Dorothy Jean (Peet) Barrett

Dorothy Jean Barrett, 95, of North Branch, went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 30, 2026. Dorothy was born in North Branch, Michigan on March 1, 1930, to Ernest and Edna (Brink) Peet and lived in the North Branch area her entire life. While in high school, she and Alton Barrett began a courtship. After Dorothy graduated from North Branch High in 1948, they were married on January 6, 1951.

Dorothy, a devout Christian, has attended the Pilgrim Holiness Church (now North Branch Wesleyan Church) since she was a 3-year old when the church opened its doors in 1933. She was active in many ministries of the church, serving as Sunday School Secretary, playing piano and organ, singing in the choir, as well as singing specials with Alton or her sister, Thelma.

Dorothy worked at Chaso Royco Corporation as a young office secretary before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Around 1967 she joined the elementary school staff as a teacher’s aide and then moved into the position of elementary school secretary, working for several North Branch school principals. She retired in 1992.

Keeping busy and useful defined her. Dorothy inherited a large rag-rug loom from her grandmother and made rugs for many people. Crocheting, sewing, and scrapbooking were among her many hobbies. She was always ready to jump in to help: babysitting the grandchildren, painting a room, giving a perm…whatever was the current need. Her quick wit was envied by her daughters.

While spending winters in their home in Zephyrhills, Florida, Dorothy and Alton attended church, played shuffleboard and bocce ball, took walks in the warm sunshine, and hosted game night with friends in the trailer park. Through the years they took many trips around the USA. Each spring break while the grandchildren were still in school, Alton and Dorothy would pack the five of them up and take an out-of-state trip to some place of interest.

Dorothy is survived by three daughters, Brenda Patrick of North Branch; Rhonda (Ron) Ruby of North Branch, and Linda (Jim) Trojanowski of Dade City, Florida. Grandchildren are Lesley (Gary) Haxer; Kristen (Bob) Daniels; Timothy (Rachel) Ruby; Benjamin Ruby, and Nicholas (Susan) Ruby. She leaves 13 great grandchildren: Jocelyn, Evangeline, Adelaide, and Penelope Ruby (Nic’s); Isaac, Lauren, and Leah Ruby (Tim’s); Dylan, Dalis, Presley, and Henry Ruby (Ben’s); Caylin and Meegan Daniels (Kristen’s).

She was preceded in death by her husband Alton of sixty-three years, her parents, and her siblings Robert (Virginia) Peet and Thelma (James) Bertee.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the North Branch Wesleyan Church or Fostoria Baptist Church.

Visitation is on Friday, February 13, 2026, 6:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. at the Blackburn Chapel-Martin Funeral Home 4216 Huron Street, North Branch, MI 48461 and on Saturday, February 14, 2026 from 10:00 A.M-11:00 A.M. at the North Branch Wesleyan Church until the funeral service at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Jason Cullin officiating. Dorothy will be laid to rest next to her husband in Greenwood Cemetery, North Branch.

You may share an online condolence to the family at www.blackburnchapel.com

Arrangements by Blackburn Chapel-Martin Funeral Home

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