Betty L. (Schick) Katz

Betty L. (Schick) Katz, age 83, formerly of Marshall, now of Spring Lake, died in Spring Lake Saturday night, April 29,2006 at Riverside Nursing Home surrounded by the loving care of her family. Betty was born May 30, 1922 in Marshall to Clyde and Josephine (Kendall) Schick . She graduated from Marshall High School in 1940. In her senior class yearbook it was noted under her picture; "Extremely handy with paint and brush, and cartoons for the Dial paper her senior year, Acclaimed by all as most original and clever. Betty led Marshall High School cheers for two years, and is a real sportswoman. Hunting and fishing her hobby, she took up badminton and for four years was a part of the GAA. Most of her time is devoted to her favorite subject, art." She attended Michigan State University for a year after high school. She fell in love with Bernard G. Katz which resulted in the couple being joined in marriage on September 16, 1942 in Marshall. Betty and Bernard enjoyed a fruitful marriage, bringing eight children to this world. Together, they created West Winds Recreation at the family farm on Old 27 South, north of N Drive South in the early 1960''s. Many people enjoyed fishing, camping and horse back riding there as guests of the Katz''s. They sold the campground and retired in 1974. Bernard preceded her in death in 1976. Betty moved from Marshall later that year to St. James City on Pine Island, Florida. There she continued to pursue the fishing she had loved since a girl. Buying her own small fishing boat, she soon gained enough reputation for knowing the "good spots", she would have to mislead the other fisherman that began to follow her off course into the Gulf, in order to keep her favorite spots to herself. She enjoyed Pine Island until moving back to Spring Lake in 2002. While living in Marshall, Betty was responsible for many years for creating all the figures for the Nativity Scene in the Fountain Circle for the city. She made them from paper maiche each year until the city purchased permanent fiberglass figurines. She enjoyed creating her art all of her life. She formerly was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. Betty enjoyed reading and was a history buff, especially of anything about the Civil War. She enjoyed all about nature, and liked to travel. Surviving are her children, Beverly (Mike) O''Shea of Norfolk, VA, Bryan (Terri) Katz of Sherwood, Barbara Dawson of Spring Lake, Brenda (Jim) Montroy of Bellevue, Barry (Phyllis) Katz of Battle Creek, Bernadette (Don) Davis of Colorado Springs, CO, Bruce (Teresa) Katz of Milford, and Brent "Chris" Katz of Milford; 16 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren; her sisters Shirley Schick of Decatur, Jeanette Groth of Battle Creek, Joann Stiner of Marshall, and Lois Munn of Battle Creek; her brother Phillip Schick of Ceresco and many nieces and nephews. Friends may call at Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home on Monday, 2PM-9M where family will be present to greet friends and share memories from 2PM-4PM and 6PM-8PM. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 2, at Kempf Funeral Home at 1:30PM. Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. The family suggests that memorials be directed to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Assistance with memorials available at the Kempf Funeral Home.