<< Return to Foundation Focus Page A Modest Woman's Gift Benefits Hospice of Muskegon/Oceana Edith Anderson was not an heiress. She never held a high-powered corporate executive position or won the lottery. But when she died in July, 2002, the Muskegon woman who worked 40 years in secretarial jobs had invested her modest paychecks wisely enough to leave an $820,000 estate to the Community Foundation which will benefit Hospice of Muskegon/Oceana. Coming when it did as Hospice is planning construction of a residential center the bequest is "the answer to all of our prayers," says development director Susan McGarry. Anderson's bequest is the largest gift Hospice of Muskegon/Oceana has ever received according to McGarry. It will be used as an endowment to provide services to people who would otherwise be unable to afford care at the new "Leila and Cyrus Poppen Hospice Residence" center, planned for construction in 2005. A lifetime resident of Muskegon and graduate of Muskegon High School, Anderson never married or had children, according to her cousin Agnes Shoup. She worked from 1941 until the early 1980s at Teledyne Continental Motors, but probably would have enjoyed a career as a fashion designer. "She was a beautiful seamstress and designed and made almost all of her own clothes," Shoup says. "She loved to dress up. I don't think she ever wore a pair of slacks in her life." A dedicated shopper, the diminutive Anderson loved to buy beautiful cloth for her sewing projects. The new residence to be constructed on nine acres of wooded property on the corner of Mt. Garfield and Quarterline Road in Fruitport Township will have 14 private patient rooms. McGarry notes that at any one time, at least two of those patients will probably be staying at the facility and receiving care courtesy of Edith Anderson's generosity and philanthropy. "Our Community Foundation has done an excellent job of teaching the community their motto "For good, For ever," says McGarry and Edith Anderson proved that. She provided us with what our community really needs.” “Muskegon was lucky to have Edith Anderson among us and her goodness and generosity will benefit us all” noted Foundation President Chris McGuigan. << Return to Foundation Focus Page