Janice Tubman

Janice Potter Tubman entered into the rest and presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan after a short but valiant battle with lymphoma. All four of her children were greatly blessed by visiting her, praying with her, and helping with her care in the days before her passing. She was born Janice Colleen Highfield on November 29, 1928 in Rose Township near Holly, Michigan, to LaVern and Kathryn (Brown) Highfield. She grew up during the Great Depression, which forged her into a strong and thrifty woman who worked hard and had true grit. She graduated from Hartland High School in 1946, married William Potter in January of 1947 and moved to Charlevoix, Michigan. They lived on the homesteaded family farm on South Barnard Road and raised four children there. They were members of the Barnard Reformed Church, founded by immigrant relatives from Holland. Besides being a housewife, she also worked at the American Mold Plant in Charlevoix for 10 years. She loved growing a huge vegetable garden and filled the basement every year with her canned goods. The delicious aroma and taste of fresh-baked bread was a daily treat for her kids coming home from school. She gave her children the example and education in self-sufficiency and in the arts of needlework and sewing, in which she was very talented. She also volunteered many hours for the local 4-H organization. In February 1972, her husband Bill passed away, leaving a very great sadness for the whole family. She moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan in October 1975 when she married Lawrence Tubman. They enjoyed many days of square dancing together. He preceded her in death in April 2000, but she continued to enjoy the company of many dear and caring friends. She worked at the election board on occasion, and was a member of the Semi-Sweet Soo Red Hat Society. She was a member of the First Baptist Church. She will be fondly remembered by everyone as being a senior citizen "tri-athlete" because of her daily bike-riding, swimming, and walking which kept her exceptionally fit and healthy until the last few weeks of her life. One day after her 75th birthday, she and her daughter Diane walked the "Half-Marathon" in Seattle, Washington and was also active locally in the Senior Citizen Olympics. The Labor Day Bridge Walk over the Mackinac Bridge has been an annual excursion for her for over 30 years. In her honor, all four of her children "walked the bridge" this Labor Day of 2007. Janice is survived by her four children; Ronald Potter of Charlevoix, MI, Deborah (Tom) Mullen of Olathe, CO, Brian (Natalie) Potter of Freeland, WA, and Diane (Tim) Reedy of Granite Falls, WA, two step-children; Larry (Helen) Tubman of Plainfield, IL and Donna (Dennis) Regan of Abilene, TX, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is also survived by three sisters; Betty Ingison of Weidman, MI, Shirley Reber of West Branch, MI, and Marilyn Brady of Stuart, FL, and a brother; Jerry Highfield of Hartland, MI. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, her second husband, and a sister; Elsie Kidder. Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 9:00 pm on Friday, September 7, 2007 at C.S. Mulder Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 8, 2007 at the First Baptist Church of Sault Ste. Marie with Reverend David Henderson officiating. Burial and committal service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, September 10, 2007 at Barnard Cemetery near Charlevoix, MI. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the Salvation Army.

Tributes

Janice Tubman

November 29, 1928 - September 5, 2007