Jean Heath

Jean Heath, of Portage, passed away on July 3, 2020 at the age of 73. Jean was born on November 8, 1946 to her parents, Elbert (Jean) Herbert and Lillie Kirk of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Jean was a professional and worked hard her entire life, balancing her home life and her career with excellence and always ensuring her family they were deeply loved and cherished. She was a highly intelligent woman, even graduating as valedictorian of her high school class. Jean was very well rounded throughout her life, Jean enjoyed ballroom dancing with her husband, Dawayne, designing and decorating her home, sporting the most recent fashion trends, and cooking and baking just to name a few. Always a homemaker, wife and mother first, when cooking, Jean experimented with various recipes and discovered tasty treats to share with family. She was a beautiful woman with impeccable taste. She loved to shop and visit garage sales. She would find the gaudiest jewelry and somehow it would end up looking phenomenal on her. Jean loved to travel, go boating, camping and being around water. She and the love of her life, Dawayne, had been married for 53 years. Dawayne will always remember her as his “peach blossom plum pit”. Jean and Dawayne spent 53 loving years ballroom dancing and reminding one another, “I love you more today than yesterday, but less than tomorrow.” Jean is survived by her husband Dawayne; two children Lisa (Tim) Eller and Kevin (Melissa) Heath; five grandchildren Brittni, Brock and Bryce Eller, Kourtnee and Mikayla Heath; two sisters Joan Kelley and Kay Rooney, sister in law Beverly Anson and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and two sisters Patricia Eikmeier and Cindy Workman. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association. While visiting Jean’s webpage at www.avinkcremation.com please sign the guestbook by lighting a candle, and/or sharing a memory with the family. The family is being assisted by the Avink Funeral Home and Cremation Society 5975 Lovers Lane, Portage, MI 49002 or call 269-344-5600.