Joyce J. Bakewell

Joyce J. Bakewell

Surrounded by her family, Joyce J. Bakewell of Adrian passed away peacefully on August 7, 2018 at Hospice of Lenawee.  She was born in Adrian on January 27, 1933 to Phil and Ruby Bournes and graduated from Adrian High School in 1951.  She is survived by Jerry, her husband of 68 years and siblings Betty, of Tucson, AZ, and Jim, of Clayton, MI.   Also surviving are her children -  Terry (Karen) Bakewell of Lowell, MI, Tim (Jill) Bakewell of Adrian, Mishelle (Gene Sabolcik) Bakewell of Holland, MI, Todd Bakewell of Adrian, and Mazie (John) Swiderski of  Raleigh, NC, in addition to 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Phyllis, son Trent, and grandson Patrick .  Not only was Joyce an incredible mother, she also worked outside the home at a series of clerical positions. She was a legal secretary, a medical secretary, a secretary in the x-ray department at Bixby Hospital, a car accountant for Lenawee County Railroad, and a secretary for Lenawee County Mental Health Department.  Despite working full-time, she managed to feed and raise six children. Fixing lunches for school, doing piles of laundry, and managing to spoil all of them with her incredible baked goods.  She was obviously a master at time management.  In her retirement years, she was able to rekindle her love for reading. She was a loyal patron of local libraries, reading over 200 books a year until her final days. She also enjoyed attending athletic events of her many grandchildren.  She was very popular after matches and games for bringing cookies to these events for the kids and their teammates.  A Celebration of Life will be held 6:00 PM Saturday, August 11, 2018, at J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, 2959 N. Adrian Hwy, Adrian, MI.  Visitation will also be on Saturday from  4:00 PM until the time of service at the funeral home. A Catholic Mass for Joyce will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, August 17, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Adrian, MI.  Burial of cremains will take place in Lenawee Hills Memorial Park.  The family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Lenawee.     www.PurseFuneralHome.com

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