OBITUARIES
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MARY GRIFFETH

Source: Unknown

Pioneer Nurse dies at Gowen Home Today

Mrs. Mary Griffeth Passes away after illness of few weeks (By Mrs. E.V. Larsen)

Mrs. Mary Griffith, 72 years of age, passed away at the home of her son Leroy Griffith, two miles southwest of Gowen, this morning after an illness of about three or four weeks. Mrs. Griffith came with her parents from Denmark in 1861, when she was but seven years old. They settled on a farm a few miles north of Greenville where not a tree had been cut and the woods were mostly of pine. She was married when about seventeen years old to Orlando Harris and went to live at Watson’s Mill about six miles northwest of this city. A few years later her husband purchased a farm just over the Kent County line. He built a shanty and the family moved into it. Mrs. Harris took her two month old baby in her arms and went out into the woods to wait for trees to be cut. This pioneer always helped in the fields that were being cleared in the day time and at night did her housework. She did the cooking to keep her family eating and the necessary sewing and patching to keep her family clothed. A short time after the death of Mr. Harris she was married to James Griffith.

The Greatest of her work has been the care of the sick. Years ago when it was not easy to get a doctor out and at night, people for miles around sent for Mrs. Griffith when they were ill. There was not a birth in the community that she did not attend and often when she was sent for by a neighbor to care for the sick or dying in their home, she left a small child with her husband at home. She is survived by four sons, Arthur Harris, Will Harris, Harry Harris, and Leroy Griffith. Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed.

Mary was born 16 Dec 1853 in Denmark and died 11 Dec 1926 in Spencer Twp. Moncalm Co., MI; maiden name Anderson
Submitted by Sherry Anne Crater

GROOM, GLADYS LEONE WELLS

Daily News, Greenville, MI - Thursday, December 30, 1999
Belding - Gladys Leone WELLS GROOM, 80, of Saranac, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1999. She was born in Belding, Aug. 6, 1919, the daughter of Henry and Ida JOHNSON WELLS. She married Clarence L. GROOM on Nov. 16, 1945. She worked for Jolly Kid Togs in Belding from 1937 to 1969 and for Wolverine Shoe Co. in Greenville from 1969 to 1976. She was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Saranac, VFW Lakies Auxiliary in Lowell and was a former member of the Royal Neighbors of America Camp 425 in Belding, where she held the office of recorder for several years. She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Kurt and Carla GROOM of Guttenberg, Iowa; two daughters and sons-in-law, Janice and Kenneth SMITH of St. Johns, Trudy and Michael BLACKMER of Lansing; three grandsons, Steve ANDERSON of Charlotte, Christopher BLACKMER of Davison, Jason GROOM of Guttenberg; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Harry and Vera WELLS of Elkhart, Ind., George and Jeanette WELLS of Grand Junction, Colo., Leonard and Shirley WELLS of Grand Hven; and two sisters and brothers-in-law, Juanita and Howard THOMPSON of Grand Rapids, Alice and Harold ALLCHIN of Belding. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence, in 1984; and three brothers, Mike WELLS in 1937, Jack WELLS in 1993 and James WELLS in 1996. Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Saranac, with Father Norbert Leyrita as celebrant. Interment will be in Rest Haven Memory Gardens, Belding. Visitation will be today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Huffman Funeral Home, Belding, with the rosary being recited at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lowell VFW Ladies Auxiliary or St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Saranac.
Contributed by Linda Johnston