Luman Albert Bliss died peacefully on June 17, 2007, at the age of 97.
He was born in Coleman, on Dec. 9, 1909, the first child of Aaron T. and Frances (Church) Bliss. He moved to Midland with his family at the age of three, where he resided for the next 94 years. He married Marguerite M. Wing on July 22, 1933. She preceded him in death in 1987 after 54 years of Marriage.
Luman continued to live a very full, active life and was a kind, compassionate man who loved music. This was very evident as he was an original member of the Dow Male Chorus since 1936, and was instrumental in making the transition to the Men of Music after Dow discontinued its music programs. He was a member of several barbershop quartets, SPEBSQSA one of which won the Michigan state championship. He had sung in the St. John's Episcopal Church Choir from the age of 14 until he was 94. He also sang with the Messengers of Note. He was president of the Board of Associated Male Choruses of America serving on state and national boards and as a national member of the Barbershop Quartet Society.
Luman worked for The Dow Chemical Co. for 41 years before retiring in 1971. He also owned the Red Keg Christmas Tree Farm in Averill and later worked at and was a partner in the family business, Bliss Abstract Co. He was also very active in Midland as a member of many organizations such as The Salvation Army, Elks and served on city and county advisory commissions. In the late 40's and early 50's he was a familiar voice at Currie Stadium as announcer for the Dow AC's.
He was active in St. John's Episcopal Church and served on the vestry. As a lifetime member of the Rotary Club, he was given recognition for 57 years of perfect attendance and also received the Paul Harris Award. In 2003, he was the first recipient of the Midland Music Society Jo Harrigan Award for his long term dedication to the Men of Music and the Music Society. Over the years he participated in many musical theatre productions, taught himself to play the bass fiddle and played in the Rotary Band. Besides his music he enjoyed his hobbies of needlepoint, golf and dancing.
Luman is survived by three daughters and their husbands, Betheny (Glenn) Hignite, of Midland, Barbara (Dennis) Staley of Georgetown, Texas and Luann (James) Tucker of Dallas, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Roy and A.T. Bliss; sisters, Kathleen Sherman, and Janice Gilmore; and two grandchildren, Kimberly Staley and J.D. Tucker. He will be affectionately remembered by his eight surviving grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren as Gramps. He is also survived by two sisters, Frances (William) Hedlund, and Marjorie Schewe all of Midland; and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff of Alterra for their care during Luman's residence there and to hospice for their assistance in his final days.
Funeral services will be held Friday morning, June 22, 2007, at 11 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church with Fr. Rob Skirving officiating. Interment will follow in the Midland Cemetery.
Members of Luman's family will receive friends at the Smith-Miner Funeral Home Thursday, June 21, 2007, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and at the Church Friday morning from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Memorials maybe made to St. John's Episcopal Church or an organization of choice.
This obituary was originally published in the Midland Daily News.
*Special thanks to Find A Grave contributor, Rose Kagarise for fulfilling my photo request for Luman Bliss.
He was born in Coleman, on Dec. 9, 1909, the first child of Aaron T. and Frances (Church) Bliss. He moved to Midland with his family at the age of three, where he resided for the next 94 years. He married Marguerite M. Wing on July 22, 1933. She preceded him in death in 1987 after 54 years of Marriage.
Luman continued to live a very full, active life and was a kind, compassionate man who loved music. This was very evident as he was an original member of the Dow Male Chorus since 1936, and was instrumental in making the transition to the Men of Music after Dow discontinued its music programs. He was a member of several barbershop quartets, SPEBSQSA one of which won the Michigan state championship. He had sung in the St. John's Episcopal Church Choir from the age of 14 until he was 94. He also sang with the Messengers of Note. He was president of the Board of Associated Male Choruses of America serving on state and national boards and as a national member of the Barbershop Quartet Society.
Luman worked for The Dow Chemical Co. for 41 years before retiring in 1971. He also owned the Red Keg Christmas Tree Farm in Averill and later worked at and was a partner in the family business, Bliss Abstract Co. He was also very active in Midland as a member of many organizations such as The Salvation Army, Elks and served on city and county advisory commissions. In the late 40's and early 50's he was a familiar voice at Currie Stadium as announcer for the Dow AC's.
He was active in St. John's Episcopal Church and served on the vestry. As a lifetime member of the Rotary Club, he was given recognition for 57 years of perfect attendance and also received the Paul Harris Award. In 2003, he was the first recipient of the Midland Music Society Jo Harrigan Award for his long term dedication to the Men of Music and the Music Society. Over the years he participated in many musical theatre productions, taught himself to play the bass fiddle and played in the Rotary Band. Besides his music he enjoyed his hobbies of needlepoint, golf and dancing.
Luman is survived by three daughters and their husbands, Betheny (Glenn) Hignite, of Midland, Barbara (Dennis) Staley of Georgetown, Texas and Luann (James) Tucker of Dallas, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Roy and A.T. Bliss; sisters, Kathleen Sherman, and Janice Gilmore; and two grandchildren, Kimberly Staley and J.D. Tucker. He will be affectionately remembered by his eight surviving grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren as Gramps. He is also survived by two sisters, Frances (William) Hedlund, and Marjorie Schewe all of Midland; and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff of Alterra for their care during Luman's residence there and to hospice for their assistance in his final days.
Funeral services will be held Friday morning, June 22, 2007, at 11 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church with Fr. Rob Skirving officiating. Interment will follow in the Midland Cemetery.
Members of Luman's family will receive friends at the Smith-Miner Funeral Home Thursday, June 21, 2007, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and at the Church Friday morning from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Memorials maybe made to St. John's Episcopal Church or an organization of choice.
This obituary was originally published in the Midland Daily News.
*Special thanks to Find A Grave contributor, Rose Kagarise for fulfilling my photo request for Luman Bliss.
Luman Albert Bliss died peacefully on June 17, 2007, at the age of 97.
He was born in Coleman, on Dec. 9, 1909, the first child of Aaron T. and Frances (Church) Bliss. He moved to Midland with his family at the age of three, where he resided for the next 94 years. He married Marguerite M. Wing on July 22, 1933. She preceded him in death in 1987 after 54 years of Marriage.
Luman continued to live a very full, active life and was a kind, compassionate man who loved music. This was very evident as he was an original member of the Dow Male Chorus since 1936, and was instrumental in making the transition to the Men of Music after Dow discontinued its music programs. He was a member of several barbershop quartets, SPEBSQSA one of which won the Michigan state championship. He had sung in the St. John's Episcopal Church Choir from the age of 14 until he was 94. He also sang with the Messengers of Note. He was president of the Board of Associated Male Choruses of America serving on state and national boards and as a national member of the Barbershop Quartet Society.
Luman worked for The Dow Chemical Co. for 41 years before retiring in 1971. He also owned the Red Keg Christmas Tree Farm in Averill and later worked at and was a partner in the family business, Bliss Abstract Co. He was also very active in Midland as a member of many organizations such as The Salvation Army, Elks and served on city and county advisory commissions. In the late 40's and early 50's he was a familiar voice at Currie Stadium as announcer for the Dow AC's.
He was active in St. John's Episcopal Church and served on the vestry. As a lifetime member of the Rotary Club, he was given recognition for 57 years of perfect attendance and also received the Paul Harris Award. In 2003, he was the first recipient of the Midland Music Society Jo Harrigan Award for his long term dedication to the Men of Music and the Music Society. Over the years he participated in many musical theatre productions, taught himself to play the bass fiddle and played in the Rotary Band. Besides his music he enjoyed his hobbies of needlepoint, golf and dancing.
Luman is survived by three daughters and their husbands, Betheny (Glenn) Hignite, of Midland, Barbara (Dennis) Staley of Georgetown, Texas and Luann (James) Tucker of Dallas, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Roy and A.T. Bliss; sisters, Kathleen Sherman, and Janice Gilmore; and two grandchildren, Kimberly Staley and J.D. Tucker. He will be affectionately remembered by his eight surviving grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren as Gramps. He is also survived by two sisters, Frances (William) Hedlund, and Marjorie Schewe all of Midland; and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff of Alterra for their care during Luman's residence there and to hospice for their assistance in his final days.
Funeral services will be held Friday morning, June 22, 2007, at 11 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church with Fr. Rob Skirving officiating. Interment will follow in the Midland Cemetery.
Members of Luman's family will receive friends at the Smith-Miner Funeral Home Thursday, June 21, 2007, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and at the Church Friday morning from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Memorials maybe made to St. John's Episcopal Church or an organization of choice.
This obituary was originally published in the Midland Daily News.
*Special thanks to Find A Grave contributor, Rose Kagarise for fulfilling my photo request for Luman Bliss.
He was born in Coleman, on Dec. 9, 1909, the first child of Aaron T. and Frances (Church) Bliss. He moved to Midland with his family at the age of three, where he resided for the next 94 years. He married Marguerite M. Wing on July 22, 1933. She preceded him in death in 1987 after 54 years of Marriage.
Luman continued to live a very full, active life and was a kind, compassionate man who loved music. This was very evident as he was an original member of the Dow Male Chorus since 1936, and was instrumental in making the transition to the Men of Music after Dow discontinued its music programs. He was a member of several barbershop quartets, SPEBSQSA one of which won the Michigan state championship. He had sung in the St. John's Episcopal Church Choir from the age of 14 until he was 94. He also sang with the Messengers of Note. He was president of the Board of Associated Male Choruses of America serving on state and national boards and as a national member of the Barbershop Quartet Society.
Luman worked for The Dow Chemical Co. for 41 years before retiring in 1971. He also owned the Red Keg Christmas Tree Farm in Averill and later worked at and was a partner in the family business, Bliss Abstract Co. He was also very active in Midland as a member of many organizations such as The Salvation Army, Elks and served on city and county advisory commissions. In the late 40's and early 50's he was a familiar voice at Currie Stadium as announcer for the Dow AC's.
He was active in St. John's Episcopal Church and served on the vestry. As a lifetime member of the Rotary Club, he was given recognition for 57 years of perfect attendance and also received the Paul Harris Award. In 2003, he was the first recipient of the Midland Music Society Jo Harrigan Award for his long term dedication to the Men of Music and the Music Society. Over the years he participated in many musical theatre productions, taught himself to play the bass fiddle and played in the Rotary Band. Besides his music he enjoyed his hobbies of needlepoint, golf and dancing.
Luman is survived by three daughters and their husbands, Betheny (Glenn) Hignite, of Midland, Barbara (Dennis) Staley of Georgetown, Texas and Luann (James) Tucker of Dallas, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Roy and A.T. Bliss; sisters, Kathleen Sherman, and Janice Gilmore; and two grandchildren, Kimberly Staley and J.D. Tucker. He will be affectionately remembered by his eight surviving grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren as Gramps. He is also survived by two sisters, Frances (William) Hedlund, and Marjorie Schewe all of Midland; and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff of Alterra for their care during Luman's residence there and to hospice for their assistance in his final days.
Funeral services will be held Friday morning, June 22, 2007, at 11 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church with Fr. Rob Skirving officiating. Interment will follow in the Midland Cemetery.
Members of Luman's family will receive friends at the Smith-Miner Funeral Home Thursday, June 21, 2007, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and at the Church Friday morning from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Memorials maybe made to St. John's Episcopal Church or an organization of choice.
This obituary was originally published in the Midland Daily News.
*Special thanks to Find A Grave contributor, Rose Kagarise for fulfilling my photo request for Luman Bliss.
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