Leorna Jeanne Lynch, peacefully fell asleep in death in the early morning hours of January 24, 2026 at the home of her beloved, caregiving daughter Susan, of Howell, Michigan. Leorna was 94 years old.
Leorna was born on August 12, 1931 in Hanover, Ohio to Harold and Grethel Cline. While still young, Leorna’s parents moved from Ohio, and along with her siblings, James, Willene, Joan, Joyce, Jerry, and Bob, grew up in Shepherd, Michigan. All through her school years Leorna was actively involved in various extracurricular student activities, including the cheerleading squad, and she especially loved her part-time, after school job at the Shepherd Theater. During her Senior year she was crowned the Shepherd High Harvest Queen of 1949. After graduation, on August 13, 1949, Leorna married James Lynch of Shepherd. Together they lived in campus housing in Mt. Pleasant where James graduated from Central Michigan University. During their time in Mt. Pleasant, Leorna gave birth to Larna in June, 1950 and Patrick in 1952. After graduation James and Leorna moved to a small town in the thumb of Michigan called Yale, where James taught Biology and coached at Yale
High School. While in Yale, Leorna gave birth to James Jr in 1953, Micheal in 1954, Susan in 1955, John in 1958, and Peter in 1962.
In 1963 the Lynch family moved to Ferndale, Michigan where James worked as one of the Ferndale High School counselors, and all the while Leorna continued working hard from morning till night as the Lynch homestead Counselor, Adviser, Teacher, Nurse, Accountant, House Manager, Driver, Cook, Child-care worker, Mentor, Protector and Defender of her 7 appreciative children. By 1970, Leorna, James, and family were living in the Sterling Hts., Michigan area, where they remained until
1986, when James retired from the Utica School system. Leorna however, did not retire in 1986, but continued working to resituate her husband James and their youngest son Peter, to their new home in Shepherd. With their homebase back in Shepherd, and after a number of years as ‘empty nesters’, Leorna and James took some time to travel across the country, and sometimes out of the country, to visit their children and grandchildren. Leorna and James were married just 18 days short of 75 years, when James passed away on July 26, 2024. Together they raised 7 children, Larna (Roger) Wells-Florida, Patrick (Deborah) Lynch-Michigan, James Jr.
(Amy) Lynch-Washington State, Micheal (Deborah) Lynch-Florida, Susan Lynch Gibbons-Michigan, John (Darlene) Lynch-Nebraska and Peter Lynch (deceased).
Leorna is survived by her sister Joan (Neil) Green-Gladwin, MI, her brother Gerald (Barbara) Cline-Florida, and her brother Robert (Jaquelyn) Cline-Shepherd, MI, along with many treasured nieces and nephews. Leorna had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh. As she aged, she would often say regarding her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, “I may not remember all of their names, but be sure and tell them I love them.” Of course, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren always knew that Leorna loved each one of them with all her heart.
Leorna’s 13 grandchildren’s names are: John, Tina, Katie, Luke, Lenaya, Paul, Monica, Emily, Melissa, Chad, Brynn, Shannon, and Caitlin. Leorna’s 20 great-grandchildren’s names are: Simon, Thomas, Elijah, Joshua, Elowin, Tigerlily, Esme, Leela, Raya, Joshua, Ben, Alaina, Carson, Erin, Griffin, Killian, Brynnlee, Declan, Jack and Sean. A family and friends memorial service will be held on May 9, 2026 @ 2 pm at Berry Funeral Home, 106 W. Wright Ave. Shepherd, MI.
