Beulah Lee Marcelle

****NOTE: The Family of Beulah Marcelle is scheduling services for the Spring of 2021 Beulah L. Marcelle went home to be with the Lord on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2020. She was born December 13, 1927, one of 16 children to Norbert and Melissa Marcelle. She accepted Christ at an early age and has always trusted the Lord to guide her steps. In 1952, she married Eugene Gonder and to this union two children were born: a daughter, Eugenia and a son, Michael. She moved to Kalamazoo with her husband and she was not sure if she would like small-town living, since she lived in New York at the time. Beulah went to beauty school to become a hairdresser and a nurse’s aide. She enjoyed both careers immensely. She became a member of Allen Chapel Church A.M.E. where she worked with the youth choir and played the piano. She loved music of all kinds not only did she play the piano, but she learned to play the ukulele, accordion, organ, and keyboard. As a child, she played the cello in the school orchestra. She was employed at Borgess Hospital for over 33 years. And she enjoyed playing the piano for her patients on her unit at Borgess Hospital and for the employees at the annual Christmas dinner. Some of Beulah’s pastimes were finding musical events for the group she started called The Musi-Kals where talented young people played various instruments for group entertainment. She enjoyed her membership in the Dulcets Club, which was a group of ladies who would gather and were instrumental in bringing the Ebony Fashion Show to Kalamazoo every few years. Beulah loved staying busy and busy was what she was. After retirement she and her coworkers would go out to breakfast weekly and sometimes, they would change it up to lunch out with her friends. Her son was always very proud of the fact that it was Beulah who helped him take Tae Kwon Do in his early twenties when she brought him a coupon for lessons. She also put her hairdresser skills to work by doing friends' hair. One of Beulah’s favorite pastimes was bowling. She was on a bowling league and drew her daughter into the league too. Beulah would travel from state to state during her bowling tournaments. Beulah was preceded in death by her parent, Norbert and Melissa Marcelle of New York; and her 15 siblings, from many states. Beulah is survived by her two children: daughter, Eugenia (Jimmie) Cole of Kalamazoo and her son Michael (Janett) Gonder all of Kalamazoo. Also, four grandchildren, Jabari (Valerie) Cole; Jamie (Brandon) Cole; Jeremy (Katie) Cole; and Jason (Briyonna) Cole Sr.; 13 great-grandchildren, Tierra Cole, Jania Cole, Jabari Cole Jr., Brandon Brown Jr, Bryson Brown, Kalayla Brown, Jordan Brown, Makayla Brown, Jaxen Brown, Jayden Cole, Jayda Cole, Jason Cole Jr. and Za’Nyah Cole all of Kalamazoo; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

Beulah Lee Marcelle

December 13, 1927 - November 26, 2020