Marie Caswell

Marie Caswell was a woman who seemed as though she could do anything. Whether it was beating the boys at poker, bagging the biggest deer, or knitting baby booties for the hospital, Marie lived a life full of successes. Her greatest success, and her greatest joy, was found in the family she loved most of all, as a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Maries story began on a warm summer day in 1922, as the Fourth of July celebrations were readied in the little town of Hancock, Michigan. Those were good days in this country, times of peace and growing prosperity, during the dawn of the Roaring 20s, and the start of the Prohibition era. On June 30, 1922, John and Erma (Bollard) Palcich celebrated the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Marie. Maries father ran a soda fountain and candy shop, while her mother cared for the home. Her parents were very young, however, and split up when she was a little girl. Marie went to live with her maternal grandparents in the Frankfort area, where she grew up and began attending school. Her mother eventually remarried, and had seven more children, two boys and five girls. It wasnt the easiest of childhoods for Marie, a period she didnt talk about very much later in life. She wasnt a part of her siblings lives until after her own children were grown, when she finally found the family she always longed for. When Marie was 16, she met a man named Kenneth Long, who was several years older than she was. They began dating, and after a brief courtship, they were married, and soon moved down to Muskegon, Michigan to find work. They settled in Muskegon Heights, where it wasnt long before they started their family. Marie soon was the proud parent of three fine children, Kenda (who they called Susie) in 1941, Kenneth (Butch) in 1944, and son Terry in 1945. Maries marriage hit a rough road in the late 1940s, and ended in divorce. Her love and commitment to her children, however, never wavered, and the suddenly single mother of three small children picked herself up and went to work. She began waiting tables at Lakos Restaurant in downtown Muskegon, one of the citys finest eating establishments, where she was able to best provide for her family. She found more than a paycheck at Lakos, however. There she also met a wonderful man named Don Caswell, who was also divorced with a daughter named Darleen. Marie and Don began dating, fell in love, and were married on December 10, 1950, the beginning of a beautiful life together. Don worked at Continental Motors, and Marie continued working at Lakos, but the couple knew how to have fun, too. They loved to go square dancing, and Marie loved to play cards. Her kids remember their mom as quite the card shark, who could play any number of games, but always preferred to play for money! (And she always seemed to win, too). They also enjoyed many wonderful family get-togethers over the years, which were filled with daylong card games. Marie also had a Wednesday poker club with her lady friends, a tradition she continued most of her adult life. Marie was the kind of woman who could do anything, and was as good at playing with the boys as she was the girls. She and Don went fishing together, and shed even join him when he went hunting on occasion. One deer season, Marie went with all the guys to the cabin, taking their money playing poker, and then bagging the only deer of the trip! She didnt go hunting after that. Marie eventually quit working as a waitress, and became an executive secretary. She started working at the Marathon Oil refinery for a time, and eventually at Ott Chemical. Having never finished high school as a girl, she went back to Muskegon High as an adult, earning her diploma the same year her daughter graduated, 1959. In 1964, Marie and Don moved into a beautiful home on Mariwood in Laketon Township, where they formed many great memories, and where Marie would live nearly the rest of her life. Marie found some new hobbies in her new home, and took up oil painting. She displayed a natural gift for art, and enjoyed creating beautiful paintings of flowers and clowns. Marie found other outlets for her creativity, too. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting, and made baby hats and booties for the newborns at Hackley Hospital. She also discovered calligraphy, and wrote poems, several of which were published in a local book. That was Marie, though, everything she ever did, she did well. After she and Don retired, they began wintering in the Florida Keys for many years, where they enjoyed the fishing. Later on, they switched and began wintering in South Padre Island, Texas. Sadly, Maries beloved husband died in 1995, which was a difficult time for her, but she persevered. Marie didnt know how to slow down, however. She was a very vibrant, opinionated lady, ever independent, and enjoyed going to the casinos now and then later in life. She also loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Eventually, Maries health began to decline, and she was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. Being the strong-willed, strong woman she was, she tried to remain as independent as possible, but eventually needed full-time care and moved to a nursing facility. Sadly, Marie died on Wednesday, October 8, 2008, at the age of 86. Marie was wonderful woman, who lived a wonderful life, a woman with an iron will and a heart of gold. She was such a vibrant, vivacious lady, who seemed as though she could do anything. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and a dear friend to many. Most of all, she was a lady who taught us that anything worth doing, is worth doing well. She will be greatly missed. Marie is survived by her son, Terry (Susan) Long of Ionia; daughter, Darleen (Kenneth) Jones of Newaygo; daughter-in-law, Linda Long; 9 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren; brother, William (Jan) Gedris of Comstock Park; sisters, Nancy Gregory of Grand Rapids, Mary Kay (Tom) Jewell of OH, Patty (Bill) Barnes of Grand Rapids; several nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by husbands, Kenneth Long & Donald R. Caswell; son, Kenneth Long; daughter, Kenda "Susie"; & great granddaughter, Mackenzie Ball. Services are scheduled for Friday, October 10, 2008, 1:00 PM with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at First Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Bill Uetricht officiating. Interment at Laketon Township Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Harbor Hospice Poppen House. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.