Dorothy Jean Reynolds

Dorothy Jean Reynolds Age 87 Of Galesburg, MI Dorothy Jean Reynolds passed peacefully from this life on Friday, December 7, 2012. She was born on February 18, 1925 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to John Vern and Lulu "Lula" Fern (Hoose) Case. On July 19th, 1946 she was united in marriage to her husband of 62 years Vern Eugene Reynolds, Jr. "JR", who preceded her in death on November 8, 2008. With marriage, Dorothy embraced, in addition to her own immediate family, an extended family of in-laws -- all were an important part of her life. She loved family. She was a caring, giving mother who nurtured five children and delighted in watching the family grow and expand. She was fun loving, curious and adventurous, getting great joy from everything she did. She loved interactions with family, friends and people she would meet; and adventures large and small, whether that was visiting family, camping trips, traveling, family get togethers or day-to-day living. Her love of life, positive outlook and cheerful disposition is an inspiration for us all. Her grandchildren look up to her as a role model for their lives. She enjoyed creating many types of crafts. Early on she and her sister belonged to a sewing club. Over her lifetime she dabbled in painting, quilling, sewing, embroidery and crochet. She was generous and giving, loving to make gifts for others. Her afghans still keep us warm and her crafts decorate our homes. In recent years, she and her niece joined the Comstock Center crochet group, enjoying the friendship of it's members while creating hats, scarves and lap robes for those in need. Dorothy was a lover of nature, birds and pets. Folks were always amazed that at 87 years she was still driving around town, raking up leaves, transplanting plants, putting bird feed in the numerous feeders she maintained, or walking 'out back' with the dog, and sawing down branches that fell across the path in the woods. Her passing leaves a little hole in all of us. She will be missed by family, friends, her dog Misty and the birds that she and Vern fed for years. This loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother is survived by her five children, Linda Reynolds (Brian Hatoff), Barbara Reynolds (Albert St. Etienne), Pam (Andy) Harma, Steve Reynolds (Anita Fox), Jim (Lisa) Reynolds; four granddaughters, Samantha (Martin), Megan (Anthony), Krista (John), Amanda; one great granddaughter, Mya; sisters-in-law, Naomi Underwood, Norrie (Whitey) Welda, Katherine Ovington, Marion (Dick) Collins, Mary Jean (Gerald) Thomas; brothers-in-law, Leo (Bette) Reynolds, Bill DeYoung; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, an infant brother Paul Case, two sisters Genevieve Westbrook, Frances DeYoung; and her loving husband. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place. She will be laid to rest beside her husband at Fort Custer National Cemetery, where a private family ceremony will be held in the spring. A full obituary and photo celebration of Dorothy's life can be viewed on a Book of Memories memorial website at Avink Funeral Home Cremation Society of Schoolcraft (www.svinkcremation.com). On the lower right side of the page, share a photo or story. OUR FAMILY IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE'RE NEAR OR IF WE'RE FAR APART FOR WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY, IT'S A MATTER OF THE HEART. WE DON'T NEED TO TALK EACH DAY TO FEEL THE TIES THAT BIND. IT'S THE BOND WE SHARE WITHIN OUR SOULS THAT MAKES OUR FAMILY SHINE. FOR LOVE CANNOT BE MEASURED BY TIME OR DISTANT MILES, BUT YEARS OF PRECIOUS MEMORIES THAT SO OFTEN MAKE US SMILE. SO AS YOU READ THIS, ALWAYS KNOW YOU'RE LOVED SO VERY MUCH, FOR IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHERE WE ARE, OUR HEARS WILL ALWAYS TOUCH.