Gloria Jean Veen

Gloria Jean Veen, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2025, at the age of 73. Born on November 13, 1951, in the Chicago area, Gloria was the daughter of Ted Whitworth and Kathleen Tighe. She spent her early years in Illinois before eventually making her home in Paris. Gloria had a passion for the simple joys in life - playing BINGO, tackling word search puzzles, traveling on road trips, and visiting Dollywood. But above all, she cherished time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren. Her kitchen was always full of warmth and the smell of something delicious baking. Known for her legendary sheet cakes and lasagna pans that seemed to appear like magic, Gloria was the heart of the neighborhood - always feeding the kids, always welcoming, and always caring. She was fiercely opinionated and wonderfully stubborn, but her convictions were delivered with a gentle, nurturing spirit. Gloria had a heart as big as her recipes, often acting as a second mom to many and sharing her kindness freely. On July 24, 1982, Gloria married the love of her life, Harold Veen, and together they built a family full of love and laughter. Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Harold; her children, Donald Butler, Yvonne Counts, Anthony Butler, Carriann (Mark) Malone, Thomas Butler, Julie (Sal) Torres, Ashley Marie (Ty) Wood, Kevin (Katheryn Pierce) Veen, and Emily Fisher; numerous grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. A celebration of Gloria's life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Corewell Hospice (https://give.corewellhealth.org/hospice-donation) or The Comfort Home in Reed City (https://thecomforthomemi.charityproud.org/Donate).