Michael Hilton

Michael Lamont Hilton was a dedicated teacher, a devoted father and a dear friend. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, his commitment to the pursuit of knowledge, and for the joy and optimism he brought into the lives of those who knew him. Though great tragedies defined 1937, from the disappearance of aviator Amelia Earhart over the Pacific on her round-the-world flight, to the explosion of the German airship, Hindenburg, great triumphs occurred as well. San Francisco welcomed the completed Golden Gate Bridge and Walt Disney introduced his first full-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which became an instant classic. In Muskegon, Michigan, new parents Frank & Ina Crothers, welcomed their son, Emil Lamont Crothers on March 1, 1937. The couple was overjoyed with the birth of their son, and the brief time they spent with him resulted in some of their happiest days. In November 1940, following Inas death, her sister Viola (Chrichett) and her husband Eldon (Jim) Hilton adopted Emil and changed his name to Michael Lamont Hilton. Eldon (Jim) worked as a firefighter and eventually became the Muskegon Township Fire Chief, while Viola worked as a clerk at GTE until her retirement. In his early childhood, it was apparent that Michael leaned more toward intellectual endeavors than sports and he immersed himself in his studies at the one room schoolhouse he attended with his cousins. At the Baker School, which eventually became part of Reeths-Puffer Public Schools, he focused on his studies, read voraciously and took his education very seriously. In junior high Michael discovered photography, which would become a lifelong passion on a personal and professional level. During high school, at age sixteen, Michael became active in the Civil Air Patrol, and eager to instill his love of learning in others, he served as drill instructor and teacher. Shortly after graduating from North Muskegon High School in 1955, Michael attended the wedding of some close friends and ran into Norma Wagner, whom he had known casually in high school. They struck up a conversation, and after talking for most of the evening, Michael asked Norma for a date. One date led to another, and before he knew it, he and Norma were falling in love. Following their courtship, they were married on August 16, 1957. The next few years were busy ones as Norma and Michael settled into married life and Michael also finished up at school. Ever devoted to his continued education, he first attended Muskegon Community College before transferring to Central Michigan University and completing his Bachelors of Science degree in 1961. Eager to learn more, he enrolled in Western Michigan University and received his Masters in 1966. Michael spent his first year teaching at Muskegon Heights elementary before moving to Reeths-Puffer High School where he taught American History and Government. Michael excelled at education and became a dedicated, devoted teacher and a favorite among students. Over the years, he also branched out into other areas of the school, helming the yearbook staff, and teaching drivers training, though Michael sometimes came home very stressed from a day in the car with student drivers! When Michael wasnt devoting his time and energy to his students, he was spending it with his family. He and Norma were blessed with two sons, Kelly and Jeffery and had created a warm and loving home complete with dogs, cats, birds and horses. His position as a teacher allowed for extensive family vacations, and the Hiltons took advantage of the summer hiatus, sometimes vacationing for as long as six weeks. They ventured out West, made it to most of the National Parks and also stayed close to home embarking on frequent camping trips to Michigans Upper Peninsula. Though his marriage to Norma ended in divorce in 1978, they remained friends, and Michael stayed busy with teaching and his growing photography business. He parlayed his passion for pictures into a full fledged profession, and ran Hilton Photo out of his home, using his trusty Canon camera taking portraits, capturing momentous occasions such as weddings and graduations and even snapping car races. He found great joy in his photography, whether it be chatting with clients or knowing he had captured an incredible shot. It offered him a way to connect with others and produce memories that would remain forever. Michael also continued to travel on his own, often times in a RV or 5th wheel, or on his beloved BMW 800 motorcycle. He was fascinated with the latest technology and bought top of the line equipment, taking exceptional care of it so it could be handed down to his sons. Later in life, Michael experienced epileptic seizures and he was in gradual health decline for the last several years. He mourned the death of his eldest son, Kelly, in March of this year and though it was a great loss, he stayed upbeat and optimistic until his last days at the nursing home. Michael Lamont Hilton was a serious and private person, a wonderful father and a loyal friend. He was an avid reader and a passionate lifelong educator who always said, I never met a book I didnt like. He will be warmly remembered for his commitment to his students, his friends and above all his family, and will be deeply missed. HILTON, MR. MICHAEL LAMONT, Muskegon, MI Mr. Michael Lamont Hilton, age 71, died Friday, July 18, 2008. He was born in Muskegon, MI on March 1, 1937 to Eldon 'Jim' & Viola (Chrichett) Hilton. Mr. Hilton had been employed as a teacher at Reeths Puffer High School for 32 years until retiring in 1992. He will be missed by many. SURVIVORS Son, Jeffery Dale (Patti) Hilton; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Hilton; grandsons, Hung, Michael, Joshua Hilton; great grandchildren, Tobyn, Trinity Hilton, all of Muskegon. Mr. Hilton was preceded in death by his son, Kelly Michael Hilton, 3/4/2008. SERVICE Monday, July 21, 2008, 11:00 AM at Clock Chapel with Reader Stephanie Rinard officiating. Interment at Oakwood Cemetery. VISITATION Monday, 1 hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. MEMORIAL: Habitat for Humanity.