Jeanette Barton

Jeanette Pamelia MILLS was born on Monday October 26, 1925 at the home of her parents, James Clark Mills Junior and Sophia Evangeline Frankfather in North Star Township, Gratiot County, Michigan. She was nick named "Tootie" before her birth. Jeanette was the eighth child of nine born to Jimmie and Eva Mills. She is survived by two of her siblings; E. Lenore Brandal of Ithaca, MI and James Junior Mills of rural Pompeii, MI. Her other siblings were; Barbara Elizabeth Townsend, Wayne S., (surviving wife Verola Mills of Hastings,) William C. (surviving wife Arnetia Mills of rural Ashley, MI), Francis C. "Bud" Hanover and three infant siblings. Jeanette was a life long resident of Gratiot County except for two years of her early youth spent in the Tiffin, Ohio area and one year (1958) in Amite, LA with her husband and family.

Jeanette attended Cook-Levering country school and North Star elementary before graduating from Fulton High School, Middleton, MI in 1943. She had attended nearly all of her annual class reunions including the last one in 2009.
During World War II, Jeanette was a "Rosie the Riveter" at the Willow Run Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan with her dear school chum, Annetta Amonte-Beracy.

In Corunna, Shiawassee County, Michigan, on Saturday May 3, 1947, she married her childhood sweetheart; Bernard L. Barton Sr. "Curly". They had three children, son, "Bernie" Bernard L. Jr of rural Sumner, Michigan, granddaughter Kristi and Steve Sigafoose of rural Alma, with great-grandchildren Cameron Burch and Haylee Sigafoose. granddaughter, Doctor Taralyn Barton of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and grandson Heath and Elaina Barton with great grand baby Gage of Rural Riverdale, Michigan; daughter: Pamela and Alan Fidler of rural Ithaca, Michigan, grandchildren: Brett and Jeanne Fidler with great granddaughters, Clare and Jamie, also of North Star; granddaughter; Amanda and Randy Whitaker of rural Edgewood, Michigan, with great grandchildren Joseph and Shannon; granddaughter; Carrie Fidler of Lansing, Michigan, with great grandsons Abbie and Deegan; daughter Renee and Kevin Smith of rural Sumner, Michigan, grandson Matthew Smith of Kalamazoo, Michigan and granddaughter Katie Smith of Austin, Texas.

A stay at home mom while her children were growing up and very active in PTA, she then worked part time for Goostry's Photography in Ithaca and Towersey's Furniture in Alma later in life. A 26 year member of M A.F.C.E. in Gratiot County, she won the honor of "Heart of FCE" in 2007. She was a dedicated worker at the former FCE Food Booth during fair time with her dear friend Kathleen Smith. Her delicious pies were award winners for many years at the G.A. S. fair in Ithaca. Jeanette/Mom loved gardening, her flower beds, crossword puzzles, dabbling in watercolor painting, sewing, reading and watching mysteries on TV. Her passion was her family and her home. Mom loved nothing more than having her family together, so much so that her husband Curly built a family campground on their farm so they could spend holidays camping with everyone together. Her sense of humor was well known among family and friends.

Mom was one of the strongest women we will ever know. She braved over sixty years of rheumatoid arthritis and many illnesses in the last few years. She took each illness in stride and taught us patience along the way. Thank you Mom, for being there for all of your family and friends when we needed a strong hand or a soft shoulder to lean on. She left us on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at home in New Haven Township at the age of 84 years, 4 months and 16 days of age.

We are celebrating Mom's life with family and friends on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at Smith Family Funeral Home 125 South Jeffery Avenue, Ithaca, Michigan. Service is at 1:00 p.m. and visitation on the same day from 11:00 to 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Gratiot County Commission on Aging or Hospice of Mid Michigan Home Care. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca Chapel, Ithaca, MI.

Read Jeanette Barton 's Obituary and Guestbook on smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.