Mary Beth Garman

Mary Elizabeth Garman, known to all as Mary Beth, quietly passed away Saturday morning, August 22, 2020. Born at home February 16, 1924 in Mishawaka, Indiana, Mary Beth was the daughter of Calvin and Edna Newcomer and grew up with seven brothers and sisters. Mary Newcomer completed grade school and high school in Mishawaka, working part-time in a drugstore and then in a 5-and-10 cent store during High School. Mary Beth met her husband to be, Harold Garman, prior to his enlistment in the Army Air Corp in 1942. Harold, a 2nd Lieutenant aboard a B-24 & former World War II POW, safely returned to the US and the two were married July 15, 1945. They moved to Lafayette, Indiana where Harold attended Purdue University and Mary Beth worked in a women's wear store until the birth of her first child, Valerie. Shortly after Harold's graduation, the couple moved to Kalamazoo where Harold was employed by the Upjohn Company. Five more children were to follow; Stephen, Richard, Wesley, Curt, and Tim. Sadly, Valerie and Ricky's lives were cut short as Valerie left this life due to a tragic backyard accident when she was three and Ricky lost his life at four months due to heart problems present at birth. Steve, the oldest of the remaining four boys, died in 2019 of lung cancer. Mary Beth and Harold eventually ended up on a farm in the Comstock area where she spent her time raising her boys, gardening, becoming a leader in the local 4-H, and putting up all sorts of garden variety vegetables, from corn to green beans to tomatoes, and by family acclimation, the world's best pickle relish! Summers were often spent up north camping at either Sand Lake State Campground near Irons, Michigan or Bear Track State Campground with a bevy of friends and their families. Many happy days of swimming, canoeing, fishing and just laying in the sun. Mary Beth was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in downtown Kalamazoo for over 70 years, helping others in her community through the United Methodist Women, and working every year on the annual Merchandise Mart. Being a lover of all things that grow, she enjoyed gardening and was an active member of the Kalamazoo Garden Council, serving for a number of years as the club president. Her passion for flowers soon became her "profession" as she attended classes and seminars becoming a Master Flower Show judge, adjudicating flower shows throughout the state of Michigan. She was also a member of the Gardenettes Garden Club. Mary Beth had an eye for design and created numerous award-winning flower arrangements all over Michigan. Mary Beth loved to dance and she and Harold not only belonged to the Couterie Club, which had monthly dances, but they learned how to square and round dance and were active in those pursuits for over 30 years. They were members of Roll-A-Ways 005, which is the National Square & Round Dance Association, caravanning with other members to sites all over Michigan where they would set up camp and dance the night away. Missionary work spiked her interest and she and Harold helped others all over the world through the Missionary World Service & Evangelism, traveling to Mexico, Columbia, Costa Rica, Kenya, Finland, the USSR, India, England, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal and Israel. They also volunteered their time with the American Red Cross Disaster Team, helping others through hurricanes Andrew and Charles. They volunteered for fire relief in the Kalamazoo Area, and, through the church, worked on the Red Bird Mission in Kentucky. She had a full life, lived with vigor, joy and appreciation for all the blessings God bestowed upon her and her family. And now, united with Harold, Val, Ricky and Steve, her adventure continues... Please visit Mary Beth's personalized online guestbook at https://www.langelands.com