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August 11, 2012

Beatrice Mary (Jewell) Lavender

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HONOR — Beatrice Mary (Jewell) Lavender, 88, passed into eternal glory and peace at her beloved cabin in Honor on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. She was born to Estle and Edna (Fast) Jewell in Thompsonville on July 22, 1924.

She attended school in Honor and was the only member of her family to graduate high school.

While working in Detroit during the Second World War, she met and married Raymond Morris Lavender in March of 1944. Together she and Raymond raised five children in Muskegon until his death in June of 1958.

Beatrice lost her dear husband in a small plane crash. She managed not only to successfully raise her children but also enrolled in college herself, obtaining a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Western Michigan University.

Beatrice taught for many years in the inner city schools of Muskegon County.

She was a certified Master Gardener and also possessed numerous other talents and hobbies, including wood carving, oil and acrylic painting, poetry, ecology wild life rehabilitation and card playing. She especially enjoyed fishing. She loved the out of doors, enjoyed walks in the woods, picking mushrooms and berries and climbing trees. She loved sharing her knowledge of nature with her children and students.

Bea was always devout and supportive of her church affiliations and for the past several years was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of Bear Lake. She was an active Sunday School teacher and church leader over the years, providing altar flowers each Sunday from her garden. She also supported a number of charities in the area and worldwide.

Beatrice is survived by her five children, Phillip (Ginny) Lavender, of Lake Orion, Sally (Chuck) Lavender-Hasseldahl, of Spring Lake, Susan Lavender, of Honor, Nancy (Jerry) Keidel, of The Villages, Fla., and Linda (Bruce) Eckerman, of Norton Shores; stepsons, Jeff (Connie) Medendorp, of Fruitport, and Brian (Deanna) Medendorp, of Spring Lake; stepdaughter, Karen (Harry) Vert, of Mesa, Ariz.; 12 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Beatrice was preceded in death by her husbands, Raymond Lavender and Frank Walker; her grandson, Micky Lavender; her stepdaughter, Vicki Medendorp; and her step-granddaughter, Kim Keidel.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, at the First Congregational Church in Frankfort, with the Reverend Dinah Haag officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Bennett-Barz Funeral Home in Beulah. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, at Norton Cemetery on Airport Road in Norton Shores.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Benzie County Animal Welfare League or LOVE, Inc. of Benzie and/or Muskegon County.

The Bennett-Barz Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements; www.bennett-barzfuneralhome.com.

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