WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — Between the corgis and cats and snakes, it was always a menagerie at his brother’s house, said Dave Lareau.
“They always had names like ‘Jared’ and ‘George,’” the 72-year-old said. “He would give all his animals people names.”
Earnest William Lareau Jr., Dave’s brother, died April 13 after being struck by a vehicle near Washtenaw and Foster Avenues while crossing the street, according to Pittsfield Township police. He was 76.
In recent years, the pair would often talk about politics and animals during their monthly phone calls, Dave said.
Earnest, known to his family as Bill, was born in North Carolina in 1947 as the oldest of four siblings. His family moved frequently, and Earnest attended three different high schools in New Jersey and Oregon by the time he graduated, Dave said.
After graduating from the University of Oregon, he spent time in Washington, California and …