Elaine Baldwin

Elaine Baldwin was a woman of such great beauty, passion and love, who gave her heart so willingly and openly to all those around her. Elaine was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, who touched so many lives in her time with us. There are so many words to describe her, but you really need just one: wonderful. Elaines story began on a hot summer day in 1922, in the little town of White Cloud, Michigan. Those were such exciting times in this country, as the Roaring 20s began, the automobile and airplane were changing the world, and Prohibition was the law of the land. On August 23, 1922, Orlo and Katherine (Miller) Patterson celebrated the birth of a baby girl, a daughter they named Elaine. Elaine was born in White Cloud but raised in Grand Rapids and the Muskegon area, where her parents owned Pattersons Grocery Store in Muskegon Heights. Her grandparents also owned a grocery store in White Cloud. Elaine was the second of five children in the family home, joined by her Aliene, Donald, Betty and Richard. Elaine was a very pretty young girl, and blessed with a beautiful voice, too. She absolutely loved music, and loved to sing. When she was a teenager, she even entered the WLS Talent Show with her twin friends, Peggy and Betty Brooks. At the competition she became acquainted with a handsome young man named Sidney Baldwin, who had entered the show playing his accordion. She had known Sidney for some time, as he was her paper boy in the neighborhood, but the sparks flew between them then. Sidneys friends soon began dating the Brooks twins, and Sidney lucked out and started dating Elaine. The three couples ran around together for years. Sidney was as passionate about music as Elaine was, and became a serious accordion player, performing often in Grand Rapids. His No. 1 fan, of course, was the lovely Elaine, who always attended his performances. They dated for many years, as Elaine patiently waited for a proposal. Eventually, she turned to him one summer evening and said You know, youve never mentioned getting married. The surprised Sidney said Well, Ill get you a ring, and we can get married on your birthday. It was already summer, and her birthday was the end of August! Sidney did ask Elaines father for her hand in marriage, and promised to always take care of her. So after a long courtship and a very brief engagement, Elaine and Sidney were married, on August 23, 1944 - her 22nd birthday. The newlyweds settled into a little apartment for awhile, and then rented a house. Sidney told Elaine to stop working, he would take care of her, and she needed to take care of the house - and soon enough, their family. It wasnt long before the young couple became parents, too, with their daughter Suzanne arriving in November of 1945. Sidney went to work at Continental Motors, and played music through out his career. In 1949, Sidney built the family home to accommodate his growing family, on Randall Road in Norton Shores, just a stones throw from Mona Lake and Lake Michigan. The couple paid cash as they went during the construction, and Elaine was so happy and proud of that home. She always had such beautiful skin and loved to be tan, and being near the beach was so perfect for her. Later that year, the couple celebrated the birth of their daughter Linda, followed not long after by Cindy, who rounded out the happy family. Elaine loved being a wife and mother, and was such a kind, loving and supportive parent. She was very involved in her girls lives, and for many years she diligently baked many cakes for the Churchill School Cake Walk, benefiting the Spring Carnival. She also was a talented seamstress, and made matching outfits for herself and the girls - only the accessories would change! After her kids were older, Elaine went back to work part-time, with a job at Robert Hall. She also did daycare, which was so perfect for her. Elaine absolutely loved children, and adored babies. Elaine had such a kind face and a soft, soothing voice, and all kids loved her. Suzanne blessed them with their first three grandchildren, when Linda made the decision to start their family, Elaine retired and devoted her time to taking care of her grandkids. When her daughter Cindy moved back to the area from CA, another granddaughter was added to the clan! This was the best job Elaine ever had. Elaine loved being such an integral part in her grandchildrens lives, and the grandkids all agree that Grandma taught them to read before they went to school, and taught them all their states and state capitals, too! She had a great relationship with her son-in-laws. Son-in-law Jim Elwell spent many Friday nights together, eating pizza and doing the crossword puzzles. Elaine always did the Expert version, and everybody else did the amateur variety. Elaine loved other things, too, like playing bingo, and reminiscing about all the fond memories they shared together through the years. Son-in-law Jim Koehler, Cindys husband, chartered many family day trips in the Chinook (RV) of which Elaine enjoyed. Whatever she did, Elaine did it with the same big smile and friendly demeanor she did with everything. She was simply a kind, loving woman, who loved crosswords but never cross words. Sadly, Elaine died on Monday, June 18, 2007, at the age of 84. Elaine was a wonderful woman, who lived a wonderful life, a life so full of family and fond memories. She was a woman who loved her hobbies, and was so good at finding just the right words. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother, with a kind face and a beautiful voice. There are so many words to describe her, but one that matters most: Loved. Elaine was deeply loved, and will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband, Sidney Baldwin, daughters, Suzanne Baldwin (Dave Hopkins), Linda Elwell (Jim), and Cindy Koehler (Jim), six grandchildren - Julie, Joni, Angie, Jamie, Jeremy,and Leah , 13 great--grandchildren, and 3 great--great--grandchildren, sister, Betty Dudgeon, brothers, Donald (Neoma) and Richard (Marva), sister-in-law Galdys Kitchka. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Aliene (Bert) Gould. A private family services will be held Friday, June 22, 2007, at Clock Life Story Funeral HomeMuskegon. Please visit Elaines Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo of her, or to make a memorial donation to the Rescue Mission and Salvation Army of Muskegon.