Henry Alexander Ley

Throughout his lifes journey, Henry Ley was a man of great strength. He worked hard during his entire life, and it could be argued that farming was in his blood. Henry witnessed his family tree grow to include the children and grandchildren who are the greatest legacy he leaves behind. With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, he experienced so many things he loved while making memories along the way. The dark days of the 1930s were some of the most trying days we have seen as a nation since the entire decade was cloaked in the hardship of the Great Depression. With an unemployment rate that soared to over 25 percent, countless Americans found themselves without work and willing to do whatever they could to make ends meet. Things only went from bad to worse when a debilitating drought gripped the nations heartland for nearly two years, adding more strain to an already crippled agricultural industry. Despite the challenges around them, a bustling family from Beal City, Michigan, was filled with great joy to welcome a healthy baby boy into the fold on December 28, 1936. Henry Alexander was the youngest of twelve children born to his parents, Henry and Leona (Cassidy) Ley, and he was raised in the family home alongside his older siblings, Irene, Helen, Joseph, Beulah, Clarence, Kenneth, Edward, Leroy, Gladys, Madonna, and Aletha. His father worked as a farmer while his mother had more than enough to keep her hands full at home. Daily life was anything but easy for the Ley family with the death of Henrys father when Henry was just two years old. Not only were they deeply saddened with his death, but they were also without an integral part of their family unit. Henry was a student at Beal City Public Schools, but like so many other young people of his generation he left school before completing his formal education to help earn a living. After leaving school he lived with another family and worked on various farms, establishing a strong work ethic that would remain with him throughout his entire life. Farming remained the chief industry in which Henry worked throughout his life. There was a time in the mid-seventies when he went into the construction and excavating trade, driving a truck for Gary House Excavating. Even during this time, however, Henry continued to farm on the side. Life was forever changed for Henry when he met and later married a young woman named Barb OBrien. Together they were blessed with six children: Tom, Steve, Charles, Patti, Janet, and Barbara. Henry was forever grateful for the children they shared together. Although his work kept him busy and he didnt have a lot of leisure time, Henry did enjoy pursuing some of his interests when he could. For a time he was part of a bowling league, and he was also on a dart league. Henry was a sports enthusiast who enjoyed watching all sports, but he was particularly interested in the Lions and the Tigers. When relaxing at home he also enjoyed watching westerns. All who knew Henry Ley would agree that he was truly one of a kind. He was particular and had his own way of doing things, yet his intentions were always good. Henry liked to rile people up at times and rarely shied away from speaking his mind, putting the spice into life wherever he was. He will be dearly missed and warmly remembered. Henry Ley of Rosebush died on Wednesday, February 6, at Mid Michigan Health Center in Clare. Henrys family includes his five children, Tom (Cheryl Vanconant) Ley of Rosebush, Steve (Rolla) Ley of Mt. Pleasant, Patti Ley of Grand Rapids, Janet (Bruce) Geairn of Battle Creek, Barbara (Jim) Beltinck of Traverse City; mother of his children, Barb Ley of Grand Rapids; daughter-in-law, Dana (Robert) Fair of Shepherd; 18 grandchildren, Jenifer and Karianne, Ryan, Brandon, Corey, Megan, and Stephanie, Ashley and Molly, Andi, Brooke and Leslie, Bryan, Austin and Jordan, and Kellie, Katlyn and Jack; sister, Madonna Hines of Weidman; 14 great-grandchildren; in-laws, Bernard Neller of St. Johns, Mary Ley and Betty (Don) Russell, both of Concord and Dean (June) Stalter of Mt. Pleasant; and many nieces and nephews. Henry was preceded in death by a son, Charles Chuck Ley; and siblings, Irene Henning, Helen Fedewa, Joseph Ley, Beulah Neller, Clarence Ley, Kenneth Ley, Edward Ley, Leroy Ley, Gladys Cassidy, and Aletha Lee Stalter. His Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 9, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Beal City with Father Patrick Jankowiak presiding. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Lux Family Funeral Home on Friday from 3-8 p.m. Visitation continues at the church on Saturday one hour prior to Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or Creutfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.