Paula Jo (Batt) RichardsApril 5, 1949 — September 7, 2026

Paula Jo (Batt) Richards passed away on Monday, September 7, 2026 at the age of 77 surrounded by loved ones in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She has been cremated as per her wishes.

Paula was born on April 5, 1949, in Muskegon, Michigan to Evelyn Belle (Rosenberry) and Eldred Merle Batt. After the loss of their husband/father in 1963, the family moved from Muskegon to Boon. Paula and Dennis Lee Richards were married on December 3, 1966. Paula graduated from Cadillac High School in 1967. They welcomed their first daughter, Jill Anne, in February 1968. Not long after, they moved to Lansing, Michigan. They welcomed a second daughter, Jody Kay, in December 1970. Paula worked as a waitress for several years until she began working for General Motors, at the Oldsmobile assembly plant, in June 1976. During the spring of 1978, the family moved from Lansing to Holt, Michigan where Paula continued to reside at the same home until September 2023. Paula retired from General Motors in 2016 after 40 years of service.

During her younger years, Paula enjoyed water skiing and downhill skiing and later transitioned to cross-country skiing with her children. For many years, she competed in bowling leagues with family and friends as teammates. Paula loved the holidays, especially decorating for Christmas. She had many talents, including ceramic painting, cake decorating, sewing, making specialty quilts, and crafting in general. A favorite hobby was furniture upholstery. She made a workshop in the basement of her home and for more than thirty years she transformed old worn out pieces of furniture into beautiful and usable items. Whenever Paula was cooking or baking, there was never a shortage of good food to eat.

Paula cherished her lifelong friends. Bonnie (Ed) Martinko lived in the adjacent apartment in her first home after moving to Lansing. Marlene Graham lived across the street of the Maple Hill Street house in Lansing where they were neighbors for many years. Later both moved outside of Lansing, but to the same school district so their children continued to grow up together. Her friendship with Karolyn (Raymond) Blocher began as a work related connection through their spouses, developed into a whole family friendship, and Karolyn even served as a mentor to Paula as she was learning the skills of furniture upholstery. Both of Paula’s parents came from large families so she had numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. While she kept in touch with many of them, she maintained a lasting relationship with her cousin, Cheryl Forcia.

Paula was candid, creative, and generous and nothing was more important to her than her children and grandchildren. She loved attending her grandchildren’s activities including sporting events, scouting activities, and drama club performances.

Paula is survived, and will be greatly missed, by daughters, Jill (Thomas) Grant of Homer and Jody (Russell) Roush of Howard City; grandchildren, Lillian, Alexander, and Olivia Grant, all of Homer, Hunter Roush of Grand Rapids, and Cole Roush (Taylor Zambrano) of Colorado Springs, CO; sister, Yvonne Ann Nelson of Cadillac; brother, Eldred Merle Batt II of Gladwin; nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by parents, Eldred and Evelyn Batt; sisters, Bonnie Kay Finnerty, Bobbie Jean Jennings, and infant, Cindy Lee Batt; grandparents and many aunts and uncles.

A Celebration of Paula’s Life will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from noon—3pm at Alaiedon Township Hall, 2021 W Holt Road, Holt, MI 48842.

In the spring of 2027, Paula will be laid to rest in the Boon West Side Cemetery in Boon, Michigan near her grandparents, parents, siblings, other relatives, and friends.

Donations, in memory of Paula, may be made to a charity of one’s choosing.

To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Paula's online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.MichiganCremation.com

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, 616-452-3006.