Gayven Grace Hostler

Gayven Grace Hostler, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and best friend, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, January 11, 2019.

She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Myrtle Kathleen (Flake) and Charles Carroll Wallin; step-father, Arthur Jacobson; and her husband of 39 years, Orville “Lucky” Hostler.

Gayven was born in the house she was to call home in Cadillac, Michigan, on October 8, 1934. She shared fond memories of her childhood with her family often, which included skating, double movies for 5 cents each and 5 cent popcorn, dancing at the “Music Box” with the boys from Camp Grayling, and sharing a messy bedroom with her sister, Sandra, in a bed that their mom and dear friend, Grace, had cut the legs to even them out until the mattress was almost on the floor. Like all teens of that era, she loved her 45 and 78 RPMs.  She had several best friends: Margot Summerfeldt and Lois and Delores Largent, but her best friend was probably her grandma Wallin. She often shared a story of sitting on her front porch eating tomato soup and tuna sandwiches with her grandma and watching thunderstorms. As a teenager, she worked as a dish washer in the same hotel her mom waitressed at. Gayven loved to talk about her 1949 Chevrolet with a vacuum shift. It was green, 1 year old and she paid $400 for it, but best of all, it beat out any car at the light.

After graduating from Cadillac High School, Gayven moved to Grand Rapids with the intent of going to college, but instead accepted a good job with Dun and Bradstreet. She was later transferred to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she met her future husband.

In 1962, Gayven and Orville were set-up on an unexpected, chaperoned date by a mutual friend. She found Orville to be very tall and polite. Soon after, they were married and started a family. Carolyn Gaye was born in 1965 and James Carroll in 1966.

In 1971, after living in Philadelphia for the previous 9 years, Gayven and Orville moved their family back to Michigan. They bought a 3-acre plot of land and built a house that Gayven lived in almost to the time of her death. She worked at Lowell State Savings Bank, FMB and Huntington Bank for over 30 years. She had many friends, but Sharon McFall and Dianne Mac Naughton have remained true friends to the very end. The three of them bowled in a league every Thursday night for years, and they continued to visit her often.

Gayven was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She attended every event and sport her children and grandchildren were in. Sometimes having to be held so she could get up the stands in her later years and braving terrible weather. Her entire life revolved around her family, and enjoying life to the fullest. She will be forever missed and greatly loved by her family and friends.

Surviving Gayven are her sister, Sandra Ryan; and her brother, James (Jeanne) Wallin. Also surviving her are her children, Carolyn (Mark) Lessens, and Jim Hostler; grandchildren: Sarah (Justin) Saunders, Melissa (Anthony) Spurgeon, Amanda Lessens, Tyler Lessens, Jami (Kyle) Manszewski, and Jodi (Tim) Callahan; as well as her great-grandchildren: Zachary, Zane, Zavier Saunders, Sephina Joseph, Willow Spurgeon, Grant Knowlton and baby, Josiah Lessens, Marley and Rhett Manszewski, and Maci, Lincoln and Thea Callihan.

Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. Thursday, January 17, at Roth-Gerst Chapel, 305 N. Hudson, Lowell, MI 49331. Funeral will be Friday, January 18, at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home chapel; with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Rev. Rocky Spears of Kilpatrick United Brethren Church, Woodland, MI, officiating. Interment Bailey Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, PO Box 97075, Washington, DC 20090, in her honor.