Vera Tibble

Vera Estelle Tibble, 79 of Petoskey, died February 27, 2019.

Vera was born in Dearborn, MI, August 16, 1939, the daughter of Stella-Vera Mae Brothers and Earl Rouse Heard (formerly Calvin Emerson).  She grew up and graduated high school in Northville, Michigan in 1959.

On September 5, 1959, she married Norman C. Tibble in Northville, Michigan.  They continued living in the Detroit area as well as Florida while they started their family, later moving their family to Petoskey, MI in August of 1971.

Vera worked only a few jobs in her life, she spent over 40 years working for the Petoskey News Review.  After she retired, Vera went to work at Cormack’s Deli in Petoskey, to connect with others and stay busy.  She worked there until 2017.

She loved to help others and always worried about her family and those around her.  She loved family gatherings, dancing with her husband and taking long car rides in her classic Triumph Spitfire and eating ice cream.  She was a Charter Member of the Petoskey Church of the Nazarene, where she served as a Board Member, but in her later years, she attended the Petoskey United Methodist Church.  Vera enjoyed local history and lore, especially when it came to the Robison Family Murders in Good Hart.  She collected every book available on the subject and was always present at any of the local gatherings/forums talking about it.  She enjoyed attending marching band events and always loved traveling, especially attending the Holland Tulip Festival and spending Mother’s Day on Mackinac Island. More then anything, Vera loved her husband, children, foster children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Vera is survived by 3 children, Charles “Ed” Edwin Tibble of Petoskey, Kimberly Ann (Larry) Umbras of North Fort Myers, FL, and Julie Clark of Petoskey; grandchildren, Amanda, Josh, Rebecca, Corissa, Stephen, Tyler, Courtney, Jessie, and Dillion; great grandchildren, Sonya, Leona, Taylor, Carson, Addie, and Joey; many foster children who includes, Iwao (Tina) Greene, Jeff Brandon, Todd Bebb, Tom Meyers, and Doug Cavitch; siblings, Marlene “Faye” Jaye and Calvin William “Bill” Heard; and several nieces and nephews.

Vera was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Norman C. Tibble; siblings, George Heard, Mary “Mickey” Wilson, Charles “Chuck” Heard, Robert “Bob” Heard, and John Henry “Jack” Heard.

The family will receive friends on April 12th at the Stone Funeral Home from 5-8pm.  A service celebrating Vera’s life will be held on April 13th at 11am at the Petoskey United Methodist Church.

Those wishing to make a donation in Vera’s memory, the family asks you to consider the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, or the Hiland Cottage of the McLaren Hospice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Vera Tibble, please visit our floral store.