This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: French, Shupp, Haskins, Barnes, Benham, Piercefield, Freitel, Pifer, Erb, Waite Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/QFB.2ACE/1500 Message Board Post: Mary Jean French, age 76, of Lake Odessa, went to be with her Lord on Saturday morning, Jan. 3, 2004. Mary Jean was born in Odessa Township, on May 19, 1927 to Lloyd and Alice (Shupp) Haskins. She was a proud graduate of Lake Odessa High School in 1944. Mary Jean had worked as a cook in various restaurants in the Lake Odessa area for over 20 years. She loved people, but the most important people to her were all the members of her family. Mary Jean is survived by her children, Mike (Debbie) Barnes of Bellevue, Vicki (Jeff Lackey) Benham of Lake Odessa, Dennis Barnes of Ionia, Sherri (Ron) Piercefield of Lake Odessa, Debra (Erhard) Freitel of Battle Creek, Dawn (Steve) Pifer of Saranac; "special daughter", Beverly (Roger) Erb of Ionia; 12 grandchildren; five great grandchildren and one eagerly anticipated; sister, Joyce (Richard) Waite of Alto; mother-in-law, Clara French of Lake Odessa; and many other loving relatives and friends. Mary Jean was preceded in death by her ! parents; her husband, William French; brothers, Willard Haskins and Gerald Haskins; and son-in-law, James D.K. Benham. In keeping with Mary Jean's wishes, cremation has taken place. The family will receive relatives and friends from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004 at the Lakewood United Methodist Church, where a memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday with her nephew, John Waite officiating. Interment will take place in Lakeside Cemetery. The family has suggested that memorial contributions may be made to the Lakewood Community Ambulance, the American Cancer Society, or to a hospice group of the donor's choosing. Arrangements were made by the Koops Funeral Chapel in Lake Odessa. (The Hastings "Reminder" - Tuesday, January 6, 2004) Transcriber has no family connection.