Melissa Jean Laarman

Laarman, MelissaJean- FamilyLifeNetwork-Dgls Melissa Jean Laarman was an incredibly loving and giving person who found great joy in helping others. She was very close with her family and her happiest moments always involved the time she spent in their company. Of course, Melissa's greatest joy in life was her two precious children, Shelby and Hunter, whom she loved dearly. Melissa was born on November 18, 1977, in Holland, Michigan. The middle of three Laarman girls, she had an older sister, Denise, and younger sister, Becky. The three of them undoubtedly filled the house with their share of laughter, arguments and memories while growing up. From a very young age, Melissa had a very nurturing instinct. She loved to play with dolls and later did a lot of babysitting for neighborhood kids. At the age of five, Melissa and her family moved to Douglas, Michigan, where she became a lifelong member of The Community Church of Douglas. Later in life, her own children would be baptized in this church. Melissa graduated from Saugatuck High School in 1996, where she played basketball and volleyball. At 15, Melissa was holding down a waitressing job at Kalico Kitchen in Douglas in addition to her studies. Shortly after graduating, Melissa met Tim Johnson and they fell in love. They moved in together and lived in Muskegon, which was a great distance from Melissa's family. It was very difficult for her to be away from her family, but soon the couple became first time parents with the birth of their daughter, Shelby, born in August of 1997. Unfortunately the couple's relationship ended in 1999, but Melissa and Tim remained friends. She and Shelby moved back to the Saugatuck/Douglas area to be closer to her family and Melissa went to work at Coral Gabels in downtown Saugatuck and also worked at The Mermaid Bar and Grill in Saugatuck When Shelby was two years old, Melissa met and fell in love with Tracy Perkins. They moved into an apartment together in Fennville at this time she was working at Meijers in Holland with her mom. On Christmas Day in 2000, they received the gift of their son, Hunter, born almost 3 months early. Shortly after his birth, Melissa moved back to her mother's house for a while so she could get on her feet. Melissa was a devoted mother to her children and never missed an activity they were involved in. She was always very lenient when it came to them having pets, which ultimately ended up living at Grandma's house. One of Melissa's favorite activities with her kids was getting some change together to take the kids to McDonalds. She also loved taking them to her family's cottage on Loon Lake in Irons, Michigan, where she spent many of her summers, swimming and tubing, and she was happy to share this with her children. In October of 2003, Melissa was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor and underwent surgery and several treatments. Throughout it all, she remained a true fighter and never let her spirits get down. In November of 2005, she was once again diagnosed with another brain tumor and had surgery on it in January of 2006. By April, Melissa's health was very weak and she was admitted to a nursing rehabilitation center. She then came home in the beginning of June to live out her last days surrounded by the family she so dearly loved. Every weekend from then on, her family came out to her house for a cookout and to be with her. The Fourth of July they had yet another get together, which would be Melissa's last opportunity to see everyone again. Melissa Jean Laarman, age 28, of Saugatuck, MI, died Friday, July 7, 2006, at her home in Douglas after a long battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her brother, Bill Watts, Jr. (2001). Her family includes her two children: Shelby age 8, and Hunter age 5, both of Douglas; mother, Susan and William Watts of Douglas; father, Ed and Debbie Laarman of Holland; grandparents: Joe and Dorothy Watts of Allegan, Ron Larabel of Grand Rapids, Al and Jerene Laarman of Holland; sisters and brothers: Denise DeMond of Fennville, Becky Laarman of Fennville, Samantha and Chris Brent of IL, Carrie Laarman of Holland, Tyler Laarman of Holland; many aunts, uncle, nieces, nephews and cousins. Services will be at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, at The Community Church of Douglas with the Dr. Rev. Daniel Miller and Rev. Dennis DeWitt officiating. Burial will be in Douglas Cemetery. Visiting will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Tuesday at The Community Church in Douglas. Arrangements by Dykstra Funeral Home, Saugatuck Chapel, 520 Lake Street, Saugatuck, MI. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shelby and Hunter Laarman Education Fund at Macatawa Bank. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory of Melissa or sign the online guestbook. =================================================