Mary Jean (Thatcher) Trabbic

Mary Jean Trabbic, 93, of Ottawa Lake, MI passed away April 19th 2016. She was born to Ada Abele and Henry Thatcher and grew up in Erie, MI. She lived down the railroad track that she would walk to visit her childhood friend and future husband, James Trabbic. Theirs was an inspiring, true love story as they played together as young children, attended grade school through high school then lived a long, happy life together raising five children on their farm in Ottawa Lake, MI.

One of Mary Jean’s first loves was horses. She bought her first horse, Pixie Dell, while attending Bowling Green State University. Much of her life revolved around horses and her children. She was the founding leader of Jeans & Jodhpurs 4-H club and continued to be visited by former members for decades afterward. Members who remember her fondly and who continue to appreciate her leadership and teaching.

Mary was a woman of many talents. Practical talents such as gardening, canning, upholstery, sewing, knitting and more. She also was very artistic and quite accomplished at most things she tried, such as playing the piano, working with stained glass and writing prose and poetry.

She loved reading, music, travel, nature, animals (especially dogs and horses) and photography. Photography was a favorite hobby. It was difficult to find pictures of her because she was the lady behind the camera of thousands of family photos.

She loved her family and being with them was an almost every weekend event at the farm where our family grew up. Holidays, especially Christmas and birthdays, were fun, loud, chaotic events quietly headed by our Mother/Grandmother.

Mary Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years James; her only son, Richard; her parents and siblings Dale (Alice), James (Rose) and Lynn (Marilyn, surviving) Thatcher. Survived by daughters: Lynda (Andrew) Trabbic-Odum, Melissa (Les) Beland, Denise (John) Trabbic-Pointer and Carrie (Doug Oswald) Trabbic, 9 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Our Mother/Grandmother was the loving rock and backbone of our family. Her quiet strength, intelligence, grace, dignity and love is a part of all of us. Anyone who knew her, will strive to live their life with the same grace she lived hers.

Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of Mary Jean's life to be held on Saturday June 18th 2016 at the Trabbic Farm in Ottawa Lake, MI, from 3:00-7:00.  Please bring a dish or a beverage to share if you like. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.reebfuneralhome.com