Vernon MacDonald

Some of us spend our whole lives searching for why we're here, for what makes us happy, or what's most important. Vernon MacDonald was a man who needed no soul-searching to tell him what mattered most of all: his family. He was a wonderful husband, brother, father and grandfather, and a man who appreciated every moment with the ones he loved.

The year was 1923, and America was undergoing dramatic change in so many ways. Women could finally vote, Prohibition was underway, and the automobile was transforming our everyday lives. In the little town of Eastlake, Michigan, Neil and Lillian (Smohl) MacDonald were preparing for their own change, with the birth of a son.

Vernon Leslie MacDonald was born December 15, 1923, on a cold, snowy Saturday, the middle child of five in the MacDonald home. Vernon's father was a miner, so the family moved around quite a bit before looking to settle down in the West Michigan area.

Eventually the family moved to the Ford Lake area near Fountain, Michigan, where Vernon began attending school. Tragically, both of Vernon's parents died when he was just a boy, 10 or 11, and he was placed in foster care with Uncle Henry and Auntie Kelch in the town of Northport. Some of his family remained in the Ludington area, as the family splintered.

When he turned 18, just one short week after the attack on Pearl Harbor changed our nation forever. In 1943, Vernon enlisted in the U.S. Army; like so many young men, anxious to fight for his country. He was promptly shipped overseas, and served in North Africa and the allied invasion of Italy. He loved the military, the regiments, the camaraderie, the family it gave him, but he didn't care for the Army so much. So after the war ended, Vernon transferred to the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force suited him much better, and he served his country overseas yet again, during the Korean Conflict. He would eventually retire from the service after 23 years in 1966, as a Tech Sergeant. He was a proud member of the Air Force Sergeant's Association.

While the military served as his de facto family for many years, eventually Vernon got around to starting his own. He married Lillian Mae Kramer in March of 1953, in San Antonio, Texas. Together the couple had four children: Sharron, Dolores, Susan and Ken.

Being a military sergeant meant the family moved around quite a bit in those days, all over the world, in fact. Yet Vernon always made time for his family wherever they were, taking them on short sightseeing trips at whatever scenic locale he was stationed.

After he retired from the service, Vernon moved his family back to Ludington to be closer to his family. He always remained very close to his brothers, and didn't want to have to travel to see them. In fact, Vernon didn't want to travel anywhere anymore, if he could help it. He went to work for a short time with his brother Dewey at Johnson Supreme Gas Station, before going to work at C & O Railroad as a general laborer and handyman.

Sadly, Vernon's wife Lillian died on September 28, 1967, a difficult loss that left him with four children to raise. It would not be the last time he found love, however.

He soon rekindled a love he shared with a woman named Elizabeth (Vorac) Thorington, who he had known since his school days, when the two dated. Happily reunited, they married on June 22, 1968 in Ludington. Elizabeth brought two daughters of her own into the marriage, Leslie and Marlene, and Vernon loved them like his own, blending the two families into one.

Vernon was an excellent father and grandfather, and his kids' friends would often say, "I love your Dad." But it was hard not to love Vernon, who was such an easygoing, sweet man. He was a quiet man, yet had a wonderful sense of humor and broad smile that made him fast friends with whoever he met.

Vernon loved being a Grandpa, as you might expect. He loved to spoil the grandkids at Christmas, piling the gifts all the way to the ceiling! He also had funny nicknames for each of his kids, grandkids, and recently his great-grandson Porter, whom he lovingly nicknamed "Goulash."

In the mid-70s, Vernon was working at Sparks Belting in Grand Rapids, where they made conveyor belts for grocery stores. Vernon stayed with Marlene during the work week, and returned home to Ludington on weekends. These were very special days for Vernon, though, allowing him to spend wonderful times with his granddaughter Tiffany. She wasn't yet in school, and Vernon would take her to breakfast every day. She'd always say, "Hurry up, Grandpa, before Mom's ready, or she'll want to go with us!"

When Sparks sold the business and closed down in the early 80s, Vernon went back to work for the railroad in Ludington for a few years, before finally retiring. Elizabeth still wanted to travel, which didn't much appeal to the former globe-trotting Vernon. She'd ask to go somewhere, and Vernon would reply, "I've been there, and you wouldn't like it." Occasionally they would travel to Texas to visit daughter Susan. Once Elizabeth said she was going to Texas with or without him, so if he wanted to go, he'd better join her in the truck before she left! He went, of course.

After being in two wars, stationed all over the world, and commuting to and from Grand Rapids for years, Vernon was quite content to stay at home. They lived across the street from his brother Dewey, and the two brothers went for coffee every morning. Their favorite restaurants were Ya'll Come Back, Del's, and the Airport Café. One of Vernon's favorite hobbies was simply drinking coffee on his front porch swing, watching the cars go by. He had developed plenty of hobbies over the years. He loved to tinker around on old cars, or watch old movies with the sound blaring. He was also a Harley-Davidson man for a year and half, before falling off and not being able to get back up. He loved to bring home various "junk" he'd found, like an old organ that he couldn't play, or an old bike Susan thought he was too old to ride. He proved her right, much to his chagrin, falling off right in front of her!

He was also a Life Member of the Ludington American Legion, and a staunch Democrat. He loved to debate the issues, going on for hours if you'd let him.

Vernon always looked forward to celebrating the holidays, especially any holiday involving food. Vernon loved to eat, and spicy foods where his favorites, tacos, enchiladas, chili ... you name it, the hotter the better. Just keep anything lemon away from him.

Most of all, he loved to spend time with his family, of course, whom he treasured more than anything. You see, Vernon always knew what so many of us spend our whole lives trying to figure out: family is the most important thing, the greatest blessing of all. Vernon MacDonald was a wonderful husband, brother, father and grandfather, but most of all, he was a blessing to all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.

Vernon MacDonald passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2006 at the Oakview Medical Care Facility in Ludington. He was preceded in death by his wife Lillian in 1967, his wife Elizabeth in 1996, his son-in-law Steve Magee, his brothers Louis "Dewey," and Millard MacDonald. He will be lovingly remembered by his children Leslie (Jim) Forbes of Custer, Marlene Thorington of Rockford, Sharron (Jim) Nelson of Grand Rapids, Dolores Magee of Ludington, Susan (Tom) Monaghan of Houston, Texas, and Ken MacDonald of Custer, 15 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, his brother Alex MacDonald, and his sister Lila Johnson both of Ludington, his sisters-in-law Agnes MacDonald of Coopersville, and Jackie (Dale) Burpee of Grayling, and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life service will be held for Vernon at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 8 at the Stephens Life Story Funeral Home in Scottville with Rev. Ron Houk officiating. Burial with full honor guard services performed by the United States Air Force and the Ludington American Legion will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Eden Township. Friends may meet with his family for a time of visitation on Friday evening from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Oakview Medical Care Facility, 1001 Diana, Ludington, MI 49431, or to the Memorial Medical Center Diabetes Support Group 1 Atkinson Drive, Ludington, MI 49431. Please visit Vernon's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com to read his complete Life Story, leave a memory for his family, or to sign the guestbook.