jeremy) Bucklin of Sturgis, Tracy Marie (AJ Hurd) Houghton of Bronson, Erin Kay (Rob Boyd)Houghton and Morgan Adar (Joshua Myers) Houghton of Morgantown, WV; Cassandra Lyn Houghton, Stephanie Lyn Houghton, Kristie Lyn Houghton, and Jessica Anne Houghton of Lake Zurich, IL; Samantha Marie Cleveland of Reading, MI; Alexander Nicholas Houghton and Zachary Martin Houghton of Crofton, MD; and two step-grandchildren Kimberly (David) Pyle of Silver Lake, IN and Casey (Elle) Hockett of Durango, CO; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces & nephews. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law’s Pete E. Garijo, Henry E. Schlautmann, and Keith W. Tracy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Friends of the Bronson Library, St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church or a charity of your choosing. www.dutcherfh.com