Clifford Leroy Howse (1915-1957)

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Clifford Leroy Howse
Born:	19 Mar 1915 Harbor Springs, Michigan
Died:	22 Aug 1957 Petoskey, Michigan
Father:	James Milton Howse
Mother:	Sarah Ellen Philips
Siblings:	Raymond Leslie James Milton House, Jr. Anna E. Overholt Eisey May Howse Melvin Earl Howse Myrtle Sina Howse Charles Adelbert Howse Sylvia Pauline Howse Clifford Leroy Howse
Spouse:	Gertrude Caroline Catob
Married:	21 Dec 1935 Harbor Springs, Michigan
Children:	Gertrude Joanne Howse Karlene Joyce Howse Arnold Leroy Howse

Clifford Leroy Howse was born 19 March 1915 in Harbor Springs, Emmet, Michigan to James Milton Howse and Sarah Ellen Philips.

He was the youngest of their children, with Eisey May, Melvin Earl, Myrtle Sina, Charles Adelbert and Sylvia Pauline Howse being older.

Cliff also had two older half-brothers, Raymond Leslie and James Milton House, Jr. and a half-sister, Anna E. Overholt.

Clifford married Gertrude Caroline Catob on the 21st of December 1935 in Harbor Springs, Michigan.

Cliff and Gertrude had three children: Gertrude Joanne, Karlene Joyce and Arnold Leroy Howse.

Cliff as he was called by most, was a much loved last child of Sarah and James. He was born, raised and lived all of his life in Harbor Springs, Michigan. He had two toys which he said were the only store-bought toys he had ever owned. Nevertheless, he and his siblings found many fun things to do and play with.

Mel, Jr., who spent a summer living with Sarah's family, said that Cliff taught him to swim. Took him out on a raft and pushed him off! A good natured boy, he seemed to be able to get away with most anything and still remain adored.

Joanne Heinz Howse remembers his mother often speaking of him in glowing terms. He was her baby, after all.

After marrying his highschool sweetheart, Cliff and Gertrude had 3 children, Joanne, Karlene and Arnold. The couple has been often described as being very close, loving each other more than most anyone, each adoring the other. Karl Catob, Jr. said that he loved to be in their home as there was so much love and so little contention there.

Hard working, Cliff had several jobs and was said to never let any time pass without one. He worked in Renolda Greenhouse, one summer, with Leslie Heinz who said he was a hard worker. After marriage he worked for the tannery on the Harbor-Petoskey Road for several years. His son, Arnold, recalls taking a bus to the tannery and playing baseball with his Dad and others during their lunch break and then riding home with Cliff. When the tannery closed, Cliff had a temporary job working at the Bar Harbor. This was followed by several years of working at the Perm Alum factory in Harbor Springs He was eventually made the foreman, there. Hiring and firing people was part of his job but he said that firing was very hard for him. One case that made him feel especially bad was when he had to tu rn down a black fellow who had applied to work there. This because it was the company policy.

Having been raised in northern Michigan, Cliff was an avid hunter and fisherman. He shot much wild game and caught many fish. The family food storage was greatly enlarged by canned venison and Gertrude still had some jars when Arnold and Joanne were struggling to complete his college education. These were often shared with them to enlarge their food supply, at that time.

The family had many picnics and other outings. Cliff always loved being with his family.

When still a young man, he had what seemed to be a terrible case of the flu. Was very sick and even passed out. After visiting the local doctor he was told that it was the flu bug that was going around. After waiting it out for a time, he saw another doctor and found that he had colon cancer which had spread throughout his body. After hospitalization and treatments, he finally succumbed at the age of 42. His wife and children felt the loss of his presence greatly but his posterity will always remember him and his physical and personal characteristics will continue to show up in many of them.

Clifford died 22 August 1957 of colon cancer in Petoskey, Emmet, Michigan. He is buried in the Lakeview Cemetery in Harbor Springs, Emmet, Michigan.

[edit] Christmas memory

From Arnold: My parents always set the tree up after we went to bed on Christmas Eve when we were small. As we got older, we reverted to the Schwerdtfeger tradition of Christmas Eve dinner and opening of gifts then. Uncle Karl Catob told us that he always remembered his family going to Grandma and Grandpa Schwerdtfeger's home, singing carols and having a special dinner. He said that the Schwerdtfeger girls all had nice singing voices. Christmas always included the oyster stew.

[edit] Obituary

Petoskey Evening News, Petoskey, Michigan, week of 26 Aug 1957:

Life-long resident buried Saturday

Clifford Howse, 42, died Thursday, August 22 at Lockwood General Hospital after a long illness.

Born March 10th, 1915, he was a life-long resident of Harbor Springs. For the past five years he was an employee of PermAlum Industries of this city.

Survivors are his wife, Gertrude; two daughters, Mrs. Gary Swiss and Karlene, and a son Arnold; two sisters Mrs. Denton Ward of Harbor Springs and Mrs. Ross Reed of Alanson; and three brothers, Melvin of Lansing, Delbert of Overpeck, Ohio, and Raymond of Lansing; and one granddaughter, Monica Sue Swiss.

Funeral services were held on Saturday afternoon at the First Presbyterian Church in charge of the Rev. Ronald E. Felty. Interment was in Lakeview Cemetery.

[edit] Sources

• Birth: Emmet Co., Michigan, Birth Record:

House, Clifford Leroy

born: 19 March 1915, male, legit., white

at: Harbor Springs

parents reside in Harbor Springs

mother: Sarah Phillips, b. Michigan

father: James M. House, Teamster, b. Michigan

• 1920 Federal Census, Harbor Springs, Little Traverse Twp., Emmet, Michigan:

House, James M.

, Clifford, son, male, white, 4 9/12, single, MI, MI, MI

• Marriage: Emmet County, Michigan, Vital Records Search, Marriages:

HOWSE, Clifford & CATOB, Gertrude

Date: 12/21/1935

Liber: 5

Folio: 67

• Death: Emmet County, Michigan, Vital Records Search, Deaths:

HOWSE, Clifford Leroy

Date of Death: 8/22 /1957

Liber: 1957

Folio: 157

Place of Death: Petoskey, MI

• Burial: Lakeview Cemetery Index, Harbor Springs, Michigan:

Howse, Clifford Leroy

d. Aug 22, 1957

Sec B

Lot-55

• Obituary: Petoskey Evening News, Petoskey, Michigan, week of 26 Aug 1957