Eunice Martha (VanBuren) Black

Eunice Martha (VanBuren) Black was born March 7, 1928 in Hastings, Michigan, to Leon VanBuren and Martha (Peabody) Van Buren.  She grew up in the Sunfield/Vermontville area, attended The Hunter School, a one-room school house, graduated from Sunfield High School and attended Western Michigan University.  Eunice met her husband, Edward Black, through her brother, Jim, and they married August 26, 1949, after Ed returned from World War II.

Ed and Eunice raised 7 children together, Paul (Vicki), Alan, Gary (Joyce), John (Mary Jo), JoAnn (Jerry) Gibbs, Rita and Gene (Ashlie).  While living on the Black Family Farm in Vermontville their family continued to grow to include grandchildren: Addie (Norris) Mikolajczyk, Cassandra (Jeff) Graszler, Darcy (Jim) Edwards, Troy (Deborah) Black, Joshua Morehouse, Melissa (Ryan) Upson, Jessica (Zane) Dole, Ariel (David) Oltean, Kellie Hall, Rick Stank, Charity (Ryan) Livingston, Ann (Jesse) MacKenzie, Laura (Tim) Cross, Erica (Brad) Waara, Beth (Joe) Bozek, Amy (Tony) Howard, Wendy (Roy) McCoy, Martha (David) McPherson, 41 great-grandchildren, 11 great-great-grandchildren, sister, Elaine Iris Nash, many nieces and nephews, and special little boy, John Deyarmond.

Eunice was a very proud member of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, where she filled the role of president and other offices for numerous years, and the Lakewood United Methodist Church.  She supported her children, grandchildren and community in many ways including serving as Den Mother for the Boy Scouts, attending sporting events and performances and also volunteering at Sunfield Elementary School to read with students and as a math tutor.  Ed and Eunice were nominated and served as Grand Marshall’s of the Sunfield Farmer’s Picnic in 2002.

Eunice was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ed, brother, Jim Van Buren, sister-in-law, Marilyn Van Buren, brothers-in-law, Dean Hager and Forrest Nash and infant son, Carl.

Funeral service 11:00 AM – Saturday Sept. 30, 2023 at Lakewood Church, visitation will also be at the Church Saturday 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. A luncheon will follow the Funeral service. Graveside services 1:30 PM – Saturday at the Sunfield Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth. AKA S.P.Y.’s, Sunfield Historical Society Welch Museum, or Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

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