Shirley Dault

Shirley Dault considered her family to be her greatest gift and blessing in life. She loved being surrounded by her family, and more than that she loved spending her time being a wife, mother and grandmother to the people who brought her life immeasurable joy. Shirley was the rock of her family, the woman everyone looked to for inspiration, support and unconditional love. Shirley Marlene Dault was born on June 21, 1935, in Muskegon, Michigan to Leonard and Virginia (Ergang). Little Shirley was welcomed into the family by her brother, Joe, who was one year older than her. Shirley had a pretty tough childhood, as her parents divorced when she was quite young, and her mother later got sick with Tuberculosis. While she recovered at the sanitarium, Shirley and Joe lived in an orphanage for a while. After returning home, her mother met and married Edward Welkoske, and they had three children together: John "Cubbie", Bonnie and Melody. For a time, the family lived in Muskegon near Nelson School, before moving to Twin Lakes on Duff Road. The economics of the day were very hard on the family, and Shirley remembered eating lard and sugar sandwiches. She attended North Muskegon High School through the 12th grade but then left to take care of her siblings while her mother was sick. At 18, Shirley took a job at Misco, where her father also worked. During high school, Shirley had a sweetheart named Edward Dault. The two dated for a while before Edward enlisted in the U.S. Army. He bravely served during the Korean War as a baker while stationed in Korea. Upon his discharge, he and Shirley were married on April 21, 1955, and made their first home together in a small apartment in Muskegon. They soon outgrew their small quarters with the arrival of their first child, daughter Sheila, and fourteen months later their son, Eddie, was born. The family of four soon moved to the "Little House" on McMillan Road in Dalton Township, which was actually just a garage. Edward added some rooms onto it and it fit the family for a while. That was until 1962, when their daughter, Renee, was born and their son, Lenny, followed her fourteen months later. With six in the family now, they for sure needed a "Big House", and they found it right on McMillan Road, complete with four bedrooms and lots of room. As much as they loved this house, they eventually moved to Twin Lakes and made this their home. Because Edward had a good job at Brunswick, installing automatic pinsetters around the country, Shirley was able to stay home and devote herself to the role of a mother. She was a caring and attentive mother who took an active roll in every phase of her children's lives. From being a room mother and Girl Scout troop leader to being involved in a mentoring program at Twin Lake Elementary, Shirley's passion was to support her family. Besides her children, Shirley took great pride in keeping her home clean and spotless. In fact, she was such a fanatic about cleaning, her friend joked "if you spent the night at her house and got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, Shirley would have the bed made before you came back." Although family life kept her busy, Shirley always took time to look her best, with wrinkle free clothes and her hair always done. She was truly a beautiful lady both inside and out. To help supplement the family's income, Shirley and her sister would take their kids and work in the fields during the summer, picking cherries, apples, pickles and blueberries. When vacations were possible, they often accompanied Edward on one of his business trips out of town. They'd pack the kids into their pickup truck with a shell, so the kids could sit in the back. Friday nights were designated as "family night" and they headed to the drive-in movie theater together. On Saturdays, Shirley and Edward enjoyed some time as a couple doing what they loved most - "honky tonk" dancing. Their favorite place to kick up their heels was at the "Night Spot" at the Lakewood Club, and they definitely dressed the part too. All the ladies couldn't wait to see what matching outfits Shirley and Edward were going to wear. In her quieter moments, Shirley liked to read romance novels, and also enjoyed going to the beach, though she rarely went in the water above her knees. After her kids were grown, she worked a variety of part-time jobs, including at Parisian Fashions in Muskegon Heights and Ritz's Bakery in North Muskegon as well as cleaned people's houses. Shirley's happiest moments always involved the time she spent with her husband and kids. She was there for anyone at anytime, not because she had to be, but because she wanted to share fully in their lives. Through the years. Shirley stayed close with all her brothers and sisters and enjoyed getting together with their families over the holidays. Above all, though, Shirley was in her glory being a grandmother to her four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. For a while, her daughter Renee lived with her and Shirley watched her grandkids while she worked. But this wasn't work for her, this was pure pleasure. Her daughter, Renee, gave her a plaque that said "The best thing about having you as a mother is my kids get to have you as a grandmother." In 1991, Edward fell ill and spent three months in ICU, with Shirley vigilantly by his side until he died. Shirley was deeply heartbroken and alone after 36 years of marriage, but she found great comfort in her children. It wasn't long before she began experiencing health problems with emphysema and was put on oxygen full-time. Despite this, she still managed to clean her house and visit those one arm bandits at the casino. In 2004, Shirley underwent hip replacement, which was very difficult for her. She was in and out of the hospital and needed round the clock care, which her entire family took turns in caring for her. A wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, Shirley will be deeply missed, yet frequently remembered. Shirley Marlene Dault, age 71, passed away on Sunday, May 20, 2007, at home where her family had cared for her through a long and courageous battle with emphysema. She is survived by her children: Sheila Gibson of Texas, Eddie and wife, Terrie, Dault, Renee Dault and Lenny Dault with Sally and family, all of Twin Lake; her grandchildren: Renee Dault, Jr., Rikki Dault, Robby Dault and Garrett Gibson; four great-grandchildren: Keyana, Dylyn, Jeremiah and Lyn, Jr.; siblings: Joe and Tudy Henagin, Tom and Phyllis Noris, Bonnie and Tom Vanderwest, Melody and Brian Sukup, Tony Henagin; her brother, John (Cubbie) Welkoske, who preceded her in death after his own battle with emphysema, and his surviving wife, Shirley Welkoske. She also leaves behind very special caregivers, Tudy Henagin and Maureen Freeman, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends. Special thanks to Airway Oxygen and Heartland Hospice of Fremont. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Edward Dault. Services for Shirley will be held on Thursday, May 31, at 1:00 p.m. at Clock Chapel. Interment at Twin Lake Cemetery. Friends and relatives may visit with her family on Wednesday, May 30, from 6-9 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory of Shirley or sign her online guest book.