Arley Bessie Lake

1918 - 2017

Lake, Arley Bessie of Chelsea, MI, formerly of Warren, MI, age 98, died Saturday, June 17, 2017 at the Chelsea Retirement Community. She was born July 21, 1918 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Harry Dorr and Louise Georgia (Nieding) Critchett. Arley worked at Detroit Bank and Trust as a bookkeeper and teller. She was a church musician at age 16, being an organist most of those years (53 years at East Detroit Evangelical United Brethren). She lived in Warren for 32 years, coming to Chelsea in1991. In retirement, Arley continued her playing at the Chelsea Retirement Community Chapel. She taught Sunday School for many years. Arley held many local and district offices as a member of the United Methodist Women. She was a member of the Chelsea First United Methodist Church. On May 23, 1942, she married Edward Charles Lake in East Detroit, and he preceded her in death on December 9, 2011. Survivors include a son, Donald Lake of Ypsilanti; a son-in-law Michael Rivard; two grandchildren, Andrew (Carla) Rivard and Matthew Rivard; two great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Edith Rivard and Carol Lake; a brother John; and a sister Dorothy Bradt.Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 21, 1:30 pm at Chelsea Retirement Community Chapel, with Rev. Cathy Rafferty and Rev. Joy Barrett officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Chelsea. The family will receive friends Tuesday 5-8 pm at Cole Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the UMRC Foundation.