Edith Archer

Edith V. Archer was a strong woman, dependable and determined. She demonstrated incredible compassion for those who were suffering and did what she could to alleviate the discomfort and monotony of hospitalization. She adored her family, putting their needs before her own and supporting them in a variety of ways. Whether it was encouraging her children to read, ordering t-shirts and hats for her grandsons' Demolition Derby team, or shopping with her daughters, she invested time and energy into their lives.Edith entered the world during the Roaring '20s, a time of economic prosperity and optimism in the United States. Her family, however, struggled to make ends meet on their little farm in northern Michigan. Born in Petoskey on July 19, 1925, Edith, along with her siblings, learned to make do with what she had. Her parents, Robert and Roberta (Smith) Sadler, gave her a strong work ethic and an appreciation for the out-of-doors. Things got even tougher during Edith's growing up years as the whole country suffered from the economic devastation of the Great Depression. Hand-me-downs were a way of life, and one of Edith's wishes was to be able to own more than one pair of shoes at a time. Edith's education began at home. Her mother and grandmother were both teachers, and her mother taught her to read, a passion she kept for the rest of her life. When she was old enough to go to school, she attended Horton Bay School, walking to and from her one-room schoolhouse whether there was sunshine or deep snow. When she entered the fifth grade, she went to Boyne City Schools, graduating from Boyne City High School with the class of 1944. To celebrate, the whole class went on a Lake Michigan cruise. Edith treasured the memories of those days and always attended her class reunions. While Edith was in high school, her stepfather died. Her older stepbrother went to work on the Great Lakes to help support the family. World War II was in full swing by that time, and the whole nation watched and waited for news from overseas. In the late 1930s and early '40s, it was common for businesses to sponsor “free shows” for the community. This was usually a movie shown outdoors and people from miles around would come to the event, meeting old friends and making new ones, providing some relief from the constant worries of wartime. When Edith was fifteen, she attended one of these shows in Bellaire with a boy she knew. While there, she met a young man named Frank Archer. Edith and Frank spent the evening together and Frank later asked Edith for a date. She accepted, and the two dated periodically. They enjoyed driving around town in Frank's Model A Coupe that he had restored.Frank missed his last year of high school due to illness and was hospitalized for several months. Edith visited Frank regularly, and her compassionate nature was of great comfort to him. Following her high school graduation, Edith moved to Grand Rapids where she lived with friends and worked. Frank, after being discharged from the hospital, found employment in Detroit and the two would visit one another when they could.After working a couple of different jobs, Frank decided to return to Grand Rapids. He and Edith made plans to get married, and as soon as Frank was able to pick up the wedding ring in Detroit, they were wed. The couple exchanged vows on October 8, 1945, in the parsonage of the Methodist Church in Boyne City, the beginning of their fifty-nine years together. For the wedding, Edith was dressed in green and she often recounted that she wanted to “marry in green so she would live like a queen”The young couple settled in a rented apartment on Pleasant Street SE. They both worked at Doehlar Jarvis. They didn't have much money and at times could only afford to purchase one bag of coal at a time to heat the house. When they were prepared to go “house shopping,” they decided that the North End would be a good place to live. In 1949, they purchased a house on Aberdeen NE and lived out the rest of their years together there. After their first son, Dan, was born, Edith went back to work, but after the second son, William, arrived, she informed Frank that she was going to stay home and care for the children. Frank agreed. Three daughters were eventually added to the family. Edith adored all the children and demonstrated her love by being involved with their lives and spending as much time as she could with them. During summer vacations, she took them to Meyers Lake, swimming and enjoying the sunshine and water. During the school year, she volunteered with the P.T.A. and was always available when her kids needed her. She emphasized education just as her mother had with her, and told them all that they were going to get a high school education no matter how long it took. Edith was a mother who always seemed to know what they were doing and what they were going to do before they actually did it. The Aberdeen Reformed Church was across the street from their home. When Dan and William were young, they played with the minister's children and through this association the boys started attending functions at the church. Eventually Frank and Edith began attending as well, and served there for over forty years. Edith's love for the water led her and Frank to purchase two cottages on Little Manistee Lake. Edith and the kids lived in one of the cottages all summer, returning to Grand Rapids on Labor Day. They rented out the other cottage, cleaning it every Saturday and enjoying a cool swim afterward. Frank came up on the weekends and the family spent countless hours enjoying nature and each other, grilling hot dogs and going on picnics. Edith's experience growing up on the farm taught her to be resourceful and creative, as well as to have a sincere appreciation for nature. She loved animals, and always kept a cat as a pet. She collected mushrooms and cooked with them. She also cooked the clams that the kids collected along the lakeshore. When she was younger, Edith had begun smoking and became a chain smoker. When Edith was forty-five, Frank encouraged her to quit and even promised her a new car if she would. Her strong will and self-determination won over the cigarettes, and she got a new Oldsmobile in the bargain.

After Frank retired they spent time together volunteering and helping where ever and when ever they could. Edith and Frank also traveled together to many places around the United States and even went to Hawaii on one of their trips. To celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary they took the whole family on a family cruise and visited several islands in the Caribbean. Edith's compassion for those who were sick was exceptional. When a family member or friend was hospitalized, she was there, sitting with them and acting as a patient advocate. When her grandson was in intensive care for several months, Edith was always there to support and encourage the family. Even when he was hospitalized out of town, she visited faithfully. Edith's concern extended beyond her own family, and she and Frank were led to help begin an organization called “We Do Care,” dedicated to helping children with cancer. The entire Archer family invested time and energy into its work. Edith helped with fundraisers and other needs. Near the end of her life, Edith had to be hospitalized herself for knee replacement surgery. The surgery was successful, but other complications developed and she was never able to get better. She passed away with her loving family at her side.Edith died at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 22, 2005. Edith's family includes her husband, Frank; her children, Dan (Jackie) Archer, William (Mary) Archer, Pamela Archer, Cozette (Jerry) Groot, and Renee (Mike) Wade; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; a sister, Merna Gillespie; two brothers, Walt Leist and Evart Leist; sisters-in-law, Virginia (Art) Biehl, Marge (Don) Gifford, Margaret Drost, Ruth Archer, and Grace Archer; brother-in-law, Marvin (Mourlene) Archer; numerous nieces and nephews; and special friends, Cozette Davis and Dee Albrecht.Friends may spend time with Edith's family on Monday, January 24, from 7 - 9 p.m. and on Tuesday, January 25, from 2 - 4 p.m. and from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Van Strien - Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 26, at 11 a.m. at Aberdeen Reformed Church, 1000 Aberdeen NE, with private interment to follow in Fairplains Cemetery. Please visit Edith's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers, or make a memorial contribution to “We Do Care.”