Beverly Boss

On July 15, 2015, Bev Boss went home to Heaven – where she immediately joined several committees and took charge of the Wednesday night dinners at her Father’s table, adding baked beans and raspberry pie to the menu. Bev lived a life dedicated to God, her family, and her community. Her attitude can be summed up in a favorite quote from Erma Bombeck: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'.”

Bev was born and raised in East Jordan and as much as she came to love the Rayder Nation, she remained a lifelong Red Devil. After graduating from East Jordan High School in 1947, she attended business school in Bay City, Michigan and became a secretary at Dow Chemical in Midland. After a few years, she decided city life wasn’t for her and headed back north, where she worked at East Jordan High School and Charlevoix Hospital.

In 1955, she married Herb Boss. They moved into a little house on a hill on South Barnard Road, where she stayed home to raise six children. Bev loved to cook for family and friends and no matter how many people showed up for meals, there was always room for one more at the table.

When her youngest started school, Bev went to work in the Charlevoix Elementary School kitchen. In 1985, she returned to her business school roots and became the secretary at Charlevoix Middle School. Bev loved working at the middle school, saying she gained a whole new batch of kids (the teachers) and grandkids (the students).

After retiring in 2000, Bev didn’t slow down. She volunteered at the Charlevoix Senior Center, the Community Food Pantry, and in many roles at Charlevoix Community Reformed Church, including being a driving force behind the Safe Haven breakfast club. But her special passion was for the Charlevoix Community Christmas project. Christmas was her favorite time of the year, and it was her firm belief that all children deserve a happy Christmas. During her many years chairing the project, she made sure that happened for hundreds of children in the Charlevoix area.

Bev was preceded in death by her parents, Lee Sr. and Edith (Upton) Danforth, brother Lee Danforth Jr., and son Dave Boss. She is survived by her husband of almost 60 years, Herb Boss; their children, Sue (Dave) Mitchell, Dan (Sue) Boss, Lisa (Mark) Vind, Doug Boss, and Barb (Brian) Myers; and her much loved and bragged about grandchildren, Emily Boss, Lauren and Ross Mitchell, and Rachel, Sarah and Robby Vind. Bev will also be missed by her brothers Don Danforth and Keith (Marilyn) Danforth; in-laws Leona Danforth, Kathy Danforth, Nate (Kathryn) Boss, Ken (Myrna) Boss, Esther (Garry) Vandenberg, and Kathy (Rod) Lindner; many nieces and nephews; her church family at Community Reformed; her coffee ladies; and most recently, her special girls at Grandvue.

A service celebrating Bev’s life will be held on Thursday, July 23 at 1:00 at Community Reformed Church in Charlevoix. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Charlevoix Community Christmas Project or the Safe Haven Breakfast Club. To really honor Bev’s memory and her commitment to service, please consider a donation of your time and talents to one of those groups, or to one of the many other worthwhile organizations in our community.