Brian Cushman

On June 25, 2025 Brian Cushman, age 66 passed away peacefully at home with family and friends by his side. Brian lived in Evart, Michigan for most of his life where he met Vicki Pedersen while in school. They were married after graduation in 1976.
He spent his career Farming and Appraising, then he retired and left the Main Street District of Evart and moved back home starting a successful processing business. After it was built up he decided to get away from the snowy winters and spend winters in Arizona near his brother David. He was determined not to spend another winter so he sold his beloved snowblower and went west to a State filled with Mountains and cactus. In 2024, he and his wife returned to Michigan to spend the summer as Workampers at Paris Park in Mecosta County. It was a hard summer during which he was plagued by what he thought was pneumonia while in Michigan. The doctors treated it with no success and by midsummer they found he had fungal infection in his lungs that would turn out to be Valley Fever. Prominent in Arizona, California, and Texas it is caused by a spore in the ground carried by dust that finds its way into people and animal lungs and organs, and for some it is deadly. He returned to Arizona to seek treatment from a specialist that would hopefully result in the cure. After non stop stays in intensive care and acute care, they found the spores had damaged his lungs so badly that it would probably not correct itself. In April, he decided he was going to return to Michigan to see his family one last time. No matter how many told him he might not make the trip, he made the journey home with his wife and some really good friends. He was able to visit with all of his family and attend church, which was a special turning point in his life.
Brian enjoyed life, being with people, playing with his cats (Baby Cakes and Little Girl) and feeding birds of which hundreds would fly to the desert to come and enjoy his sunflowers and birdseed everyday. He would always try something new from a Carriage with a Clydesdale, to Car Races with his Grandson. Each Grandchild was taken on a special trip of their choosing and truly enjoyed the experience. He loved taking trips around the world with friends and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He enjoyed participating in the Lions Club and 4-H programs. One of his favorite places to go was Northern Lights Resort in Minnesota, where he would work for Steve and Tracy Lindstom on the dock helping guests and cleaning fish, a talent that he handled with perfection. One of his favorite things would be when he was invited for liver and onions with Steve, he would say that was the best I ever had. Brian always felt he would never fill that bucket on his list of wants and needs. He was always open to a new adventure.
Brian was preceded in death by his Mother, Iva Nichols, his Father, Wayne Cushman; and his sisters, Mary Heisler and Janet Mills. He is survived by his wife Vicki of 48 years, son Jesse Cushman, Evart; daughter, Kelly(Tom) Hubbard, Evart; grandchildren, Logan and Tia Cushman, Lake; Kamber Cushman, Evart; Preston Cushman, Evart; Gavin Hubbard, Evart; and Emma Hubbard, Chippewa Lake. His brother, David Cushman of Florence, Arizona and many Aunts & Uncles, nieces & nephews & cousins.
A thanks to Corewell Health of Big Rapids, Honor Healthcare of Scottsdale, Mesa, and Phoenix, Arizona for all the care and love they showed Brian during his stays with them. Thank you to Corewell Hospice who were true angels in the short time he was in their care. They never hesitated to answer a question, fill a need, or want. They were there till the end.
A special thank you to the friends that helped Brian and Vicki in their true time of need. Fritz and Laura Hodges for being there every time their help was needed. Steve and Michele Root and Helen Bayle that went the extra step to bring him home to Michigan where he wanted to be.
He is now in a place with no more pain and suffering and it took an army to get him home. His wish was to not have any visitations or celebration of life. He wanted people to remember him as they had seen him last. He will be taken to Granny Pass on a Mountain in Florence, Arizona that hosts many graves of people that made the journey to that special place overlooking vast mountains and the desert. His ashes will be blown to the wind so he can continue on to his final resting place.
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