Elizabeth Jennings

Elizabeth “Betty” Jennings, 87, of St. Joseph, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Friday, January 11, 2019 at Caretel Inns of Lakeland in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday at the Christian Reformed Church, 3275 Washington Ave., St. Joseph with Rev. John DeVries officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit with the family from 4:00 until 7:00 P.M. Monday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd. , St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to the Christian Reformed Church Building. Those wishing to sign Betty’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com . Betty was born July 15, 1931 in Chicago to Verlon & Alice (Torrey) Meskimen.  The family moved to Benton Harbor and she graduated from Benton Harbor High School, Class of 1949.  On June 17, 1956, she married the Dean S. Jennings at Peace Temple United Methodist Church in Benton Harbor.  Betty owned and operated Meskimen Gifts in downtown St. Joseph from 1976 to 2002.  The store was founded by her parents in the 1950’s in Benton Harbor. Betty devoted her life to following her Lord and Savior, and led her family to do the same. She was an extraordinary and selfless women who always placed her family’s needs and desires before her own. She enjoyed flower gardening, reading, traveling and serving the church, spending time with her family and attending her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events and other activities.  She was a model Christian and godly woman that set a high standard and example for her family and all who were privileged to have known her. Elizabeth is survived by her six children-Thomas Dean Jennings of St. Joseph, Dale Stanley (Sharon) Jennings of Austin, TX, Elizabeth Ann Mays of Greenville, NC, Craig Philip (Sue) Jennings of Lawrence, MI, Gail Lynn Bruce of St. Joseph, Lee Torrey (Amy) Jennings of Kalamazoo; sixteen grandchildren-Sarah (Greg) Gambill, Michael (Adair) Muench, Luke & Regan Jennings, Chanelle Smith, Corey Mays, Chelsey (Christian) Staat, Cooper (Rachel) Jennings, Gavin Jennings, Hailey & Erin Bruce, Elise, Aidan, Ashlin & Maia Jennings & Liberty Cottick; and two great-grandchildren-Sophia & Robert.  She was preceded in death by her husband Dean on June 28, 2008, her parents Verlon & Alice Meskimen, & her brother George Meskimen.