Mary Ruth (McConnell) Gillett

My youngest daughter, a teacher, said, “Mom, keep your profile short and concise.”  I am not known for being succinct when many words can be used.

After high school, I attended the U of M Nursing School.  Rather than kill future patients, I switched to the School of Education, a much better fit.  I taught 1^st grade at Dixboro School in Ann Arbor for three years and loved it.  I married the uncle of one of my 1^st graders.  A great blind date!

I became a stay-at-home mom with our two daughters, Kristin and Karen.  My husband, Jack, who was also a teacher, died at a young age, leaving me with the girls to raise alone.  I did a pretty darn good job.

Fast forward . . . I am now a proud grandma to Audrey (4 years) and Jack (2 years) and a yet-to-be-named baby boy, due in August.

I roller skated for the first time in almost 30 years at Audrey’s 4^th birthday party.  Like riding a bike, you never forget.  Thanks to mall walking, like those OLD people I used to make fun of, and taking my calcium daily, I broke no bones when I tried to show off and fell on my posterior.

With family, friends, and the constant challenge of trying to keep up my 135-year-old farmhouse in Parma, I have a full and happy life.

P.S.  This was not brief, nor concise!  I still stay in touch with my best friend from high school and today, Helen Sheperd.  It’s hard having a best friend who is a missionary nurse, at the present time in Mongolia.  When we do get together, we pick up right where we left off.  Luckily, she did become a nurse, instead of me (Secretary of the Future Nurses Club).