Genealogy Data Page 16 (Notes Pages)

Reference: 302

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Smith, Carole Emma {I303} (b. 06 APR 1939)

Note: I was born April 6, 1939, on my grandparents' farm (Carl &
Shirley Lucker) in Freesoil, Michigan. My parents are Otis
(Neil, Sr) and Dorothy Smith. Aunt Marie Emma Smith Strader,
my dad's sister, died in March just before I was born. Also,
my dad's grandma, Emma Larson (grandmother Teckla's mother)
died in February before my birth. This is how I got the middle
name Emma. We lived on several farms but my first memories are
of when we lived on Aunt Esther's place (south of Victory
Cemetery) on Dennis Road. One of my memories is of the kids
walking by our house on their way to a one-room school down the
road. We moved to a house on Stiles Road just north of the
Victory Township Hall. I started kindergarten in Victory
Township School which stood in the exact same spot the Victory
Township Hall stands now. It also was a one-room (K - 8)
school. Grandpa Orton Smith took me to school my first day.
(He also took me to church camp the first time I went.) We
moved into Ludington when I was in second grade and I attended
Ludington schools until October 1954, when I was in the 10th
grade. My sister, Ruth, drowned on June 17, 1954, (I was 15
years old) and this is a tragedy I'll never forget. I attended
Mt. Morris, Michigan schools, graduating in June of 1957.

I worked summers and weekends as a waitress in several
restaurants during my high school years.

I married Gordon Richardson in September of 1957, and we moved
into the same house we still live in today. We have two sons,
Craig Lee Richardson, born March 13, 1962 and Cary Lee
Richardson, born August 26, 1966. Both my children are
married, and I have three wonderful grandchildren. Craig
married Lisa in February 1985 and they've given us a grandson,
Joshua, and a granddaughter, Ashley. Cary married Sheri in May
1986 and they've given us a grandson, Cameron.

I began working for the Flint Community Schools on July 15,
1957, as a secretary. I always had a dream of completing my
college education. In 1970, I started taking night classes at
Mott Community College, and I graduated from MCC in May of
1976. I took a sabbatical leave from my secretarial job in
Flint schools and commuted to Michigan State University,
graduating with my teaching degree in December of 1977. I
started teaching in the Flint schools in January of 1978. I
retired in June of 1997, after 40 years with the Flint schools.

After my retirement in June, my Dad's cancer was progressing
rapidly. Since I was retired, I was able to spend time with my
Dad in his final days. For this, I'm so thankful.

Gordon worked for CSX Railway for 42 yeard, and he retired in
January of 1998. We now spend winters in Florida and enjoy it
very much. We also have a trailer on Lake Margarette in
Grayling, Michigan, and we spend time in the summer there.
(We've been going there for 37 years).

Gordon was also a member of the Michigan National Guards for 28
1/2 years. We still have many military friends who will always
be part of our lives.

I was baptized at the Washington Avenue Baptist Church in
Ludington. When we moved to the Mt. Morris area, we became
members of the First Baptist Church of Mt. Morris where we
still attend. We've been members for over 44 years. In the
winter months, we attend Faith Baptist Church in Zephryhills,
Florida. THIS IS MY STORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT.

Source: (Individual)
Title: Person
Abbreviation: Person
Author: (?) (UNKNOWN)

Birth: 06 APR 1939 Freesoil, Mason Co, Michigan

Reference: 303

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Smith, Neil Ottis {I304} (b. 25 APR 1940)

Note: The story of how I left Ludington is not too spectacular. When
I was in the ninth grade in school, 1954, my father and mother
(Otis and Dorothy) decided to move to Mt. Morris, Michigan for
my father to get employment at General Motors. I didn't have
much to say about it, the family moved, I moved.

I attended high school at Mt. Morris and graduated in June of
1958. The following fall I started my secondary education at
Flint Jr. College and with the help of my parents I got my
first car, a 1951 Chevrolet, so I could commute to school.

The year 1960 was a very eventful year for me. On March 3rd I
started an apprenticeship in Pattern Making and Model Making at
Chevrolet Motor Company (a five year program). On August 6th I
got married to Sue Ann Rockafellow (a girl that I met while
attending Mt. Morris First Baptist Church). I also bought my
first house in Clio (it was a rental house that I had to
remodel before we could move into it in August).

The next several years were filled with many events, some of
which are:
- June 25, 1962 Deneil was born
- 1963 I had a new home built in the Clio area
- January 31, 1964 Kimberly was born
- July 8, 1966 Timothy was born
- 1966 I purchased the new home that was built next door
- 1971 I purchased a home with acrease so I could have horses
and a garden. This was also in the Clio area.
- 1978 I had another new home built, a small hobby farm, where
I reside today about 3 miles from Clio.

I am still working at General Motors and now have forty years
of seniority, man I must be getting old. Since 1988 I have
been working as a Senior Engineer overseeing the different
phases of Die Construction. In that capacity I have had the
privilege of going to many places in Michigan, Virginia,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, California, New Mexico,
Tennessee and Ontario. The overseas countries that I have
visited are Spain, Germany, Sweden, England and Japan.

My children have given me eight wonderful grandchildren and now
it keeps me busy attending all their events.

God has blessed me in many ways, having accepted Jesus at an
early age, with many acquaintances, friends, and a wonderful
family my life has truly been blessed. The Bible says, "in all
thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path"
Proverbs 3:6. I can testify that this is true.

Birth: 25 APR 1940 At Grandfather Lucker's house, Freesoil, Mason Co, Michigan

Reference: 304

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Smith, David Dale {I305} (b. 05 MAR 1946)

Note: It all started March 5, 1946 in Ludington, Michigan. I would
like to tell you the world was changed forever, but, to tell
the truth, other than my family, I don't think anybody else
much noticed.

I lived in Ludington until October 1954. I was in the third
grade. My dad took a job at a General Motors plant in Flint,
at which time, along with my family, I moved to Clio, Michigan.
I transferred into Mt. Morris School system and graduated from
high school in June of 1964.

Some of the early memories I have are the death of my sister
(Ruth) and Grandpa Smith, both in 1954 (it was a tough year).
I also had the opportunity to visit Alabama in 1961 and
California in 1963. Both of which I enjoyed very much.

After high school I accepted a tool and die apprenticeship at
Chevrolet Manufacturing Plant in Flint, which I completed in
1967.

On a Saturday in November 1965 (on the 2nd to be exact), my
life changed (for the better for sure) when I married Joyce
Lehr. We settled on the East Side of Flint and started a
family. Three of our four children were born while we lived in
Flint (Cheryl 10/1/66, Amy 2/9/1968, Phillip 4/22/70.

In August 1970, I accepted a job in Grand Rapids. Joyce and I
rented a U-haul, packed our belongings, and moved our family to
Holland, Michigan. While we lived there, our fourth child was
born (Sarah 3/7/1976).

In 1975, I made a major career change. I went into sales on a
full time basis, this was always my dream, and I was determined
to make it happen.

January 1977 saw us renting another U-haul. Our destination
this time was Traverse City, Michigan. We lived and worked
there until January 1983.

This time the U-haul was headed to Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
We must have found home because we still live here.

We are very proud of all our children. They have all graduated
from high school and went on to further education. Our three
daughters have all married nice young men and have started
families of their own. Our son is still looking for that right
woman.

In 1991, our lives took on a new dimension, we became
grandparents. We now have eight (Abigail 1/20/91, Caleb
12/28/92, Brook 1/19/93, Katie 1/25/94, Josie 7/7/95, Marissa
12/3/95, Joel 7/6/98, Jalen 10/26/98). We thank God for every
one of them.

The Lord has been good to us, and has given us many blessings.
We would like to thank him for all he has done for us. We will
continue to seek his guidance and leading in the future.