Ardath McNutt, 107, longtime local teacher and Allegan native, died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, at the Allegan County Medical Care Community.
Mrs. McNutt was born Feb. 14, 1911, in Allegan, the daughter of the late Edwin and Stella (Blanchard) Wynne who farmed near Allegan. She graduated from Allegan High School in 1929, as the salutatorian of her class.
She then attended County Normal and taught at Foster School in Cheshire from 1930 until 1936, when she married Aubrey McNutt on Aug. 1, 1936. They farmed in Cheshire near Chicora until he died in 1989.
Mrs. McNutt returned to teaching in 1957, attending Western Michigan University to complete her bachelor’s degree in 1963. She taught elementary grades at Rowe and Marble schools in Cheshire and also in the Bloomingdale School District. She then taught at North Ward and Dawson elementary schools in Allegan until retiring in 1975.
Mrs. McNutt loved to travel and had visited all 50 states, England, Scotland and Wales, Japan, Hong Kong and Indonesia. She went through the Panama Canal in 1999, the last year it was under American Control.
Mrs. McNutt was also active in the former United Brethren Church of Chicora, The First Presbyterian Church in Allegan, the History Club of Allegan and the Allegan County Retired Teachers Association.
Her hobbies included writing, reading, gardening and quilting. One of her quilts took Best of Show at the Allegan County Fair. She was also an exercise enthusiast who enjoyed walking two miles a day.
Her gifts to those around her included a love for family, an inspiring enthusiasm for life and learning and a whimsical sense of humor.
Mrs. McNutt is survived by three daughters Molly (Marvin) Saye of Gobles, Sherry (Eric) Merry of Kankakee, Ill., and Kay (David) Atz of La Jolla, Calif.; six grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three sisters, a brother and a grandson.
The family will receive friends at Gorden Funeral Residence, Allegan Chapel, on Saturday, Jan.19, from 1 to 2 p.m., at which time a funeral service will begin. Burial will be in Rowe Cemetery in Chicora.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mrs. McNutt’s name to Dollars for Scholars.
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