Margaret Ford

Margaret Ford was welcomed into the world by her parents Harry and Emily Brown in 1909. As insignificant as her birth was in the scope of world events, Margaret would leave a lasting impression on everyone whose life she touched. Her kindness, modesty and quiet strength made her someone that her family looked to for support and wisdom; those outside of her family cherished her friendship and presence.

In 1909 newsworthy events were truly taking place from one end of the earth to another. On January 16, Ernest Shackleton's expedition found the magnetic South Pole, while on April 6, Robert Peary allegedly reached the North Pole. For Harry and Emily Brown, life in Joliet, Illinois was not about exploration but rather about raising their family. Harry supported his family making dental tools and Emily cared for the home and their son, Robert. Excitement did arrive on September 18, 1909 when their daughter Margaret was born. Now the Brown family was complete.

Margaret and her brother had a traditional upbringing for the times. Sundays were spent attending services at the Presbyterian Church where the family was members. Margaret was a very intelligent girl, and the fact that her brother had a photographic memory and could easily remember any thing he read, sometimes drove her "crazy", but only made her work that much harder to succeed. This made academics quite competitive between the two.

Margaret spent her school years in Joliet and graduated from the local high school. Coincidentally, Al Capone lived in the same neighborhood. It is ironic that Mr. Capone also had a history in Paw Paw, where Margaret would spend her adult life. After graduating from high school, Margaret attended Michigan State University where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Education. With degree in hand, she returned to Joliet and began her teaching career.

While in her early 30's, Margaret met and married a young man named Gaylan Ford. Although the marriage ended in divorce, it did produce three wonderful children - Marilyn, Carol and Ralph. Margaret never remarried and put all her energies into caring for the children she so dearly loved. She was a wonderful mother - loving and warm - even during those trying times when her son Ralph tested her limits - and the story goes that he did this quite often!

The family had a cottage on Christie Lake in Lawrence, Michigan where they spent their summers. Margaret liked the area so much that she decided to look for a teaching job in the area. Luck was on her side, and the town of Paw Paw hired her as an elementary teacher. Her annual salary was $1,800 a year, a sum that Margaret used to buy a house and support her family.

After Margaret's father died, her mother came to live with them in Paw Paw. Now that they were all settled as a family, Margaret was able to go back to school at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. This time her goal was a Master's Degree in Social Work, and her career took a new turn. She left teaching and found a position with the State of Michigan, working with special needs families, a job she was well suited for. Margaret loved her job and especially enjoyed helping the children in the families. Her life was an inspiration to everyone she came in contact with, so much so that her daughters Carol and Marilyn and her granddaughters Kim and Jean also became teachers.

When she retired in 1972, Margaret was ready to spend time at her home on Ackley Lake. When she wasn't outside working in her garden, she could be found swimming, usually surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Marilyn, Carol and Ralph had all been taught to swim by their mother - using a very unorthodox method. When they were little, Margaret would take them out on the lake in a canoe, and then would suddenly capsize the canoe. She wanted to be sure they could handle any situation life on a lake might bring.

Margaret's home was her pride and joy and she was always in the midst of some remodeling project. You could often find her on the ladder or working with her skill saw. The outside had to look as good as the inside, with the hedges always trimmed. Unfortunately cutting the cord of the electric hedge trimmer was a pretty regular occurrence. When she accidentally cut the power line to the security light in her yard, Margaret's grandson decided it was time for a "passing of the trimmer" and he took over the job.

Margaret's life was filled with family and hobbies. She was an avid bird watcher and could name every bird that ventured into her yard. The squirrels would come up and eat right out of her hand. Sewing had been learned at an early age, and Margaret was always willing to do any repairs that were needed. Her skills went far beyond repairs, however, and she also made beautiful dresses and gowns. Reading was a life-long passion, with the Reader's Digest, bird books, and the newspaper as favorites. She also found time to collect spoons and would buy one every time she visited some place new. Frogs were another favorite collection which she proudly displayed in her home.

Grandchildren were the light of her life and when they visited, they were in charge and "ruled the roost". Meals were often macaroni and cheese - for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Her granddaughter Megan remembers that Grandma was the growth-measuring device in the family. Margaret would hold out her arm and the kids would walk underneath. She told them "when you bump into my arm, you get to be the boss." Megan has wonderful memories of the day she bumped Grandma's arm and became "the boss".

Margaret's grandchildren loved spending time at her house on Ackley Lake. Her home became know as Camp Ford, which was rightly named, as it was the only camp her granddaughter Diane would attend. All of her grandchildren remember anxiously staring out the car window on their way to grandma's, when they saw the Paw Paw tower they knew they were close. Each Labor Day the entire Ford clan would gather at Margaret's home not only for the seasons end but to also celebrate her birthday. Each year as they would gather at the table for their meal Margaret would always say "I wonder what the poor people are doing?"

Other favorite memories including fishing for carp, using bread crumbs and minnows for bait, riding grandma's bike to the dime store, trips to Sugar Bear for ice cream and the ducks that were an Easter gift from grandma. The Ford grandchildren always knew not only they were welcome in her home anytime but they could bring a friend or two as well. This made Margaret "cool" in the eyes of her grandchildren.

Like many in Michigan, Margaret hated the winter, so Gulf Shores, Alabama became her home away from home. Her daughter-in-law Susan and granddaughter Megan would drive her down. They would stay a few weeks and then fly home. Margaret kept the car, complete with the foam wedge her grandson had gotten her so that she could see over the steering wheel. Over the years Margaret also traveled to Hawaii, England, Scotland, and most of the United States.

Margaret remained an independent and determined woman up until about a year and a half ago when congestive heart failure forced her to move into White Oaks Assisted Living. This feisty and intelligent woman, who loved so many and was loved in return, died peacefully at Lakeview Community Hospital in Paw Paw. She will be dearly missed by all. Margaret Ford, age 96, of Paw Paw, died February 11, 2006 at Lakeview Community Hospital . She was born September 18, 1909, the daughter of Harry and Emily (Anderson) Brown. A private family Celebration of Life Service will be held Tuesday at 11:00 AM at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler & Thompson, Paw Paw 60900 M-40. Cremation has taken place. Interment Prospect Hill Cemetery . Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and a brother; Robert Brown. She is survived by two daughters: Marilyn (Paul) Davies of Orland Park, IL, Carol (Joe) Ward of Canton Michigan, a son; Ralph (Susan) Ford of White Pigeon, seven grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Please visit Margaret's memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read her Life Story, archive a favorite memory, order flowers or make memorial contributions to White Oaks Assisted living.