DonnaJean Beckwith

Time spent in the company and love of family and friends is what mattered most to DonnaJean Beckwith. She was at home in the comfort of nature and music brought her to the place of great contentment. Generous, loving and caring, DonnaJean was one of a kind who will be dearly missed and remembered.

With the crash of the stock market in 1929, the Great Depression cast what would become years of struggle throughout America. Many remained hopeful, and celebrated when The Star Spangled Banner was introduced as our national anthem. Like many other young couples, Harold and Edna (Bunce) Curtis had their share of hardships, but on April 4, 1931, their spirits were focused on celebrating the welcome arrival of their baby daughter, DonnaJean.

Born and raised in Comstock Park, Michigan, DonnaJean was the oldest of eventually six more children. She was close to her father, and truly adored, admired, and proudly looked up to him. He was quite the outdoorsman, and instilled in her a love and appreciation for nature. DonnaJean acquired his skills and natural qualities as an outdoorsman which served her well. With her love for nature, wildflowers were among her favorite. She brought others to find intrigue in the world around them, too. Simply walking with family, she was quick to point out things and teach about the many trees and flowers in our daily landscape.

DonnaJean attended the local schools and graduated from Comstock Park High School. From an early age and as the oldest, she helped around the house and took on the responsibility of helping with her younger siblings. She had a wonderful way of delegating chores, a trait that came in very handy. When she asked something of someone, she did so in a way hard to be refused. She preferred order, and though she had a subtle way of controlling circumstances around her, she could be just as stubborn. If DonnaJean wanted something, she inevitably found a way to get it.

And so it was with the young man who came to hold her heart. After meeting and dating Albert Beckwith for a time, the two were happily married on April 15, 1948, just days following her 17 birthday. They soon began their family, lovingly raising three daughters, Gloria Jean, Linda and Elaine. For nearly 50 years they made their home on Innes Street NE in Grand Rapids where they shared numerous memories. When the kids were young, they camped often which renewed DonnaJean's love of nature.

As much as she was a devoted wife and dedicated mother, DonnaJean worked outside her home as well. She was diligent and hard working, and as a skilled cosmetologist, she even taught at Tracy Beauty Academy. When she went into business for herself, she gave her all working at Linda's Flower Shop. She also worked at House of Flowers, and later for the John Ball Zoological Society. But once her work day was over, she was more than ready to rest, finding refuge at her spot on the sofa which the girls knew was off limits.

Over the years DonnaJean took interest in the National Association for the Physically Handicapped. She thrived in social situations and with her husband put their musical talents to use in helping to organize the Original Dulcimer Player's Club. With her outgoing and personable nature, she made herself comfortable in nearly every situation. They loved going out and having a good time. Al frequently played fiddle in several bands, and DonnaJean went along to squaredance the night away.

DonnaJean had many interests, but once she mastered something, she was on to the next challenge. She played the organ, piano, and was into gardening for a time. In their later years, she and Al camped with friends on the Rogue River where she was truly in her element surrounded by nature, in the company of good friends and the music she loved. Some of her talents were quite typical, like her love for knitting and crocheting. Always generous and giving, perhaps to a fault, she gladly shared the things she made to others.

After Al's Parkinson's Disease diagnosis, they eventually sold the flower shop. DonnaJean devoted her time to caring for him, but always challenged him by insisting he go on picnics and attend family events. Sadly, her beloved Al passed away in 1994.

This was a time in DonnaJean's life when being socially active was on her side. She loved every minute with family and her many friends. She could fit her way into any conversation, and was very adaptable to crowds and various circumstances. She always had a way of knowing what to say, especially making others feel welcome.

Always the lady, DonnaJean was gracious and proper. She carried herself well from acceptable etiquette to the use of good grammar. If her girls wore heels, she expected them to know how to walk well in them. She possessed beautiful penmanship, and if she set out to do something, she did it right, and on time. She expected only the same from others. She dressed nicely, but her clothes were not necessarily expensive, and looked nice all the same. She enjoyed lifting the spirits of others, and was always at the ready with an encouraging word. After years in the field of customer service, she knew, "the client was always right", and taught her children the importance of these types of values. She so enjoyed being a grandmother, and initiated every opportunity to teach them, and wasn't afraid to discipline, either.

When it came time to downsize, DonnaJean moved to an apartment. Following her cancer diagnosis, she suffered a stroke and moved to Maple Creek nearly two years ago. She felt at ease there, enjoying the staff and conversations while they enjoyed DonnaJean all the same. In fact, she always had an ear for the latest scoop!

Above all, family was most important to DonnaJean. To her, life was about people. They came first, and were what truly mattered in the scheme of life circumstances. DonnaJean summed up her life by simply stating, "I did the best I could". This was the very reason why she so encouraged others. In the end, she desired all to have the conviction to say the same. At the age of 80, DonnaJean Beckwith passed away and left for the arms of her Savior on Friday, June 3, 2011.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her infant daughter, SueAnne Edna Beckwith; daughter, Gloria Jean Dennis; sister, Phyllis Hayden. She is survived by her daughters: Linda (Roger) Starr, Elaine (David) Moore; grandchildren: Larry (Kathryn) Dennis, Charles Dennis, Thomas (Kelly) Moore, Aaron Moore, Christina Toczylowski, Ann (Jeff) Junge; great-grandchildren: Charles Dennis Jr., Roger Moore, Laura Junge, Cheyenne Toczylowksi, Zachary Junge, Linda Junge, Payton Toczylowski-Moore, Ayla Moore; sisters and brothers: Eunice Westover, Irwin (Barbara) Curtis, Joyce (Ron) Hanson, Harold (Cindy) Curtis, Warren (Millianne) Curtis; brothers-in-law: Leo Hayden, A. John Beckwith; numerous nieces and nephews. A service to celebrate DonnaJean’s life will be held Wednesday, June 8, 2011, 1:00 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home–Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE where friends are invited to visit with her family, Tuesday, 2-4 and 6-8 PM. Burial in Rosedale Memorial Park. Memorials to the John Ball Zoological Society are appreciated. To read more about DonnaJean's life, to share a memory or to sign her online guest book, please visit www.lifestorynet.com.