Margaret Lamb

Margaret Lamb was an amazing woman, with an uncommon strength and vibrancy. She lived a long life, and a full life, a life full of challenges and triumphs, of family and friendship. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and even great-great-grandmother. Above all, Margaret was a woman who made the most of each day in her 103 years with us.

Margaret's story began on a wet spring day in 1903, in the little farm town of Nora, Illinois. Those were such exciting times in this country, as innovation replaced perspiration as our nation's defining trait. Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, and his Model T was making its first transcontinental trip from San Francisco to New York City (in just fifty-two days). Our nation took to the skies as well, when the Wright Brothers made their first flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina that same year. On a cool March day in 1903, James and Anna (Hartsough) Gallagher had more to celebrate than cars and planes, though. On March 14, 1903, a very snowy Saturday in Nora, they welcomed a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Margaret.

Margaret was one of five children in the Gallagher home, a proud Irish family that lived in the little farming town of Nora, between Chicago and Iowa. As a child she enjoyed playing with her siblings, and often recounted stories about running in the house and hiding as the Gypsy wagons went by. She also fondly remembered walking along the top rail of the horse corral her great uncle built for President Ulysses S. Grant, who had ties to the area.

Two weeks shy of Margaret's 14th birthday, her family packed up and moved to Michigan, to the sandy shores of West Olive near Holland. There Margaret went to West Olive School through the eighth grade. She wanted to attend Holland High School afterward, but had no way to get there. Margaret loved to learn, and even asked if she could repeat eighth grade, a request that was denied.

Margaret found more than an education in West Olive, though. Her first year there, she participated in the Memorial Day parade in 1917. She and a handsome young man named William Lamb were the first two people in the parade, which went all the way to the Olive Township Cemetery. She was just 14 and William was a very quiet 16-year-old, but they formed a connection that day, even though the only thing he said to her was, "It is hot!"

The two began dating, and five years later, the young couple was married in 1922, at the courthouse in Grand Haven. William took a job at Holland Furnace to provide for his new bride, a job that soon transferred William and Margaret to Boston.

In the big city of Boston Margaret and William started their family, which would grow to include seven wonderful children over the years. Margaret and William were blessed with their sons William, Carl, Ronald, Donald and Kenneth, and daughters Geraldine and Barbara.

The family struggled in the city in those years, when the nation was pulled into the quagmire of the Great Depression, and Boston was hit exceptionally hard. So in 1937, the family packed up and moved back to the Holland area, where they bought a stock farm the following year on Beeline Road. In addition to raising the family and helping with the farm, Margaret worked as a seamstress at Raphael Draperies for 19 years.

Margaret never neglected her loving family, however. She was an excellent wife and mother, as well as an amazing baker and cook. She made a variety of fruit treats from what they grew on the farm, in addition to her specialties of sour cream pies, molasses cookies, and her incredible homemade potato salad!

The family wasn't all work and no play, however. They enjoyed each other immensely, and loved to take vacations to northern Michigan together, where they formed so many fond memories, and was always their favorite getaway. Margaret always had a passion for the great outdoors, and loved to fish and even went deer hunting! When William retired, they bought a truck camper and did a lot of traveling together, especially up north.

Sadly, her beloved William died in 1970, and Margaret got through it with the love of her family. She traveled often to Arizona, where her daughter Geraldine lived, and enjoyed her growing family. Margaret was so proud and thrilled of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even her great- great-grandchildren, who meant so much to her.

Margaret lived on the homestead until she was 100 years old, and not much ever slowed her down. She even kept a fishing license until she was 101! She was so passionate about the outdoors, though, even when she was indoors. Her favorite show was the old version of Michigan Outdoors, and never missed an episode. She also loved watching Arthur Godfrey and Ed Sullivan, especially the St. Patrick's Day episodes, which was her favorite holiday. Being an Irish woman born three days before St. Patrick's Day, she couldn't help but love the holiday!

Everyone she met couldn't help but love Margaret. She was an amazing lady, so generous, so kind, a true Christian woman and a longtime member of the United Methodist Church. She died Monday, November 6, 2006, after a long and full life, a life full of challenges, triumphs, friendship and a beloved family. Margaret was a great lady, with a good life. Our lives were so much richer for knowing her. She will be greatly missed.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband-William in 1970; sons-William in 1997 and Carl in 1995; daughter-Geraldine Bushee in 1985; and three grandchildren. Surviving are her children-Ronald and Barbara Lamb of Grand Rapids, Donald and Billie Lamb of Florida, Barbara Crispell, and Kenneth and Joan Lamb of Holland; 21 grandchildren, several great and great great grandchildren; nephews and nieces. Services will be 11 am Friday at the First United Methodist Church, 57 West 10th Street, with the Rev. J. Lynn Pier-Fitzgerald officiating. Burial is in the Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Visiting is 7-9 pm Thursday at the Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes-Northwood Chapel, 295 Douglas Ave. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Holland.