Mary Louise Southworth, daughter of Walter Horace (1900-1993) and Esther P. (Grettenberger) (1898-1987) Southworth, was born 12 July 1928 Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan. She graduated in 1946 from Okemos High School and went on to further her education at Michigan State College and University of Michigan.
Mary wed Harold Eugene Schlichting 20 August 1949 Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan. Harold, a World War II Army veteran, was a renaissance man. He and Mary grew a family together over a span of 60 plus years. Harold, born 19 March 1926, died 10 December 2013. Mary followed in death 26 July 2017. Harold and Mary were interred Sanilac Cemetery, Port Sanilac, Sanilac County, Michigan.
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Harold E. Schlichting, Jr., age 87 died Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at the Sanilac Medical Care Facility, Sandusky.
He was born March 19, 1926 in Ferndale to the late Harold E. Sr. and Mary M. (Fitzgerald) Schlichting.
Harold and Mary Southworth married on August 20, 1949 in Lansing.
He was a WWII Veteran of the U.S. Army.
He was a botany professor at University of North Texas and North Carolina State University. Harold received his Masters and PhD. from Michigan State University, and Bachelors Degree from the University of Michigan. He was a member of St. Marys Catholic Church in Port Sanilac.
Harold was a member of the Port Sanilac Cemetery Board, a past President and council member of the Village of Port Sanilac, he was on the Planning Commission and the Carsonville-Port Sanilac School Board. He attended and taught at so many universities that he said at least one of his "schools" would have a winning team every Saturday.
Harold always placed individual ability and merit above social norms; he hired the first black student to teach laboratory students in the biology department at North Texas University in 1964.
He founded BioControl company in 1973, invented and patented air and water biomonitors, an organic waste converter, and a glued-seem plankton net.
Harold developed organic garden soil conditioner and potting and rooting compound. He was always interested in the how and why of everything and looked for the underlying causes of everything. He wanted to return to thinking and writing about underlying causes-philosophy, one of his earliest interests.
Harold is survived by his wife Mary; 5 sons Walt (Maura) of Oxford, Tom (Karen), and Art (Lois), both of Port Sanilac, Dan (Laura) of Columbus, Ohio, and Joe (Vivian) of Houston, Texas; son in law Richard Walsh; 14 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren; one sister, Gladys Saylor of Delaware.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Anne, and sister Mary Barnes.
Funeral Services will be held 11 Am Saturday, December 14 at Ave Maria Parish St. Mary's Catholic Church, Port Sanilac. Fr. Donald Eppenbrock will officiate.
Interment will be in the Port Sanilac Cemetery.
Friends may call at the Pomeroy Funeral Home, Lexington from 3-8 PM Friday and at the Church from 10-11 AM Saturday.
Memorials may be made to the church.
Pomeroy Funeral Home 5635 Main Street, Lexington, Michigan
Mary Louise Schlichting, age 89 died Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at the Lakeshore AFC, Lexington. She was born July 12, 1928 in Okemos, Michigan to the late Walter H. and Esther P. (Grettenberger) Southworth. She married Harold Schlichting August 20, 1949 in Lansing. Mary grew up on the family farm on Farm Lane in East Lansing. As a girl, Mary rode her pony, Queenie, while her father rode his horse and inspected the Michigan Agricultural College (MSU) Farm and Campus.
She was a 1946 graduate of Okemos High School, did undergraduate work at MSU and received an RN from the University of Michigan.
Mary was a founding member and long serving board member and treasurer of Sanilac Consortium for the Arts. She supported and participated in music and theater, was a long-time member of the Port Sanilac Choral Club. and travelled extensively with her husband. Organized Northshire Renaissance Faire and operated the Flying Dragons ride.
She co-authored a series of children's science books with her husband, Harold. Loved planting flowers and working in her garden.
Mary raised six children while moving to Washington State, Texas, Ireland, North Carolina and back to Michigan. Taught her boys to cook and her daughter to have a career.
She was the first woman to serve as Sanilac Township Supervisor; worked actively as an assessor until the age of 81; served on the Michigan Township Association Board. Founder of Sanilac Appraisers Inc. Taught vocational nursing classes. Port Sanilac Cemetery Board. Port Sanilac VFW Auxiliary.
Mary is survived by 5 sons Walt of Croswell, Tom (Karen), and Art (Lois), both of Port Sanilac, Dan (Laura) of Columbus, Ohio, and Joe (Vivian) of Houston, Texas; 14 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren; 2 brothers, Gordon and Ernie Southworth; 2 sisters, Jane Gaedke and Carol Symolon.
She was preceded in death by her husband Harold, daughter Anne, and son-in-law Richard Walsh.
Funeral Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 29 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Port Sanilac. Fr. Donald Eppenbrock will officiate. Interment will be in the Port Sanilac Cemetery. Friends may call at the Pomeroy Funeral Home, Lexington from 2-8 PM Friday, July 28 and at the Church from 9:30 to 10:30 AM Saturday. Memorials may be made to the Sanilac Consortium for the Arts .