Jean M. (McLachlan) Whittier

Jean McLachlan Whittier, age 97, of Grand Rapids, passed away on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at Porter Hills Village where she had been a resident for 16 years.  Jean was born in Grand Rapids on April 30, 1919, the daughter of Frank H. McLachlan and Pearl (Beattie) McLachlan. She attended Ottawa Hills High School “class of 1937”.  She also attended Stephens College in Columbia, MO and graduated with a B.A. Degree in Education from the University of Michigan. She taught the third grade at Sheldon School in Grand Rapids before entering the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant (j.g.) in the WAVES stationed at Great Lakes during World War II. On February 3, 1945 she was united in marriage to Wilson “Bill” D. Whittier who was also from Grand Rapids. Active in community life she was a member and past president of the Women’s City Club, a life-long Episcopalian, a member of the East Grand Rapids Library Board, a member of the Grand Rapids Junior League and a member of the Porter Hills Women’s Board. Jean enjoyed her many friends, working with yarn, sewing, reading and playing bridge. She and her husband loved to travel and spent many summers with their daughters and granddaughters at their cottage on Lake Michigan. She was preceded in death by her husband on January 20, 2010 and by her parents. Surviving are her twin daughters, Susan Jean Whittier and Mary Whittier Gore, both of Arlington, VA.; her granddaughters, Kathryn Gore (Peter) Czerepak of Winchester, MA and Sara Gore (Scott) Holladay of Knoxville, TN. and four great-grandchildren, Lila and Luke Czerepak and Nick and Will Holladay. Interment service was held at Oakhill Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at Porter Hills Village, 3600 Fulton St. E. on Thursday, August 25th. at 10:30 a.m.  For those who wish memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice in the Grand Rapids community. 

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