Beatrice Ransom's Obituary
Passed away on November 25, 2013. Beatrice was born on July 4, 1931 in Bellaire, MI to Delbert and Laura (Wilcox) Mason. She was the youngest of 15 children. She married Willard Lee Ransom on Dec. 13, 1947 in Central Lake, MI at the United Methodist Church. They were married 62 years until Willard’s passing March 16, 2010.
In Beatrice’s younger years, she grew up on a farm in Bellaire on part of the land that is now Shanty Creek Ski Lodge. She loved farm life; she played basketball for Bellaire and especially loved growing up with such a large family.
After marrying Willard, they moved to Chesterton, Indiana. Willard worked in nearby Porter, IN for the recently merged Pere Marquette and Chesapeake & Ohio Railroads. During their time in Indiana; sons, Willard Boyd and Randall were born. They moved to Remus in 1954 and had one more child, Laura in 1958.
In 1966 they moved to Grand Blanc; during this time, Beatrice worked as a Collections Agent for Merchants and Medical in Flint. She also worked at Montgomery Ward’s repair shop as a job placement specialist and bookkeeper. In 1980, they moved back to the Remus area.
Beatrice was actively involved in her church and community. She loved being a board member of God’s Helping Hands. Willard and Beatrice also served regularly on the Election Board.
She is survived by her three children, Willard (Pat Hardenburg), Randall (Nancy Jackson), Laurie (Todd) Terry; grandchildren, Bill Ransom, Tim Ransom, Lt. Colonel Tom (Juana) Ransom, Laura (Omar) Chetta, Matthew (Dana) Ransom, Rachel Ransom, Christopher (Melissa) Terry and Brianna Terry; nine great-grandchildren, and one sister-in-law, Doris (Earl) Mason of Bellaire.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, Willard; her parents; eight sisters, Thelma (Gordon) Dewey, Gladys (John) Matthews, Hilda (Bill) Bradshaw, Dorothy (George) Bailey, Ruth (Ira) Cornett, Zora (Willet) Smith, Doris (Tom) Morlan, Maxine (Morris) Babbit; six brothers, Glenn (Gladys) Mason, Lee (Marguerite) Mason, Carl (Hazel) Mason, Virgil (Millie) Mason, Dorr (Betty) Mason and Earl Mason
A celebration of Beatrice’s life will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 11:00 AM at New Hope United Methodist Church of Mecosta, with a luncheon to follow.
Those desiring to make contribution may direct them to New Hope United Methodist Church, Sylvester Community Church or God’s Helping Hands.
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