Obituaries

Frances “Fran” Jane (Brown) Leavitt, age 72, of Pickford, Michigan, died on May 9, 2024, in Petoskey, Michigan, at McLaren Northern. Fran was born on February 1, 1952, to John and Hazel (Bellant) Brown.

Fran grew up in St. Ignace, Michigan and graduated from LaSalle High School with the class of 1970. She then attended Kodiak Community College after becoming a military spouse and moved around for twenty-two years, raising her children. Fran moved to Kinross, Michigan in 2002 and began working at the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians as a Youth Education Activities group leader and later as a program clerk in Community Health, also with the Sault Tribe. She met Calvin R. Leavitt, and they married on August 27, 2005, at the Northern Light Assembly of God in Kincheloe, Michigan. In 2007, they settled in Pickford, Michigan, where they started their hobby farm. After many years, Fran retired in 2023 as an administrative secretary for Community Health.

Fran was a member of the Well Assembly of God and also attended Pickford Methodist Church. She loved her Bible studies, and her animals-ranging from horses, sheep, goats, chickens, cats, and her beloved dog, Chip; she couldn’t say no to an animal in need. She was a volunteer for the Pickford ambulance, was an accomplished seamstress, “Teacher of the Year” to Glen for most of his school years, and the best mother and grandma in the world.

Fran is survived by her daughter, Carrie (Jeffrey) Martin of Hayes, Virginia; son, Glen Hall of Pickford, Michigan; grandchildren, Joshua (McKensey) Martin of Brooksville, Florida, and Melaina Martin of Hayes, Virginia; brother, Lawrence (Rosemary) Brown of St. Ignace, Michigan; sisters, Theresa (John) Robinson of St. Ignace, Michigan, Mary (Dan) Christensen of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, Anne (Jim Scholzen) Brown of Union Grove, Wisconsin, Nora (Mark) DeKeuster of Racine, Wisconsin, Ruth McCord of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Mary (Dan) Erickson of Manistique, Michigan; and many nieces & nephews.

Fran was preceded in death by her parents, John Brown, and Hazel Bellant Brown France; husband, Cal Leavitt; and stepfather, Leonard France.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Well Assembly of God Church, 4867 W. Curtis St., Kincheloe, Michigan 49788 or to the “Noisy Offering” for the children’s program at Pickford Methodist Church, 115 E. Church St., Pickford, Michigan 49774.

Visitation will be held on May 25, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 12 noon at The Well Assembly of God, 4867 W. Curtis St., Kincheloe, MI 49788, with a funeral service to follow at 12 noon with a burial afterwards.

The burial will be at Epoufette Cemetery, in Naubinway, Michigan.