Margaret May Seeley

Margaret May Seeley was a generous woman of many talents. Her devotion to her family exemplified the best in a wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Margarets extensive life experiences taught her to be resourceful, to treasure her family and to cling to her faith. Looking back at the life she led lends an even greater appreciation for her presence in the world, a presence that her family and friends will remember for the rest of their lives. The year was 1921, and America was still in celebration of its momentous victory in World War I, and beginning to rev up for the Roaring Twenties. Prohibition was now in full swing, with the 18th Amendment ratified just a year earlier. The country was also in the midst of a recession, yet there was a renewed hope as the nation moved from the Industrial Age to the new Progressive Era. In the small community of Gladwin County, Michigan, Oliver J. Dennings and his wife, Ethel Violet (Carnahan), had their own reasons for renewed hope with the birth of their daughter, Margaret May, on January 10, 1921. Margaret grew up in a large, close-knit family; she had six siblings: Lester, Clayton, William, Flossie, Orley and Ruth, and two half siblings, Cecil and Lenora. While her mother was a busy homemaker raising nine children and helping with daily farm chores, her father provided for the family as a laborer. Her parents made sure the children learned responsibility by pitching in around the farm, and Margaret carried this strong work ethic with her throughout her life. In school, Margaret was a good student and went on to graduate from Gladwin High School in 1939. She then worked, babysitting for various families, but eventually moved to Chicago to work at a church orphanage. In time, Margaret returned home to Mt. Pleasant and shared her tender, loving care managing a nursing home. On November 6, 1954, Margaret married the love of her life, Earl Seeley, in the Glad Tidings Church in Oil City. Earl brought more than just his love into Margarets life though; he was a widower with 7 children, and Margaret happily welcomed the kids and loved them like they were her own. So, after saying I do, the newlyweds and three of Earls children (who remained at home still) settled into family life together. In time, Margaret and Earl had two children of their own, David and Earlene. Time together as a family was important to the couple, and they enjoyed traveling with some of the kids to places like the Smokey Mountains, Wyoming, Colorado, the Mackinaw Bridge, Cedar Point and Missouri. Many unforgettable memories were also made camping at Rose Lake with the entire family. It was easy to see that Margaret considered it pure joy to care for her husband and children. She was active in the lives of her children, and she also created a home that was a place where love was plentiful. Margaret loved to cook for her family. Even after working in the fields all day, she came in and put together a wonderful meal that could feed an army. Some of her familys favorites included her fabulous pies, cinnamon rolls, potato salad, chop suey and canned pickles. Some very fond memories were made around the 5 gallon crank style ice cream maker (getting the ice from chopping it from the river), just waiting for this delectable dessert to get done. Being frugal was important to Margaret, and she was recycling before recycling even had a name. She spent many evenings cutting up and canning deer and pig meat for later use, as well as much of the bounty from her garden, while her crocks of pickles in the basement were a constant temptation to the grandkids when they came over. Funny, Margaret had a rooster on the farm, but the grandkids teased it so much it became mean and turned on even her. Needless to say, a new rooster was in the hen house, and the old one was on the dinner table. Cooking brought such joy to Margaret, especially when she could share it with others. She earned the nickname Kmart Mom because she would make Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner for the employees there. Later in life, when she moved to the Winchester Towers, Margaret put together many wonderful dinner gatherings for the residents. Everyone knew when Margaret was in the kitchen cooking because either she had some soothing Christian music playing in the background or she was simply humming one of her favorites. Her hands were always busy doing something, whether it was cooking, cleaning, sewing or making quilts. Margaret always loved flowers but never planted any because she just knew that Earl would just mow them over. She was involved with the Girl Scouts for many years with her granddaughter, Stacey, as well as with the Boy Scouts and her grandson, Rodney. She spent a lot of time babysitting Earlenes girls, Ali and Kelsey. Shed bake cookies for them and Kelsey always called them dirty cookies but they were really no-bake cookies, and no one could make French toast like hers. The only French toast Ali would eat was Grandmas. Margaret was an active member of the Glad Tidings Church, and faithfully tithed and read her Bible nightly. She was also a member of the Helping Hand Group of Shepherd and the Bethal Aid Group for several years. In 1969, Margaret and Earl assumed the duties of Sexton of the Chippewa Township Cemetery, as well as looked after the Chippewa Township Hall. After her husband Earl passed away in 1986, Margaret continued both of these duties until retiring in 2000. Margaret was loved by many and will be missed dearly by all her family and friends. Margaret May Seeley, 91, of Mt. Pleasant, MI passed away on Sunday, April 29, 2012, at Isabella County Medical Care Facility. Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 2, at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home with Pastor Tony Waldrop of Glad Tidings Church officiating. Burial will be in Kelly Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, May 1, from 2-8 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the service begins. Memorial contributions may be made to Glad Tidings Kitchen Fund. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Margaret is survived by two children, David (Lori) Seeley and Earlene Artecki, both of Shepherd; seven step-children, Thelma Opdycke of Sturgis, Doris Lytle of White Pigeon, Willard (Joyce) Seeley and Fay (Jerry) McCaul, both of Shepherd, Pauline (Larry) Smith of Mt. Pleasant, and Barbara (Hurshel) Wilder of Sturgis; 33 grandchildren including, Stacey Seeley of California, Rod (Nikki) Seeley of Mt. Pleasant, Alexandria and Kelsey Artecki of Shepherd and Vinny Nalevayko of Florida; 60 great-grandchildren including, Natalie Griffin and Alicia, Zack and Owen Seeley; 52 great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Clayton (Vera) Dennings of Gladwin and Orley Dennings of Mt. Pleasant; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl in 1986; three brothers, Cecil, William and Lester Dennings; three sisters, Flossie, Lenora and Ruth; son-in-law, Mike Artecki; step-daughter and step-son-in-law, Helen and Arlie Kindig, two step-sons-in-law, Elmer Lytle and Paul Opdycke; grandson, Tim Berchiatti; great-grandson, Benjamin Lytle; two sisters-in-law, Viola Robinson and Florence Cavanaugh; and brother-in-law, Henry Seeley. The family extends a deep appreciation to Isabella County Medical Care Facility, Mt. Pleasant Dialysis Center/DaVita and Woodland Hospice for the exceptional care that Margaret received while in their care.