Jessie Mae Whitman

Okemos, MI - passed away peacefully Sunday, May 28, 2017

Jessie was born to Harold and Edna McIntosh on January 20, 1920 in Taymouth Township, Michigan. She took her first breath in a grand, two story wooden farmhouse which her family shared with James and Agnes McIntosh, Jessie's paternal grandparents. Jessie was the middle child of five, all of whom were born in the same house. Jessie brought great joy to all who knew her. She had an infectious smile and a special warmth that she shared with everyone as well as a gift for making others feel important and loved. As a young girl Jessie worked hard - washboard washing, cleaning and cooking, and boarding as a maid and cook during the summer. Growing up on a farm, she loved caring for the farm animals and playing practical jokes. On one such occasion she skipped and sang merrily from the barn announcing that the baby lambs had arrived. Excited family members ran to find that it was only Jessie's April Fools' joke. As stern as her mother could be at times, Jessie always made things brighter and happier.

She knew her husband of 60 years, John Reid Whitman, her entire life and often said "I always loved him." They attended McIntosh Grade School, a one-room, red brick schoolhouse for nine years together. She and a friend then boarded with a family in order to attend Central Jr. High. Later, she attended Saginaw High School, often hitching a ride with John. Jessie graduated from Saginaw High School in 1937, married John in 1939, and in 1942, while John was in the army, their first of five children was born. The Whitman family lived in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida, but Tawas City, Michigan was the place they called home for 29 years.

Jessie was an excellent cook, accomplished gardener, skilled carpenter, creative knitter and crocheter, loving and nurturing mother, and faithful wife. She was an industrious woman who loved working with her hands, creating everything from delicate, knitted sweaters to rustic, useful furniture. Jessie had a deep and abiding faith in God and read the Bible from cover to cover numerous times. She practiced her faith daily by sharing her love and goodwill. She lived a spiritually dedicated and heart-filled life and will be deeply missed.

Jessie was preceded in death by her husband John, daughter Carol Thomas Haydu, daughter-in-law Patty Whitman, and great-granddaughter, Nicole Merschel.

Survivors: Sisters, Ivah Kerr and husband Glenn, and Clara Spero; brother, Harold McIntosh, Jr. and wife Carol; children, Marilyn and husband Tom Merschel of East Tawas, MI; John Whitman of Cocoa, FL; Sandy and husband Richard Mellina of Fort Worth, TX; Jim Whitman and wife Liisa of Williamston, MI; 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 7 great, great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 23, 2017 at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church 549 E. Mount Hope Lansing, MI 48910.

For those desiring, memorial contributions may be in the memory of Jessie to Sparrow Hospice 1215 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48912.

The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Lansing. On-line condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.greastlansing.com.