Leo Edwin Lovely

Leo Edwin Lovely (PeeWee) passed away in the afternoon of his 99th birthday, October 11, 2015. Leo was born in T-Town to Paul and Emma (Lamotte) Lovely, the eighth of eleven children. His family moved to Grayling when he was a child, where he lived nearly all his life. With the exception of two stints at Dow, and his years in the United States Navy. Leo was an athletic young man; a great basketball player, softball pitcher, Golden Glove boxer, lifeguard and swim instructor. On June 18th, 1938, Leo married Edith Mae Golnick. They had nine children together, three were lost as infants. The couple enjoyed nearly 70 years of marriage, until Edie's passing in 2007. Over the early years of his life, Leo worked many jobs. From the Black and White Grocery, to the Rialto Theatre, to opening a dairy business. He worked at Dow, until joining the Navy during World War II, where he served in Pearl Harbor, Guam and San Francisco. Another stint at Dow followed, and then friends encouraged him to run for Crawford County Clerk in 1946. He became active in Republican party politics. Leo served as County Clerk for 35 years, until his retirement at the end of 1981. Leo was also an active member of the Knights of Colombus and American Legion Post 106. He held a real estate license, bought and "flipped" houses, substituted for mail carriers, and snowplowed through the winters. After retirement, Leo and Edith enjoyed traveling to Florida for the winter months. Back home in Grayling, Leo loved going to garage sales, auctions and fleas markets, and working out in his pole barn - which he had torn down himself and rebuilt on his own property. Not surprisingly, many Grayling residents have found otherwise unavailable items in PeeWee's Pole Barn. One of his favorite pastimes his entire life was playing cards with family and friends. He continued his Wednesday night poker game with his poker buddies, all the way through this September. He is survived by one brother, Paul, of Sanford, Michigan; three sons-Michael(Kathy), Kim and David(Carol); and two daughters - Mary Ruth (Allen) Lowe and Marcia(David) Etters; 23 grandchildren; 35 great grandchildren; 4 great great grandchildren; many neices and nephews who were special friends, and his wonderful caregiver, Mary(Mini) Stevens, a great great niece. Leo was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Edith; three infant children-Paul, Gregory, and Ann; daughter-Julie Ward of Poway, California; brothers - Arthur, Floyd, Ernest, Tony and Roy; sisters - Mae(Wilson), Ruth(Golnick), Fern(Failing) and Nina(Doremire). Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at 11 AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Interment at Elmwood Cemetery Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Post #106, 106 James Street, Grayling, MI 49738. Condolences may be sent to www.sorensonlockwood.com. Arrangements made by Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Leo Edwin Lovely, please visit our flower store.