Beverly A. Kregear, age 81 of Merritt, passed away at her home August 15, 2018.
Beverly was one of five children, born October 8, 1936 in Aetna Township to Frank and Annabelle (Jones) Marsh.
She married Lester C. Kregear in 1953. He preceded her in death in 2000.
She attended the Merritt High School and graduated in 1954.
Bev and Les were in the wood business for 20 years. Lester cut wood and drove truck. Bev was the first woman skidder operator in the area and on occasion she drove their semi-truck. After Lester’s injury, Bev sold their wood’s equipment and said no more.
They bought the Coffee Cup Restaurant in Lake City and ran it for 10 years, then moved to Merritt and opened Kregear’s Party Store and had it for 30 years. She loved Nascar, Tigers and music. She enjoyed people and her grandkids and great grandkids.
Bev is survived by three children: James (Jim) (Shirley) Kregear of Falmouth, John (Chub) Kregear of Merritt, (who lived with Bev and helped her) and
daughter, Jeri Lynn (Sis) Kregear (Matthew Maule) of Cadillac.
Bev was lovingly known as Gma by several grandchildren and great grand
children.
She is also survived by sisters: Viola Creger of Houghton Lake and Bonnie Davis of Merritt and sister in law Carol (Rich) Roys and brother in law Bill O’Mell of Houghton Lake, many nieces and nephews and cousins.
Lots of people called her Grandma or Ma Kregear. She had a “Big Family.”
Bev’s favorite saying was “If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy.”
She always had a smile and a great sense of humor and wanted to help
anyone she could, as much as she was able.
Bev was also preceded in death by her parents and a brother: Lyle (Bud) Marsh and a sister: Maxine Cariano.
Burial will take place in the Butterfield Township Cemetery.

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