Sally Ann North

Sally North, 81, of St. Ignace, passed away peacefully on July 3, 2015 at the Evergreen Living Center, surrounded by her beloved sons and daughters in law, after a lengthy illness. She was born to Sydney and Mildred (nee Brooks) Greensmith on May 30, 1934 in Battle Creek, Michigan, where she was raised in a humble, loving home, also spending part of each summer at Glen Lake/Sleeping Bear Dunes. A gifted singer and pianist, she performed regularly along with girlfriends for WWII troops at Fort Custer and Percy Jones Army Hospital, two of the largest Army installations worldwide at the time. Sally graduated from Battle Creek Central H.S. in 1952, and worked as a dental assistant. She married her high school sweetheart, Walter North in 1953, after he concluded a tour of Air Force duty in the Korean War. The couple remained in Battle Creek until 1966, and three sons, Tom, Dave and Jim, were born there. Sally relished her life as a traditional and devoted wife, homemaker and mother. In 1965, Walt took a job with the Michigan Treasury Department at the Mackinac Bridge, and in 1966, the family moved to St. Ignace, where Sally and Walt resided the rest of their lives. A fourth son, Mike, was born in 1972. Walt eventually became a State Senator from 1995 through 2002, and Sally enjoyed traveling the sprawling 37th District with him, while balancing remaining time between her grown "boys", her grandchildren, and Lansing, the state capital. Sally led a most interesting life. She went from a wife who could not cook well at all, to a self- taught, superb cook and baker, continually excelling at the varied meals and dishes she prepared for the five men in her family and for many guests. She received "orders" from around St. Ignace for her homemade caramel-corn for whenever she might make some. The deluxe lunches she delivered to three sons working at Star Line Ferry in the summers expanded to most of the crew there, earning the nickname, "Meals on Wheels." She occasionally worked at small hotels in the area; served on the Mackinac County Department of Social Services Board by gubernatorial appointment; was Mackinac County Republican. Party (Chair) and Moran Township School Board (Treasurer). Her family had their home on the Straits of Mackinac from 1.966 until 1991, with a magnificent and unique view of the Mighty Mac Bridge, then moving to a condominium on Lake Huron. They had numerous pets over the years, including horses for several of those, and Sally developed a keen fondness for animals. Sally immersed herself in projects to help children and animals, starting the Santa's Helpers group, which delivered food and gifts to many dozens of families at their homes for 16 annual Christmases, and founding the "Friends of the Animals" nonprofit. That organization ran the county animal shelter for a time, and to this day continues with spaying and adoption programs in the area. She was named St. Ignace Citizen of the Year in 1990, and received awards from Michigan DSS, American Legion, and Jaycees. She also taught Sunday school, and led in Cub Scouts and PTO. Her hobbies included children (constantly helping many from outside her own family in many ways), photography, listening to music, crafting and scrapbooking projects, animals, her many friends, and being outdoors year around. She was raised in the Congregational Church, and affiliated with Methodist Churches during her many years living in northern Michigan. Sally and Walt traveled on occasion, but preferred to remain as near to their children and grandchildren as possible. She was interested in her rich family genealogy, which has been traced directly back to Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, numerous English and European kings and queens, three Mayflower Pilgrims, and the first two American gold prospectors to reach westernmost Alaska. Her life was consistently full of unselfish giving and kindness to people as well as animals. If she failed at anything, it was at putting herself first. Sally leaves behind four sons Thomas, David (Kolleen), James (Kimberly), and Michael (Mary Joe), all residing in northern Michigan. Seven grandchildren already also dearly miss their Grandma Sally. A brother, Bruce Greensmith, and his wife Cynthia, reside in Colorado. She was predeceased by her parents Sydney and Mildred. AND HER HUSBNAD, SENATOR WALTER H. NORTH. Visitation services will be held on Thursday, July 9, at the St. Ignace United Methodist Church from noon to 4 p.m., at which time a funeral will follow. WITH PASTOR SUSIE HEIRHOLZER OFFICIATING. Interment will be at Lakeside Cemetery at the same family plot where Walt was laid to rest, facing the Mackinac Bridge and at his side once again. The family requests that memorials be made to Friends of the Animals, P.O. Box 23, Cedarville, MI 49719, or Mackinac Straits Health Foundation, 1140 N. State St., St. Ignace, MI 49781. DODSON FUNERAL HOME HANDLED THE ARRANGEMENTS.

Tributes

Sally Ann North

July 3, 2015