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Jean Benson Daugherty entered into the “Kingdom of God” Saturday morning, Sept. 1, 2012, surrounded by her three loving daughters. She was the daughter of Lester and Frieda (Smith) Heape and was born on June 29, 1929 in Tamaroa, Ill.
On Dec. 21, 1946 Jean married Clyde Benson and they raised three daughters. She was employed at Continental Can, Glen Oaks Community College, Dresser, Marks, & Svendsen, and Sturgis Public Schools, as an executive secretary. Jean enjoyed dancing, golfing, painting, poetry, bridge, and spending time with her family.
On Dec. 5, 1999, Jean married Charles Daugherty. During their almost 13 years of marriage Jean and Chuck were able to travel and enjoy times at Palmer Lake. Jean especially enjoyed listening to Chuck play his trombone and bass fiddle in his Dixie Land and German bands.
Jean volunteered making pies for the UMW fundraisers at the First United Methodist Church of Three Rivers and also sang in the church choir. Jean and Chuck were currently members of the Newberg Norton Bible Church.
After the death of her first husband, she married Horace Hudson. Hud passed away in 1996.
Jean is survived by her loving husband, Charles Daugherty; daughters, Ruth Ann (Ernie) Willcocks, Midge (Jim) Hostetler and Lori (Curt) Meek; grandchildren, Chris (Juli) Westgate, Nick (Marci) Westgate, Matthew Smiley, Benson (Amanda) Meek and Kaiti Meek; great-grandchildren, Ashli (Bill) Vogler, Kayla Zelenock and Logan Westgate; great-great-grandson, Sammy Westgate; step-sons, Patrick (Nancy-deceased) Daugherty, James (Anne) Daugherty and Larry (Jody) Daugherty; step-daughter, Penny (Bill) Gearhart; and several step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her sister, Margaret “Midge” (Bob) Graeff and her brother, Neal (Ruth) Heape; several special nieces and nephews, cousins, and her faithful dog, Katrina. She was preceded in death by her husbands Clyde Benson and Horace Hudson; her parents; and her brother Norman.
The celebration of Jean’s life is on Sept. 22. Family visitation will be held from 9-11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Three Rivers, 215 N. Main St. The memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. Interment services will be at 2 p.m. at The Oaklawn Cemetery, Sturgis. Donations can be made in the honor and memory of Jean to Great Lakes Hospice of Kalamazoo, the Newberg Norton Bible Church, or the First United Methodist Church of Three Rivers. The Eickhoff Farrand Halverson Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.
