Laura Belle Rowbotham

Funeral services for Laura will be at 2:00 PM on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Hanlin Funeral Home in Vassar. Visitation will begin at 11:00 AM and last until the time of service. Rev. Dennis Irish will preside.

Laura Belle Rowbotham (née Burgess) was born in Dryden, Michigan, on 18 September 1934 and died peacefully at her home in Vassar, Michigan, on 25 August 2024, just three and a half weeks shy of her 90th birthday. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey Burgess (1880-1958) and Florence Mae Burgess (née Edgett) (1907-1992), and by eight siblings: Ruby Elvera (1924-1999), Evalin Elenor (1926-1996), Clara Mae (1927-1984), Dorothy Mae (1929-2001), Leslie Harvey (“Pat”) (1932-2017), Betty Lou (1939-2012), Linda Lou (1942-2021), and Mary Ellen (1944-1945).

Laura is survived by her beloved husband of 53 years, Gerald Leroy (“Jerry”) Rowbotham; by her sister Joan Elizabeth; by all four of her children (Glenn Eric Jackson of Vassar; Keith Burgess-Jackson [né Keith Douglas Jackson] of Arlington, Texas; Marcus Charles (“Mark”) Jackson of Sherman, Texas; and Gary Lee Jackson of Mount Morris); by five grandchildren (Danielle Doris Carter [née Jackson], Beau Andrew Jackson, Kyle Marcus Jackson, Jared Ryan Jackson, and Kendra Leigh Jackson]); by six great-grandchildren; and by Brandon Lyon of Davison, who spent much time with Laura and Jerry from the time he was born and who was (and in the case of Jerry still is) loved dearly by them.

Laura lived for the final 57 years of her life on Caine Road in rural Vassar. Her hobbies at various points in her life included reading (a love of which she passed on to her children); traveling (she had visited all the states except Alaska and Hawaii); watching movies and television (her rating system for movies was “Good” and “Real Good”); cooking (her desserts, ranging from pies and cakes to cookies, puddings, caramel apples, and cinnamon rolls, are legendary); canning fruits and vegetables (including jams and jellies); hunting, fishing, and target shooting (she was a crack shot); playing cards (she was a highly desired partner in games of euchre and pinochle); competing at billiards; and snowmobiling. Nothing she did was done in a mediocre or half-hearted fashion. She loved playing games with her children and kept an immaculate house. Her door was always open to visitors.

All who knew Laura will attest to her kindness, energy, intelligence, and love of life. She was devoted to her husband, children, and grandchildren, but never to the point of neglecting neighbors, friends, relatives (she had 18 nephews and 16 nieces), or strangers. She will be missed by all.

(Written by Keith Burgess-Jackson)

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Laura and her family are in the care of Hanlin Funeral Home - Vassar. 1148 W. Saginaw Road, Vassar, MI 48768. Phone (989) 823-8621.

Hanlin Funeral Homes - Serving Since 1928

Millington & Vassar