Lucille Bolley

Lucille Ellen (Thornburg) Bolley, Age 97, Of Battle Creek, Passed away on Monday, November 3, 2014.  Lucille was born in Warren County, Illinois, on December 22, 1916, at her great-grandparents farm, the second child of eight born to Jerome and Florence (Beattie) Thornburg. When Lucille was five years old, her parents and two siblings came to Kalamazoo County near Texas Corners to work at a farm. In order to go to high school after graduating from eight grade, she went to Portage, MI, to live and work for families so she could go to high school, graduating from Portage High School in 1935. There were thirteen graduates in her class. She was united in marriage to Jack Mohney in 1936, and is survived by their children, Mary (Howard) Morris of Battle Creek, and Harry Mohney of Nevada; grandchildren, William (Kaleen) Morris, Patrick (Mary C. ) Morris and Bradley Morris, all of Battle Creek, Mary Beth Mohney, Stephanie (George) Couch, Sharla, Jason , Catherine, Justin, Taylor and Bennet. Eleven great grandchildren, Lucille, Archie, Drake and Jenna Morris, Lexi and Harrison Mohney, Connor, Isabella, Felicity and Elliot Couch and Delaney Mohney. Lucille married Gerald Burghdoff in 1955. He had six children, Geraldine (John) Storm, Connie Burghdoff , Jack (Janice) Burghdoff, Richard (Jan) Burghdoff, David (Rose) Burghdoff and Ronald (Alvine) Burghdoff who all lived with Jerry and Lucille at one time or another. Also surviving are many step grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In 1969, Lucille married John Bolley, the father of seven children; the youngest three were 8, 12 and 14 at the time. These children have been a great part of Lucille’s life. Surviving are Deborah (James) Burk of Tennessee, Theresa (Stanley) Marks of Florida and deceased step-sons, Luther Bolley, Jack Bolley, Lynn (Jean) Bolley and Butch Bolley. From her humble beginnings, Lucille’s life was very full. She was a very very thoughtful, loving person. She worked several jobs, from working in homes to go to school, working at Wilson’s Dime Store in the Verona area, lunch lady at Verona School, taking in ironings and worked at Kellogg for 25 years. She found time to be a blue bird/campfire leader, cub scout leader, PTA member, decorating wedding cakes, babysitting for her many grandchildren and step-grandchildren and cooking for many family dinners and reunions the families all had. She also sewed for Charitable Union, worked blood drives and loved to travel, her daughter Theresa took her on several cruises and had her at her home in Florida many winters. If family was around, she loved it. She is survived by many nieces and nephews, including Muriel Hurt, Rose Fischer and Marie McReakon. She was preceded in death by her parents and all her siblings and their spouses, Anna (Merton) Brown, Samuel (Miriam) Thornburg, Esther (died when young) Florine (Willard) McReakon, Marcus (Betty) Thornburg, Carol Hassler and James (Irene) Thornburg.  Visitation will be held Friday from 4 to 7:00 p.m., at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 8, 2014, at the funeral home with The Rev. Chad Parmalee officiating. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital. www.henryfuneralhome.org

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