Reba Jean was born on November 14,1933 in Flint, Michigan where she grew up with her mother and father, Shirley and Leonard Miller, her 2 older sisters, Goldie and Winona, and her two older brothers Leonard and Darrell. Reba, who preferred to be called Jean, met James King after he returned from the Korean war, and the two married and had their daughter Debbie in 1954, and lived in a beautiful home on Harmony Drive in Burton, Michigan.
When Jean left us on February 20th, moving from this world onto a greater purpose, she was peaceful and ready to be reunited with her beautiful daughter, Debbie. Although Jean will live on in our hearts forever, she leaves behind a large family of loved ones, but no one was loved more by her than Jim, her husband of 65 years.
Jean was a blessing to so many people and she had an amazing ability to build wonderful relationships with those around her, whether it was knowing the name and story of each waitress in every restaurant she and Jim ate at weekly, or sending cards to friends and family all over US, never missing a special occasion, and always signing with X’s and O’s to represent hugs and kisses, Jean’s love and kindness was felt by those who knew her.
Jean had a childlike spirit and a hilarious laugh that could get a crowd rolling with laughter. She enjoyed family reunions and picnics and she loved watching Jim and their family swim in their backyard pool. Jean was a great bowler, spending many years on a bowling league improving her score and earning many trophies. She also liked to travel, taking family members to Cedar Point many times, where she enjoyed watching Jim and their nieces and nephews ride the roller coasters, although no one could convince her to get on one herself. Jean loved to play board games, especially Yahtzee, and she always had just the right candy to go along with the game, usually Smarties, Candy Corn or Jelly Belly Jelly Beans. And many of you will remember that she baked the best chocolate chip cookies and gave them to her family and friends - and she never gave just a dozen or two, she made enormous batches of the delicious bite size cookies!
Jean was incredibly giving of her time and would spend hours on the phone with family and friends, giving advice - whether you asked for it, or not. She loved catching up on everyone’s updates, always making people laugh, and she would end her calls with “love you bunches”, or “love you heaps and gobs”. You always knew where you stood with Jean - and no matter what, you always knew she loved you.
Jean was also incredibly giving with of her time and financial contributions to multiple charitable organizations. She and Jim gave generously to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a tribute to Debbie, and they gave to Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Wounded Warrior Project, and The POW-MIA Committee among other charities over many, many years. Jean served as the Treasurer on the National League of POW/MIA Families, a role she proudly held for decades. She and Jim were instrumental in continuing to serve in the mission Debbie felt about so strongly about -- working to obtain the release of all prisoners and the remains of those who died serving our nation during the Vietnam War. During their time working with The POW/MIA Committee, Jean and Jim traveled to Washington D.C., meeting with lawmakers on many occasions. They were proud to share their stories of their visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and they were honored to have met President Carter. Jean and Jim were always doing something focused on enriching people’s lives.
Jean is preceded in death by her parents Leonard and Shirley Miller, her sisters Nona Caldwin and Goldie Talbot, and her brothers Leonard Miller and Darrell Miller, and her beautiful daughter Debbie King.
Jean is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, James King. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews; Sandy(John Fanello), Dawn (Ted Drahos) Mike Talbot(Melanie), Alan Talbot(Sandy), Pam Talbot(Leonard), Rick Talbot(Sandy), Randy Talbot(Denise), and many great nieces and nephews, along with their families; Lori Norgrove, Thomas Riddle, Bob Riddle, Brandon Wyckoff, David Wyckoff, Jamie Talbot, Jennifer Talbot, Alisha Talbot, Scott Fanello, Stacy Fanello.
Special thanks and love to Dawn Drahos & Lori Norgrove who loved and cared for Jean over many years.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. at Durand Senior Care, 8750 Monroe Road, Durand, MI 48429.
In lieu of flowers, the family recommends making a donation to The Leukemia Lymphoma Society at https://donate.lls.org/lls/donate
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