Ralph J. Laya

Ralph John Laya, 77, of Sand Point, died Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at his home while under hospice care.

Ralph was born October 24, 1934 in Detroit to the late Joseph and Anna (Rose) Laya. He graduated from Harper Woods High School in 1953. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War. On August 16, 1958 he married Shirley Hammerle at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Detroit.

Ralph retired as a power plant operator for Detroit Edison at the Connor Creek plant in 1999, having worked 33 years there. In 2003 he moved from St. Clair Shores to Sand Point. He was a member of St. Roch Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed stamp and coin collecting.

He is survived by his wife Shirley; children Gregory of Ohio, Patricia (Edward) Zajdel of Virginia, Rochelle (Vincent) Deane of Sterling Heights, and Karen (Robert) Roock of Dearborn; grandchildren Robert (Virginia) Beck of Tennessee and Jade Roock of Dearborn; and sister Frances (Edward) Wilson of St. Clair Shores.

He was preceded in death by his sister Natalie Turpin and brother Richard Laya.

A funeral mass will be at 11:00 am Friday at St. Roch Catholic Church with Rev. Robert Pare presiding. Military honors will be presented by the Caseville American Legion. Interment will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Weare, Michigan.

Visitation will be 3 to 8 pm Thursday at the Champagne Funeral Chapel of Caseville. His body will lie in-state one hour prior to mass in church on Friday. There will be a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7:30 Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Dominican Literacy Center in Detroit or the Michigamme English Setter Club. Condolences may be shared at www.cfcCaseville.com