Esther Lumsden

With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, Esther Lumsden was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She worked hard, but she took the time to enjoy life along the way. Esther was happiest when her loved ones were near, and she was so very proud to witness her family grow to include grandchildren many. Social and outgoing, she had a certain way about her that made her the sort of person it was hard to say no to. Although she will be deeply missed, Esther leaves behind a timeless legacy that her loved ones will proudly carry on in her footsteps.

It was great to be an American during the exciting decade of the Roaring Twenties. Cars were more affordable thanks to the assembly line, and with the adventurous spirits of Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart the world of flight was soaring to new heights. Amidst this exciting time was a time of great anticipation in the lives of Jay and Dossie (Hopper) Leece as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby as winter held Bowne Township in Kent County, Michigan, firmly in its grip in February of 1926. Their wait was finally over on February 26th when the baby girl they named Esther Marie drew her first breath. The second of eight children, she helped raise her younger siblings. Growing up on a farm in Alto meant that Esther and her siblings all helped with the farm chores as well. Since their farm was a small one, she also had many other jobs working on neighboring farms and orchards. One of Esther’s first jobs away from the family farm was weeding an onion crop for .50 cents a day. Her mother and the children took over most of the farm chores on the family farm, and although she attended Lowell High School she left after the 10th grade to work and help support the family.

Life was forever changed for Esther when she met Lewis “Junior” Mick Jr. while working at a neighboring farm. They were soon married, and together they were blessed with the births of three children, daughter Dianne, and twin sons, David and Daryl. Junior and Esther had their own small farm, but they also had a small grocery store in nearby Ionia called West End Grocery. Although they divorced after 16 years, Esther was forever grateful for the children they shared. After the divorce she took her three children and moved to Grand Rapids were she finished beauty school. Esther then began working in a hair salon called “The Powder Puff” next to the Beltline Bar. Eventually, Esther met and married Donald Gibbs who was a local bartender. They were married for 24 years before they divorced. While dancing at the “Westwood,” Donald’s sister introduced Esther to her third husband, Cecil “Kelly” Lumsden, and they made a great pair.

There was never anything of greater importance in Esther’s life than her family. As a mother she didn’t have to discipline much since her children just understood that what she said was just the way it was. Dianne helped raise the boys, and once they got older they primarily took care of the house while Esther was working as they did pretty much everything for her. Esther kept a very clean house, too. Their family loved camping together in Don’s camper trailer, and they were always near a good fishing spot as he loved fishing. Once they sold the camper they vacationed at their cabin on the Pere Marquette River near Baldwin, Michigan. During the warm months the family went there every weekend.

Throughout her life Esther was a woman of many interests. Both Both Don and Kelly were great dancers and as great leaders she was a great dancer by default. Although Esther wasn't one to rush out on the dance floor, she couldn’t help it in their company. Esther loved Florida, and for years she and Kelly spent six months of the year down there and six months in Michigan with their families. Esther loved the more relaxed atmosphere down there, and she enjoyed meeting people from different places. As someone who enjoyed talking to people, doing hair was a great fit for her. For years Esther really enjoyed her work, and then it became something she enjoyed less and less. She was someone who was particular about her appearance and liked to look her best, and she was always “made up.” Esther enjoyed watching Billy Graham on Sunday morning, and although she wasn’t much of a reader she liked watching love stories on television. Esther loved pets, especially her dog, Bo, as they were inseparable. Bo was a treasured companion for many years and in many ways her life revolved around him. Esther was quite crafty and persuasive. In fact, she once persuaded city workers to pull out her bushes because they were working nearby. Esther was truly one of a kind, and she also had a lot of near death experiences including scarlet fever as an infant, spinal meningitis while pregnant with her twin boys, and a terrible car accident while traveling home from the cabin when the car rolled over and was totaled.

All who knew Esther Lumsden would agree that there was no one quite like her. She was kind, driven, and deeply devoted to her family and friends. Esther was never one to worry about the little things, rather, she took whatever came her way in stride and made the best of it. Dearly loved, she will be forever missed.

Esther Marie Lumsden, age 92 passed away peacefully, while in the company of family, on Monday November 26, 2018. She was born in February of 1926 in Bowne Township, MI to the late Jay and Dossie [Hopper] Leece. Along with her parents, Esther is preceded in death by her first husband of 17 years, Lewis Mick as well as by her second husband of 24 years, Donald Gibbs and her last husband Cecil ‘Kelly” Lumsden. She will be lovingly missed by her daughter, Diane Gentry and two sons David (Mary) Mick and Daryl (Mary) Mick; sister Bertha Signor along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Esther was especially proud of her 11 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank all the caregivers and nurses of Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan for the compassionate care provided on Esther’s behalf. Relatives and Friends may meet with family at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, VanStrien-Creston Chapel on Friday, November 30, 2018 beginning at 10:00 AM for family visitation followed by an 11:00 AM funeral service. Esther will be laid to rest in Fairplains Cemetery in Grand Rapids, MI. Please consider a memorial contribution in Esther’s name to (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Ave. Suite 1100 N, Bethesda, MD, 20814).