Marie Clawson

Marie F. Clawson, formerly of Muskegon, Michigan, died peacefully Thursday December 16, 2010 at the Tendercare Nursing Home in Traverse City, Michigan, where she had resided since the death of her husband Noel (Don) Clawson. She was born in Muskegon, Michigan, November 4, 1914, to Albert and Louise (Yunker) Zwickirsch. At an early age, after the death of her mother, she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Mary (Yunker) and Joseph Halverson. She attended Bunker and Nims schools and graduated from Muskegon High School in 1933, where she was voted most shy by her graduating class. She was employed for most of her working years at the Lakeside paper mill where she met her husband. Her loving and giving nature was the perfect foil for her husband's Irish temperament, and they were married from July of 1938 until June of 2002 when death separated them after 63 years of marriage. In addition to being preceded in death by her parents and husband, she lost her only sibling, John Zwickirsch, in WWII, and was also preceded in death by her close cousins Dorothy Fowler of Indiana and George Halverson of Muskegon, MI. She was the sweetest and most loving person in the world. She was kind and helpful to other people, often putting their needs above her own. Deeply spiritual without embracing dogma, she passed the love of truth along to her children. She loved reading and tending her garden, especially the bearded Iris; always supplied visitors with food, loved chocolate, especially chocolate chips; liked cats, and accepted every stray her children brought home, feline or human. She was never happier than when her family surrounded her. She sought wisdom, kept her mind sharp with crossword puzzles until that stopped working, and was happy right up to the point of her death. SURVIVORS She is survived by four children, Donna Clawson of Ethiopia, Randie Clawson of Traverse City, James Clawson (Janet) of Lawton, MI, and Molly Clawson (Walker Willingham) of Bainbridge Island, WA; two grandchildren, Ed Oosterhart (Gale) of Howell, MI, and Holden Willingham of Bainbridge Island, WA. She is also survived by her cousin, Morry Halverson (Sue) of Alexandria, IN, in-laws, Norene Flickema (Albert) of Muskegon, Jaclyn Clawson of Muskegon, Millie Halverson of Muskegon, and two half sisters, Gloria Richards (Bob) of Muskegon, Betty Maycroft of Muskegon, as well as by many other beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. MEMORIAL SERVICE A Memorial Service will be held March 2011 at the Lakeside Baptist Church in Muskegon. MEMORIAL: In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to Hospice of Michigan or Lakeside Baptist Church.