Lois J. Furness

Lois Jean Furness, 84 of Charlevoix passed away peacefully in her home while surrounded by her family and her Lord on June 6, 2025 from complications during her 2 year battle with cancer. Lois was born November 4, 1940 in Bad Axe, MI to her parents George and Virginia (Tschumi) Ackerman.

She grew up in Elkton, MI where she graduated high school from Elkton High in 1958. She was married to Harvey E. Furness in September 1958, and proceeded to raise her 3 boys all while pursuing her college education where she then graduated “Summa Cum Laude” from Saginaw Valley State University and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1975. She then spent her career of 30 plus years in the education field where she taught students of all ages in many different school systems around the State. Upon retirement from teaching, she then went full time into her true passion of artistic quilting and sewing and was a member of the Little Traverse Bay Quilting Guild as well as many other quilting associations and actually created her own little business called “Skip To My Lou Quilts” with the motto of “Those Who Lie Under Quilts Are Surrounded By Love”. Lois loved and was an active member of the Alanson/Harbor Springs United Methodist Church.

Preceded in death by her husband of 60 yrs Harvey and her middle son Kevin Allen Furness as well as her parents Virginia and George Ackerman of Elkton, MI. Surviving are her two sons, Christopher (Jane) Furness and Timothy Furness; her loving siblings, Barb (Ackerman) Carter, Dale Ackerman and Donald Ackerman; her two grand-daughters, Kayla Jane and Little Miss Rhianna Jean, “the light of her life”; two great grand-daughters, Sophia and Abigail Coates; many nieces, nephews and cousins who she absolutely adored.

Aside from her arts, Lois also had a passion for the outdoors and considered nature as a true gift from God. She loved and was an excellent cook which she learned from her Mother and Grandmother, she also had a passion for gardening which she developed from her childhood growing up on her family farm and was proud to have earned her Master Gardeners Certification along the way; she had a love for music, literature, education, friendships, The American Flag, The Bible and the Detroit Tigers. But most important of all her passions, was her love of Family and her Lord Jesus Christ.

A memorial service will be held for her at 11:00 am, Friday June 27, 2025 at the Elkton United Methodist Church in Elkton, MI immediately followed by a luncheon in the fellowship hall. A private burial service will be held at The Riverside Cemetery in Elkton where she will be laid to rest next to her husband and beloved son Kevin. A small and private Celebration of Life gathering will be held in the Charlevoix Area at a future time and place to be announced for her Up North Circle of Friends of whom she loved dearly. Memorial Contributions may be made to: Little Traverse Bay Quilting Guild at 10246 W. Munro Lake Dr., Levering, MI 49755.

Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on her guestbook below.