My mom and this year's Grand DOM, Sandy Morisette, came to Macomb County at the age of 7 with her parents Victoria and Lou Zawadzki and her three sisters, Roslyn, Barb and Marianne. Sandy attended St. Mary High School and played women’s basketball earning MVP her freshman year! During High School, Sandy met James Morisette, the two fell in love and were married shortly after high school. My mom talks about how she couldn’t imagine starting their family anywhere other than Macomb County. She has always loved the close community and staying close to the Morisette Family. My parents started their family with their first born son, Jim Morisette, Jr., then Rodney, and completed their
Hi, I am Georgia McKay, your 2017 Grand DOM for our Daughters of Macomb club. Let me tell you a little about myself. I was born in the Roaring Twenties, arriving on December 27, 1926 at Grace Hospital on Gratiot in Mount Clemens – you might say I was a Christmas present to my parents George and Corinne (Merchant) Wellnitz! Coming in at a healthy 6 lbs 7 oz, I was christened Georgia Corinne Wellnitz – an obvious nod to my proud parents. I have always enjoyed living in Mount Clemens. I still live here today in my historic ...
Beverley was born December 10th 1929 in her maternal grandparents home to George R. Spear and Marie Fuller Spear located on Dickinson at the corner of 5th Street. She was the first of four children. She grew up at 253 Dickinson only two blocks from where she was born. She attended Dickinson School followed by St. Louis School and eventually graduated from St. Mary's High School in Mount Clemens in 1948. As a teenager she worked for her dad at Spears Cleaners and spent most Saturday nights at the 9/20 Club on Broadway where she met the love of her life, Edward Tromley. The two were married on September 10th 1949. The couple have five children. Karen who lives in Marquette, MI., Larry, Randy and Tim who reside in Macomb County and Mary Ann who lives in Newcastle, WY.
In 1953 they bought their first home on North River Road in Harrison Township, in which they still reside. In 1964 they opened Cass Cycle Shop located on Cass Avenue which kept the family busy over the years. They enjoy many of their holidays in the Upper Peninsula walking the Macinac Bridge with their fourteen grandchildren and as of 2007 three great grandchildren. In the last three years she has been blessed with twelve additional great grandchildren with two more on the way. Since selling the bike shop Beverly has been enjoying her retirement by being actively involved in the community. She has joined a class at L'anse Creuse that travels our great State of Michigan visiting old churches, museums, and other historical sites. She is a current member of the Macomb County Historical Society as well as the Harrison Township Historical Commission. In her free time she also enjoys singing in the Resurrection choir at St. Peter's Church in Mount Clemens.
Beverly is a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she is a fifth generation resident of Macomb County and an active and essential member of our great community. She truly defines what the Daughters of Macomb embodies and we are delighted to have her represent our sisterhood this year as the 2016 Grand DOM.
Colleen Moore was born July 20, 1927, on Smith Street, in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, to Harry and Elsie Moore, who were also born and raised in Mt. Clemens. There were seven girls and one boy in the family. We all walked to St Mary’s School, a mile away, four times a day, since we could not bring lunch unless we were rehearsing for a play. I worked as a nurses aide at St Joseph Hospital on weekends and all summer during my High School Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years. The hospital was a mile and a half walk so it was a happy day when I could afford a new $30.00 bicycle from my $1.00 an hour pay. My interests were Girl Scouts, school plays, and choir, which came in handy for cutting classes to sing at funerals. I wonder what I missed? Maybe I could have been a perpetual honor student? We will never know. After graduating in June, 1944, in a class of 60, I applied to enter nurses training at the hospital, but being seventeen, was too young at the time. I went to work at the Michigan Bell Telephone Company as an operator, along with many of my classmates. Because of the war, they were admitting extra classes of nurses and I was able to begin training in March,1945. After three long years, I received my diploma and studied for the Michigan State Board Exam to become a RN. I had visions of getting a BS degree in nursing and even thought of going to Hawaii, but I went on a blind date and met MR. Right. In October of 1948, I made him the happiest man when I said, “ I do.” Well, time passes on like a blur and we ended up with four daughters: Heidi, Christine, Tamara and Kelly, and six sons: Terrence, Richard, Christopher, Peter, Paul, Craig, all of whom I am very proud. They are talented, nice people and most of all, very good parents. This great parenting skill has past on to our 16 grandchildren whom are wonderful parents to our 17 great grandchildren. Who could ask for anything more? Over the years, I worked part time at the hospital or at Drs. Rivkin and Morris’ Pediatrician’s Office. I enjoyed two bridge clubs, a Child Study Club, and the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. In 1972, with five kids graduated, we relocated to Grayling, Michigan, where our last five kids graduated. Two of the boys still live in that area. I worked part time at the hospital in Grayling for nine years. When the last child went off to college, we flew the coop and visited Alaska for 3 summers in a row where our 3 sons lived. After returning to the cold climate the sun beckoned and we decided to move to Florida where we lived for 27 years. We became Michiganders again four years ago and live in a small farm town near Lansing, in a Senior Center, about four miles from our daughter’s beef farm. Our three youngest grandchildren are here locally and life has been good. At the ripe old age of 88, we push on slower than we want. My fondest memories are from Mt. Clemens and I’m lucky to have three daughters in attendance today.
Nancy was born in East Detroit, MI and graduated from East Detroit High School in 1950. She met and married John Donahue and moved to Mount Clemens that same year. She was married for 56 years. John passed away in 2007. Nancy has 3 daughters, Sherri, Cindy and Colleen (Georgie). The Macomb YMCA was her home away from home for 28 years working as Adminstrative Assistant. A member of the 1st United Methodist Church since 1951, her church activities bring her to the Panera Bread stores twice a week, collecting the days left over bread and distributing it to both the Salvation Army and The Lighthouse. Nancy loves Mount Clemens and has served on many Boards and Committees like the Beautification Committee and the Historical Committee. She also serves on the Clinton Grove Cemetery Board.
Dorothy was born in North Dakota one of 15 children, including 4 sets of twins! She moved to Mount Clemens, Michigan when she was just 17 years of age. She married Ed Morisette in 1948. Ed and her have 10 children, 25 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. Smith Street in Mount Clemens has been their home for the last 63 years of their 65 year marriage.
Besides raising a big family all those years, Dorothy also worked at Michigan Bell for 21 years. A Charter Member of the Daughters of Macomb along with 3 of her daughters, her sister, her daughters-in-law, and many friends, she has enjoyed the friendships, comraderie, and the fun.
Ilene, this year's Daughters of Macomb Grand DOM, is a lifelong resident of Macomb County, living primarily in Mount Clemens, where Miller Brothers Ice Cream was often a stable dessert in the Schlaff household. She resided in her home in Mount Clemens for 55 years and remembers a time when downtown Mount Clemens offered everything needed within walking distance from Dickinson Place just "over the bridge": Prieh's Department Store, Malbin's Furniture, Rae's Shoe Store, Kresge's Dime Store, the Campus shop, the Children's Shop, just to name a few. Ilene was a graduate ofMt. Clemens High School class of 1949. A time when many great things were happening in Mt. Clemens for both young and old. Early in her career she was a seamstress for Anton's Menswear and made drapes for many of the grand homes in Mt. Clemens. She soon created a reputation for her fine craftsmanship and many sought her creative talents.
She married John Henry Schlaff in 1951 . They started their married life initially in Chesterfield, where the Schlaff Creamery was the family business. Ilene became mom to Michael, Christopher, Ann Marie, and later to Lisa and Gretchen after they moved to Mount Clemens in 1956. She currently has eleven grandchildren (Michelle, Meghann, Kristen, Melissa, Bryan, Lauren, Christopher, Cameron, Kyle, Ryan and Jason) and two great grandchildren (Madison and Easton), all of whom she absolutely adores. If you asked her, her one request would always be to spend more time with her family. Ilene, fondly referred to as "Pokey" Schlaff has always been a kind, caring neighbor and dedicated friend to all that know her. She has always been that person to give freely of her time and talents, ever involved over the years in school and church functions activities, baking, crafting, and donating in whatever capacity able. Formerly a member and dosant for the historic Crocker House and Macomb Historical Society. She was actively involved in many projects through Mt. Clemens . One display of her creative talent was decorating the Crocker House for the Holiday tours. Ilene participated in the success of the Historic Homes Tour, and birth of the Crocker House Tea and Garden Parties. She is not only the cornerstone of her family, but also to Mount Clemens and the families that have chosen to live and raise families here over the years. Most people know "Pokey" and know her to be a sweet and caring lady, with a kind and gentle heart. Congratulations to this year's Grand DOM, Ilene "Pokey" Schlaff.
I was born February 5, 1924 on the Eastside of Detroit to parents Oscar and Winifred DeKay Prima. My mother was born and raised on Miller Street in Mount Clemens, and her grandfather, Sam DeKay was Macomb County Sheriff in 1898. I have one younger brother, Oscar "Ozzie" Prima. We resided in Detroit until 1936, when we moved to Mount Clemens to live in the very same home on Miller Street that my mother was born and raised in.
I attended Macomb School through 6th grade, and graduated from Mount Clemens High School in 1943. While in high school I worked at Miller Brothers Dairy and Bannow's Drugs. I loved attending dances and still have many of my high school dance cards. It was dancing that led me to Harry Bates, the man I would marry in 1943.
Shortly after Harry and I married, he left to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After his return, we had three 1 / B children, Sandy, Harry Joseph III, and Micki. In 1947, we built our family home in Charbonneau Gardens in Clinton Township. The land we built our home on was formerly the farm land of Harry's great, great-grandfather, and I still reside in that home today.
Together, Harry and I enjoyed raising our family, spending time with friends, and of course, dancing! You could often find us on the dance floor doing the jitterbug to our favorite big band music. Our children still talk about how they loved putting records on the hi-fi and clearing out the living room to have us dance for them.
My husband Harry was instrumental in establishing the AMVETS Post 29 in Mount Clemens, and I became active with volunteering my time to help veterans. I volunteered with the U.S.O. during World War II, and also sold war stamps. Today, I am part of the AMVETS Honor Guard and Son's of AMVETS groups. I love to cook and knit, and I have found a way to utilize these passions to give back to others by baking my famous rolls for the AMVETS disabled Veterans luncheons, and knitting lap robes for hospitalized Veterans.
I have also given my time to various community groups including the Girls Scouts, Navy Mothers, St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary, Mount Clemens High School Alumni Group, Bath City Festival, and the Mount Clemens Foundation playground renovations.
I worked for Bendex Corporation for 18 years and retired in 1973. I returned to work in 1980 when my daughter Micki opened Natures Accents in downtown Mount Clemens. I handled the book keeping, and also designed and sewed a line of handmade stuffed animals sold in the store. Harry was the delivery man and put his woodworking skills to use creating wood planters and accessories.
Harry and I both "officially" retired around 1990. We started spending our winters in Mesa, Arizona, and had 62 wonderful years together until Harry passed away in 2004.
Today, I am 87 years young, and have 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. I believe that staying physically and mentally active is the key to staying young. I still drive, make time to go out and socialize with my friends, and stay in touch with everyone through email and my laptop computer. I love calling Macomb County my home, and this truly is where my heart is and has always been.
Last August, during the Daughters of Macomb 2009 festivities, I was so surprised to learn that I would be recognized as the Grand D.O.M. for this year's celebration, because I thought I was too old to take on the responsibility. But here I am, still vertical at 93 years of age! And here's a little bit of my story ...
I was born March 25, 1917 in Woodstock, Ontario in my grandparent's home. I was the youngest of four, with two older brothers, Randolph and John, and an older sister, Ethel. When I was very young, we moved to Detroit, and then north to Mt. Clemens, where the "air was cleaner". I lived in three houses on Lincoln Ave. in Mt. Clemens, and went to Donaldson School, Macomb School for 6th grade, and then Jr. High and high school at the Mt. Clemens "Million Dollar" High School, graduating in 1935. On Saturdays, I could be found working for AI Hameister at the Kresge Dollar Store.
My interest in acting began at the age of 8 when my brother Randy was in the operetta The Mikado. When I was in the 6th grade, I was Gretel in the musical Hansel and Gretel. I enjoyed taking elocution lessons and was in many plays at my church during high school, while also having the female lead opposite class president Russ Bade at the high school. One night at play practice, it was so hot that we went up on the school roofto cool off. Someone dared me to climb up the school smoke stack ... so I did! It was much cooler up there! As well as acting, I loved to dance and went to Friday after-school "Nickel Hops" where we had live music by the Brown Boys- Guy, Keith and Bruce Brown, I think. These dances were also called "Sock Hops", and we could dance in our stocking feet. Being so short, though, I danced in my high heels!
After high school, I attended Albion College, and graduated from Michigan State in 1940. Following college, and after getting my naturalization papers, I returned to Mt. Clemens and taught 9th grade English at the high school, and Jr. High Home Economics.
I met my first husband, Ron Clarke, on a blind date at a Phi Delta Theta fraternity party at Michigan State, and we were married in 1942. Ron was an outstanding draftsman at Willow Run, but decided he wanted to be his own boss, so he bought the Children's Shop from the Ginsburgs, a children's apparel store on Macomb St. in downtown Mt. Clemens. We also opened another successful Clarke's Children's Shop in Utica. We lived on Moross Ave. for 15 years, and on Wellington Crescent, on the river, for 33 years. Ron and I had two children, Ron III and Merry Beth. We enjoyed traveling, and belonged to the Nomads, a travel club with its own plane. While we were on a week-end trip to the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas, Ron died in his sleep of a heart _attack. What a shock! The Nomads and the U.S. Embassy got us home by way of Nassau.
Now ... let's flash-back to high school. While there, I dated a fellow student named Emory Weiss. We both belonged to the Glee Club and also enjoyed classical music. He played the violin in the school orchestra. He also made a bet with Russ Bade that he would marry me some day, and forty-some years later. .. he did!! A few years after Ron died, a mutual friend played matchmaker, and Emory and I eventually married. He had retired from General Motors and lived in Cheboygan where he was Concertmaster of the Playhouse Orchestra. He was also Concertmaster of the Mt. Clemens Symphony Orchestra for a number of years. We were married for 28 wonderful years.
Now, I live in a condo in Moravian Meadows and at 93, I still drive and am as active as a few health issues will allow. I continue to be active at the First United Methodist Church, where I've been a member since the doors opened in 1926, as well as at the former location, known as the Green Church, one block east on Cass Ave. Of course, I can't forget to mention that I have six wonderful grandchildren, as well as six wonderful great-grandchildren! I've lived in Macomb County for most of my life, and I can't think of a better place to be!
It was a warm sunny afternoon in 2008, I was enjoying the ladies at the annual affair when people started poking me and telling me to get moving. What's everyone's problem? You've been voted Grand DOM. Impossible! True, get up there. As soon as I could I phoned my husband and told him "pack our bags, kiss the cat, we're getting out of town". (Remember the Broadway play 42nd Street? Gettin Out of Town was a song from that play.)
Certainly I was surprised; it is an honor to be recognized by your peers. We have wonderful group of ladies in the DOM, and I am glad to be a member.
Early History: My grandparents, the Grim's, moved from Indiana about 1900 to Mount Clemens. My father was born in Mount Clemens in the Pingle Building which was east of the Bath City restaurant, and next to the Denver Building. My grandfather, Alvin Peter Grim and Lynn Delvin opened a habadashery in the Denver Building as soon as construction of the building was finished, in 1906. The landmark store in the building during our youth was Fanny Farmer's Candy, which most here would remember.
Personal History: Yours truly was born in Detroit on February 28, 1938 at Women's Hospital. We lived in Mount Clemens on Grand Avenue (previously Grand Trunk Avenue). I lived in Mount Clemens until1961 and returned to Mount Clemens in 1967. I attended Donaldson School for kindergarten, then Saint Mary School where I graduated in 1956. My junior and senior years I worked in the Nursery of St. joseph Hospital (East).
The College of Mount St. joseph, Cincinnati was home for my next four years. I graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. I taught at St. Raymond School, Detroit for a year. Then came the big event of my life; I married Lawrence Moloney whom I had met in Chicago at a convention for high school students in 1954. We dated off and on for those years. We were married in October 1961 and moved to Denver, Colorado, then to Red Bluff, California (northern CA); my husband worked as a structural engineer with the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior. -
A little tid bit. Larry grew up in Detroit. My maternal grandmother's maiden name was Cecilia Maloney. Seems we are cousins, but we have not yet found the definite connection. We have a daughter and son, which I arranged to have born in Mount Clemens. Son Lawrence lives in Clinton Township; daughter Cecilia Stankiewicz and her husband Paul live in Agoura California with their four children, Zachary 10 years old, Andrew 9, Cayley Leona 6, and Lucas 2.
Many of my friends and people I knew when I was growing up have moved to new homes in new communities. Also, when I was married we moved out west for a time, and I lost connection with many of the people I grew up with. When the Daughters of Macomb formed I thought this was a good way of making new friends and renewing connections with old friends.
My family moved to Mount Clemens in 1932. My brother Donald was in the 1Oth grade at Mount Clemens High School and I was starting first grade at Lincoln School. My Father was working at Fisher Body in Pontiac Michigan since 1925. He was making $5.00 per day! The stock market crashed in 1929 and the Country was in the Great Depression. He was laid off from Fisher Body, unable to make house payments, they lost their house. "The Depression was now a reality." With the help of relatives my father opened up a popcorn store in downtown Mount Clemens, next to the old Priehs Dept. Store on Macomb Street. They rented a house on Welts St. for $15.00 per month . When the Country was 'tooling' up in 1937 my father went to work at American Aluminum Factory in Detroit. They were able to buy a house in Mount Clemens.I graduated from School in 1944. I was Edison Co. in Mount I married Philip Champion sons were born in Mount and Brian. Ross (Rosco) ens, Mark and Brian live in have four Grand Children. United Methodist Church Mount Clemens High employed at Detroit Clemens until 1955. in 1953 . Our three Clemens. Mark, Ross lives in Mount Clem Petoskey Michigan. I Member of the First since 1943 and am very active with many Church Committees. Past President ofthe Mount CIemens Garden Club and a member since 1981 . Resident of Mount Clemens until the year 2000 and now living in Clinton Township, although I consider Mount Clemens "home".
Some of my memories of Mount Clemens are ...
• Watching the new County Court House being built. I remember they had to stop work on the building until after the Great Depression was over.
• The widening of Gratiot Avenue ... "They tore down the old 'Flat Iron Building"'.
• When I was a little girl, visiting with Mrs. Lightbourne on the front porch of her Bath House on Welts Street.
• Being nominated Grand DOM for the "Daughters of Macomb" is truly an honor and I am proud to have lived in Mount Clemens and Macomb County for most of my life. This Community is a wonderful place to live!
This years Grand D.O.M. is Patricia (Curtis) Goike. Born February 7, 1927 in Utica, Michigan. She graduated from St. Marys in Mount Clemens in 1945. She married Earl Goike in 1946 and had 9 children, 7 sons and twin daughters. Pat also has 16 grandchildren, 12 great-grand children and 1 great-great grandchild. Pat retired in 1985 from the U.S. Postal Service and moved to Pine Island Florida with her husband and still comes home to Mount Clemens every year from May till September. Mullet, their companion dog travels with them too.
Pat loves to golf, play bingo and every chance she gets she likes to spend her children's inheritance on the slots! She also cans vegetables from their garden.
Pat worked at Alden Pines Golf Course on Pine Island for 22 years after she retired. (Some retirement!)
Dorothy Ratzow was born Dorothy Betty Menke in Detroit on December 18, 1927. She lived there with her parents and older sister, Margaret for about four years. Then the Depression came and they moved to a farm in New Boston for a year after which they moved to Dundee for three years - then to Mt. Clemens.
She attended a two-room country school on Sugarbush Road and then Mt. Clemens High School graduating as Salutatorian in 1944. She worked in the Principal's Office during her senior year. Her major duty was to type the Student and Teacher announcements for the following day. Upon graduating, she was hired as the secretary to the Principal when his secretary married.
In 1947 she met Frederick Ratzow (better known as " Fritz") who had spent three years in the Army during World War II. They married in 1948 at the old Trinity Lutheran Church on the corner of Dickinson and Gibbs Streets. They have three children- Patti, Bob and Megan, four grandchildren and one great grand child.
Dorothy left her job to raise her children. When the youngest started school, she was asked if she was interesed in returning to MCHS. She agreed and accepted a position as administrative clerk. She worked at the high school for more than thirty years before retiring in 1983.
Johanna was born Johanna Elizabeth Braun in Heidelberg, Germany on September 25, 1921. Johanna and her brother Ernest carne to the United States in 1928 with their mother Margaret. Her father had already immigrated to the U.S. and established himself at the Concord Club (which was narned after the ship Concord, the first German ship to cross the Atlantic) in Mount Clemens as a general manager.
Although Johanna could not read or write the English language when she arrived, she loved attending Grant School and won the English spelling contest in the fifth grade. She graduated in 1940 and was eligible to advance her education. Johanna states that Mount Clemens had an excellent school system, which helped her progress so quickly. She enrolled in the Business Institute in Detroit, and after months of business training, johanna qualified for a job in the County Clerk's office in Macomb County, where she worked for eight years.
johanna married Jack Roskopp, a young man she graduated with frorn Mount Clemens High School, on September 9, 1944. jack continued to go to law school and work. During this time, they lived with johanna's mother. Their daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was born in 1950 and son john was born in 1957. Johanna also has three grandchildren, Krista, Jack and jordan, a great grandchild Joshua and a second great grandchild on the way. jack, also known as judge Roskopp, was a member of The Old Crowd and has a parking lot named in his honor in Mount Clemens.
johanna believes the County Clerk's office was a great place to meet people and learn to enjoy the American way of life. She became involved in many organizations, which include Clinton River Watershed Council, where she is still an active member and works diligently to clean up and preserve the Clinton River. The council presents an annual award to a community individual or corporation in her honor. Other organizations that needed "a little of her help" are: The Art Center, League of Wornen Voters, The Community Concert Cornrnittee, and as a board member for the Mount Clemens High School Alumni Association.
First Grand D.O.M., Dorothy M. DuBay, was born Dorothy McCabe in 1924 in Cateret County, North Carolina. She met and married Cy DuBay (from Mt. Clemens MI) in 1942 while Cy was stationed in North Carolina during WWII as a sailor. They moved to Michigan in 1946 where she raised six children, Carol, Nancy (Dedenbach), Lome, David, Chyril and Kevin while working at the family business - Star Ballroom. She worked "The Line" (union waitressing) and later worked at Mt. Clemens Model Products. An extensive traveler, Dorothy enjoyed a trip to Europe with her daughter Carol, which included an audience with the Pope, a golfing trip to Scotland with herdaughter Nancy, and several trips with her husband. She also enjoyed playing golf in leagues and playing at courses all over the United States. After years of wintering in Florida, she and Cy now winter in LaQuinta, California to be near her daughter Chyril,son Kevin, and most of her grandchildren. She has eight grandchildren and two greatgrand children.
President, Nancy DuBay Dedenbach, was born January 11, 1947 and raised in Mt. Clemens. Daughter of Cy and Dorothy DuBay, she graduated from St. Louis High School in 1965. Nancy flew as an in-flight attendant for Eastern Airlines for two years and worked at both Consumers Power and Detroit Edison. Entering politics in 1979 as an elected official for the City of Mt. Clemens, Nancy served eight years for two terms (1979-1986). She moved to Clinton Township in 1987 and ran that fall for Township Trustee, winning and also serving two terms ( 1988-1996). Nancy and her husband of 35 years, Ronald Dedenbach, moved back to Mt. Clemens in 2000. They have two children, Kelly (age 31) and Christine (age 32). Nancy has worked on several committees and commissions in and around Mt. Clemens trying to better the City with the goal of making it a real hometown to be proud to stay and raise our children in. She is also a member and lector at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Mt. Clemens.
