Bettie Jo Dunnewin Munson

Feisty and fun loving, Jo Dunnewin was a woman possessed of remarkable resilience and determination. Although she faced more than her fair share of tragedy, Jos strong faith and indomitable spirit carried her safely through where others might have given up. She was the glue that held her family together, and was never happier than when surrounded by those she loved. Jos contagious laugh, cheerful personality, and loving concern for others will live on in the hearts and minds of all those whose lives she touched; she was deeply loved, and will be deeply missed. For the United States, the Roaring Twenties were a time of economic prosperity and changing social values, including new rights for women, the popularization of radio, and increasing consumerism. Jo was born in the middle of this exciting decade, on January 20, 1923, and shared her birth year with Calvin Coolidges inauguration as president, the first use of insulin to treat diabetes, and the invention of television. Jos proud parents, Clyde and Dorothy Winstead, brought the newest member of their family home to Sebree, Kentucky. Clyde supported his growing family as the president of Beer Workers Local #153 at Cook Brewery, while Dorothy was a homemaker. Sadly, however, Dorothy died of tuberculosis when Jo was only two years old. Since her father had to work, young Jo was raised by her paternal grandparents. The years sped by, and before she knew it Jo had grown into a vivacious and charming young lady. At Sebree High School, Jo was the yearbook editor, the class secretary, and a member of the Girls Reserve. She made friends easily, and in her graduating class of 1942 she was voted best personality. In between classes and extracurricular activities, a young man named Jimmie Hubbard caught Jos eye. Jo and Jimmie soon became high school sweethearts, and were married in December of 1942. While Jimmie was off at war, Jo got a job and made many friends, including another young bride by the name of Ellamae Scales. Jo and Ellamae became as close as sisters as the years went by. Sadly, Jos father was hit by a passing vehicle while standing on the side of the road. In 1948, Jo and Jimmie were blessed with a daughter, whom they named Connie while living in Indiana . Only one year later, however, tragedy struck the family when James passed away. Newly widowed, Jo moved to Michigan with her daughter, where she lived with her sister-in-law. During the day, she baby-sat Bryan and Danny the sons of her widowed brother-in-law, Dale Dunnewin. Jo got a second chance at love when she fell in love with Dale, and the happy couple was married on June 28, 1951, in Muskegon. Jo and Dale blended their families, and in the years to come their family grew to include two more: Marilyn and Larry. Jo was a wonderful mother, disciplined but also fun, loving, and fair. She had a remarkable ability to truly blend families steps, halves, and in-laws all felt equally loved and welcomed. Dale and Jo made many happy memories taking the kids on family vacations to destinations such as California, Indiana, and Kentucky, where they visited family. They started off camping in tents, and gradually moved up to a trailer and finally a cottage on Lake Owasippe. Their family was not untouched by tragedy, however, and Jo was deeply grieved by the loss of her stepson Bryan to bone cancer at the age of 13, and her stepson Danny to a motorcycle accident at the age of 24. As their children grew older, Jo went back to work outside the home, working annual elections and as a secretary at SD Warren Paper Company. Jo was also active in the community, and belonged to both the Lakeside Baptist Church and the CC Group (Christian Couples). In her free time, Jo enjoyed , knitting and quilting, making ceramics, and playing in bowling, Ping-Pong and golf leagues. Jo was able to fulfill her lifelong dream when she visited Hawaii and ended up going back to Hawaii two more times. After retiring from SD Warren in 1982, Jo took advantage of her golden years to spend more time with family. She and Dale loved spending time at the Dunn-Inn family cottage with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and joined right in the swimming, canoeing, campfires, and card games. Jo and Dale typically spent their winters in Florida at Horseshoe Cove RV Park, and then went north to Lake Owasippe in the summers.. Sadly, in 1998 Jo lost her beloved companion, Dale. Jo remained connected with her immediate and extended family having dealt with loss early in life, she knew how important it was to stay close to loved ones. She enjoyed watching her family grow to include great grandchildren, and always looked forward to family get-togethers. In 2004, she accepted an invitation to play golf from Herb Munson, a widowed acquaintance from church. Jo and Herb became friends, and their friendship gradually developed into romance. They were married on November 12, 2005. Feisty and fun loving, supportive and kind hearted, Jo was a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and a loyal friend. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her many friends and family members. Mrs. Bettie Jo Dunnewin Munson died on July 30, 2013, at the age of 90. Bettie Jos family includes her husband, Herbert Munson; her daughters, Connie Norton of Grand Haven and Marilyn (Jeff) Howland of HI and Whitehall; her son, Larry (Terri) Dunnewin of TX; nine grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; her daughter-in-law, Carol (Jim) Cooper of Fruitport; her brothers-in-law, Earl (Dorothy) Dunnewin of WA and Eugene (Carolyn) Hubbard of TN; her sister-in-law, Eleanor Dunnewin Kars of Holland; several nieces and nephews; and her lifelong friend, Ellamae Scales of IN. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, James S. Hubbard in 1949 and Dale Dunnewin in 1998; and her sons, Bryan in 1954 and Danny in 1972. Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 4, at the Clock Chapel Muskegon, with Rev. Leslie Lew officiating. Interment will be at Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Friends are invited to join the family for visitation from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and on Sunday one hour prior to the service, at Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Hospice of North Ottawa. Please visit Jos personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com, where you can learn more about her life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook.