Ronnee Greathouse

Ronnee Jean Greathouse, 69, of Buchanan, Michigan, passed away on Tuesday, January16, 2018 at Hanson House in Stevensville. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3 PM on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Swem Chapel, 301 W. Front St., Buchanan, MI 49107. Visitation will be held from 1PM until the time of service Saturday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made, in Ronnee’s name, to the St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital or Berrien County Youth Fair. Those wishing to send a condolence or sign the guest book online may do so at www.swemchapel.com Someone once said, “The South: A place where tea is sweet and accents are sweeter. Macaroni and cheese is a vegetable.  Front porches are wide and words are long.  Y’all is the only proper noun.  Everything is darlin’ and someone’s heart is always being blessed.” Ronnee Jean Perrin was born in Cordova, Alabama on Christmas Eve in 1948, the second youngest in what would be a family of ten; eight siblings alongside her Mother and Father. Ronnee and her family grew up in the midst of the Alabama coal mining culture, where they spent time living in the Barney Mine Camp and got all their goods at the camp general store.  They did not have a whole lot, but they made the best of what they did have; which was a lot of love and a whole mess of fun. Ronnee was known by many other names; Ronnee Jean, Aunt Jean, Aunt Ronnee, and Mama. To her husband of nearly 50 years, Gary Greathouse, she was often affectionately called “Wife”, but in quiet moments, she was known as his Alabama Gem.  Perhaps the most precious name she was ever given came from her five grandchildren, who know her as their Bubby. Ronnee’s southern heritage, one she was immensely proud of, brought a life of adventure to her children, Tessa and Garrick, in the likes of front-porch sitting, telling stories, red clay, playing in kudzu vines and shooting cowpies in the pasture behind her mother, Nanny’s, house.  Ronnee was an amazing cook who could whip up anything with whatever she had on hand.  Those who were fortunate to sit at her table can tell wondrous stories about hams, vegetable soup, butter beans and cornbread, carrot cake, greens beans, sweet potatoes, and potato salad.  And, sweet tea. Always sweet, sun tea. Ronnee would come up from Alabama in the summers to babysit her nieces and nephews, and at one point decided to stay.  This was when she met her to-be husband in the lab at Unity Hospital.  She remarked that he was the most handsome thing she had ever seen…and he had a nice car.  This love affair spawned a 48-year marriage that involved taking whatever car they had, nice or not, on many trips together, eventually with their children, then with their dear friends from the classic car clubs, who they both loved and enjoyed very much…even though, many would argue that Ronnee loved the craft shows as much as the hum of the Pontiac. Ronnee and Gary had four children in their lifetime, their daughters, Tessa and Amy, and their sons, Garrick and Brad. While Tessa and Garrick were the blessings that they brought to life, Ronnee always said that she loved Amy and Brad to the point that she could never see them as anything other than her own.  Ronnee loved her children fiercely and deeply, giving up many of her own ambitions to give them whatever they may have needed. Her love for all holidays is something that her children and many others hold close to their hearts.  To her kids, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and the Easters spent in Alabama were the stuff of great magic. In terms of hearts, as much as she loved her family and friends, nice cars, good food, Casinos, porch swings, shopping and good deals…it is known that Ronnee’s greatest role was that of Bubby. In being a grandmother to Colin, Bradley, Gracelyn, Elliott, and Parker, she found her greatest joys.  Bubby was never too busy or too tired to spend time with her grandkids, even in the midst of illness. She loved playing Yahtzee and Peggle, baking, gardening, coloring, and doing crafts with the children.  She was known for grand adventures such as making a day at the Pumpkin Patch, time spent at the Berrien County Youth Fair, and Silver Lake Sand Dunes.  Perhaps their greatest times together were in the simple sleepovers, that took place most often. Ronnee is often compared to the women of the movie Steel Magnolias.  She was full of class, yet feisty.  Sweet spoken and quick-witted.  She was beautiful and perfect. And as said in the movie, just too colorful for words.  Y’all, Her heart was blessed and she was loved. Ronnee was proceeded in death by her parents, Clarence & Opal (Ware) Perrin, brothers David, Kenneth, Larry, sisters Susie, Jack and sister-in-law Freddie.