Former Lake supervisor dies of ALS
Barry Dean Poindexter

Barry Dean Poindexter, 56, Houghton Lake, died March 14, 2009, at his home, surrounded by his family.
A service was held March 17 at Christler Funeral Home, Houghton Lake Chapel. Interment will be in Lake Township Cemetery. Condolences may be shared at www.christler-holdship.com.

Mr. Poindexter was born May 19, 1952, in Breckenridge, the son of Frank and Clarice (Doty) Poindexter. He moved to Houghton Lake in 1978 and owned and operated Tradewinds Resort and Party Store on the West Shore. After selling the resort, he worked eight years with Region 7-B, now known as Michigan Works! He was an employment specialist and enjoyed working with employers and potential employees trying to fit needs together for the advantage of both. While with Region 7-B, he also worked with local agencies and service organizations with their relationship with the State of Michigan, gaining much knowledge of how the system of government works.

He went on to become the grant writer for Houghton Lake Community Education for more than 13 years. He specialized in obtaining many grants to assist people in reaching their employment and family support needs.

For the past four years, Mr. Poindexter was Lake Township Supervisor, obtaining funding through grants to improve services for Lake Township residents.

He and the former Sherry Vanderhoof were united in marriage Sept. 17, 1994. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, along with being with his family. He had been a coach and umpire with Houghton Lake Little League for many years and was involved in the starting of the Houghton Lake soccer leagues about 20 years ago.

Surviving Mr. Poindexter are his wife, Sherry Poindexter of Houghton Lake; son, Nick and his wife Nicole Poindexter of Higgins Lake; two daughters, Jessica Vanderhoof of Houghton Lake and Jennifer Vanderhoof of Houghton Lake; five grandchildren; his parents, Frank and Clarice Poindexter of Breckenridge; three sisters, Joleen and her husband Gary Lewis of Wheeler, Colette and her husband Mike Corgan of Shepherd and Jenny and her husband Greg Keller of Traverse City; two brothers, Lynn and his wife Janice Poindexter of Wheeler and Steve and his wife Rosie Poindexter of Saginaw; mother-in-law, Barbara Cone of Somerset Center; brother-inlaw, Alan and his wife Shannon Vanderhoof of Perry; and several nieces and


Funeral services were held for Barry Poindexter, former Lake Township supervisor, Tuesday. The 56-year-old Poindexter had resigned from his position in January following a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig's Disease (see obituary on A3).