Lucille Saunders was remembered last week as a caring person, dedicated to her family and community.
The former Brandon Township and Village of Ortonville clerk died May 14 in Palmetto, Fla.
She was 83.
‘She always thought about the community first, as well as the schools,? recalled Clyde Fischer. ‘She was a wonderful person. A few times she put me on the straight path.?
As superintendent of the Brandon School District, Fischer hired Saunders in 1969 as a secretary. He remembers one time when the school driveway was plowed and a neighbor’s driveway was plowed in as well.
‘She (Lucille) chewed me out, and from then on, we took care of the neighbor’s driveway also,? he said. ‘She was fun to be with. She worked long hours and stayed until the last minute to get the board book out for meetings.?
Saunders was born Harriet Lucille Westerby on March 23, 1924 in Dearborn to John and Irene Westerby, but was known to everyone as Lucille. The family moved to Groveland Township when she was a child and she graduated from Ortonville High School and married Elwyn (Red) Saunders on June 16, 1945. They had five children.
Before and after her marriage, Saunders worked at Pontiac Motors as a secretary. Her daughter, Karen McArthur, says it was harder in those days to be a working mother, but Saunders managed just fine. McArthur remembers her mother loved to sew and stayed up one night making her daughters roller skating skirts with their initials in sequins. She also gave them home perms and spent ‘a lot of time doing girl things.?
‘She taught us to be good citizens and to work hard for our money, after all, money doesn’t grow on trees,? said McArthur. ‘She taught us to be dedicated to each other, our family and friends, and to live by the golden rule. She believed in harmony, fun and a pot of tea for every meal. We always went on vacation, we laughed a lot and were pretty spoiled even without a money tree. We will miss her very much and are very thankful to God for her 83 years of life.?
Saunders, a life-long Democrat, was elected township clerk in 1963.
‘The man that was clerk, she objected to him and the way he was running things… so she ran against him,? said McArthur. ‘It was difficult to win against a Republican, but she did. She was a pretty determined person. She said what she thought.?
Saunders was clerk until 1970, and then Village of Ortonville clerk from 1974-75. She then worked for Township Clerk Edna Burton typing minutes and doing bookkeeping and elections work until 1980. Elections were her passion, McArthur remembers.
Saunders moved with her husband to Grand Blanc 10 years ago and they spent winters in Florida.
Marilyn Featherston had a more than 50-year friendship with Saunders and was a fellow member of the Eastern Star. Saunders was a past matron and lifetime member of the Ortonville OES #286.
‘I remember particularly her loving to add lists of numbers without a calculator,? Featherston said. ‘She liked to make changes in things, didn’t want things status-quo.?
Frances Wills went to school with Saunders.
‘She played piano in high school and played piano for our wedding,? she said. ‘We always kept in touch. She was a very loving, sweet, quiet, tiny person.?
Saunders is survived by husband Elwyn (Red); children Karen (Robert) McArthur, Sharon Lowes, Kevin (Carol), Jennifer (Larry) Orr of Lewisburg, Tenn., and Elwin Dale (Barbara); 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Feenstra of Holland and five sisters-in-law, Jean Westerby, Elaine Westerby, Kathleen Leece, Jean Long, and Phyllis Saunders.
She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Bernice Westrate, Lynn Westerby, Ivan Westerby, Ben Westerby, and Beatrice Solley; and granddaughter, Melissa Lowes.
A funeral service was planned for 11 a.m. today, May 19, at Sherman Wilk Funeral Home, 135 South St, with Pastor Kevin Shorkey officiating. Interment in Ortonville Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice or Ortonville Baptist Church, envelopes available at the funeral home.