Cynthia Haslip

Cynthia Lea Haslip 67, passed away on July 8th, 2021, after a short-term battle from a failed liver transplant on June 5th, at Henry Ford hospital in Detroit. Her four children and mother were by her side. Cindy was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.

Cindy was born in Gaylord, MI to Lagona and Constance Butts on February 28th, 1954. She was the oldest daughter of four, two brothers and one sister. When Cindy was 17 she met Ray Haslip, instant love as she called it. At the age of 18 Ray and Cindy married and started their journey thru life together. In September of 1972 they welcomed their first son. Then in a matter of 7 years the two had three more children, two daughters, and another son. The family resided in Flint and Gaylord until they discovered Traverse City in 1981; they then made the move to Traverse to make that their permanent residence. Cindy was the co-founder of Ray’s Siding doing the accounting and all office procedures for the business. She knew numbers and worked the calculator very well. When Cindy was in high school she took business classes and used the knowledge she had to help build the company up while Ray worked the labor part of it. As the business grew, so did their relationship together.

In Cindy’s later years she loved having her family around. All of her children are located in the Traverse City area and would always stop at the house whether it would be just to say “Hi” or just “check in on things”. Cindy loved her flowers and would take great pleasure in working in her garden. She was also a scrapbooker, making photo albums for her children as they grew up. She loved to bake as well. At Christmas time there was always cookies sent home with the kids. Cindy loved cats and had many over the years. As Ray and Cindy aged, they would love to take rides to Gaylord to see family and friends. They would go have ice cream at Culver’s and loved their fish dinner. Cindy was very fond of her grandchildren and would watch them quite often.

Cindy is preceded in death by her husband, Ray Haslip (just short of 49 years in February); her father, Lagona Butts; one brother, Bruce Butts; her great grandmother, grandfather and a very special nephew, Bobbie Elzy.

Cindy is survived by her mother, Constance Butts; Brother, William Butts (Patti); sister, Kimberley Elzy (Ronald), all of Gaylord, MI; son, Ray Haslip (Jeannie) of Manton; daughter, Angela Mikowski (Kevin); daughter, Kristene Mesko (Terry); son, Robert Haslip all of Traverse City. 9 grandchildren and 2 great grand children.

Some say Cindy missed her husband and she would tell her kids that he visited her very often after he passed away in February of this year. The family says “Dad went first to get prepared for mom’s arrival”. We are sure they are traveling in heaven as they planned on doing this year to places they never got to see.

There is not a funeral planned at this time. The family is planning a memorial in the future for both Cindy and Ray.

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