Jean Ruth Fuller

Jean Fuller was a woman who devoted her life to making a difference in the lives of others. She succeeded in so many ways, as a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, and as a longtime hospital volunteer. More than anything, Jean was a woman who always gave of herself willingly, graciously, and selflessly, and taught us to do the same. Jeans story began on a warm spring day in 1927, the little college town of Hillsdale, Michigan. Those were exciting times in this country, which was truly the heyday of the Roaring 20s. On May 5, 1927, Jerry and Ruth Ayres celebrated the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Jean. Jean was joined by her older sister Betty and little brothers Tom and Jerry in the family, and the Ayres clan moved around quite a bit to accommodate her dads job. The family eventually put down root in Manistee, Michigan. Jean graduated from Manistee High School in 1945, and soon found a job at Montgomery Wards. She also was blessed with two beautiful daughters of her own, Janis and Kay, who brought her so much happiness. Jean soon faced the greatest challenge of her life, however. One day she went Christmas shopping in Muskegon with some friends, when they had a terrible accident. Jean was hospitalized for several months with a broken leg and other internal injuries, and nearly died from a blood clot, as well. Doctor Max Busard saved her life, and Jean gained a lifelong appreciation for the importance of health care. After her recovery, Jean stayed in Muskegon, finding a good job at the Norge plant. Her girls stayed with Jeans parents, and she headed back to Manistee on the weekends to see them. Soon, they would be a family once again, and a complete family, at that. One evening Jean was out with some friends, when she met a handsome young man named Gale Fuller. The sparks flew between them, though Jean was worried she wouldnt remember his unusual name! She remembered, and their ensuing lifelong love affair was unforgettable, as well. The couple was married on November 5, 1955, at Central United Methodist Church in downtown Muskegon. Jeans daughters were overjoyed to have a loving father, and the new family settled into a very happy home in Muskegon. It wasnt long before Jean and Gale added to their happy family, as well, with their son Scott rounding out the happy clan in September of 1956. Jean had become a homemaker by that time, and Gale supported his growing family with an office position at Shaw Walker. In 1957, the family packed up and moved to a beautiful home on Pine Street in Muskegon, where Jean and her family would form so many wonderful memories, and where she would live out the rest of her days. Jean and her family did so much together, and were as close-knit as they could be. Every day of the week had its own traditions, especially Sundays, which were reserved for heading to the beach to cook on the grill and enjoy the day. Fridays were spent visiting with family friends, the Pennells and the Whites. Jean and Gale never used a babysitter, and everywhere they went, the kids were in tow. The family fun didnt stop there, though. Summer Wednesdays meant a night at the drive-in, complete with a big kettle of popcorn and big jug of Kool-Aid, too. Summers were special for Jean and the kids, and every day featured a mad dash to get their chores done in the morning, then off to the beach, and home in time for Jean to have dinner ready for Gale at night. Jean was incredibly organized and punctual, and you could set your watch by her! Gale got home at 5:25 at night, and she had dinner on the table 20 minutes later without fail. One of the most important days to Jean was Sunday, when she took the kids to the First Congregational Church with her. Gale was raised Catholic, so hed often go bowling instead. Jean was very active in the womens groups there, and they all were baptized together when Scott was 3 years old. Jean was always incredibly active, and found time to help everywhere she went. She was an integral part of the McLaughlin School PTA, and was in charge of the fundraising activities and the carnival, too. She made many close friends in the PTA, and they got together often the rest of her life. Aside from her family and faith, Jeans greatest devotion was to volunteering at Hackley Hospital, where she worked for many, many years. She donated her time to the hospitals lobbyside caf and also the Cherry Guild gift shop, and strongly believed in the importance of volunteerism. She was a longtime member of the Michigan Association of Healthcare Advocates (MAHA), and even served as its president in both the state and district levels. She also was once president of the Volunteer Executive Council of Hackley Hospital, and was in charge of fundraising for group for many years, until health reasons required her to retire in 2007. Jean possessed an adventurous spirit and loved to travel, and enjoyed many trips with the MAHA. Every June, the group would convene at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, which was so special for her. The year she served as president, she also got to bring her family along, and they even got to stay in the Governors Suite! Another highlight from her travels with the group came in Los Angeles, when she got a chance to see the famous actress Debbie Reynolds. Jean and her beloved husband also traveled often together, as well. One of their favorite trips was camping with the Sheldon's at Whitefish Bay, staying in their friends cabin. Gale retired in 1992, and the couple planned to travel even more. Sadly, he died of a sudden heart attack in 1994, which was devastating for Jean. She persevered, filling her time with her volunteering, and also with a grief support group at Clock Funeral Home, led by her close friend, Marge Stidham. She would lean on the Clock group again in 2006, when her son Scott died of heart disease, as well. Sadly, Jean died on Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at the age of 80. Jean was a woman who never chased fortune or fame, a woman who only cared about making a difference to others. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, who gave of herself so willingly, graciously, and selflessly. What a difference she made to all who knew her. She is survived by her 2 daughters, Janis (Raymond) Pendrys of Houghton Lake, Kay Poll of Colorado Springs, CO; 6 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; sister, Betty Emrich of Florida; 2 brothers, Thomas E. (Nancy) Ayres of Texas, Gerald W. (Sally) Ayres of Kansas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gale on January 4, 1994 and her son, Scott in 2006. Services are scheduled for Friday, June 29, 2007, 1:00 PM at Clock Chapel with Rev. Sarah Samuelson officiating. Interment at Lakeside Cemetery. Visitation is Friday, 1 hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorial donations may be made to Hackley Hospital Emergency Room Services. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.