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June 23, 2012

Vida Mae (Mick) Harwood

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BEAR LAKE — Vida Mae (Mick) Harwood, 102, of Bear Lake, died June 20, 2012, at the Frankfort Pines Assisted Care Facilities. Vida was the daughter of Isaac and Maggie (Forrester) Mick, born on a farm on Raymond Road, Benzie Co., on Sept. 4, 1909.

Her father passed away when she was six years old, but her mother, along with older sister, Pearl and brothers, Ray and Nate, carried on the farming as long as they could until Ray found work in Lansing. Vida remembered running barefoot in the pasture with frost on the ground seeking the next warm spot, where a cow had lain, to warm her feet. She related the story of how her father had to go to a neighbor's house to call a doctor when she broke an arm at the age of four and the doctor arriving via horse and sleigh. She always enjoyed music and recalled dancing at the old White Owl near Arcadia.

In Lansing Vida attended school through the 10th grade then worked for a photo shop to help support herself and family.

She married Ted Morris and lived in Ohio for a time and had a son, Roy.

She went on to remarry in 1938 to Richard "Carl" Harwood and moved to Norfolk, Va., where Carl sailed on the ocean ships. They eventually ended up in the Detroit suburbs, where they had three sons, Richard, Kenneth and Larry. They moved to a farm north of Ann Arbor for a better environment to raise their children. Vida occasionally helped in the fields, as well as being a dedicated wife, mother and excellent cook. Vida lost her son, Roy, in an auto accident in 1953 after he had married, served in the U.S. Army in Korea and had given Vida her first granddaughter, Vickie.

Vida and Carl retired back to the area of their 'old stomping grounds', Bear Lake, in 1974. From there they also traveled the U.S., usually by RV. They made several trips to California, Florida, Alaska and Baja, Mexico.

Vida spent much of the time since her husband's passing in 1997 in assisted care facilities. She was a delight to the workers and other residents of the Frankfort Pines, as she always had a warm smile. She enjoyed reading, an occasional TV show, beautiful flowers and of course, visiting with friends and relatives.

Vida was preceded in death by her husband, Richard "Carl"; sisters, Pearl and Leidabelle; brothers, Raymond and Nathan; grandson, John; great-grandson, Neil; and step grandson, Charlie. Vida has three surviving sons and their wives, Richard and Ann, of Frankfort, Kenneth and Helen, of Tunas, Mo., and Larry and Jocelyn, of Dexter. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; nine step grandchildren, 10 step great-grandchildren, seven step great-great-grandchildren, a niece and two nephews and their families. She will be dearly remembered by all.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 25, at the Jowett Family Funeral Home, 803 Forest Ave., Frankfort, with the Rev. Robert Larimer officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Gilmore Twp. Cemetery.

Donations in Vida's memory can be made to Munson Hospice, 1105 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI 49684; or Blaine Christian Church, 7018 Putney Road, Arcadia, MI 49613.

Arrangements are by Jowett Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Frankfort and Benzonia.

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