By Staff
Marion J. (Hume) Litty, who reached 90 recently, learned piano because a relative didn't approve of her dream to be a ballerina.
Her husband of almost 60 years, John Michael Litty, had a hand in building many government projects – including the Pentagon.
Marion was born Oct. 19, 1916, in Naperville, Ill., to Walter and Maude (Rowlett) Hume.
The family of three moved to Aurora, Ill.
The Spanish flu epidemic claimed Marion's mother's life in 1918, so she was sent to live with her grandparents, Sam and Elizabeth Rowlett.
But Granny's health began to fail due to heart problems and she feared she might not be able to care for Marion who, at 7, was sent to live with her great-uncle and great-aunt, Alfred and Magdalena Lewis.
It was Aunt Lena who thought it improper that Marion become a ballerina, enrolling her instead in piano lessons.
Marion disliked school with a passion.
She wouldn't even have wanted to attend had it not been for her sports and gym class.
As a young lady, Marion had many hobbies, such as playing girls basketball and softball.
Because of her great ability to slug home runs, the team dubbed her "The Home Run Queen."
Marion also loved to swim, so her aunt took her to the YWCA and enrolled her in Red Cross classes.
Marion became an avid swimmer and enjoyed the Indian Lake cottage her aunt and uncle owned.
She graduated with West Aurora High School's Class of 1935.
After graduation, Marion took a job at a local day-old bread store. She also spent Sunday afternoons playing piano for the children of Moose Heart Club orphanage. Afterwards, she would be asked to join them for dinner.
While employed at the bread store for four years, she met many interesting people.
Marion remembers one winter day when a fortune teller entered the store, offering to tell her fortune in return for a loaf of bread.
The fortune teller predicted Marion would live a long life full of travel, being around a lot of people, marriage and two children.
Everything this wizard of the crystal ball predicted did come true.
During the next spring her Aunt Lena hired a contractor to do repairs on the lake house.
Aunt Lena was so impressed with this young man, she thought he would be a good catch for her niece and introduced Marion to John M. Litty.
John took Marion and Lena for frequent sailboat rides around the lake.
John M. Litty and Marion J. Hume were united in marriage on Oct. 14, 1939, in a Methodist chapel in Aurora, Ill.
They traveled the country with a convoy of union contractors and their wives, which is how John had a hand in building the Pentagon.
From their union came two children. John R. was born in the District of Columbia.
While traveling around they went from Brownsville, Texas, to Florida before settling in Dowagiac, where William A. was born.
John supported the family as a local contractor. Marion kept busy playing piano for their church and many other local churches as well.
For 25 years she was employed at McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home and also at Jane Wooten's dance school, providing music.
Marion volunteered her musical talents at Dowagiac Nursing Home and for Dowagiac queen contests.
The Litty family includes their two sons, John R. (Donna); William A. (Linda); two grandsons, Todd and Chris; and, from Todd and Donna, a great-grandson, Michael.
When Marion and John retired they enjoyed spending winters in both Everglades City and Interlochen, Fla.
Marion was always quick to lend her husband a helping hand in his Conservation Club and Lions Club endeavors.
They shared 59 years of wedded bliss. Marion was widowed on Dec. 4, 1998.
Reflecting back, her long life holds many good memories.
She remembers when one could go to a "picture show" for 10 cents or buy a hefty sack of groceries for $5.
Marion recalls going to Billy Sunday revivals and attending a World's Fair.
She also enjoyed roller-skating down the driveway "lickety split."
Two of her favorite people were her granny and cousin Marnie.
She enjoyed sharing with Marnie spaghetti prepared by Marnie's mom.
Marion also enjoyed playing with her little dog, Tiny.
Her birthday celebration was attended by 143 people Oct. 21, 2006, at Dowagiac Lions Club, which was decorated in light pink and baby blue accented with pale green and lavender.
Prominently displayed were a framed composition by her daughter-in-law, Donna, and a die-cast Studebaker Hamm's beer truck and Studebaker Hamm's beer van like those manufactured the year she was born. Marion's son, John R. Litty, was a Studebaker enthusiast.
Frannie Stites wrote a special song for Marion, "The Life and Times of Marion Litty," which she performed accompanying herself on guitar.
Following Frannie was jazz great Franz Jackson, who played four songs on saxophone, including "Happy Birthday." He led everyone in singing, "What a Wonderful World." The evening closed with an Elvis impersonator.
Out-of-state guests were friend Katie (Biek) Moore, North Aurora, Ill.; and Marion's cousin, Russell (Jo) Kolkay from Naperville, Ill.
John Litty's niece Pat Schrader attended from St. Joseph; Roger and Bernice Franks, mother and stepfather of daughter-in-law Donna attended from Paw Paw; Don Prpich Sr. and his children Jessie Reynolds-Prpich, Missy Prpich, Nessie Prpich and D.J. Prpich attended from Lawton. They are the brother, nieces and nephew of Donna.
Bernice Franks designed the floral arrangement, a pink miniature milk can filled with pink, white and lavender flowers, for the cake table.
A balloon bouquet composed of light pink, baby blue, lavender and green balloons decorated each buffet table.
Martin's Catering of South Bend, Ind., served a Polish buffet. Dessert was white and chocolate cake decorated by Felpausch's Deb Mortimore. Vanilla ice cream topped the cake.
Many special friends helped make the occasion memorable: Ben Meiser and Sheryl Meiser provided videography; photographs, Carla Wiker-Schley, Captured Memories Photography, Judy Simpson and Sandy Wulff.
Oak Shores Campground loaned tables and chairs.
Tina Askren, T's Designcomputer Graphics, designed invitations, life stories, place cards, reserved signs, wall banners, napkin rings and other graphics. She also served as party coordinator.
Ron and Bonnie Latourette designed the PowerPoint presentation.
Family members and friends who graciously helped with hall set-up included Roger and Bernice Franks, Ed Klapchuk, John Klapchuk, Amy Klapchuk, Eric Hess, Bob and Nan Longway, Sheryl Meiser, Tina Askren, Emily Fisher, Angie Hamilton, Sandy Wulff and the Schanz family.
Patty Booth of Booth's Country Floral designed the arrangement for the head table, balloon bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages.