Joan P. Gofton, age 93, of Highland, passed away Tuesday, August 3, 2021. Joan Priscilla Gofton was born to George and Pauline (McCallum) Skarritt in Commerce Township on June 28, 1928. Joan is survived by her children: Mark (Frances) Gofton, and Susan (Charles) Aberasturi; her grandchildren: Stacey (Jamie) Hall, Aaron (Lauren) Gofton, Sarah (Brett) Callihan, and Daniel (Lindsey) Aberasturi; her great-grandchildren: Selena Quertermous, Talon Quertermous, Piper Hall, Eli Gofton, Andrew Gofton, Luke Gofton, Hadley Callihan, and Quinn Callihan; and her siblings: Pauline Keller, and Margaret (Randolph) Melville. Joan was preceded in death by her husband: Ross Gofton; her parents: George and Pauline Skarritt; and her siblings: James Skarritt, Richard Skarritt, Harriet Skarritt, and Donald Skarritt.
Joan had been a resident of Village Manor Retirement in Hartland for the past seven years.
Joan married the love of her life, Ross Gofton, on July 16, 1949, at the Commerce United Methodist Church. They built their first home on Clark Street in Highland, where they lived for twelve years. With a growing family, they moved around the corner to Livingston Street, where they lived for fifty-two years. She was a proud resident of the Highland community for sixty-four years, attending concerts in the park, and community events. The Milford YMCA was a favorite spot to enjoy exercise and water aerobics. Zephyrhills, Florida was her second home for twenty years, when she and Ross traveled south during the Michigan winter months. With the warmer weather, they could continue to enjoy golfing and swimming.
Joan graduated from Walled Lake High School in 1945. Over the years, she enjoyed attending class reunions and planning milestone reunions with her fellow classmates. In 1948, at the age of twenty, Joan graduated from Michigan State Normal College, now known as Eastern Michigan University, with her Teacher Certificate. She was an elementary school teacher for six years in White Lake Township, where she taught the 1st grade at Dublin School.
Volunteering was an important part of Joan’s life: working at blood drives with the American Red Cross, thirty years of service with children’s health care in Oakland County, Milford Literary Club, and involved with the Artrain coming to Milford in 1976. She was an active member of the Highland United Methodist Church, where she participated in the church circle and rummage sales.
Joan loved golfing, and played until she was ninety years old. She wouldn’t hit far, but straight down the fairway, chipping and putting away was her strategy. She also loved fishing and camping on Nebish Island, and she spent many summers with her family in Otsego and Mullet Lake.
Visitation will be held Thursday, August 5, 2021 from 10:00am until the time of the Funeral Service at 12:00pm at the Highland Chapel of the Elton Black & Son Funeral Home, 3295 E. Highland Road, Highland. Burial at Highland Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
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