Shirley "June" Garfield

Shirley "June" Garfield Duck Lake Shirley "June" Garfield, of Duck Lake, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2008 at the age of 91 at Oaklawn Hospital, while recuperating from a recent surgery. June was born at the family farm outside of Albion, Michigan on September 20, 1916, daughter of William Boyd Creps and Kate (Mann) Creps. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years David "Bunk" Garfield, sister Agnes Heath and brother Howard Creps. June graduated from Albion High School at the age of 16, during the Great Depression. She felt fortunate to obtain a position as clerk at Albion Malleable Iron Company soon after graduation. June and her husband David A. "Bunk" Garfield were married in Albion Michigan on September 14, 1937. June became a homemaker, caring for their three daughters as well as David's father, with whom they lived. In 1950 June and Bunk moved the family to a home on the north end of Duck Lake, where they owned and operated Silver Beach Resort for many years. Vacations and leisure time, brief but well enjoyed, were trips to Chicago by train and season tickets to Detroit Lions football games. Upon the sale of their business in 1978, June was able to explore interests in painting, bridge, writing, genealogy and local history. She served on the Clarence Township Historical Society, co-authored The History of Clarence Township and wrote her personal memoirs. June and her family were instrumental in renovating the family-owned 1883 Duck Lake Schoolhouse, now a recognized Michigan Historical Site. She took pride in the fact that Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan features a building belonging to country doctor Alonzo Howard, her great grandfather. June is survived by 3 daughters, Catherine Cole (Zane) of Valparaiso, Indiana, Sarah Cool (Ken) of Duck Lake, Michigan and Mary Mahler (Ron) of Albion, Michigan, and 8 loving grandchildren, Susan Hall, Anne Decker, Mike Cool, Julie Golding, Amy Welch, Jennifer Davlin, Steve Davis and James Davis. The joy of June's life was her "Greats," the 14 great-grandchildren: Jessica, Colin, Tommy, Julia, Jeff, Jill, Katie, Allie, Sarah, Anna, Ellie, Gabriella, Jacob and Emily. The family will receive friends and community members on Friday, May 30, from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. at J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home, 811 Finley Drive, Albion. There will be a private service and burial. Contributions in June's memory to the following charities are suggested in lieu of flowers: Special Olympics Michigan Area 24 (Bud Dodson, Director, 106 High Street, Scottsville, MI 49454) or S.A.F.E. (Springport Area Foundation for Education) Box 83, Springport, MI 49284.