Dorothy K.

Dorothy LaRue Takats became legendary to those who knew her; a woman who lived life larger than most people, making it uniquely her own. When young, she was beautiful, fun-loving and vibrant, enjoying life fearlessly and passionately. Then, and later, Dorothy was filled with boundless energy, incredible strength, and limitless love for those around her. Today her strength and love lives on in all who knew her. Dorothys story began on a spring day in the early 20th century, in the township community known as West Olive, near the beautiful shoreline city of Grand Haven, Michigan. Those were fascinating times in this country, when bold, brilliant people were bringing us the automobile and the airplane, transforming the world as never before. On April 11, 1915, William and Mary (Hartman) Groth celebrated the birth of daughter Dorothy, who would live to see her offspring experience the best of what was to come. Dorothy was one of 11 siblings in the familys home, joining five brothers and five sisters. In that large family, Dorothy learned early to speak up for what she believed in, and to stand up for herself. Being raised on her familys farm she became used to hard work, learning early how things grew and using that knowledge in her gardens for more than 80 years thereafter. Like her siblings, Dorothy attended Pigeon Creek Elementary School in West Olive, working on the farm and then in the town of Grand Haven when she became old enough. At age 16, with America entering the quagmire of the Great Depression, she went to work in a factory in Grand Haven full-time. It was necessary, and she didnt mind hard work, but in a few years her life was to change forever! The change was in the person of a handsome young man named Carl LaRue, and the sparks flew between them. How could they not? Carl couldnt keep his eyes off the ravishing brunette with the bubbly, outgoing personality. They began dating, and were married in Grand Haven in 1935 when Dorothy was just 20. The newlyweds didnt waste any time beginning their family, either. The couple welcomed five wonderful children in the coming years, sons Carl, Bill and Dan, and daughters Nancy and Carole, in order. Dorothy was a devoted wife and mother, never shirking family responsibilities in spite of the inevitable and daunting adversities that life occasionally presented. She loved her children fiercely, believing in tough love, and made sure that their stomachs were full even if they didnt want them to be! Dorothy equated love and caring with food, perhaps because of experiencing the Depressions lean times, and guests got the same treatment as her children. Protesting her wave after wave of delicious food was futile, and the thought of dieting made her laugh. Good home cooking never made anyone fat, she always said. Dorothy was a one-woman army around the home (and a general too); a whirlwind of sewing, cooking, baking, gardening, canning, painting, berry-picking and most of all, teaching. She was above all a devoted mother, known to take her children to the chalkboard in the basement to teach them their ABCs, making sure that each of them could read and write their letters before they started school! Dorothy managed the family finances expertly, her frugal nature forged in the tough times of the Depression. She could stretch a dollar with the best of them (woe to the salesman who gave her a bad deal!), but when it came to her familys needs, she spared no expense. To help provide for those needs, Dorothy went back to work in 1960, taking a job at Michigan Plastics. She was a beautiful, vibrant woman of 45, with plenty of energy to spare. Sadly, her husband Carl had taken ill, dying in 1969, which put even more pressure on her to manage the household and her growing family alone. She eventually met a wonderful man named Eugene Takats, and the two were married in 1980. After 20 years of working at Michigan Plastics, Dorothy retired, her children now grown with families of their own, and she was free to make the most out of the life left to her. Her retirement became filled with the activities that she had heard about but hadnt experienced, her children helping many of the dreams to materialize. Dorothy loved traveling, and she and Gene often took trips, by themselves or with family. One time, in Las Vegas with family members, she famously turned down a show invitation; Im here to gamble! she declared, and proceeded to prove it. She visited Branson, Missouri, then in 1995 saw her favorite, Bob Barker, in person on the Price Is Right, visiting Las Vegas on the same trip and enjoying her first limousine ride. She visited Toronto, Canada and was able to see multiple Broadway shows in New York on that trip (marveling at the hotel room mini-bar). There were many fishing trips to Minnesota, Canada and Alaska, a Caribbean cruise, and even a special family reunion in Las Vegas attended by namesake movie star Lash LaRue and his new wife. Seated side by side with the aging actress, Dorothys vibrance and natural enthusiasm completely overshadowed the poor lady, much to the familys delight. Dorothy had a truly green thumb to match her golden heart. Her gardens were abundant, and it seemed that she could break off a branch and stick it in the ground to grow. She loved to plant pine trees, lining her property with the sentinels that she knew she would never see to maturity. Some seedlings she would pilfer from along the roadsides; others she smuggled to her home from Canada and elsewhere, adding greatly to her satisfaction! That was Dorothy, though; living life with a mischievous streak that permitted a little honest poaching along the way. She was a feisty, adventurous fun-loving woman who stood up for herself and didnt suffer fools gladly. She was passionate about fishing, a lifelong pursuit of hers, and got into more than one battle over idiotic fishing laws. You throw one more of my fish back, and youll be going in after him! she once warned her fishing guide. Dorothy was a woman who never seemed to age. At 38, she chastised her then-18-year-old son for calling her mother in public! In her 60s, she went parasailing 300 feet in the air over a Minnesota lake. In her mid-80s she fished for salmon at a fly-in Alaskan resort. Her youthful looks were amplified by the full head of luxurious hair which she kept to the end. Dorothys husband Gene died in 2004, and she became even closer to her loving family afterwards. She spent every moment she could with her children and, especially, the grandchildren, who lovingly (and fittingly) called her Grandma the Great. They would visit for her sumptuous meals, or for their heated games of cribbage, another of Dorothys true passions. The family kept a trophy for their annual cribbage tournament, engraved with the winners name each year. Dorothy, naturally, was the reigning champion. Eventually, her health declined, and Dorothy sadly died on Sunday, September 30, 2007, at the age of 92. Dorothy was a proud woman who lived a full life of work, family and adventure, creating fond memories to be shared forever by those she leaves behind. Her life was more than full, indeed legendary, but to those who survive her she will always be best known as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Today her memory lives on in those who knew her. She will be greatly missed. Dorothy is survived by her 3 sons, Carl (Diane) LaRue, Bill (Peggy) LaRue & Dan (Carol) LaRue all of Ohio; 1 daughter, Nancy (Russ) Pearson of Grand Haven; 16 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandson; 2 sisters, Kathryn Johnson of Muskegon & Emma (John) "Prelesnik" Scheltema of Grand Haven; several nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her 1st husband, Carl LaRue, 2nd husband, Gene Takats, daughter, Carole Cleveland; 5 brothers & 3 sisters. Services are scheduled for Thursday, October 4, 2007, 11:00 AM at the Clock Chapel - Grand Haven. Interment will be at Lake Forest Cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday, 6-8 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. MEMORIAL: Hospice of North Ottawa Community. To share a memory or photo of Dorothy, or to sign her guestbook, visit www.lifestorynet.com.