Roy Wildie

Roy Wildie was a simple, honest man, who led a simply wonderful life, a life full of family, faith and fond memories. He enjoyed lifes simpler pleasures, the joy of creating things for his family or his church, camping under the stars, or just sitting with his children on the beach, watching the waves lap the sand. Roy was beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, a simple man, yes, but simply a good man, as well. Roys story began on a cold winter day in 1917, in the rolling farmland of Shiawassee County, Michigan. Those were such turbulent times in this country, which could no longer turn a blind eye to the hardships around the globe, and entered into World War I. On January 30, 1917, Clarence and Bernice (Williams) Wildie found reason for celebration, however, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Clarence LeRoy. Roy, as he would be called, was the third of six children in the family home, joining older siblings Leona and Arden, and younger sisters Thelma and Arlene and little brother Don. The family moved around quite a bit when Roy was a boy, and he began attending school in the Traverse City area. He attended school through the eighth grade, as was so common in those days. It was on those sandy shores that Roy formed his great love for the outdoors, and where he grew into a young man. One day Roy was at the beach with a friend, when they spotted a couple of beautiful young girls. One of the girls was named Eileen McCarthy, and Roy was immediately smitten. Her friend was interested in Roys buddy, so despite Eileens reluctance, they soon began double-dating. It didnt take long for Eileen to warm up to Roy, though, and after two years of dating, they were married, on April 12, 1941 in Thompsonville. The newlyweds moved to Grand Rapids, where Roy found work at a bakery, and where they soon started their family. The couple was blessed with three wonderful children in the next few years, with daughter Diane joining the family in 1942. Their son Sid came along in 1944, and Shelley rounded out the happy family in 1950. After Diane was born, Roy joined the Navy, anxious to do his part to help the war effort. He became an aviation metalsmith, and thankfully, the husband and father never saw any action overseas. When the war ended in 1945, Roy returned to his family for good, and found a job working in sheet metal. First he worked at Muskegon Heights Sheet Metal, then Bos Sheet Metal, then Bauer, and finally East Muskegon Roofing, where he would remain the rest of his long career. Roy enjoyed sheetmetal work, and was very skilled at the trade, too. He often would drive the family around town and point out all the buildings he worked on. The family called East Muskegon home, though they lived in several different homes in the area over the years. It was a close-knit community in many ways, especially thanks to the Fellowship Reformed Church they attended in their neighborhood. Roy was a man with a great faith, and the church was the center of his familys life. They were members there since the late 1940s, where Roy was an elder and deacon, and helped out with any church repairs, too. They also had many friends from church they socialized with, getting together for what they called their Happy Hour Group for picnics or parties. Roy and his family did much together over the years, too. He was a wonderful husband and father, and enjoyed spending quality time with his kids. Hed take them to get popcorn and then to the airport, to watch the planes takeoff and land, or to just spend sun-filled days at the Lake Michigan beaches. Most of all, the family enjoyed camping, and went on many memorable trips together, usually at Interlochen and Pioneer Park. They started off in tents, and graduated to a travel trailer, and camping became a beloved family tradition. They had the same routine, packing bunches of bananas to eat on the trip, so there were no crumbs! as Roy mandated. Even today, Shelley still takes bananas on road trips. Roy and Eileen continued camping with groups even after their kids were grown. Roy retired from the sheetmetal business in 1979, and he and his beloved bride began wintering in Texas and Florida for awhile. Eventually, they began missing their grandchildren too much, so they stayed in Michigan year-round. They were simply the best grandparents ever, as their daughters say. They loved to babysit for them, and took the grandkids camping and on many other trips, too. Roy also enjoyed his annual deer-hunting trip with his son, grandson and other family members at Crystal Valley, near Hart. Roy filled his retirement with many other hobbies, as well. He took a stained glass-making class at Muskegon Community College, and began making wonderful pieces, from pictures to tables, which he gave to friends, family and his church, where they still hang proudly. He also made more than 30 cedar chests for his grandkids and others, some with stained glass inlaid tops. His son has a beloved chest with a stained glass cougar on the top, one of Roys finest creations. In the late 1990s, Roys beloved Eileen began showing signs of Alzheimers. He took care of his wife as best as he could, and had the help of his children and grandchildren, too. Then in 2001, Roy began having troubles of his own, and needed a heart valve replaced. Being the strong man he was, Roy recovered well, and the couple moved in with their granddaughter Kelly, which also helped them so greatly. Roy stayed as active as he could, but in 2005, he needed to use oxygen fulltime, which hampered him. Slowly, his health began to fail, and he sadly died on Monday, August 6, 2007, at the age of 90. Roy was a wonderful man, who lived a wonderful life, a life full of family, faith and fond memories. He loved the simple pleasures in life, from camping under the stars, to sunny days at the beach, with his family by his side. They were never far from Roys side, though, and his memory remains in their hearts today. Roy is survived by his wife, Eileen; son, Sid (Colleen) Wildie of Burleson, TX; daughters, Diane (Ted) Lapinski of Muskegon, Shelley (Reg) Smith of Montague; grandchildren, Kari (Scott) Hadley, Adam Wildie, Kelly (Ken) Grant, Tracey (Kathy) Robertson, Pete (Cindi) Smith, Mandie Smith; Great Grandchildren Kyle, Kandas & Kainan Grant, Sydney & Emma Thompson, Ronica & Wildie Ann Smith, Amy, Rachel & Erica Good; Great-great grandchild Savannah Summerskill; sisters, Leona Balentine & Arlene Barnes and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Don & Arden and one sister, Thelma Richards. Services are scheduled for Thursday, August 9, 2007, 4:00 PM at Clock Chapel with Rev. Scott Church officiating. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. Visitation is Wednesday, 6-8 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Diabetes Association, or Harbor Hospice. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.