Esther Wightman Eulogy
By Jeannette Doud

There are those whose lives remind us of the sunset’s warming glow. They leave a touch of glory lingering after when they go. This is so true of my dear friend, Esther Wightman, who suddenly left family and friends on the evening of November 7. Shocked and saddened were we all as news quickly spread over our Island, which was Esther’s birthplace. It was late in the evening, shortly after the beautiful sun had descended in the sky beyond the Mackinac Bridge. Here a touch of glory lingered in the cloud-filled sky. It left a golden halo as Esther bid us all goodbye.

She was born April 4, 1920, the daughter of the late Clara and Morton Pero. Being the eldest of three children, she was later joined by sister, Aleda, and brother, Vernon, who are both deceased.

Esther was my dear friend. We were just a month apart in age. Going to the Thomas W. Ferry School, we had many friends, all of whom were Island natives. In her senior year, she graduated from LaSalle High School in St. Ignace.

For more than 18 years, Esther was a trusted and dedicated employee of Windermere Import Shop on Main Street. She was a great saleslady, who loved working in fine merchandise.

An Island romance, which is of great interest, began many years ago. Mr. W.S. Woodfill, the owner of Grand Hotel, issued an invitation to a group of wounded American soldiers, who were recuperating at the hospital in Battle Creek, to enjoy a week of rest and recuperation at his famous hotel. Among the young soldiers was Clarence Wightman, from North Dakota. Back in those days the hotel had a telegraph service in the lobby and Esther was in charge of the office. It was through this wonderful invitation that Esther and Clarence met. Following their marriage, they made their home on the Island with winters in Leesburg, Florida.

Esther and Clarence were stockholders in the Mackinac Island Carriage Tours Association. A historian, she had a marvelous collection of old-time postcards, which she shared with friends and relatives. She was also a member of Mackinac Associates and the local cemetery board.

Esther loved life and all that it had to offer. She shared her comfortable home at the Mission with her little dog, Ginger, often seen taking their daily walk. Come springtime she worked in her garden with flowering lilacs, yellow daffodils, and tulips. She was always happy when Ginger would chase the bunny rabbits away.

She and I shared many hobbies, one being boat watching. In early spring, when she could see the first freighter coming from the east, she would immediately phone me and I would do likewise, when a big ore boat would be seen to the west, all fun, and then a good visit.

During our annual Christmas Bazaar this year, our hearts turned to Esther. She loved to shop and was always one of our best customers. Her paddle would immediately go up as she bid on items. She and her two daughters-in-law, Kathi of the Island and Kathy of St. Ignace, would be in charge of the bake sale, where all the goodies could be bought. It will never be the same without Esther.

Memories and more memories never to be forgotten. It was fun when she and I suddenly realized that we were bidding against one another on the same item.

Esther was sure to make certain that she had her hair and nail appointment each week with Sandy Grisdale in Cheboygan. Kathi was very, very kind to her mother-in-law, driving her wherever she desired to go, be it the doctors in Petoskey or shopping in St. Ignace or Cheboygan.

Survivors include her daughter, Janis Early, her son, Daniel and wife, Kathi, daughter-in-law, Kathy Wightman of St. Ignace, and granddaughters, grandsons, nieces, and nephews.

Services for Esther were at Ste. Anne’s, celebrated by Father Rey Garcia, S.J., with burial in the family lot in the Island Cemetery. Local firemen were the pallbearers. As the service began, the Arnold ferry, MV Huron, blew a farewell salute to Esther.

Kathi Wightman’s sisters, Julie Francuch of Troy and Amy Danke of Detroit, attended the funeral.

Deepest sympathy to the family from Island friends.