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Vernice Jean Wilson, age 94, of Comstock, a small community east of Kalamazoo, passed away on Monday, November 27, 2017 at home surrounded by family. The daughter of Walter and Emma (Woodard) Wilson, she was born on December 12, 1922, she was one of the nine children.

Growing up in the post depression years was difficult. When her older brother and sister where old enough to get regular jobs, she took her turn helping care for her younger sisters. She spoke fondly of helping her father search for worms, grubs, wigglers and other types of fish bait to sell to area fisher men. This was a source of income to help the family. When she was a bit older and stronger she would work in the celery fields around the area in the summer months to help out. Finally when old enough she left high school and got a regular job to help out. She would clean homes and wait tables eventually taking an apartment in Kalamazoo.

Vernice married Frank Stevens in 1942 and had three children over the next five years. She divorced in 1949 and remarried in 1950 to Frank Pacic having two more children.

Vernice worked various jobs over the next thirty years. Most of them were factory production positions with a paper manufacturer in Kalamazoo and Parchment known as KVP, KVP Sutherland, Brown Co., James River and Georgia Pacific. She retired in 1980 to her little cottage on her much loved Gun Lake, in Barry County, and spent every summer traveling this great land from border to border. Vernice’s greatest love was her family. Teaching the values of life, family, and enjoying the wonder of God’s creation by simply living in it came naturally to her.

Spending time visiting her grandmas, grandpas, other elderly relatives, and summer family reunions were just as important as family weekends spent picnicking, swimming and hiking in the summer. Just as sledding, snowman building, and snowball fights in the winter, were just as significant as collecting and preserving colored leaves, jumping in piles of raked leaves, roasting marshmallows in fall, and hiking the woods identifying every new emerging blossom and planting the family garden in spring.

Two weeks were set aside every summer for family vacation. Most summers were spent exploring every inch of this great state until the purchase of a little cottage at Gun Lake. Her favorite sport was her love of fishing. Remembering the day her and her dad returned to the shore of Fife Lake after early morning fishing was a fond memory. She was jumping and squealing with joy because she had out fished the master, by landing a northern pike, while fishing for bluegills and perch with a cane pole.

Vernice enjoyed all recreational sports including water and cross country, skiing, bowling, hiking, square dancing, ice fishing and boating. Daily life at the Stevens/Pacic home wasn’t all fun and games; Vernice saw to it that everyone did their share in making the house a home. Chores and other duties were assigned by age and ability. By the time you were old enough to leave home you could cook, sew, do your laundry, ironing, keep house, budget and bank. She made sure you were able to survive on your own from then on.

These last few years were painfully difficult. No one should have to take that walk alone and I praise God for the opportunity to walk beside you. I only hope I was able to make it a little more bearable. May her soul rest forever with God for a job well done.

Vernice was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Frank; siblings, Vince, Vance, Vivian, Virginia, Violet, Velma (Beverly), Helen and Grace; and daughter, Kathleen Stevens Moskalik. She is survived by her sons, Timothy (Teva) Stevens, William (Helen) Stevens, and Thomas Pacic; daughter, Frances Pacic Heath; 11 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.

With love and gratitude, all of your children. 

A remembrance ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. on April 27, 2018 at Faith United Methodist Church, 503 S. Grove St., Delton, MI.

To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Vernice’s online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.MichiganCremation.com

Arrangements are entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids.