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Lorraine Marie (Avery) Griner “Gramme” of Jones having obtained the age of 96 years, 8 months and 3 days, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family, on Thursday, August 1st, 2024.
Lorraine was born to Earl and Helene (Knapp) Avery on November 29th, 1927 at the Avery Farm.
Lorraine graduated High School in 1945 from Three Rivers High. She attended County Normal in Dowagiac, living in a small apartment from 1945-1946 where she received her Teaching license. Lorraine married Rolland Merton Griner on July 20th, 1946. She worked very hard to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree while also working full time and raising a family. Lorraine taught school beginning in 1946, received her Bachelor’s in Education in 1963 from WMU. Between that time she taught at one room school houses, Newton Woods, Thompson’s Corners, Pleasant Hill, Shavehead, Volinia, Marcellus, Vandalia and ended her career teaching third grade at Marcellus Elementary, where she taught until her retirement in 1989.
Lorraine held a deep love for teaching. She knew from the time she was in the 1st grade she wanted to be a teacher. Lorraine was very passionate and dedicated about her teaching and educating children.
In 1968 Lorraine and Rolland took over her family farm. Lorraine was a very hard worker, raising a family, teaching full time, working on the farm and ensuring the farm workers were always fed.
After teaching for 43 years, Lorraine dedicated her time to researching her family genealogy and the history of the community she grew up in, being a beloved “Gramme.” In 1990 Lorraine was part of a committee for the 150th celebration of Newberg Baptist Church. She worked hard to erect a state qualifying sign for Poe’s Corners. Lorraine gathered much research and put together a book of the history of Newberg Township where it was put at the Cass County Historical Society and remains there to this day.
“Gramme” loved nothing more than to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She would take them around on her golf cart, participate in activities at the local libraries, and play “hot and cold.”
Lorraine leaves behind her two daughters, Jeanne (Warren) Lamb, Dona (James) Rifenberg and one son, Daryl (Shelley) Griner. Six grandchildren, Ross Gooding, Marc Gerring, Matt (Katy) Gerring, Shawna (Mike) Middleton, Morgan (Ben) Brown, Avery (Alison) Griner and seven great-grandchildren, Alexis, Lydia, Megan and Wyatt Middleton, Sam Gerring and Kenzie and Kailey Brown. Lorraine was a loving Aunt to many nieces and nephews who she also leaves behind, as well as her cherished best friend, Winona Johnson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rolland, her parents Earl and Helene, two sisters, Evelyn and Marion and one brother, Otis.
Family and friends will gather at Hohner Funeral Home, 1004 Arnold St., Three Rivers, on Sunday, August 11th from 4 to 7pm for visitation, and the funeral service at the First Baptist Church of Newberg on Monday, August 12th at 11am with Pastor Mike Owen officiating. She will be laid to rest at Poe’s Cemetery, directly following the service.
Donations in Lorraine’s memory may be directed to First Baptist Church of Newberg or Newberg Ambulance for a new cardiac monitor.
