By Staff
Carleton L. Geary, 98, of Oak Street, Niles, died on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, in Niles, following a brief illness.
A committal service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 27, at the Mausoleum Chapel of Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, Niles, with Linda Van Dyke, director of Luvability Ministries officiating.
A celebration of Geary's life will follow at the Niles Township Park on Bond Street.
He was born on April 30, 1909 in Dowagiac, to Everett and Myrtle (Emmons) Geary.
He graduated from Niles High School and has lived in Niles most of his life, moving to Arizona in 1977 and returning to Niles in 2005.
He enjoyed all types of weather and was known as a snowbird, traveling back and forth between Michigan and Arizona.
Geary had a strong sense of a good work ethic, which he passed on to all six of his children. he worked at National-Standard, retiring in 1971, as superintendent of the east plant. He was respected by his employees.
He loved to travel. He owned a travel trailer, with which he enjoyed traveling with his wife between Michigan and Arizona, often stopping to enjoy the countryside. His favorite places to visit were in the southern United States.
He played baseball for National-Standard and enjoyed coaching a variety of teams over the many years.
His interest in all sports continued throughout his life and he loved conserving with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren about the precision of throwing, catching or hitting a good ball.
His love and greatest interest was his family. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed family gatherings often times which he was the center of.
He had a strong sense of faith and was a warm-hearted man who never found fault with anyone. He was a kind and caring individual. He always had a smile, a hug, or a story for anyone he encountered.
On June 29, 1929, in South Bend, Ind., he married the former Florence L. Winquist who preceded him in death on May 19, 1978. He loved and honored his wife for many years.
He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Rick Yost: two brothers, Harold and Forrest Geary and a sister, Jessie Cooper.
His loving and surviving family includes four daughters, Jean (Wayne) Yost of Wildwood, Fla., Phyllis (Robert) Klingenfus of Tucson, Ariz., Linnea (the late Larry) McNeese of Niles and Carol (DeWayne) Pletcher of Portage; two sons, Jack (the late Isabelle) Geary of Tucson, Ariz. and Forrest (Joannie) Geary of Livonia; 19 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Evelyn Bolton of Granger, Ind. and Dorothy Naas of Portage, as well as a community of friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to Multiple Sclerosis Society or to the the donor's choice.
Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.