Ella Mae Dropping of Berkley died Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007, at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. She was born on June 2, 1920, in Detroit, and was the second oldest of four daughters of Carl and Elle (Bridge) Skidmore. She was a 60-year resident of Berkley, where she lived in the same home since 1947. Although a full-time parent for most of her earlier years, she worked at Excelda Mfg. in Ferndale after being widowed at the age of 50, to support her three young children. After retiring, she spent her remaining years gardening, bowling, and "grandmothering" her family, friends and neighbors. Her wisdom and patience made her a sought after counselor and role model for those whose lives she touched. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a true appreciation for the gifts each person brought to her life. Her passion for the Detroit Tigers was a source of pleasure, especially these past two years. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Dropping was preceded in death by her husband of 30 years, Clare Johannes Dropping, who passed away April 17, 1971; sisters, Margaret (Fred) Coxen, Helen (Henry) Hubbell, and Mary Lou (Rudolph) Zingler; daughter, Patricia Mae Sorah; daughter-in-law, Dina Dropping; and granddaughter, Kathryn Clare Dropping. She is survived by her children, Douglas (Debra) Dropping of Royal Oak, Karen (Robert) Tiura of Royal Oak, Richard (Becky) Dropping of Berkley, James (Barbara) Dropping of Toledo, Ohio, and Martha Mahrle of Berkley; son-in-law, Charles Sorah of Maybee; daughter-in-law, Karen; grandchildren, Jennifer, Christina, Jeanette, James, Lauren, Alex, Thomas, Emily and Anna; two great-grandchildren, Kathryn and Olivia Beauchamp; and 10 nieces and nephews. Memorial visitation, 11 a.m. Saturday until the time of the memorial service at 2 p.m. at the Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home, 2125 W.12 Mile Road, Berkley; burial, White Chapel Cemetery Troy; memorials, Hospice of Michigan, Development Department, 400 Mack Ave., Detroit, MI 48201; wwwhom.org/. Online condolences, www.sawyerfuller.com.
Published in The Daily Tribune on Sept. 14, 2007.
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