Margaret Mary Walton

Margaret M. Walton was granted multiple lifetimes, all of them centered around family and a sense of adventure. Her first life was in Africa where she was born. She lived in Casablanca, French Morocco, with her mother (Bertha Clairembourg) and brother (Maurice Clairembourg) until she was 12. At that time her mother moved the family back to Liege, Belgium where they lived with her grandmother and traveled often to visit family friends on a farm outside of the city. Her family endured the occupation of Belgium by the Nazis during World War II, and there are many family stories of small acts of resistance performed by the Clairembourgs. After the war she met her husband William Walton at a dance sponsored by the American soldiers. She often smiled and told the story that her mother sold her purity for a can of Nescafe (a prize offered at the dance to encourage young women to attend). They were married on March 9, 1946, and she began her second life as a married woman and emigrated to the United States. They established their family together in Pittsburgh, PA. Their son Edward Walton (Martha) was born in New Eagle, PA--a perfect location for her “American son.” Margaret’s mother and grandmother came from Belgium to live with the young couple and to help raise young Eddy. While in Pittsburgh, Margaret worked as a bookkeeper for an appliance repair parts company and later Detling Hamilton Burial Vaults Company. William worked hard as an insurance salesman, and as a result was relocated to Sioux Falls, SD. It was here that Margaret learned to drive for the first time and would drive in right handed circles to avoid making a left hand turn. Another promotion for William lead to another move, this time to Southfield, MI, where she found work with Detroit Airport Advertising. The Waltons opened their home to Anh and Van Lam (parents of Julie (David) Ludington and James Lam), refugees from Vietnam after the war. The Lams lived with Margaret and William for six months before settling in Grand Rapids, MI. After William’s passing in 1983, Margaret reinvented herself again and continued her work as a bookkeeper for Detroit Airport Advertising. It was through this work that she met Stan Cloutier (father of Chuck (Joann) Cloutier and Candice Cloutier). They were married on June 8, 1984. Margaret and Stan spent many summers at Stan’s lakefront cottage in Pentwater, MI. Margaret’s wanderlust continued as they traveled through Europe, visiting family. It wasn’t only travel that fulfilled her sense of adventure, but also moving houses was great fun! There was one year where she moved five times in a effort to secure the just right house. Stan passed away in 2004, and Margaret began another life. This one was full of stamp collecting, shopping, sewing, knitting, multiple moves and her special friend Ernie Trepton. It was also during this time that she became a great-grandmother to Jack and Emma Swisher. The adoration between Margaret, Jack, and Emma was evident when they played the coin game together and at Sunday dinners when they begged her to tell well-worn family stories. Margaret instilled in her family a sense of the importance of caretaking and generosity, a legacy that remains with her son Edward (Martha) Walton, grandchildren Claire (Michael) Walton-Swisher and Sam (Diane Calinski) Walton, and great-grandchildren Jack and Emma Swisher. There are a great many stories that she leaves with her family, but the theme is always the same: live a good life, and laugh while you live it. Margaret’s family will be receiving visitors at the Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home at 46401 Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth, MI on Friday, January 12th from 3:00pm-7:00pm. Burial will be on Saturday, January 13th at 10:00am at Glen Eden Cemetery in Livonia, MI. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in Margaret’s name to: Bridging International Communities. 44257 Fair Oaks Drive Canton, Michigan 48188

Margaret Mary Walton

September 20, 1923 - December 31, 2017