Joan Marie Fultz

To Joan Marie Fultz, the word “family” knew no bounds. Her love was big enough for anyone who needed it. Born December 6, 1941, Joan was the eldest of seven children. From her early days in a full house to the busy home she made for herself with her husband, Melvin Fultz, Joan’s greatest joy was surrounding herself with family. Even after she was married on July 7, 1962, at least one sibling always stayed the weekend with her. She started her own family when she welcomed her son, Mel. To welcome her daughter Jodi into the family, Joan’s love reached all the way to an orphanage in South Korea. Her family grew with the addition of sons, Dale, and a niece she loved as a daughter, Mary Davis. Joan raised her niece and nephew Aleasha and David Field for a time, and fostered the daughter of a family friend. Joan never had a shortage of loved ones to hug. When she couldn’t hug her loved ones herself, they were always able to wrap themselves in a crocheted blanket that Joan often made.

Joan was an avid reader and passed her love of learning on to her family. “What did you learn today? Tell me something you learned” was a daily phrase in her household. Although facts and new words from the dictionary were welcomed responses, the best lesson she imparted was that there was always something to learn everywhere, from everyone. Joan never missed the opportunity to hear from others herself, welcoming her doctors and nurses during a recent illness with “Hi honey, how are you today?” genuinely wanting to hear the answer. For Joan, every experience, whether happy or sad, had value and a lesson to learn. With her cheerfulness and can-do attitude, Joan showed her children the importance of doing what makes them happy and that by doing so, they could accomplish more than they ever imagined.

Joan’s unsung claim to fame was her unmatched talent at the Scrabble table, playing often and nearly always winning. She had a mischievous streak, too: sneaking in a visit to the Chippendales at the casino crossed a goal off her bucket list and she loved the trouble her siblings would get into, for example, when they loaded her front lawn with all the neighborhood garbage cans.

But in the end, Joan’s life was one lived for others above all else. A charitable giver and loving caretaker, Joan selflessly gave of herself and believed in others, and that is the legacy she will leave behind.

On May 8, 2021, Joan was joyously reunited with her husband, Melvin; her parents Harold and Gladys (White) Haywood; sister Jeanie (Haywood) Davis; and Uncle Bob White. She is lovingly survived by daughter Jodi Fultz; niece Mary Davis; sons Dale and Mel (Stephanie) Fultz; grandchildren Mellina Fultz, Bucky (Ashly) Bowman, and Kyle Bowman; and great-grandchild, Peyton Bowman; brothers Harold (Peggy) Haywood, Frank (Carrie) Haywood, Bob Haywood, and sisters, Jennie Tallmadge (Haywood), and Jane (Terry) (Haywood) Slieff.

Joan’s family will receive guests at Hill Funeral Home, 11723 S. Saginaw Street, Grand Blanc, MI 48439, on Wednesday, May 12 from 1pm until 8pm. A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, May 13 at 1 pm at Hill Funeral Home.

Those desiring may make contributions to the Humane Society-Genesee County, G-3325 Dort Hwy., Burton, MI 48529 or the American Heart Association, Genesee County Regional Office, 3940 Peninsular Drive SE Suite 180, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 in memory of Joan.