Debora Faulstich, age 78 passed peacefully on December 25 in Mount Pleasant.
She was born Debora Grace Nichols on April 6, 1943 in West Branch to Ruth Latter Nichols and Dr. Harvey Jayred Nichols, who passed 6 months before her birth.
Deb, as she was known was raised near Whittemore on her maternal grandfather’s homestead by her Aunt and Uncle, Marion and Earl Daugharty along with their daughter and Deb’s special sister Neva. Deb spent much of her childhood devoted to the faith of Reno Baptist Church, The family and the farm, 4-H, and learning to play piano, accordion, and cornet.
In 1961 she graduated from Whittemore-Prescott high school and headed off to Eastern Michigan University. She graduated from Cleary College and began her favorite job, outside of the home, as a secretary for Eastern Michigan University Campus Police. She was especially proud to have been accepted into the CIA but declined after finding she would have to move so far away from the family she loved dearly.
A self-proclaimed but not out loud exclaimed practical joker, Deb was known to have mailed bricks C.O.D., she sewed many pajama pant leg bottoms together for fun and short sheeted bedding on tired unsuspecting people. Her favorite expression was “don’t get mad, get even!”
Deb in her youth enjoyed playing many games including an old spiritualist game up table up with her Uncle Earl and cousin Neva. One night it predicted Deb would somehow get 4 children starting at the age of 24. And it predicted correctly. Brian, Beth, Mark and Jenny were the pride, joy, sometimes anguish and a whole lot of worry in her life.
But to Deb the kids were hers and that was all that mattered. She always wanted to have fun and would make some if nobody else would. Her daily question was, “Do you want to skip school today so we can have some fun?”
In her very independent years Deb owned and maintained the family homestead and continued to heat her home with wood burners and thanks to her dear friend Jim Peacock, a stabilizing influence in her life, she was able to carry thousands of loads of firewood with ease.
She spoke fondly and often of her “coffee clutch” lady friends in Tawas and loved spending time with her dearest sister Eleanor Faulstich and favorite niece Bobbi working on her home and exploring many of Michigan’s waterfalls.
Deb was preceded in death by her much loved Moms and Dads, Ruth Larsen, Marion Daugharty, Earl Daugharty and Moody Larsen and just three months ago her adored daughter and son, Beth Lauder and Mark Faulstich. Deb is survived by her brother, John & wife Kay Larsen, son Brian Faulstich & wife Lin Ryder, daughter Jenny & husband Adam Scharinger, son-in-law Phil Lauder and grandsons Cale Scharinger and Samson Lauder.
Deb enjoyed attending the horse-pulls at the county fairs, the Mennonite Quilt auction in Mio, shopping, cheesecake and watching live mudwrestling.
She wanted to attend the mud bogs in Hale but sadly missed the chance. Deb learned to fly airplanes and logged enough hours to become a pilot many times over but managed never to learn to land one and she never met a pie she wouldn’t eat.
The one thing she enjoyed most of all was hosting the large family reunions and holiday gatherings at the homestead. Deb was an accomplished baker but was known for her love of fairytales and nursery rhymes.
She could repeat as many nursery rhymes as Mother Goose herself up until the day she lost her voice. “There was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead and when she was good she was really very good, but when she was bad she was horrid.”
As per Deb’s wishes there will be no service or memorial only a graveside gathering with just immediate family members when the opportunity presents itself.
