Mrs. Carol "Ma" Harpster

This is a story of optimism, generosity, and, more than anything, the incredible love of a mother, grandmother, and friend, named Carol "Ma" Harpster. Carol's life was not only defined by her words, but by her actions and her thoughtfulness. When her son-in-law Bill mentioned in passing that he liked her chicken potpie, from then on, every time he visited, he found one waiting for him. When her daughter, Cindi, mentioned she liked hummingbirds, Carol made it a point to fill her daughter's home with every hummingbird she could find. When told by her other daughter, Susan, while shopping, that Cindi just might have enough hummingbirds, Carol's response was "But, she doesn't' have this hummingbird!" And for her grandchildren, she gave them trips of a lifetime - to Disney World, Key West, and Coco Beach where they fondly remember being wakened by their grandmother to see a nighttime space shuttle launch. Carol was always generous with her family, but she was also fair, making sure that what she gave to one she gave to all. Carol came into the world at the dawn of the harshest and most bitter season in Michigan when the nights begin to close in on the days and dull shades of gray seem to all but take over the sky. She arrived on the 13th day of December, in the year 1931, in the town of Muskegon, the daughter of William and Hazel (Hocking) Teuling. Living in Michigan, it can sometimes seem as though winter's chill is unremitting, but at the end of winter comes the triumph of spring, when flowers bloom, the blustery snow turns to warm showers, and the clearest of blues skies are only outdone by the warmth of the sun. When Carol was three years old she was joined by a baby sister named Joyce. Along with their parents, Carol and Joyce lived in Muskegon Heights that throughout the 1930s and 40s was an ideal place to raise a family. It was a close-knit neighborhood, filled with hard working families and their many children who made the neighborhood their playground. Carol was especially proud of the school she attended, Muskegon Heights, and was already becoming quite a sports fan cheering on the Tigers. Although she would graduate and leave the halls of her alma mater, she would never forget the pride she felt while a student there, or to go back every time her class held a reunion. In 1953, Carol met a handsome young sailor named Donovan Harpster, who was on leave from the Navy. As luck would have it, Don's discharge was right around the corner and, when he returned one year later, Carol was waiting for him at home. Not long after, they were married on February 25, 1955 in a ceremony held at Fifth Reformed Church. Following their wedding, the newlyweds made their home in the Ruddiman Terrace Housing Projects in Muskegon. While Carol held a job at Hardy Herpolsheimer's Department Store, Don worked at Campbell Wyant & Cannon Foundry. It wasn't long, however, before Carol took a permanent maternity leave from her job to care for the couple's first child, daughter Susan, who arrived later that same year. In the first two years of their marriage, Carol and Don were not only busy taking care of their baby girl, but also saving up every penny to purchase their first house and an acre of land on Taylor Street in Norton Shores. By the time their second child, Cindi, was born in 1957, a new home was there waiting for her. The couple's last child, a son named Craig, was born two years later in 1959. Carol always made sure that her children were not only well cared for, but that they felt safe and secure. She also knew how to make a yard fun, with a full-sized baseball diamond and large trees made for climbing and homemade swings. The kids spent their days hard at play, but when the streetlights came on they knew it was time to come home. When Carol's children entered Hile Elementary School, she entered, too, becoming the school's secretary. She also served as the president of the P.T.A. Each time Carol's youngest two children moved on to the next school, first, South Shore Junior High and then Mona Shores High School, fate allowed Carol to conveniently move right along with them. The girls thought it was great having her there, but Craig was not as certain, since he had more trips to the office! One thing is for certain, Carol was an integral part of the school family and the students there counted on her for support and her shoulder to cry on. She became lovingly known to all of them as "Ma." Each year Carol would receive invites to as many as fifteen graduation open houses and for each of the students she would make a graduation doll made in their school colors, graduation garb, and hair meticulously chosen to match that of each of her "kids." Ma became famous for these dolls and as their popularity grew, every year she took more orders to make them for many others. She was very crafty and could see potential in just about anything; even pieces of the driftwood her grandchildren collected on the beach became picture frames or little villages. Carol founded the now famous Ross Park Art Fair and expanded the Mona Shores Christmas Bazaar into the large event that it is today. In 1968, Carol's husband Don was injured on the job and her role soon changed from wife to caregiver. She traveled back and forth from the University of Michigan Hospital where Don underwent several surgeries. Eventually, his condition worsened and he was left paralyzed from the waist down. Although many of their trips to Ann Arbor were spent in the hospital, there was one place on campus they went to have fun - the Big House. Both Carol and Don were rabid U of M fans and made frequent trips there during the fall to see their beloved Wolverines take the field. One year they even went to Hawaii to support their team. Twice she went out to Pasadena, California to see her team play in the Rose Bowl. Always wanting to be a part of the action, when she saw a hometown reporter she ran over to wave her pom poms, and yell out the U of M fight song. Back home, her kids turned on the TV to see their mother, decked out in her U of M regalia including her U of M headboppers! Being a loyal and dedicated employee of Mona Shores Schools for 30 years, with her last position being the Director of Community Education, Carol was also passionate about Mona Shores Athletics. When her son Craig was in school, she helped develop a wrestling program and continued to support the team long after he was gone. Apart from sports, Carol had many other interests, including growing the most colorful flowers available, traveling around the States and Europe. Carol made two trips to Paris and visited her ancestral home in England. Her biggest hobby, however, was Christmas. As noted, Carol was extremely generous and Christmas was the one holiday she could celebrate with gift giving. She only missed one Christmas away from home, and that was for the one thing she loved more than anything else, her family. One of Susan's twin daughters was in the hospital and Carol made the trip to Houston to help care for her grandchildren. When grandchildren weren't available, Carol had a backup to dote upon - her Sheltie, Teenie, who was her constant companion. Wherever Carol went, Teenie followed. Most trips included a stop for ice cream - something they both loved - or for Teenie's Arby's sandwich. Carol was a member of both the Mona Lake Boat Club and Lake Harbor United Methodist Church. One bonus of having family in Houston was that she got to visit Joel Osteen's church. In later years, she faithfully watched him on the television. To make the visit even better, after the service, she waited in line for the opportunity to meet Pastor Osteen and his wife and get her copy of his book signed. Her many friends and neighbors were very important to Carol, but these last few years of her life she focused all of her energy on her children and grandchildren. In a week when all of her family had come home to visit, she spent her final days in the company of the family she loved so dearly, surrounded by all of the people she cherished most. Mrs. Carol L. "Ma" Harpster, age 75, died on Saturday, June 3, 2006. Surviving are 2 daughters, Susan (Bill) Heintzleman of Houston, TX & Cindi (Brian) Nummerdor of Muskegon; 1 son, Craig (Patty) Harpster of Muskegon; 8 grandchildren, Brad Nummerdor of Alden, Kelli (Sean) Rork of San Juan, PR, Rachel, Chris, Lorraine & Andrea Harpster of Muskegon, Hannah & Shannon Heintzleman of Houston, TX; 1 great grandchild, Alyssa Rork; 1 sister, Joyce (Jack) Loree of Muskegon. She was preceded in death by her parents & her husband, Don. A service will be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2006, 1:00 P.M. at Clock Chapel with Rev. Sarah Samuelson officiating. Interment will be at Norton Shores Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday 2-4, 6-8 P.M. and one hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home -Muskegon. Please visit Carol's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory, sign the online guestbook, or view her Life Story Digital Film. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gillette Nature Center at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park or Mona Shores Optimist Scholarship Fund.