Myrtle findlay

Myrtle was born in Essex Township on November 20, 1913, the third daughter of Ray & Ivah (Jury) Green. She joined Esther & Ruth to create a family of five. Later Alice, Sam and Donnie joined the family.

She went to the one-room Prairie School that was about ½ mile from her home. She walked to school with her sisters, who often waited until the last minute to leave for school. One day Esther started running. Myrtle couldn’t keep up with her so she grabbed hold of Esther’s coat and was dragged to school!

One of her early Christmas memories was receiving a sewing kit from her Grandparents. That foretold a future filled with a love of sewing.

Myrtle graduated from St. Johns High School with the Class of 1931, as did her future husband, Loree. A year later she graduated from County Normal and taught school for two years at Stony Creek and one year at Prairie School. She also worked as a housekeeper and cook.

Myrtle and Loree were married on September 1, 1937. The start of their relationship began after Loree went over to console Myrtle after her first love, Michael Reeder, was killed in an auto accident. After a time their relationship grew and they were married for 68 years. Loree died May 7, 2006. Myrtle was not only a wife, mother and homemaker, in addition she was also Loree’s nurse and dietician due to his chronic ulcer disease. She must have done it well, as he lived to be 94 years old. When he was ill, she also had to become a milkmaid in spite of her fear of cows.

Their first child, Cathy, was born on September 22, 1939. Then along came Jack on February 10, 1943; followed by Janet on December 9, 1944 and finally, Jean on June 26, 1946. Myrtle’s days were filled to the brink with taking care of four children, a huge vegetable garden and all the work that goes with a farm. In spite of that she managed to make all sorts of wonderful treats for her family. Her pies and rolls were out of this world. Once the children were older, about 1956, she started working as a cook at the Salt Box House Restaurant.

In 1960 Loree’s doctor told him he had to choose just one job--farming or working at Sealed Power. He chose to sell the farm and to move the family to Kibbee St. in St. Johns. Following the move Myrtle learned of a job opening in the kitchen of Clinton Memorial Hospital from Janet, who was already working there after school. Myrtle worked there for several years, then took a cafeteria job with the St. Johns Schools so she could be home with Loree on the weekends.

Myrtle had a love of cats, starting when she was a child. She inherited Sham, a Siamese cat, from Jean when she left for college. Sham was amazing and notorious.

One of Myrtle’s favorite past times was sharing tea or coffee with her sisters and sister-in-law, Omah. Everybody would bring some goodies - non-fattening, of course! Myrtle’s infectious laugh was always the hit of the party. She also loved to shop! Sidewalk sales, here we come!

Her children started leaving home with the marriage of Cathy to Jim Carroll in 1958. Then, oddly enough, the rest of the children all chose to be married in 1968 (Jack to Claire, Jean to Dennis Tuttle and Janet to Owen Orndorff in February, June and August, respectfully). It wasn’t long until grandchildren were filling the house at get-to-gethers with laughter. Cathy & Jim had Peggy, Alan, and (Cheryl) Cheri; Jack & Claire had Kelly and Ryan; Janet & Owen had Lori, Ben, and Will. Jean & Dennis had Teresa and Denyce. Then before you knew it the grandkids were getting married. Peggy to David Steiniger, Alan to Kristin, Cheri to Ruben Nodarse, Kelly to Jim Charlton, Lori to Mike Dingel, Ben to Kimberly, Will to Kristen, Teresa to Carl Hollingsworth, Denyce to Robert Coker.

After Myrtle and Loree retired, they bought a trailer in Seminole, Florida which they enjoyed for 19 years of winter warmth, sunshine and no snow shoveling! They made many new friends and visited with other snow birds from Michigan. In addition to traveling annually to Florida, they also made many visits to Idaho and Texas to visit Janet’s and Jean’s families. (Once at her destination Myrtle enjoyed her visits, but she really didn’t enjoy the getting there part.)

In 1987 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Traverse City with all of their children and 10 grandchildren ranging in age from 25 to 8 years old. They had to wait seven more years before their first great-grandchild arrived: Sarah Nodarse in 1994, Jonathan Steiniger in 1995, Andrew (AJ) Nodarse in 1996, Jake Dingel in 1997, Jamie Carroll in 1998, Audrey Dingel in 1999. Myrtle was disappointed in the year 2000 -- no great-grands. So, in 2001 there were three! They were Katelyn Orndorff, Elyse Hollingsworth & Jared Carroll, a bumper crop. Next came Isabelle (Elle) Dingel in 2002, Abbie Orndorff in 2003, Paige Charlton in 2005, Kate Hollingsworth & Sam Orndorff in 2006, Nicole Charlton & Hayden Coker in 2008, John Dingel in 2010, Caroline Orndorff & Harper Coker in 2011, and one more little Orndorff girl due any day.

Myrtle passed away on February 6, 2013. She was survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her sister Alice Bullard, sister-in-law Glenna Findlay, and brother-in-law Edwin (Kathleen) Beattie. She was preceded in death by her husband, Loree, Esther and Lawrence Crosby, Ruth & Neil Ferguson, Paul Bullard, Sam & Omah Green, Donald Green, Trudy & Dale Boyles, Hazel Beattie, and Don Findlay.

Visitation at 10 a.m. with funeral services at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 15, 2013 at the Osgood Funeral Home, Kathy Leydorf-Keck officiating, followed by burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery. Funeral luncheon at Clinton Commons immediately following the committal service.