Harriett Walsh

Harriett Isadona Walsh was a gracious woman and dedicated professional. She turned her volunteer work as a youth into a career and her career experience into volunteer work as an adult. She was efficient and reliable, imaginative and creative. With an artistic eye, inquisitive mind and generous heart, she benefited many worthy causes and hundreds more people. Her love of family and interest in their life and history was foundational to her own wonderful life. Harrietts story began as the United States was recovering from the First World War and experiencing growth in industry and employment. Women had finally won the right to vote and Harlem, New York was a-buzz with jazz, literature and art. Into this world of vitality and independence, Harriett Isadona was born to William Henry and Cora (Schroll) Green on November 20, 1920 in Muskegon, Michigan. Her birth was an event that some called miraculous. In her seventh month of pregnancy, Cora had been in an automobile accident that sent her to Hackley Hospital. Ten days later, a healthy baby girl was born. Weighing less than 4 pounds, she amazed the doctors and delighted her parents. Fifteen days later, they took Harriett Isadona home and reveled in the joy she brought to their lives. Cora cared for Harriett at home while William worked on commercial buildings and schools as a carpenter, and in later years, Cora did home health care and took in laundry to contribute to the family budget. Like many children coming of age during the Depression, Harriett was aware of hardships. Still, she enjoyed a carefree childhood, playing hop scotch or roller skating with kids in her neighborhood and celebrating birthdays with her favorite cake: chocolate with chocolate frosting. Harriett grew up in the Nims neighborhood of Muskegon through the 3rd grade and attended Bunker School for grades 49 when the family moved to Lakeside. Harriett made friends wherever she went, first with Jane Harper, Frances Raskey, Mary Jane Ferguson in grade school, and in high school, she was best friends with Agnes Brown. The two of them went to football games and many other school activities together, but Harriett was already developing skills and responsibilities that would serve her welllong after high school. Beginning in 5th grade, Harriett had done tasks for the office at Bunker School, such as daily attendance data, graphic poster design and grading papers. When requested to write a poem to be included in the 9th grade memory book, Harriett contributed, A Lady All Dressed in Gold, reflective of the class study of Ivanhoe. She also wrote two papers that appeared in the Said in Done Muskegon High School publication. Her flare for writing was shaped in part by her family and the trips they took to Harrietts roots. Already at an early age, Harrietts parents had introduced her to photography, writing and travel, Despite the Depression, they gave her a Brownie camera, print film, critique of her prints, a Royal manual typewriter, paper, tales of her familys history and another creative outlet with a piano and lessons. In 1931, Harriett took a memorable trip to Tahquamenon Falls in Michigans Upper Peninsula with the McGraft Memorial Congregational Church Choir. Yet from an even earlier age, her family visited grandparents in Pierson, Michigan and aunt, uncles and cousins in Greenville. It was during a longish visit from her grandparents in the spring of her fifteen year that set the stage for Harrietts lifelong interest in family history. As Harriett and her grandmother talked one day, Harriett found herself eating up the stories her grandma told about her ancestorsnames, dates, professions, eventsall the way back to the Revolutionary War. Harrietts grandfather had done the same with Harrietts mother, so her fascination for genealogies came naturally and remained with her for a lifetime. By the time Harriett graduated from Muskegon High School in 1939, she had a lot of experience under her belt and self confidence that matched her creativity. Throughout her career, she wrote stories and themes that got noticed and sang soprano in the McGraft Memorial Congregational Church Choir and in the Caecilian Chorus. For over forty years, she belonged to Muskegon Camera Club and was named a life member in 2010. She edited the newsletter for more than 20 years and was honored by Southwestern Michigan Council of Camera Clubs in 1991. In time, she would be joined by a husband who shared her philanthropic pursuits. In the early 50s, Harriett had met John Robert Walsh before he entered the military. He wrote her during his tour of duty, and their relationship grew into love and commitment. When J. Robert returned home, he married his beau on July 12, 1952, and the adventure of life continued. Bob had bought a vacant lot on Addison Street, and in 1962, they had a house built on the property that was still the family home fifty years later. With no children to care for at home, Harriett invested herself in her clerical career. She loved being church secretary at First Congregational United Church of Christ that kept her busy from 1950-1986typing dictation, preparing services, answering phones, publishing bulletins and newsletters and creating posters. There was never a dull moment, but in 1986, Harriett decided to retire after 35 years of service. Just as quickly, Harriett was appointed to the First Congregational Church archive committee with Catherine Rice and wrote a weekly Legacy Story for the church bulletin. She became a workshop coordinator and treasurer of Summer Weekend of Photography at Hope College from 1982-2008. She volunteered as secretary of Friends of the Symphony from 1986-1988 and of Jefferson Tower board 1996-2002. She gave time to Tempting Tables in 2005, 2007 and 2009 to benefit cancer research and to Muskegon Civic Theater from 1986 into the1990s, being named Volunteer of Year in 1992. Both Harriett and Bob were active members of Ruddiman Creek Task Force, and together they created a program of slides covering 40 years of creek history. The task force was inducted into the Michigan Environmental Hall of Fame on May 2, 2012 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids. They also produced many of the slides of Gillette Nature Center that are shown at PJ Hoffmaster State Park. Harrietts contribution to the Muskegon community will be felt for years to come. Harrietts life and legacy bring honor to her family and the citizens of Muskegon, where she was a lifetime resident and longtime friend. Mrs. Harriett I. Walsh, age 93, concluded her earthly pilgrimage on Monday, July 7, 2014. She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, J. Robert Walsh, and many friends. A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 1:00 PM, with visitation one hour prior to the service at First Congregational Church UCC and Rev. Timothy D. Vander Haar officiating. Memorials in Harriett's honor may be directed to First Congregational Church UCC Office Operations.