Genevieve (Watkins) Varnum

On Tuesday September 29th 2020, Genevieve (Watkins) Varnum went to join her devoted husband of 50 years, Judge Harvey C. Varnum. They met in Highland Park, Michigan and were married on June 30th, 1945. They moved to Boyne city in 1955 to raise their family. 

She was born to Edward J. and Margaret (Stevens) Watkins on December 7th, 1924 in Highland Park, Michigan where she was raised along with her 5 siblings, (Skip, James, Mary, Betty, and Edward).  

Gen was a devoted mother to her 5 children, Patrick C. (deceased), Pamela V.( Mike Smith), Penelope J. (Woody Hardy), Peggy M. (Keith McGeorge), Paul E. (Cathi Lapin) all of who were equally as devoted to their mother.  

Gigi adored her 9 beautiful grandchildren Jennifer and James Hand, Paul and Amy Hardy, Collins and Stephanie McGeorge, Kasha and Dan Brackett, Ryan, Liza, Patrick Varnum, Jennifer Pickering.  She was proud to share that she had 10.75 Greatest grandchildren: Samantha Hand, Zachary and Lucas Hardy, Emily, Grace and Clark McGeorge, Genevieve, Amelia and Eli Brackett, Gabe, Penelope, and Gemma (expected in Nov) Varnum. She will be greatly missed by many nieces nephews cousins and friends too numerous to mention by name. 

Service to the community was a huge part of her daily life.  She organized a summer fluoride program in Boyne, started the medical supply loan closet, she served on the Bergman Center board, Grandvue’s auxiliary, Friends of the Boyne River group and she was also devoted to her Church, (The Episcopal Church of the Nativity). She was a “Red Hot” BC Rambler fan for well over 50 years. If you don’t know her by name, she was the lady in the front row with the loud cheer and her famous cowbell at most Rambler sporting events.  

In lieu of flowers please donate to one of the following charities: Friends of the Boyne, Boyne City Library, Grandvue Medical Center, Hospice of Northwest Michigan, or to one of Boyne City School’s sports teams. 

A gathering of family and friends will begin 7:30 PM, Friday, July 2, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Park Pavilion in Boyne City with a memorial celebration to be held at 8:00 PM with Pastor David Behling officiating.  The family welcomes anyone to stay with them following the service to watch the sunset on Lake Charlevoix.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Genevieve (Watkins) Varnum, please visit our floral store.