Honoring Tradition.
Celebrating Life.
//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110015/110015-life-panel.jpg

Alexis Hargrove

October 13, 2010 - December 14, 2015
Grandville, MI

//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110015/110015-01.jpg



Visitation

Saturday, December 19, 2015
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Service

Saturday, December 19, 2015
12:00 PM EST
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Please bring a "Frozen" balloon to release

National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome
1433 North Highway 89 Suite 110
Farmington, UT 84025
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/view-life-story-video.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110015/110015-02.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110015/110015-03.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110015/110015-04.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110015/110015-05.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/download-memory-folder.jpg
Print

Alexis Mae Hargrove was a happy and charismatic child. The delight on her face drew people to her, and her warmth brought them close. Everyone who met her fell in love with her. Naturally empathetic, Alexis was attentive to the needs of others, even as she received the care of many and perhaps because she knew what it was like to be loved deeply and selflessly.

Alexis Mae was born in Commerce Township, Michigan on October 13, 2010 and for five years brought nothing but joy with her infectious smile and loving spirit. She was disabled as a result of Shaken Baby Syndrome when she was only two weeks old. Alexis became the daughter of Kimberly Kay Hargrove and the little sister of Kaymi Rachelle Hargrove (b.1991), Keesha Reann Hargrove (b.1992), Grace Elizabeth Hargrove (b.2004) with Fabian Jaymes Hargrove (b.2008) joining their blended family 1 ½ years after Alexis was lovingly adopted. Her biological half siblings—D.J. Heiden (b.2009) and Sophia Larson (b.2013) and foster siblings, Zoe and Aaron - made up the family whose lives were enriched by this beautiful child.

Alexis Mae’s story resounds with mutual love and attention. Working as a registered nurse at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Kimberly’s care was innate and trained. Her heart went out to Alexis, and she began the adoption process when Alexis was 15 months old. At 18 months, Alexis was able to stay in the Hargrove home for five days a week. In June of 2012, Alexis made her home with the family as a foster daughter, and her adoption was completed in December 2012. Alexis received nursing care while Kimberly worked, and she formed a close relationship with her very special home nurse, Mary Barton. Over the years, she was helped by many caregivers, but Alexis gave back 100-fold. Her magnetic personality and her constant joy was a gift to everyone she met. Time and again, it was evident that even when someone was having a bad day, Alexis made it brighter. It was pure tonic to be in her presence and to see her glow with happiness despite everything that had happened to her.

When Alexis came to the family, the Hargroves had been living on Vine Street in Grandville. In March of 2013, they moved to a larger home on Simon Court SW in Grandville to accommodate medical equipment, but more importantly, to welcome brother Fabian to the family. Alexis was always very close with her sisters, but with her brothers, she had a unique bond. Alexis and Fabian would lovingly touch one another when they were side-by-side. Alexis often carried on “conversations” with her six-month old foster brother, Aaron. She would also instantly start "talking" to Aaron as if to console him whenever he cried. Their love was inspirational and only brought the family closer.

The Hargrove family enjoyed being together and celebrated a lot. They marked both Alexis’ and Fabian’s adoptions with a cruise, and they typically went on a family cruise over the Thanksgiving holiday. In total, Alexis was privileged to go on five cruises, with the dining room holding special attraction because she could listen intently to everything going on around her. She also vacationed on the islands of St. Thomas, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel and spent 18 days traveling in Europe, including Spain, Italy and Ireland. Most recently, Alexis went to Disney World through the Make-A-Wish Foundation and visited Universal Studios and Sea World. She thrilled to play in the ocean and to enjoy the Shamu show and touch the dolphins and stingrays at Sea World. She met Queen Elsa from Frozen, along with her favorite Disney characters, Cinderella and Rapunzel. Like so many other children, Alexis was a fan of the movie and music of Frozen, and she especially liked hearing the children’s voices. She absolutely loved "singing" the songs, and before getting her tracheostomy, she “sang” with perfect rhythm and tone. She also liked to "sing" along with her big sisters’ favorite groups when they made the long car trip to visit her former foster home in Belleville.

Alexis was excited to travel with her family and had the opportunity to visit her biological half siblings in November 2015. However, Christmas was always spent with family at home. She treasured her Frozen blanket from big sister, Kaymi and she prized such gifts as her pink and purple knitted blanket made by Bertie at Brann’s, her musical monkey and her pink musical seahorse from Susan Dykema, her occupational therapist who made home visits before Alexis began school.

Alexis attended Ken-O-Sha Early Childhood Center and received expert care from a host of specialists: her teacher Nora Sanders, her aide Marianne DeBruine, her classroom nurse Sandy Bishop, the school RN Demetria Friberg and bus nurses Diane Decker and Roxanne Ensing. She loved them all so much and was always eager to go to school, in part because she got a real kick out of her bus ride. The bumps in the road made her laugh, but in truth, it was the brightness of Alexis’ face that made everyone else smile.

In November 2014, Kimberly left her job to provide full-time nursing care at home, considering it a joy and privilege to devote herself to Alexis and Fabian and all her family.

Miss Alexis Mae Hargrove, age 5, of Grandville, Michigan, passed away on Monday, December 14, 2015. She is lovingly remembered by her mother, Kimberly Hargrove; siblings: Kaymi (and Trey) Hargrove, Keesha (and Aaron) Hargrove, Grace Hargrove, Fabian Hargrove; her biological half siblings, Sophia and DJ; her grandfather, Theo Jay Hargrove; great-grandmother, Georgia (Haveman) Peterson; uncles: Mark (Nichole) Hargrove and Todd (Rebecca) Hargrove; cousin, Grant Hargrove. Greeting Alexis in heaven is her grandmother, Beverly (Peterson) Hargrove; and great-grandparents: Arlie Peterson, Donald and Myrtle Johnson. Never to be forgotten is Alexis’ adoption caseworker, Stacey Goodson who blessed her family with their little girl; her special nurses: Diane Decker, Roxanne Ensing, Mary Barton, Sandy Bishop, Demetria Friberg; special teachers: Nora Sanders, Marianne DeBruine, Susan Dykema. Her family wishes to thank Hospice of Michigan, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the many amazing, caring doctors, nurses, and therapists, especially Dr. Adam Rush, Dr. Chad Afman, Dr. Kipp Chillag, Dr. Jason Umfleet, Marcia Allen RN, and Sandy Londo, MA for their love, care and concern for Alexis.

The celebration of Alexis’ life will take place at noon on Saturday, December 19, 2015at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Visitation with her friends and family will be from 10 AM until the service. In lieu of flowers, please bring a "Frozen" balloon to release or for those who wish, memorial contributions in Alexis’ memory may be made to the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome 1433 North highway 89, Suite 110 Farmington, Utah 84025. To share a favorite memory or photo of Alexis and to sign her online guest book, please visit www.lifestorynet.com.

//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/view-life-story-video.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110015/110015-02.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110015/110015-03.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110015/110015-04.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110015/110015-05.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/download-memory-folder.jpg