Dorothy Harrington

With her warm, caring heart, Dorothy Harrington was an endless source of love for her family and friends. She built her life around hard work, family and her faith in the Lord. Her life was not marked by glitz and glamour, but instead a stable and fulfilled commitment to the true bounties of life. Loving, kind and gentle, Dorothy was a ray of sunshine for those close enough to receive the gift of her warmth.

The 1920s was a decade in which times were drastically changing within America. Women had just gained the right to vote in 1919, and buying on credit was quickly becoming the nation’s favorite new discovery. It was in the year of 1921 in New Haven Township, Michigan that Fred and Susie (Siple) Guild were pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Dorothy, on December 14th. Dorothy was the second oldest of eight children in her family and was raised on their family farm in Ithaca, a city nestled in the center of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Her parents made sure the children learned responsibility by pitching in with daily farm chores associated with raising chickens and growing crops of beans and corn.

Dorothy’s childhood was typical for the times. The economics of the day were tough, and that meant hand-me-down clothes and few material things, but the Guilds were a close-knit family held fast with the things that money couldn’t buy. To supplement their income during the Depression, the family made their own maple syrup to sell. Growing up, Dorothy had a bubbly personality and was always talkative. She liked to play dolls, and was a good student in school. At a young age, her mother taught her how to cook and bake, something that Dorothy took to very well. She attended the area 2-room schoolhouse, which she walked 2 miles to every day. After school, she tended to her chores at home and on the farm, which included caring for the chickens.

Dorothy was in her early 20s when she met the love of her life, Lester Harrington. He was working as a farm hand at a nearby farm, where she happened to also clean house. After they had been dating for a while, Lester enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Oklahoma. It wasn’t long before Dorothy joined him there and they were happily married. Once Lester received his discharge from the service, he and Dorothy moved back to Michigan, and bought a home in Ithaca. In 1953, they moved to Ovid and it was here that Dorothy and Lester raised their four children: Lester Jr. (1944), Ruth (1945), Pat (1948) and Ray (1957). While Lester went back to work as a farm hand, Dorothy stayed home to care for their family. As a hard worker and dedicated mother, she was an excellent example to her kids. Dorothy taught them good habits and strong values that would guide them through their lives. Church was also very important to Dorothy and she worked hard to instill her Christian values into her children.

Dorothy loved her family dearly, and together she and Lester enjoyed many great years of marriage. They loved to get away to Traverse City for some alone time together, but family time was pretty important too and they enjoyed trips in their camper to Bud Lake in Harrison and to Traverse City. Later on, Dorothy was blessed with several grandchildren and great grandchildren and she poured the same amount of love into these relationships as she did with her own children. She was especially close with her great granddaughter, Chelsea, who she willingly and lovingly helped raise since birth.

Aside from her family, Dorothy had many interests to keep her busy. They always had a garden at their house, which she enjoyed working in, and she enjoyed socializing with her many friends. Traditionally, Dorothy always prepared a big Sunday dinner, while Saturday nights were spent in front of the TV with a juicy hamburger. Dorothy was a member of the First Church of God and Red Hat Society, and volunteered with Meals on Wheels.

Although Dorothy’s life was happy, it was also marked by great sorrow. Dorothy lost her beloved husband, Lester, on May 31, 1981, after suffering a massive heart attack. Then, around 2008, Dorothy began experiencing multiple health problems, which only progressed over time. She died on Monday, June 28, 2010, at the age of 88.

A wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, Dorothy will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Surviving are her children: Lester (Beth) Harrington, Jr. of Anderson, IN, Ruth (Eugene) Woodruff of Owosso, Pat Harrington of Ovid, and Ray (Sandi) Harrington of Corunna; brothers, Bob (Nina) Guild, Fred (Francis) Guild; sister, Mug Fisher; 11 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 16 great great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lester Harrington, one grandson, Wayne Woodruff, two daughters-in-law, Tammie Harrington and Sandy Harrington, and three brothers, Don, Ken and Ted Guild.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 1, at the Houghton Chapel of Osgood Funeral Home in Ovid with the Rev. John Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in Dorothy’s memory to the First Church of God. Please visit Dorothy’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a memory with her family or sign her online guest book.