It is with great sadness that we announce the home going of our beloved mother, Eleanor Ruth (Benjamin) Horton, 95, of Haslett, who passed peacefully on April 23, 2025, at Dobie Road - Ingham County Medical Care Facility. 

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at Watkins Brothers Funeral Homes, Perry Chapel. Pastor Tim Rader will be officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow to Roselawn Cemetery. 

Eleanor was born at home, near Williamston, Michigan, on December 30, 1929 to Clyde and Edith (Vorce) Benjamin.

Eleanor spent her early years on family farms near Williamston and Morrice, where she developed a strong work ethic. She met the love of her life, Ellis Horton, in Morrice and they married on October 18, 1947. They had 5 daughters and 1 son, but sadly only got to raise 3 daughters. As a couple they moved a few times Morrice, Williamston, Webberville, Perry, Pickford, Beaverton, and Coleman. After Ellis passed, Eleanor also lived in Stanton before moving to Haslett.

Eleanor was an industrious homemaker and farm wife. Her days were filled with cooking, cleaning, gardening, canning, sewing, hanging wallpaper, and running errands for the farm. She always loved to sew and made many outfits for herself and her daughters. In her last few years, she made quilts, handbags, and embroidered wall hangings. Even after her stroke, she continued to do embroidery work every day. She also loved to bake and contributed to many a sweet tooth. She only worked outside the home a couple of times, doing restaurant work in Coleman and at motels in Sault Ste Marie, cleaning and front desk.

The stroke, which she had nearly 11 years ago, took away some of her independence, but with the help of her daughter, Linda (and more recently Gloria, as well) Eleanor was able to live on her own until a month before her death.

Eleanor is survived by daughters Linda (Luke) Schmidt of Bath, Gloria Horton of Morrice, and Janet (Sam) Nettleton of Campobello, South Carolina; grandchildren Nikki (Jeremy) Gubry of Bath, Jason (Jamie) Schmidt of Dewitt, Amy (Jose‘) Baca of Utah, Matthew (Heather) Duffield of Alaska, Joel (Rita) Duffield of Alaska, Sam (Paula) Nettleton of Kincheloe, Amanda (Jay Margherio) Nettleton of Newberry, Jeremiah (Ashley) Nettleton of Sault Ste Marie; great grandchildren Chris (Haley) Gubry, Madison and Rylie Gubry, Katelyn and Evan Schmidt, Joshua and Ryan Baca, Jasmine, Rachel, Kael, Talise, Hayden, and Serenity Duffield, Kayla Olmstead, Jennie, Marcus and Carley Nettleton, Sebastian Patterson, Iris and Asher Nettleton, Cisco Cuevas; great great-grandchildren Luka Gubry, Dayton, Winona, and Elliott Olmstead, Camilla Brown, Nova Zellar, and Camilla Cuevas; and many nephews and nieces.

Eleanor was predeceased by her parents; husband Ellis Horton; son Clyde Horton; daughters Helen and Sandra Horton; grandson Timothy Duffield; great grandchildren Antonio Baca and Lily Duffield; brothers Walter (Ellen) Benjamin, Ray (Lena) Benjamin, Ralph (Noreen) Benjamin, Elmer Benjamin; sisters Marjorie (Tom) Pavlica, Helen (Chuck) Beach, Betty (Ed) Kesson, Bonnie (Russell) Robertson.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.watkinsfuneralhomes.com