Dorothy F. Michael

Dorothy Frances McGary Michael was born February 2, 1928 in Royal Oak, Michigan to C. Keith McGary and Etta D. (Smith) McGary. Dorothy graduated from Royal Oak High School and attended Eastern Michigan University. She met her future husband, Gordon W. Michael while she was working as a switchboard operator and he was employed at GMAC. They were married on November 22, 1949 and enjoyed 47 years together before Gordon’s passing in December, 1996.

Once their children were in school, Dorothy returned to school attending Oakland University where she sang in the university choir. She worked as a receptionist/office assistant in medical and dental offices and then for an insurance company. She was a long time member of Central Woodward Christian Church, where she served as an elder. She enjoyed the occasional game of Bridge, listening to classical music and knitting. In retirement, she began making quilts, took up watercolor painting and practicing Tai Chi. Long before genealogy research became popular and electronic records were available, she researched the family tree by traveling to county and state records offices. She entered a contest and won a trip to Salt Lake City to access genealogy records housed there. She even “conquered” her fear of flying (for a little while!) and flew from Detroit to Salt Lake City and back. She was a DAR member.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon W. Michael, Sr., her parents and older sister Dollye Johnson. She is survived by her children Anne, Duncan (spouse Valerie), Gordon, Jr. (spouse Christine) and Saundra (spouse Howard). Dorothy is also survived by her granddaughter Heidi (spouse Alex), her brother Charles McGary (spouse Janet) of Medford, Oregon and sister Judith Early of Centennial, Colorado.

Services will be held at Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home, Grand Rapids, Michigan on Friday, May 27 at 1:30 PM with visitation prior to the service at 1:00 PM.

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