Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Letson, Mary Augusta (Walters) (Mrs. Wm.) November 7, 2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com August 8, 2013, 10:18 am Hastings Reminder - Nov. 2006 Mary Augusta Letson, age 104, of Hastings, wife, mother and loved one, went home to her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, November 7, 2006 at Hastings Tendercare Nursing Home. Mary was born August 31, 1902 in North Manchester, Ind. the fifth child born to Jesse and Clara (Bowers) Walters. They moved to Charlotte when Mary was eight years ole. She lived on the farm there until she was in her late teen years. She left home for Lansing and became a seamstress, working for several different stores. To her last days, she either remodeled her own clothing or gave advice on tailoring clothing to her daughters. She met William Letson and they were married March 3, 1928 at her parents’ home in Charlotte. They rented several farms in the early years of their marriage. In March 1938, they purchased the Rawleader farm just east of Woodland on Clark Road. There she and William raised five children, farmed and attended the Evangelical United Brethren Church for 30 years. They then sold the farm and moved to Hastings after retiring in 1968. Mary was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hastings. She spent the winters of the next 22 years in Mesa, Arizona with her husband, selling their home there when he died. During those winter months in Mesa, Mary enjoyed the many activities in a retirement court which was provided. Mary loved to garden, sew, knit, crochet and tat (of which many items are enjoyed by her children and families), and reading along with playing the piano and enjoying life to the fullest. She was a member of the various church circles, Farm Bureau, Pennock Hospital guild. In 1998, she moved to Sentinel Pointe Retirement Home in Grand Rapids, where she remained very active in church and her hobbies. On August 23, 2006, she moved to Hastings Tendercare Nursing Home. Mary is survived by her son, Harold (Marylou) Letson of Bayfield, Colo.; daughters, Laura (Ted) Lennox of Dearborn and Ardith (Wayne) Knop of Middleville; two daughters-in-law, Joan (John) Letson-Potter of Iverness, Fla. and Betty (Ralph) Letson-Hogan of Bradenton, Fla.; 14 grandchildren; four step grand-children; 21 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; several step-great-grandchildren and step great-great-grandchildren. Twin great- granddaughters and two great-great-grandchildren are on the way. One sister-in- law, Jane Walters of Charlotte. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, William Letson, on February 3, 1990; sons, John Letson in June 2002, Ralph Letson in February 1979; granddaughter, Lavone Letson; grandson, Paul Cridler; brothers, Guy and Chancy Walters; sisters, Zula Wheaton and Hazel Taylor. Private family burial has taken place at Lakeside Cemetery in Lake Odessa. A public memorial service will be held in the spring of 2007; day, time and place to be announced. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church or Barry Community Hospice. Mary gave love, Christian leadership and joy to all who knew her. The family is being served by the Wren Funeral Home (www.wren-funeral-home.com). File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/l/letson22076nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb