Where Food, Drinks & Stories Are Shared
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Joan (Everett) Harrison

February 18, 1943 - February 25, 2021
Portage, MI

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Visitation

Wednesday, March 3, 2021
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM EST
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900

Food and Drinks will be served.

Driving Directions

Service

Thursday, March 4, 2021
11:00 AM EST
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900

A reception will follow in the Life Story Center.

Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

SPCA of SW Michigan
6955 West KL Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Generous, loving, and kind, Joan (Everett) Harrison lived a life rich in family and friends. Joan embraced each day as a gift and she never hesitated to give all she could to lighten another person’s day. She believed in finding the silver lining in every moment and often helped others recognize their blessings, especially in the darkest times. Regardless of life's challenges, Joan celebrated every moment she was given. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend who cherished nothing more than sharing time with her loved ones. A powerful role model of how to live a whole-hearted life, Joan will long be remembered and ever so missed.

1943 marked a time when the war effort in Europe directly impacted all American lives. While countless young people actively served in the trenches of WWII, those who remained stateside poured their energies into supporting the war effort in any way they could. While Ford and GM converted their plants from automobile manufacturing to the building of bombs and aircraft engines, an unprecedented 18 million women proudly worked the manufacturing jobs once held by the men who were now overseas. Providing a sense of respite from the daily struggles, Frank Sinatra and Glenn Miller filled the airways, Lassie Come Home dominated the television, and musical Oklahoma took the stage on Broadway. For H Douglas and Rachel Ann (Rollo) Lewis, it was a particularly exciting time as they welcomed their daughter, Joan, into their family on February 18 in Detroit, Michigan.

The younger of the Lewis girls, Joan grew up in Howell, Michigan, where she attended a one-room country school. Joan was an excellent student who was a successful Spelling Bee champion. She was a proud graduate of Howell High School class of 1960. After high school she began attending nursing school in Detroit

In 1961, Joan had the good fortune of being set up on a very successful blind date with James (Larry) Everett. Instantly smitten, James proposed marriage on their third date. Joan said, "yes," and the happy couple was married a short time later, on August 4, 1962, at the Presbyterian Church in Howell.

The newlyweds settled into married life and, in time, were blessed with children of their own. The children quickly became the centers of Joan's world. She stayed home to tend the house and children, as James' work in sales meant he was often away. Joan relished in motherhood and creating a loving and supportive home for her family. She helped them with homework and, the former Spelling Bee Champion, expected everyone use proper English in her home. As her children grew older, she always waited up for them to safely arrive home. She also had a swear jar and was quick to impose a fine should an inappropriate word be used. Joan was a history buff and enjoyed sharing her passion with her family. Many vacations were spent traveling the country by car and exploring Civil War battlegrounds and other historical sites.

Joan’s passion for life included both music and movies. She loved to listen to her granddaughter sing and perform. Joan amasses a collection of over 4,000 movies and especially enjoyed slasher/horror flicks; a love she passed down to her granddaughters. She loved classic films, including her favorite, Raintree County with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. An avid NASCAR fan, Joan enthusiastically cheered on her favorite driver, Tony Stewart. Joan also enjoyed watching her favorite Soap Operas, All My Children, General Hospital, and One Life to Live. A classy lady, one would be surprised that she had the ability to eat potato chips without making a noise.

As her family grew to include grandchildren, Joan welcomed her new role with much joy. Joan was their greatest fan, biggest supporter and accepting them for who they are, and she encouraged all of their endeavors. She was a great role model, teaching them to always think of others and never to let life's challenges get in the way of their goals and dreams.

Sadly, James died in 2001, shortly before he was to retire. In his absence, Joan, who gave up driving because of medical conditions, had to learn to drive again. With signature determination, she took on the task and once again showed how she would never let her ailments limit her quality of life. No matter how seemingly difficult the day appeared, Joan consciously chose to find the gifts and celebrate each one. So often in the years after James died, Joan encountered ladybugs during special moments that she came to collect them, believing that they symbolized James.

In time, Joan met Ron Harrison, the pair were both widowed and shared many common interests. They began dating and found that they enjoyed one another's companionship very much. On July 20, 2012, they married in a ceremony at the courthouse in Paw Paw. Joan lovingly welcomed Ron's children into her heart, and her children were happy for their mom as Ron was caring, gentle, and treated Joan like a princess. Over the years, she and Ron enjoyed traveling together, taking in the delights in Mackinaw City, Las Vegas, and Branson, Missouri. They especially enjoyed wintering in Ocala, Florida, where they made many new friends. They also enjoyed eating out and their favorite place for a good meal was Texas Roadhouse.

Without a doubt, life feels less certain in the absence of Joan's bright and beautiful presence. May we find comfort in our many treasured memories and in the honor of carrying her legacy forward. With each moment we welcome a stranger as a friend, give of our time and talents in service of others, or cheer on our loved one's dreams, we celebrate the many ways Joan gifted the world. And in this way, we keep her spirit alive and inspiring others as she so inspired us.

Joan (Everett) Harrison, age 78, of Portage, died on Thursday, February 25, 2021. Members of her family include her husband Ron; her children: Deborah (David) Sackett, James (Brandy) Everett, Lorna Harrison, and Karen Harrison; her Grandchildren: Jenny (Michael) Vallier, Jessie (Brad) Griffioen, Megan Macher, Leigh Everett, Kelcey Everett, and Jenny (Tory) Moore. Other members of her family include her 7 great-grandchildren, a sister Ann McMahon and several nieces and nephews. Visit with family and friends while sharing food and drinks on Wednesday (March 3) from 4-7PM at the Betzler Life Story Funeral Home, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900 where services will be at 11 am on Thursday (March 4). A reception will follow in the Life Story Center. Burial will be at Mt. Ever-Rest North Memorial Park. Please visit Joan's personal web page at www.BetzlerLifeStory.com, where you can read her life story, archive a favorite memory or photo, and sign her online guestbook before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to SPCA of Southwest MI.

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