Brenda Lea Onstott

Brenda Lea Onstott ( Egbert ) age 67 of Manistee died on Saturday October 25, 2025 at
Medilodge in Tawas City, MI, From a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was born
on April 21, 1958, the daughter of the late Gary and Iladene Egbert at Wilcox Hospital in Alma, MI. She graduated from Alma High School in 1976.
Brenda was a Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and Great Aunt. She had a kind
loving heart that made her so special. Brenda had the most beautiful smile and laugh,
that brightened up any room. Her beautiful smile will be greatly missed by her children,
grandchildren and family.
In the years before Brenda's illness she loved cooking, baking, gardening and riding on
the motorcycle with her companion of 23 yrs James Ralph Brilhart. Brenda also as a child
loved to go camping with her mom and dad and her sister Judy and often talked about
those memories and how much she enjoyed those times.
Brenda was employed at the House of Flavors in Manistee from the early 90's to about
2002. Then she moved to Ashley, Mi and worked at JCPenny as a Visual Specialist, in
Alma MI until she retired in 2016, After the death of her companion James Brilhart in Feb. 2024, Brenda came back to Manistee from Ithaca and lived with her daughter Jessica and, son in law Steven Carey
and granddaughters Payge and Emma Carey for a precious year. Until her disease
progressed and she was admitted into Medilodge Of Tawas, City MI in March 2025 until
her death in October 25, 2025. Brenda was adored by all the nurses and staff at the
facility and they had a nickname for her of " Miss Brenda Lou " she also in return loved
her nurses and caretakers and hugged them often as they did her.
Brenda is survived by her daughter Jessica and Steven Carey of Manistee, her son Eric Onstott of Manistee, her sister Judy and John Martinez of Genesee, CO six
grandchildren, Brayden Cole of Ypsilanti, Mi, Jozef Cole of Manistee, Harlie Onstott of
Manistee, Emma and Payge Carey of Manistee and Brylee Onstott of Manistee. Brenda
is also survived by an Aunt Velma Spicer ( Lettick ) of St. Louis, Mi. Nephews Nick and
Mary Martinez of Highlands Ranch, CO, Chad and Deirdra Martinez of Centennial, CO
and numerous cousins and great nieces and nephews.
Brenda was proceeded in death by her daughter Angela Elizabeth Onstott in 1998, her
parents Gary and Iladene Egbert in 2016 and James Ralph Brilhart in 2024.
Cremation for Brenda has taken place at Cremation Society Of Mid - Michigan in Bay City
. A Celebration Of Life is planned for Brenda on November 21, 2025 at Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church in Manistee with a visitation for family and friends starting at 10:00am a
service to honor Brenda at 11:00am and with a luncheon to follow at 12:00pm.
A private burial for Brenda and James Ralph Brilhart will take place at Oak Grove
Cemetery in Manistee at a later date. Where Brenda will be laid to rest next to her
daughter Angela.