Rosemary Raynes

Rosemary Raynes, 72, of Pipestone Township and formerly of Benton Harbor, passed away on Monday, January 7, 2008 at University of Michigan Hospital after a four month illness caused by complications of stomach surgery. Rosemary was surrounded by family and friends at the time of her passing. Prior to her recent illness, she had been a two time cancer survivor (cervical and colon) during the last 16 years. Rosemary was born on November 7, 1935 to LeRoy and Alene (Kinyon) Dustin in Benton Harbor, Michigan. She graduated from Benton Harbor High School, where she was a member of the award winning “Fighting Tiger” Marching Band. She was employed for the last 20 years by J.C. Penny as a sales associate. She worked there up until her recent illness. Prior to that, she was employed for 20 years by M. Steffen Company / Indian Summer of Coloma as office manager. She also previously worked for Kaywood Corporation of Benton Harbor and Whirlpool Corporation in the secretarial field. Rosemary was an avid lifelong golfer, winning many awards and tournaments over her lifetime. She spent every possible moment on the golf course and was considered one of the top female golfers in Southwest Michigan over the years. She remained competitive in league play right up until her recent illness. She will be greatly missed by her many friends she spent time with at her “home away from home”, Pipestone Creek Golf Course. Rosemary was also a competitive bowler for over 30 years until her first bout with cancer forced her to discontinue that activity. Another passion of Rosemary’s was her involvement with the Kappa Theta Chi Sorority, to which she belonged since the early 1960’s. She loved arts and crafts activities of the sorority, and the community donations sponsored by the sorority. Rosemary also loved all the holidays and the festivities surrounding them. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, and she loved putting together a huge feast for the traditional family gathering on that day. She never wanted anything in return except for all the family to gather with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren crawling and running throughout the house, and that everyone took at least one full plate of food to the dinner table. Rosemary also loved to travel, especially with her husband Donald Raynes. Their favorite destination was Hawaii, where they traveled on numerous occasions over the years. In her younger years she was an active volunteer of the Benton Harbor Little League, Benton Harbor Babe Ruth League, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of Southwest Michigan, and the Sterne Brunson Elementary School P.T.A. She also enjoyed attending and cheering at her children’s and grandchildren’s many athletic events over the years, venturing out many times in rough winter weather to a basketball game, or spending a sunny afternoon to enjoy a softball or baseball game. She also enjoyed sitting on her back deck and looking out over Pipestone Creek Golf Course as the evening summer sun would set. In addition to her parents, Rosemary was preceded in death by her first husband Eugene Weaver whom she married in 1953, and her second husband Donald Raynes whom she married an April 12, 1969. Rosemary is survived by her brother Bruce (Bonny) Dustin of Pipestone Township; a son, Jeff (Donna) Weaver of Sawyer; two daughters, Kelly (Dean) Slosson of Taylor, Michigan and Gina Weaver of Dowagiac; a step-son Tom (Nancy) Raynes of Whitmore Lake, Michigan; a step-daughter Donna Crider of Sun City, Arizona; grandchildren Derek Weaver of Sawyer, Kali Weaver of St. Joseph, Tyler Weaver of Sawyer, Jennifer (Chad) Higdon of Fairplain, Tonya (Carl) Adomaitis of Grand Rapids; Stephanie Shelton of Dowagiac; step-grandson Jonathan Raynes of Whitmore Lake; step-granddaughters Jennifer (Greg) Thompson of Whitmore Lake, and Dawn Febian of Sun City, Arizona; great grandchildren Laney and Coy Botello (Weaver), Zoie Higdon, Dominick and Michael Shelton; and step-great grandchildren Julia, Nathan, and Micah Thompson. She is also survived by her mother-in-law Genevieve Weaver, with whom she maintained a life long friendship. Rosemary also leaves behind her many wonderful and loving friends from her golf leagues, with whom she shared many special and fun times both on and off the links; and her beloved Kappa Theta Chi sorority sisters, with whom she spent so many years of friendship and good times together. Friends may call from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00P.M. on Friday, January 11 at the Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. A Celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 12, at Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Watervliet City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to Berrien County Cancer Service. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks.menchinger.com.