Leonard William "Bill" Cartwright

      Leonard William "Bill" Cartwright, age 77, of Ashley, MI, passed away Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at his home.
      A Memorial Service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, MI, at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 11, 2025, with Pastor Kathy Leydorf-Keck officiating. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 12:00 P.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Burial will take place at North Star Cemetery, North Star, MI at a later date.
     Bill was born in St. Johns, Michigan on September 3, 1947, the son of Francis LeRoy and Gladys (Kidder) Cartwright. He graduated from Fulton High School with the Class of 1966. On April 24, 1971, Bill married Linda Jean Boeskool at St. Cyril's Catholic Church in Bannister, MI. They were blessed with 54 years of marriage.
     Bill retired from General Motors after 38 years and was an active union member. He coached boys and girls basketball and baseball in Fulton and Ashley. Bill played softball for many years at North Star and travel softball on the weekends. Bill & his family enjoyed following Marty playing baseball at Olivet and Jeremy playing football at Ferris State. He proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1966-1968 during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the E.J. Werner Post 3733 in Fowler.
     He is survived by his wife Linda Cartwright, son Marty Cartwright, daughter-in-law Carolyn Cartwright, his sister Mary Jo (David) Redman, brother-in-law Dean Ball, and sister-in-law Connie Cartwright. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law David & Ann Boeskool of Shelby Twp., MI; his sister-in-law Marcia (Mel) Zimmerman of Lake City, MI; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law: Ken and Tillie Boeskool, son Jeremy, six siblings: Charles Cartwright, JoAnn (Norman) Johnson, JeanAnn Ball, Susan (Melvin) Poling, Margaret (John) Wise, and Thad Cartwright.
     Memorials may be made to A Charity of the Donor's Choice. Online condolences may be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, Michigan.