Jean Persons

Jean, age 80, of Grand Rapids, left her earthly home on Monday, April 27th, 2020.
 

Jean was born in Vermont on February 17th, 1940, the daughter of Robert and Rachel Fuller. She attended Burlington High School where she participated in the Daughters of the American Revolution, played the flute in the marching band, twirled her baton as a majorette, and was elected by her classmates as a valued member of the student council. Jean graduated in 1958 and received a degree from Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont.
 

From youth to adulthood, Jean sang in her church choirs, even serving as the “choir mom” at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids. Eastminster Presbyterian Church also benefited from her kindness and leadership as a deaconess, elder, wedding coordinator, and Vacation Bible School snack room queen. Jean spent her early career years assisting medical offices with her sweet and caring nature, but no one was on the receiving end of her sweetness as intently as her family.
 

On a snowy Wednesday night, November 23rd, 1960, Jean married Peter V. Persons. They promptly took a bus honeymoon to New York City to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from their hotel room window, which may have sparked Jean’s love for the Big Apple. Jean is survived by Peter and the other loves of her life, children Vinton (Mari) Persons of East Grand Rapids, Susan (David) Pomper of Lowell, and four cherished grandchildren, Brynlee (Bryce) Carlton, Keaton Pomper, Maggie Persons, and Katie Persons. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, and sister, Charlotte. Jean will be dearly missed by beloved neighbors and lifelong friends.
 

Jean loved life! She found warm community in regular meals at Watermark Country Club and Great Lakes Shipping Co, where she enjoyed friendship, hot fudge sundaes, and the occasional glass of Chardonnay. Anyone who knew Jean knew of her passion for animals, fall trips to Vermont, “MSU Shadows,” grand celebrations of Christmas, buttery popovers, and daily conversations with her family.

A memorial celebration is pending for early summer. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Help From My Friends’ Pet Crisis Center in Antrim County and Downtown Food Pantry in Grand Rapids, a mission of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

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