Colleen Mae Stevenson

Colleen Mae Stevenson, age 85, of DeTour Village, Michigan, died April 8, 2017 at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Colleen was born March 27, 1932 in Pickford, Michigan to Oliver W. Bennett and Gertrude (Slocum) Bennett. Colleen grew up in Pickford and attended Pickford Public Schools. She left home about age 17 and went to work at the Soo Bakery known as the Karmel Korn Bakery. She met a man and married but the marriage was cut short by his tragic death. He left her with a baby boy, Brian. She worked as a nurse at War Memorial Hospital for a while then met her second husband, Larry Thompson. They married in 1942 and had three children, Beth, Laurie, and Darwin. They divorced in 1963. Colleen went to cosmetology school and graduated in 1967. She moved to Cedarville, Michigan, and opened up her first beauty shop. On January 30, 1970, she married William John “Billy Jack” Stevenson in DeTour Village and they made their home in DeTour where she opened a new shop and began driving school bus. Colleen always had a goal of completing high school before her kids did, and completed her GED in DeTour in 1980. That year Billy Jack was Vice President of the DeTour School Board and handed out Colleen’s diploma as well as her youngest son Darwin’s. She retired from working as a beautician and bus driving in 1993. Billy Jack died May 22, 2006 and Colleen continued to make her home in DeTour until she recently moved to Hearthside Assisted Living in Sault Ste. Marie. Colleen was a member of the DeTour Union Presbyterian Church. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and the rest of her family. She liked to bake and play cards, especially cribbage. Colleen is survived by her son, Darwin John Stevenson of Whidbey Island, Washington; daughters, Beth (Carl) Storm of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Laurie (Mike) Gassel of Margate, Florida; grandchildren, Erin (Ken) Stevenson Jordan, Joshua Stevenson, Sydney Stevenson, Carl Storm Jr., Richard (Dawn) Stevenson, Amy (Tom) Morton, and Jacob Gassel; and great- grandchildren, William Storm, Sarah Storm, Rayna Jordan, Lois Morton, and Alex Morton. She is survived by a sister, Melva Williams; and brother, Arlen Bennett. Colleen was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Billy Jack; and son, Brian Thompson. Services will be held for Colleen on Friday, April 21, at R. Galer Funeral Home, 24549 South M-129 in Pickford, beginning with visiting hours from 10 A.M. until 12 Noon. Colleen’s funeral service will begin at 12:00 Noon with Pastor Milton Adams conducting the service. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in DeTour Township. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rgalerfuneralhome.com.

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Colleen Mae Stevenson

March 27, 1932 - April 8, 2017