Dr. James L. Mead passed away at the Bortz Health Care facility in Traverse City, MI on October 17 following a stroke in September. He was 92 years old.
Dr. Mead leaves three sons: Douglas (Judy), of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Steve (Leslie), of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; John (Barbara), of Englewood, Florida; step-daughter, Sue Corbin (Jeff) of Sutton's Bay, MI, and his very special friend, Francis Collins at Hope Village in Acme, Michigan. He also leaves nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews who all adored him. Dr. Mead was predeceased by his first wife, Donna Davis, his second wife, Rosalie Lemmen, his daughter, Carole Mead Giles (Butch); and six brothers and two sisters.
After starting life as a farm boy near Moddersville in Missaukee County, Michigan, he went on to be the Valedictorian of his senior class at Harrison H.S. (193 3), a member of the CCC's (193 3-3 5), a B.A. graduate of Wayne State University (1943), a high school teacher in Harrison and Royal Oak, MI. (1945-1963) and a Professor of Educational Radio and Television at Central Michigan Univ. (1963-1977). During his time teaching at Harrison High School, he met and married his first wife, Donna.
Like his brothers and sisters, he had a strong work ethic, and also a powerful desire to continually enhance his education. He had a long list of jobs before and after he became a teacher (including electrician on a ship, auto plant assembly worker, real estate salesman and oilfield worker) to help pay for his education and support his young family. He attended night school for 15 years at Wayne State Univ. to get his M.E. (1952) and EdD (1965). In 2007 he was inducted into the Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame.
Following his retirement in 1977, James and Donna became snowbirds, spending most summers on St. Martin's Point on Lake Huron north of the Straits of Mackinac and their winters in Englewood, Florida. They had a wonderful retirement and made many lasting friends in Englewood. Two years after Donna died (1991), James married Rosalie Lemmen, who had been his sweetheart in high school. Rosalie passed away in 2000.
Dr. Mead was a self-taught musician, playing the piano, organ, banjo, ukulele and guitar. For most of his life it seemed like every family and social gathering turned into a sing-along before the party was over. He played the piano before every noon meal at Hope Village near Traverse City, where he lived for the last 12 years. His love of music, and card playing were enthusiastically shared by his children and his many nieces and nephews who joined him around the piano or the campfire singing an endless repertoire of songs, but always ending with God Bless America.
He was a great gentleman of good humor and wit who only had good things to say about others. He was greatly admired and will be long remembered by those who knew him.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 on November 8 at the United Brethren Church in Harrison, 304 E. Main St. A reception will follow the service.
Special thanks are extended to the staff at Hope Village and the Bortz Health Care facility that looked after him. Their dedication and love are greatly appreciated.
In Lieu of Flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Fund, the Alzheimer Society or another charity of choice. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Harrison. The Covell Funeral Home of Traverse City arranged cremation services.
Dr. Mead leaves three sons: Douglas (Judy), of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Steve (Leslie), of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; John (Barbara), of Englewood, Florida; step-daughter, Sue Corbin (Jeff) of Sutton's Bay, MI, and his very special friend, Francis Collins at Hope Village in Acme, Michigan. He also leaves nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews who all adored him. Dr. Mead was predeceased by his first wife, Donna Davis, his second wife, Rosalie Lemmen, his daughter, Carole Mead Giles (Butch); and six brothers and two sisters.
After starting life as a farm boy near Moddersville in Missaukee County, Michigan, he went on to be the Valedictorian of his senior class at Harrison H.S. (193 3), a member of the CCC's (193 3-3 5), a B.A. graduate of Wayne State University (1943), a high school teacher in Harrison and Royal Oak, MI. (1945-1963) and a Professor of Educational Radio and Television at Central Michigan Univ. (1963-1977). During his time teaching at Harrison High School, he met and married his first wife, Donna.
Like his brothers and sisters, he had a strong work ethic, and also a powerful desire to continually enhance his education. He had a long list of jobs before and after he became a teacher (including electrician on a ship, auto plant assembly worker, real estate salesman and oilfield worker) to help pay for his education and support his young family. He attended night school for 15 years at Wayne State Univ. to get his M.E. (1952) and EdD (1965). In 2007 he was inducted into the Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame.
Following his retirement in 1977, James and Donna became snowbirds, spending most summers on St. Martin's Point on Lake Huron north of the Straits of Mackinac and their winters in Englewood, Florida. They had a wonderful retirement and made many lasting friends in Englewood. Two years after Donna died (1991), James married Rosalie Lemmen, who had been his sweetheart in high school. Rosalie passed away in 2000.
Dr. Mead was a self-taught musician, playing the piano, organ, banjo, ukulele and guitar. For most of his life it seemed like every family and social gathering turned into a sing-along before the party was over. He played the piano before every noon meal at Hope Village near Traverse City, where he lived for the last 12 years. His love of music, and card playing were enthusiastically shared by his children and his many nieces and nephews who joined him around the piano or the campfire singing an endless repertoire of songs, but always ending with God Bless America.
He was a great gentleman of good humor and wit who only had good things to say about others. He was greatly admired and will be long remembered by those who knew him.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 on November 8 at the United Brethren Church in Harrison, 304 E. Main St. A reception will follow the service.
Special thanks are extended to the staff at Hope Village and the Bortz Health Care facility that looked after him. Their dedication and love are greatly appreciated.
In Lieu of Flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Fund, the Alzheimer Society or another charity of choice. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Harrison. The Covell Funeral Home of Traverse City arranged cremation services.
Dr. James L. Mead passed away at the Bortz Health Care facility in Traverse City, MI on October 17 following a stroke in September. He was 92 years old.
Dr. Mead leaves three sons: Douglas (Judy), of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Steve (Leslie), of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; John (Barbara), of Englewood, Florida; step-daughter, Sue Corbin (Jeff) of Sutton's Bay, MI, and his very special friend, Francis Collins at Hope Village in Acme, Michigan. He also leaves nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews who all adored him. Dr. Mead was predeceased by his first wife, Donna Davis, his second wife, Rosalie Lemmen, his daughter, Carole Mead Giles (Butch); and six brothers and two sisters.
After starting life as a farm boy near Moddersville in Missaukee County, Michigan, he went on to be the Valedictorian of his senior class at Harrison H.S. (193 3), a member of the CCC's (193 3-3 5), a B.A. graduate of Wayne State University (1943), a high school teacher in Harrison and Royal Oak, MI. (1945-1963) and a Professor of Educational Radio and Television at Central Michigan Univ. (1963-1977). During his time teaching at Harrison High School, he met and married his first wife, Donna.
Like his brothers and sisters, he had a strong work ethic, and also a powerful desire to continually enhance his education. He had a long list of jobs before and after he became a teacher (including electrician on a ship, auto plant assembly worker, real estate salesman and oilfield worker) to help pay for his education and support his young family. He attended night school for 15 years at Wayne State Univ. to get his M.E. (1952) and EdD (1965). In 2007 he was inducted into the Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame.
Following his retirement in 1977, James and Donna became snowbirds, spending most summers on St. Martin's Point on Lake Huron north of the Straits of Mackinac and their winters in Englewood, Florida. They had a wonderful retirement and made many lasting friends in Englewood. Two years after Donna died (1991), James married Rosalie Lemmen, who had been his sweetheart in high school. Rosalie passed away in 2000.
Dr. Mead was a self-taught musician, playing the piano, organ, banjo, ukulele and guitar. For most of his life it seemed like every family and social gathering turned into a sing-along before the party was over. He played the piano before every noon meal at Hope Village near Traverse City, where he lived for the last 12 years. His love of music, and card playing were enthusiastically shared by his children and his many nieces and nephews who joined him around the piano or the campfire singing an endless repertoire of songs, but always ending with God Bless America.
He was a great gentleman of good humor and wit who only had good things to say about others. He was greatly admired and will be long remembered by those who knew him.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 on November 8 at the United Brethren Church in Harrison, 304 E. Main St. A reception will follow the service.
Special thanks are extended to the staff at Hope Village and the Bortz Health Care facility that looked after him. Their dedication and love are greatly appreciated.
In Lieu of Flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Fund, the Alzheimer Society or another charity of choice. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Harrison. The Covell Funeral Home of Traverse City arranged cremation services.
Dr. Mead leaves three sons: Douglas (Judy), of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Steve (Leslie), of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; John (Barbara), of Englewood, Florida; step-daughter, Sue Corbin (Jeff) of Sutton's Bay, MI, and his very special friend, Francis Collins at Hope Village in Acme, Michigan. He also leaves nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews who all adored him. Dr. Mead was predeceased by his first wife, Donna Davis, his second wife, Rosalie Lemmen, his daughter, Carole Mead Giles (Butch); and six brothers and two sisters.
After starting life as a farm boy near Moddersville in Missaukee County, Michigan, he went on to be the Valedictorian of his senior class at Harrison H.S. (193 3), a member of the CCC's (193 3-3 5), a B.A. graduate of Wayne State University (1943), a high school teacher in Harrison and Royal Oak, MI. (1945-1963) and a Professor of Educational Radio and Television at Central Michigan Univ. (1963-1977). During his time teaching at Harrison High School, he met and married his first wife, Donna.
Like his brothers and sisters, he had a strong work ethic, and also a powerful desire to continually enhance his education. He had a long list of jobs before and after he became a teacher (including electrician on a ship, auto plant assembly worker, real estate salesman and oilfield worker) to help pay for his education and support his young family. He attended night school for 15 years at Wayne State Univ. to get his M.E. (1952) and EdD (1965). In 2007 he was inducted into the Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame.
Following his retirement in 1977, James and Donna became snowbirds, spending most summers on St. Martin's Point on Lake Huron north of the Straits of Mackinac and their winters in Englewood, Florida. They had a wonderful retirement and made many lasting friends in Englewood. Two years after Donna died (1991), James married Rosalie Lemmen, who had been his sweetheart in high school. Rosalie passed away in 2000.
Dr. Mead was a self-taught musician, playing the piano, organ, banjo, ukulele and guitar. For most of his life it seemed like every family and social gathering turned into a sing-along before the party was over. He played the piano before every noon meal at Hope Village near Traverse City, where he lived for the last 12 years. His love of music, and card playing were enthusiastically shared by his children and his many nieces and nephews who joined him around the piano or the campfire singing an endless repertoire of songs, but always ending with God Bless America.
He was a great gentleman of good humor and wit who only had good things to say about others. He was greatly admired and will be long remembered by those who knew him.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 on November 8 at the United Brethren Church in Harrison, 304 E. Main St. A reception will follow the service.
Special thanks are extended to the staff at Hope Village and the Bortz Health Care facility that looked after him. Their dedication and love are greatly appreciated.
In Lieu of Flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Fund, the Alzheimer Society or another charity of choice. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Harrison. The Covell Funeral Home of Traverse City arranged cremation services.
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