Anna M. Johnston

Anna M. Johnston had gained the wisdom and strength that comes from a lifetime of experience, both painful and joyous. She persevered through personal tragedy with humor and renewed appreciation for what she had. Never one to be idle, Anna had many interests and hobbies, but her family was of utmost importance to her. In Cadillac, Michigan, Howard Ray and Leora Mae (Terry) Wilkinson spent the cold winter days of 1926 anticipating the arrival of a child. On February 2, little Anna arrived, adding her own unique voice to the family that grew to include two boys, Fred and Ray, and two more girls, June and Vera. On the family's farm, that often focused on growing potatoes, Anna learned through the lean years of the Great Depression to make do with what she had, and to use her resources wisely. Athletic and active, Anna enjoyed the many winter activities the area had to offer, ice skating, sledding, and even skiing at Caberfae Ski Resort before it was known as Caberfae. Anna met a man named Alfred Bigelow from Detroit. When she was sixteen, she decided to leave high school to marry Alfred and they lived in a variety of places, mostly between both Detroit and Tustin. Together they shared five children, Don, Sharon, Beverly, Ron, and Marilyn. In the mid 1950s, Anna and Alfred divorced and she established a home for the family in Tustin. She found a job at the Goodrich Factory, and then at an egg factory, a job that led to her refusal to eat eggs ever again! Anna was a wonderful homemaker, keeping a tidy, clean house and doing her own canning. The family certainly appreciated her many talents, especially her cooking and baking skills, and she also sewed dresses for her daughters while they were growing up. In 1960, Anna bravely agreed to a blind date with a man named Harold Ford. Anna and Harold married and moved to Muskegon where Anna found a job at LaBello's, a local spaghetti house. Anna then worked at Bemus Bag which later became Tekmold where she was a machine operator until retiring in January of 1972. She and Harold had one daughter, Diane. After four years of marriage, Anna and Harold divorced. Anna met a man named Arthur Johnston and after a few years of socializing at the Town Tavern, they began building a relationship that strengthened over time. They were married in November of 1967. Their personalities were well suited to one another and Arthur was a wonderful stepfather to her children, especially Marilyn and Diane since they were the only two left at home. He was patient and even-tempered, which complemented Anna's energetic household management style. When Anna felt that their house on Lindberg was too big, Arthur built her a smaller home on the lot next door, taking her supervision and correction in stride as he worked. They enjoyed family trips each summer, visiting Niagara Falls, the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder in South Dakota, and Spring Training while they were in Florida taking in Disney World. They also went to Arizona to visit Ron's family and took a road trip in every sense of the word through Canada, since Arthur refused to stop for any sight seeing! Anna's compulsive neatness sometimes made things challenging for those who lived with her. She never let Marilyn live down the spilled chocolate malt in the backseat of her blue Chevy Biscayne and she often said it was her "fault" that her children grew up to be so messy! She was a thrifty shopper who always looked for the best deal and used coupons whenever she could. She didn't believe in credit cards and wisely purchased only what she could afford up front. She loved animals, especially dogs, and stated that it was an insult to call her precious "granddog," Ollie, a dog. She stayed active with many hobbies like knitting, crocheting, and shopping, and kept her mind busy by reading mysteries and westerns and doing crossword puzzles. In 1989, Anna suffered a tragic loss when her first-born son, Don, died from a massive heart attack. Around that time, Anna's health took a turn for the worse and she was put on oxygen. For many years she used it only intermittently, but for about the last eight years she was on it around the clock. She didn't let it get in her way, however, and she stayed optimistic while being as active as possible. In 1998 she endured another painful loss when her beloved daughter, Becky, died. Her given name was Beverly, but only Anna called her Becky. Becky was referred to, by her siblings, lovingly, as Anna's favorite daughter and they accepted that because she had a lot in common with Anna. Losing Becky, who "could make a stone face smile," was a severe blow to the entire family and it became even more difficult for Anna when Arthur passed away in January of 2000. Despite her losses in life, Anna's strength of spirit helped her endure as she sought comfort from remaining family members. She, like most folks, expressed some apprehension of death, but looked forward to being reunited with Becky. Her greatest joys in life, and even in anticipation of death, came from her loved ones and she cherished the moments she spent with each one. She leaves her family with many sweet memories of her spunk, her strong will, and the certainty of her love. Anna died Friday, March 2, 2007. She is survived by her son, Ronald (Elsie) Bigelow of Muskegon; three daughters, Sharon Bigelow of Ravenna, Marilyn Bigelow of Norton Shores, and Diane Ford of Muskegon; nine grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur; two children, Donald Bigelow and Beverly "Becky" Ross; and all of her brothers and sisters. Anna's memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 5, 2007, at Clock Chapel with Rev. John Rager officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, March 4, from 2-4 p.m. and on Monday, March 5, for one hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Interment will be at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. Memorial donations to Hackley VNS Hospice are appreciated. Please visit Anna's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a favorite memory or photo, sign the online guest register, or view her Life Story film.