Ed Garlock

Ed Garlock was a wonderful man, who lived a wonderful life, a life full of laughter, fun times, and most of all, family. Everything Ed did in life he did for his family, from his children and grandchildren he was so proud of, to the loving wife he adored every day. Ed was blessed with a beautiful family, but we were even more blessed to have known him. Ed's story began on a cool winter day in 1940, as the winds whipped off the big lake into Muskegon, Michigan. Those were anxious times in this country, the calm before the storm of World War II. On March 1, 1940, a frosty Friday in Muskegon, Max and Genevieve (Moore) Garlock celebrated the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Edgar, although, he preferred to be called Ed. Ed joined his brother Jack and sisters Opal, Norma and Maxine in the family's home in Muskegon, where his parents both worked two jobs to make ends meet. His dad was asphalt laborer and his mother a dry cleaner, in addition to the restaurant they owned together. Ed's parents were hardworking Dutch-Irish folks, who instilled that ethic in their children. Ed was also very close to his grandma, Clara Koon, when he was growing up. As a young boy, Ed developed a great love for everything in the outdoors, from fishing, hunting and camping, to a constant stream of sports. Ed played softball, baseball and football for Hile Junior High, and he excelled at softball, which he would play competitively well into his 30s. When Ed was 16, his friend Bill French introduced him to his beautiful young cousin, Audrey. She was two years younger, but the sparks flew between them. For their first date, they went to Martha and Sid Henderson's home for dinner, on January 21, 1956, a cold Saturday night in Muskegon. Ed immediately fell head over heels in love with Audrey, and exactly one week later, he gave her his class ring to wear. In the 10th grade, Ed gave Audrey a picture with a heartfelt message on the back. "I'll always remember you and love you until the day I die," Ed wrote. By spring of 1956, Ed knew Audrey was the one, and they were engaged on May 23, one of the happiest days of his life. Almost exactly one year later they were married, on May 25, 1957, in Corinth, Mississippi, beginning so many wonderful years together. Wanting to provide well for his new bride, Ed took a job at Shaw Walker, where he would spend most of his career. The next summer, however, Ed enlisted in the U.S. Army, on July 9, 1958. He promptly served his basic training at Fort Knox in Kentucky, before shipping out to Fort Hood, Texas. There he served as a Tank Gunner, and proved an excellent shot, as well, earning the Pistol Expert badge, Rifle Sharpshooter badge, and Good Conduct Medal, too. He also became a star on the platoon's softball team, much to the delight of his commanders. (He had to choose to play softball or put up tents and complete an infiltration course, Ed recalled.) After just a year in the service, Ed was promoted to Specialist, 4th Class, and served as a Tank Commander, which made the Muskegon Chronicle on August 11, 1959. He had another big "promotion" that year, as well. On September 2, 1959, he became a father, as he and Audrey celebrated the birth of Kathy Ranae. Their son Mark Tillman would round out the happy family on January 7, 1965. After Ed was honorably discharged on July 9, 1960, he returned to Muskegon, returned to Shaw Walker, and raise the family who meant everything to him. He was a loving, loyal husband and father, so funny and full of life. He was the kind of dad who would wrestle around with his son, though once during their roughhousing, Mark's arm went through a glass window! Ed also loved to take his bride out for dinner, and then kiddingly complain to his kids that "Your mother never cooks!" That was just one of many expressions Ed was famous for. "When we going fishing?" "Do you want a pop?" and "Kick it in the butt!" were others. Ed loved being a father, and adored being a grandfather, too. Marty ("Buck"), Trevor, Tyler and Tanner brought him so much pride and joy, and their births were some of the greatest days of his life. He was also blessed with a granddaughter, Ashley, when his son Mark married Penny in 2001. Together the family formed so many wonderful, humorous memories. His daughter Kathy remembers her dad putting a penny in her shoe on the day of her wedding. Ed's daughter-in-law Penny remembers Ed launching their boat at the dock with no plug in the back, and diving into the back of the boat to plug the hole before they sank! His grandkids had many fond memories of their Grandpa, too. Grandson Buck loved playing "Dukes of Hazzard" with Ed while going up to Baldwin to Ed's cabin. Tyler remembers the chilly November morning he and his Grandpa each got a deer, and Tanner and Tyler remember boating down the river with Grandpa, and hitting a buoy! Trevor was especially close to his Grandpa, and often hooked up the dialysis machine for him. Ed retired from Shaw Walker in December of 1995, which gave him more time to spend with his family. He also loved to play cards, dominos, Sequence or Yahtzee, too. Ed also enjoyed an occasional trip to the race track or the casino to place some wagers with his friends. In the early 1990s, Ed, his son Mark and grandson Tyler also participated in the Holland Windmill Barbershop Chorus, which he enjoyed so much. Ed always loved to sing, and loved spending time with his kids and grandkids even more. Ed and Audrey also enjoyed a wonderful retirement together, and for 11 years, they wintered in Zephyrhills, Florida, where Ed enjoyed swimming, sunbathing, golfing, or simply quiet dinners together with family and friends. They had such a beautiful marriage, a lifelong love affair, and their 25th and 50th anniversaries were so special for both of them. In 2005, Ed was the blessed recipient of a new kidney, which thankfully ended his dialysis treatments. Though sadly, his health declined again in 2007, and he died on Sunday, June 3, 2007, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the age of 67. Ed was such a wonderful man, who lived such a wonderful life, a life so full of laughter, fond memories and his beloved family. Everything Ed did in his life, he did for his family, from his kids and grandkids, to the wife he loved so dearly. Ed was blessed with much in his lifetime, a life we were so blessed to have shared with him. He will be greatly missed. Ed is survived by his wife of 50 years, Audrey; son, Mark (Penny) Garlock of Spring Lake; daughter, Kathy (Phil) Herzhaft of Muskegon; 5 grandchildren, Marty "Buck" (Kerry) Herzhaft, Trevor, Tyler, Tanner Garlock, Ashley Keefer; brother, Jack Garlock; sisters, Opal Voorhies & Norma Clark; several nieces, nephews & numerous friends. He was preceded in death by his parents & 1 sister, Maxine McGuire. Services are scheduled for Wednesday, June 6, 2007, 1:00 PM at Clock Chapel-Muskegon with Rev. James Hall officiating. Interment at Laketon Township Cemetery. Visitation is Tuesday, 6-8 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorial donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo of Ed, or to sign the online guest book.