Betty J. Wise

BETTY JEAN (HARRISON) WISE August 10, 1927 – December 27, 2022 Betty Wise was born the first of four children to Lucille and Virgil Harrison in Little Rock, Arkansas. She and her family moved to Chicago, Illinois when she was approximately 6 years old. When Betty was a teenager, the family moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan. While working at Gaudy’s Tea Shop in Ypsilanti, Mrs. Gaudy introduced Betty to Dick Wise who worked at the bus station. Betty and Dick would marry in 1949, honeymooning in Charlevoix, Michigan where Dick’s dream of living in northern Michigan began! That dream was realized in 1972 when the family bought a home on Crooked Lake in Petoskey. Betty earned her real estate broker’s license and had a very successful career in residential real estate throughout much of Emmet County. There are many people living in homes today that were brokered by Betty! Betty served on the Petoskey Planning Commission, working tirelessly to maintain the small, downtown charm of Petoskey so that everyone could enjoy the beauty of Lake Michigan! Dick and Betty were very active in their parish, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, and made great friends when they became part of a Teams of Our Lady spirituality group within the parish. She was also a member of the Zonta Club of Petoskey and the Northern Toastmasters Club. Betty loved music, and she’d dance with anyone (friends, family, strangers alike!) to BB King, Glenn Miller, Ray Charles, Pearl Bailey, Louis Armstrong, Dixieland music or anything with a good beat! She also enjoyed traveling with Dick, making new friends along the way, and learning about other cultures in Ireland, Portugal, France and throughout the U.S. Betty was a devout Catholic, welcoming and genuinely open to those of other faiths, appreciating the similarities and differences among people. Betty loved learning – gathering knowledge about her faith, other spiritual practices, people of every background, nature, art, gardening, film. It was not uncommon for friends and family members to receive mailed articles Betty had cut out of magazines or newspapers written about topics she knew would interest them! Betty and Dick enjoyed many years on the lake, especially going out on the pontoon boat. In 1979 they moved into town until 2001 at which point, they moved downstate to Plymouth where they could be closer to their now-grown children, numerous grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Betty began tutoring immigrant adults in learning English, as one of the many volunteer positions she held, and she also was involved in city politics. Visits were regularly made to northern Michigan where Betty would soak in the beauty of Little Traverse Bay and enjoy reconnecting with her Petoskey friends. Betty left a legacy for her family that is celebrated every day. Her faith, her spirit, her positive tenacity, her acting for the greater good, her love of people young and old, her belief in people, and her unending curiosity are some of the traits handed down and kept alive. Betty is predeceased by her parents, Lucille and Virgil Harrison, husband Richard (Dick) Wise of 62 years, her brother, Jimmy Harrison, granddaughters Hope Benedetto, Brooke Wise, and Faith Wise. She is survived by brother Clarence (Janet) Harrison, sister Martha (George) Theros, children John (Annie) Wise, Kevin (Carol) Wise, Chris (Lynn) Wise, Gayle (Bruce) Campbell, Ric (Beverly) Wise, Dana (Hank) Benedetto, Patrick (Margie Marks) Wise, Polly Wise, and Tim (Trish) Wise. Also surviving are 22 grandchildren plus spouses, and 40 great grandchildren with two on the way. In lieu of flowers, Betty and the family would appreciate donations made to Alzheimer’s Association of Michigan, Zonta Club of Petoskey, or the charity of your choice. Family will gather with friends in vestibule Tuesday, January 3rd 1 PM until the 2 PM Funeral Mass at St. Kenneth Catholic Church, 14951 N. Haggerty Rd., Plymouth, MI 48170. To share a memory, please use the Share a Memory tab on this web page.

Betty J. Wise

August 10, 1927 - December 27, 2022