Laurel Lea Willsea Sherburn

Laurel Lea Willsea Sherburn, 86, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 7, 2025. She was born October 17, 1939, in Almena Township MI, the daughter of William & Madge (Churchill) Willsea.

Laurel was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother and a friend to many. Her love was unconditional. Her morning routine included having her coffee and reading her daily devotions. Her love and deep faith for the Lord was passed on to her children and those around her. Laurel had a heart of gold, if you needed anything, all you had to do was ask and she was there. She was active in her church where she was on many committees and helped head up Crop Walk for years. She was involved in many community events such as being a liaison for the Neighborhood Watch, volunteering at Senior Services and was an active member of the Maple Lake Association. She joined Curves when it was in Paw Paw and made a wonderful group of friends that she had coffee with once a week... even after Curves closed their doors.

Laurel Sherburn drove school bus for Paw Paw Public Schools for over 30 years where she touched the lives of many families/children in the community. Some even called her ‘momma Sherburn’.

In 1964 Dale & Laurel bought a house on Maple Lake, where she still resided 60 years later. A lot of laughs, parties, swimming, boating, and ice skating were enjoyed by many over the years. It was a great place to raise a family and become family to many of her neighbors.

Laurel loved to bake and decorate cakes... wedding, birthday, graduation and many other cakes. All beautiful and delicious. All of her children’s favorite was her chocolate sheet cake with peanut butter in the frosting.

On July 6, 1956, she was united in marriage to Dale L Sherburn (deceased, 11-10-09). Surviving are their three children, Dale (Vada) Sherburn of Lawton MI, Kevin (Nina) Sherburn of Columbia, TN, and Tracie Sherburn of Portage MI. Five grandchildren, Shelli (Mark) Candey of Kalamazoo MI, Tracy (Dan) Abbott of Bangor, MI, Cindy Crawford (Joe Burr) of Kalamazoo MI, Sarah Sherburn of Rocky River, OH and Keith (Katie) Sherburn of Piedmont, SD. Eight great grandchildren and eight great great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.

Laurel was preceded in death by her husband Dale, parents, brothers: Wendell, Louis, Morris, Claude, James Willsea, and her sister Freida Amos, as well as in-laws William, Charles, Richard, and Gerald Sherburn.

The family will receive friends on Friday, December 12 at Adams Funeral Home from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm and again on Saturday, December 13 at the Paw Paw United Methodist Church from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm with service at 1:00 pm.

Donations can be made in her honor to the Paw Paw United Methodist Church or Animal Rescue Project in Kalamazoo, MI.