Janet Charlene (Yoder) Ferris

Janet Charlene Ferris, of Muskegon, passed away on Monday, December 28, 2015 on her 78th birthday surrounded by her children and family.  Janet was born to Irvin Samuel and Irma Ruby (Mishler) Yoder in Topeka, Indiana.  She longed to be reunited in heaven with her mother and best friend Ruby.  She married John Ferris in 1954 and stayed home to raise children.  As a single mother, she went to work at Tekmold in Muskegon for 14 years.  In 1976, she enrolled in truck driving school and moved to Denver, Colorado to drive trucks for Safeway Foods and Leprino Foods.  She traveled to all 48 continental states before retiring.  She was a free spirit and raced stock cars for several years.  She loved to cook and bake and make Amish and Mennonite family recipes.  She enjoyed playing cards, bingo, casino games, puzzles, gardening, and belonged to several social clubs.  She was an organizer of a Christian church, Chapel of the Three Crosses, and campground on Diamond Lake in Newaygo County.  She will be lovingly remembered by her family: sons, Randy (Beth) Ferris of Grand Haven, Terry Ferris of Muskegon; daughter Barb (Bob) Miller of Muskegon; 9 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Sally (Lee) Homer of Muskegon; brother, Denny (Sue) Yoder of St. Cloud, Florida; stepdaughter Vicki (Craig) Hiltz of Whitehall; and nephew Rob Thomas of Muskegon.  Janet was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Joyce Houghton and Lois Brooks.  The family will host a Celebration of Life from 1pm to 4pm on Sunday, January 31, 2016, at the Veterans Club on Lakeshore Drive in Muskegon.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Chapel of the Three Crosses.  Please share stories and sign Janet’s online guest book. Arrangements by Klaassen Family Funeral Home.