Barbara Hains Greene of Traverse City, Michigan passed away peacefully on September 21, 2024.  Her family mourns her, comforted by knowing she did not suffer.  A graduate of the University of Michigan, she was intelligent, clever, resourceful and adventurous.  During her long life, she acquired a pilot's license, and was a certified ship's captain and world traveler. She was also devoted to causes that would help the Earth. The Nature Conservancy was a long time charity of hers. In addition, she was a volunteer park ranger at Corkscrew Swamp Nature Sanctuary in Naples, Florida and a tour guide and volunteer ranger at Six Mile Cypress Slough in Fort Myers, Florida. She was also artistic; an accomplished painter, she completed landscapes and animal portraits in her later years.  Finally, she was a lifelong fan of the University of Michigan football team.  She was thrilled when the team won the National Championship last year, in 2023.

Barbara's second husband, F. Edward Greene, was the love of her life.  They married in 1965 and raised their blended family of five children together in Royal Oak, Michigan.  Upon Ed's retirement, the couple sailed their boat from Michigan to Florida, traveling through the Great Lakes, the Welland Canal, Lake Champlain and the Hudson River before completing the trip on the intercoastal waterway.  They lived on their boat for several years before landing in Fort Myers, Florida for the winters and Traverse City in summers.  Barbara loved entertaining friends and family, and always returned from her travels abroad talking about new friends she had made and with whom she kept in touch. Her travels included most of Europe, South America, China and other Asian countries, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. An avid boater, she especially enjoyed cruises on the Amazon River, the Rhine River, and through the Greek isles.  Although her beloved husband, Ed, died in 1997, she continued traveling and pursuing their shared interests for many years.

Barbara Hains Coxon was born in Detroit, Michigan on January 20, 1929 to Dr. A.W. Coxon and Twila Hains Coxon.  When she was ten, the family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she finished her education, graduating from the University of Michigan in 1950 with a degree in Fine Arts and Art History. Dr. Coxon was the physician of the University of Michigan's football team from 1939 to 1964.  As a teenager, she attended football practices with her father and knew all the players of that era, including her brother-in-law, Jack Petoskey, whom she introduced to her sister, Peggy. Barbara and Ed remained close to her sister's family which eventually included her six nieces and nephews and many grand nieces and nephews.  She is survived by her children, Lynne Levine (Ted), Mark Davey (Barb), Jill Beauchamp (David) and four grandchildren, Jill Levine, Scott Levine, Neal Beauchamp and Miles Beauchamp (Rebecca). Two stepsons, David and Michael Greene, predeceased her. Donations in her memory can be made to The Nature Conservancy or the University of Michigan.

A celebration of her life will be held next summer for family members, where she will be put to rest in Harrisville, Michigan.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Covell-Traverse City Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

www.beaconfh.com