Mrs. Lorraine Vivian Herbert, 72, wife of the late John James Herbert, passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at Shore Health and Rehabilitation Center in Parksley. Born Jan. 6, 1951, in Lacey, Mich., Lorraine was the daughter of the late Carol Vivian Miller Harbin and the late Howard Elwood Higbee.
Lorraine grew up in Hastings and Battle Creek, Mich., and later moved to Wisconsin, where she began her 20-year career as a reservation specialist manager for various hotels throughout the region.
She was a longtime member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Milwaukee, Wis., and especially enjoyed singing in the choir.
Lorraine returned to Hastings in 1987 and began working as a certified nursing assistant at Thornapple Manor, a career that perfectly complemented her caring and compassionate nature. After two decades at Thornapple, Lorraine retired from nursing and became the owner and operator of the former Whispering Pines Equestrian Center. Over the next seven years, she spent countless hours working the farm and found great joy in providing a loving, healing environment for horses. During this time Lorraine also cared for her husband and remained grateful for every moment they spent together.
In addition to her parents and husband of 40 years, she was predeceased by her brother, Jim Harbin. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Tiffany Anne Blackwell and her husband, Pete, of Parksley and Timothy Herbert and his wife, Kendra, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; sister, Cathie Marrison of Lansing, Mich.; brothers, Donald Higbee and his wife, Liidia, of Battle Creek, Mich., and Phillip Higbee of Nashville, Mich.; grandchildren, Andrew Higgins, Brittany Higgins, Zachary Higgins (Whitney), Mercedes Herbert Gonzalez, Tiffany Kurszewski (Steve), Brad-Lee Herbert, Allysa-Lee Herbert, Trenton Bumstead, Brenden Herbert; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews and their families. She is also survived by her dear friends, Kathy Slagter and Fred Gilliam Jr.
The family will gather for a private graveside service in Michigan, where Lorraine will be laid to rest beside her husband. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.
To honor Lorraine’s love for animals, please consider a contribution to your local SPCA shelter.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at
www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements are by the Williams-Parksley Funeral Home.
