Jean Marie (Ritchie) Forward passed into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Wed, Aug 9, 2006, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born May 16, 1922, in Battle Creek to Harold Gavin Ritchie and Leita M (Downer) Ritchie.
A 1940 graduate of Battle Creek Central High School, Jean also attended Argubright Business School.
She married Duane Morton Forward in 1942 in Battle Creek.
Jean was a member of The First Congregational Church and a past president of the Women's Fellowship, past president of the Rose Standish Circle. She served five years on Town Hall Board. Member and past president of the Gen. George A Custer Auxiliary, Unit No 54 and a Partner of Salon No 41 of 8/40. She was a member and past regent of Battle Creek Daughters of the American Revolution.
Jean was a member of the Battle Creek Historical Society, Leila Arboretum Society, and Emily Andrus Home Assn. She served as gray Lady (Red Cross) at Lakeview General Hospital four years and was a member of Post 25 year club through her husband.
Jean enjoyed her family, crafts, sewing, knitting, and life in general.
Duane died in Nov 1977. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Diane Marie Forward in 1945; her sisters, Joyce Hemken in 1990 and Josephine Yeager in 1999.
She is survived by two daughters, Sharon L (Kenneth) Coppock of Kalkaska and Carol M (Frank) Becton of Evart; seven grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; a brother, John Gavin (Joanne) Ritchie of Tarpon Springs, FL; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service was held on Sat, Aug 12, at 1 pm at Wolfe-O'Neill Funeral Home in Kalkaska. Pastor Bob Stark from the Kalkaska United Methodist Church officiated. Burial was on Sun at Lyon Lake Cemetery next to Duane.
