Violet Margaret Kehr

Violet Margaret (Turner) Kehr of Grayling, Michigan passed away on Tuesday morning December 24, 2019. Violet was 99 years old.

Violet was born in Christopher, Illinois to Evan and Pearl (Vick) Turner on April 5, 1920. Her family were Coal Miners and in 1926 her Grandfather Allen, Father Evan, and Uncle Clarence were recruited by the owners of the then booming Coal Mining operations in Saginaw County. They moved their families to Saginaw, Michigan. She graduated from Saginaw High School in 1939. Violet was very proud of the award that she earned while at Saginaw High for being the "Best Student Typist".

She married Ray John Kehr on July 7, 1940, in Saginaw, Michigan. When Ray entered the US Navy (during World War II), Violet moved to be close to him. She worked in several War Production Factories in Rhode Island and Michigan. After the war they returned to Saginaw. They moved to Alliance, Ohio, Farmington, Michigan, and Novi, Michigan before moving to Grayling in 1969. Together they raised seven children.

Violet is survived by her children Ray (Essie) Kehr of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Tonnya (Anna) Kehr-Harris of Brighton, Michigan, Fred (Debbie) Kehr of Taylor, Michigan, Pamela (Bruce) Jerome of Grayling, Jimbo (Teena) Kehr of Grayling, Carl (Connie) Kehr of Lincoln, Nebraska and Randy Johnson (a very special family friend) formerly of Grayling. Violet also, has 26 Grand Children, 47 Great Grand Children, and 23 Great-Great Grand Children.

Violet was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years Ray, her parents Evan and Pearl, one sister Emillia of Grayling and three brothers Carl of Christopher, Illinois, Allen of Saginaw, Michigan and Evan of Emmet, California.

Violet was a member of the Grayling Free Methodist Church. She was a "Life Member" of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 106 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Unit 3736, both of Grayling. She served as the Chaplin for Chapter 129 of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) of Grayling. She was a proud member of fun loving group of local women who called themselves the "The Sewing Club", who met regularly to share their love of sewing, socializing, Pot Luck Dinners, and Ladies Nights Out at several local restaurants. Violet enjoyed Bowling and Golf and she was a regular league player in both. She was also an avid reader.

It was her joy in reading and her desire to share that joy with children that led her, in the late 1950s, to becoming instrumental in the founding of the Public Library in the rural Novi Township (which is now the City of Novi, Michigan). Violet with her children in tow was often seen pulling a wagon door to door to collect donated books for the Library. The Library was created in the old one room abandoned Township Hall and staffed by mothers who served as volunteer librarians. From the humble beginnings in a sparsely populated rural Southeastern Michigan township, the Novi Public Library has grown into a multi-million dollar facility serving a community of approximately 70,000 residents.

A Memorial Dinner to celebrate Violet's life will be held at the Grayling American Legion Hall on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 12:00 PM.

Violet requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to your favorite charity in her honor. A private family grave side service will be held at the Buena Vista Township cemetery in Saginaw County at a later date.

Codolences can be expressed at www.sorensonlockwood.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home.