So Hard to Raise Parents

It has been a year since the passing of my father, Harry Middleton.  And since he died on Memorial Day, it's only appropriate that especial attention should have been made of the event.  First, we began with my mother, who died just before Labor Day in 1986, by dressing up her site:

Then to Harry's location, among a strip of Middletons north of Big Rapids, Michigan...

His ashes were interred the same day as his sister Pauline's, whose passing came barely two months following his.  So after some fussing and arranging, some red/white/blue themed artificial flowers and perky decorations were assembled and put in place:

Content with the outcome, we left the site, to find this sign:

Uh oh... we had gone 'artificial'....and worse:

This is one Puritanical burial site! Of course, dad would have argued that if you can't spell 'alcoholic' properly, one shouldn't have to follow the instructions.  But we did, drove down the road and found a convenient organic greenhouse selling geraniums and baby chicks.  We opted for the plants:

But now, what of the extra faux plantage?   Well, Harry is technically available for viewing at two locations, so we went back to Lakeview, Michigan and said hello to mother again:

And the world once again could spin in greased grooves.......

Thanks for stopping by... here's to remembering friends and other loved ones this and every holiday...

Post #11 - And now, my aunt as well....

Big Rapids – Pauline Leone (Middleton) Hicks, of Big Rapids, passed away on Sunday July 3, 2011, at Mecosta County Medical Center.  Pauline was born in Detroit on June 30, 1930, the daughter of James G. and Viola (Kotke)Middleton. She graduated from Big Rapids High School in 1948 and attended Ferris Institute in the fall of 1948-49 in the School of Business. Pauline started working at Ferris in January of 1964 and retired after 28 ½ of service in the Housing Office. She was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church since 1948. For many years she loved playing golf at Falcon Head with her women’s morning league. She met with her Big Rapids High School classmates almost every Saturday at Szot’s for lunch. Pauline loved to socialize and exercise. She was a member of PT Plus, Big Rapids Senior Recreation and TOPS. She was an avid world traveler and was known in her later years as Traveling Grandma.  Pauline is survived by her three children; Peggy Leone Congleton (George Fox) of San Diego, CA, Deborah Ann (Dennis) Knopf of Big Rapids, and Daniel James (Connie) Hicks of Fort Myers Beach, FL, her grandchildren and great grandchildren, Jason (Megan) Knopf and their two children, Jake and Kayleigh of Big Rapids, Scott (Lisa) Knopf and their two children, Alexandria and Carter of Davison, MI, Christopher Congleton of Davis, CA, Patrick Hicks of Fort Myers Beach, FL, and Candice Hicks (Kyle) Ballard and their two children, Carina and Blake of Cape Coral, FL, her younger sister Barbara (John) Foust of Big Rapids, sister –in-law Irma Middleton of Six Lakes, MI, plus many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Harry Middleton, and a grand daughter, Stacy Ann Knopf. Pauline was the sweetest Mom, grandmother and GG (greatgrandmother) who will be dearly missed by all.  A Memorial Service was held 11:00 a.m. Friday July 8, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church of Big Rapids, with Pastor Becky Morrison officiating. Visitation was Thursday July 7, 2011, from 6-8 p.m. at the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids.  Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.

And to add to the unexpected nature of her passing, I just got a greeting card from her yesterday, the 5th....

Post #10 - Video Memorial for Harry Middleton, Part 2

Material mainly from 1987-2007....

Video Tribute #1 for Dad

This is a youtube link - this runs about 7 minutes - and WHOA just realized I have a box of about 500 SLIDES to transfer too.... anyway, this is material from about 1928-1985.

Post #9 - Harry Middleton Remembered 2011

3am phone calls are never good news, and so came the announcement that my father, in decline for several years and hospitalized while in Mexico since late April, had died following a heart attack.  He would have been 83 this July.

Our family has never been one for funerals, so we will be coordinating a memorial either in or near his Michigan home sometime soon once arrangements can be made to transport his ashes back to the States.  Our concerns and cares are now for his widow, my stepmother Irma, who has been at his side for nearly 25 years.

Harry Middleton, age 82, went to tend his final garden during the early hours of May 31. After several years of declining health, he died of a heart attack in Puerto Vallarta, several hours from his Mexico winter home in Cuernavaca, Morelos.

He married Winifred in 1953 and with her had two sons, James Harry of Battle Creek, and David Alan of Grand Rapids, Michigan. They both survive. A stepson from Winifred’s first marriage, Robert Albright of Lindsay, Ontario, also survives. Winifred succumbed to cancer in 1986.
His subsequent marriage to Irma Woo of Mexico City was a triumph of perseverance over challenges of communication and distance, aligned with a desire to live where, if one mentioned snow, "they never heard of it, and if you mentioned ice, they put it in a glass." Taking on the new role of grandfather, he especially encouraged the education of "Monstero," now Dr. David Rosas. Irma, her three daughters, and their children also survive.
Harry attended college at Ferris and the University of Kansas before beginning his career with the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company (now DTE Energy), starting as custodian in Big Rapids and working his way up to district manager in Escanaba, and finally, regional manager of the Taggart Field gas storage facility at Six Lakes, Michigan. He retired from there in 1978, following several years of increasing blindness due to macular degeneration.
Harry had been a member of the Big Rapids Elks Club, was a long-time member of the Lakeview Lion’s club, and he loved gardening, recycling, sharing a story, and tipping waitresses with tiny onions. In keeping with his wishes, there will be no funeral.

An openhouse/memorial celebrated his life in 2011.

A facebook page has been created in his memory, for the comments and reminiscences of friends and family: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002542415970

Site A - Mt Carmel, Big Rapids:

Site B: Lakeview Cemetery, Lakeview, Michigan:

And there was wicked weather the evening of the memorial...but the sign remained lit!

Memorial Day, 2016:

 Sparrow salutes Sgt. Middleton

And 2018:

 2019:

 

And 2022:

 

2024:

2025:

(It appears like someone at the memorial garden drove over the headstones - and removed an urn - had to exhume the stone a bit. Time for a new foundation!)