LIFE OF THELMA GURNSEY
Thelma was born on February 16th , 1916 in Paw Paw. She was the daughter of Frieda Soules Wilcox and she never really knew her father, William Wilcox, as her parents divorced shortly after she was born. she was an only child and was raised by her mother Frieda and grandmother Jenny Soules. She was loved a lot but always wished for a sister or brother. She was lonely growing up. She went to Paw Paw School. She met Henry Gurnsey while still in high school and married secretly while she was a senior in high school on December 24th, 1934, as at that time you could not graduate if you were married.
Times were very hard and work was not easy to get. After she graduated they told that they were married and moved in together. She had two children, Noreen, born in ‘37 and Shirley born in ‘39. She lost her beloved husband in February of 1985, her daughter, Shirley died of cancer in August of 2000 and a grandson Rodney in February of 1984.
She has three grandchildren, Tammy Van Niman, David Barry and Thomas Barry. She also has 8 great grandchildren. Jennifer and Kenneth Van Niman, Andrew, Katelyn, Calib, Lukas, Noah and Linsey Barry.
While her girls were growing up she was the mother that always had all the kids in the neighborhood at her house. She loved being with the kids and doing for them. She always said when they were there she knew what was going on. Sometimes there were even kids she did not even know but they were always welcome. Most called her ma. She loved that.
She loved to dance and went dancing with her husband as often as they could go. She and Henry were married for 50 years.
She loved to play cards with her lady friends and anyone else who would play with her. She loved her summer place in Baldwin and went there until she just was not able to make the trip anymore. Her entire family also had summer places next to hers and all spent many a weekend plus vacations with her and Henry. Lots of sitting around the campfires, talking with family and lots of friends and neighbors. She loved her golf cart and all had golf carts and went for long rides in the woods. Lots of good memories for all who have ever been there.
Living at Stuart Lake for many years next to her daughter and son-in-law Shirley and Dick with lots of week-end visits from Noreen and Bob. It was really a family. Her life was spent trying to take care of her husband and family. She really loved them all.
She babysat her grandchildren every chance she got. She loved them all very much. She even baby sat her families dogs. Even they loved to go there for visits. She had a pet bird, Pete and a pet duck that thought he was a dog, which were also part of her family. She also had many loved dogs, Ching, Ginger and Rocky, and many others over the years.
She had her father-in-law live with them for years after her mother-in-law died. Big Pa was quite a character and kept her very busy.
When her kids were in school she was very active in school activities. PTA and President of Mothers Study Group. She was a great mother.
She was a charter member of the Lake Community Bible Church in Baldwin and went every Sunday while in Baldwin. She also was a volunteer at the nursing home in Baldwin. She spent many hours just sorting socks along with any thing else asked of her. She even got awards for her volunteer work there.
She moved to Mattawan to be close to her daughter and lived there for over 20 years.
Christmas was the big big event of the year for the family. She loved Christmas and loved to decorate. Christmas was the big event for the entire family for years and is still big with the kids and grandkids. She will really be missed by all who loved her.
Family will receive friends Friday 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the ADAMS Funeral Home, Paw Paw, where funeral services will be held Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Interment will be Arlington Cemetery, Bangor. Memorial contributions may be made to LakeView Community Care Center or American Cancer Society.
