Ernest G. "Ernie" Grocock

Former Gaylord mayor and city council member, Ernest G. “Ernie” Grocock, 88 of Gaylord, passed away on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at Tendercare Gaylord. Born on January 15, 1927 in Cleveland, OH, Ernie was the son of Ernest and Vashta (Humphries) Grocock.

On May 5, 1953 he married Patricia Ann Glassley in Royal Oak. Ernie worked for Saks Fifth Avenue in Detroit and New York, then opened and managed the Saks in Ann Arbor. Ernie and Ann left Ann Arbor in 1964 and moved to Gaylord with their young family.

Ernie owned JEMAC, a garbage collection service in Gaylord, so named using the initial of the first name of each of his family. He was the longtime General Merchandise Manager at Glen’s Market, and later the Transportation Supervisor at Gaylord Community Schools.

He loved Gaylord and he was committed to helping make Gaylord the community it is today. He was a longtime Alpenfest volunteer and served as Alpenfest board president twice, in 1977 and 1990. Ernie was honored as Alpenfest Parade Marshall in 1989 and as der Burgermeister in 1991.

He served the city as Ward 1 council member from 1974-1981 and as At-large council member from 1986-1989. In 1990 Ernie was elected Gaylord Mayor, a position he held through 1997. In December of 1997 he served the city as acting City Manager. While he was Mayor, he and Ann traveled to Gaylord’s sister city, Pontresina, Switzerland.

Ernie was a member of Gaylord First United Methodist Church and the Chancel Choir and a volunteer with RSVP, where he enjoyed driving the cancer van to Petoskey. He also enjoyed working in his wood shop, fishing and doing crossword puzzles.

Ernie was preceded in death by Ann, his wife of 60 years. Surviving are his son, Mike (Anne) Grocock of Birmingham; daughters, Jan (Rob) Thompson of Oberlin, OH, and Cindy FitzGerald of Gaylord; grandchildren, Michael (Elizabeth), Nick, Chris (Heather), Brittany; Paul (Katie), Ben (Chrissy), Cassie, Alyssa & McKenzie; and his sister, Jan (Robert) St. John of Washington. He was preceded in death by his sister, Vashta “Duckie” (John) Thornton and a granddaughter, Melanie Thompson.

Memorial services will be held at 11:30 AM on Saturday, April 18, 2015 at Gaylord First United Methodist Church, 215 South Center Avenue with Pastor Dan Bowman officiating. The family will visit with friends at the church beginning at 9:30 AM.

Those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions to Gaylord First United Methodist Church or the Otsego County Food Pantry, through Gaylord Community Funeral Home, P.O. Box 249, Gaylord, MI 49734.

Arrangements are by Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Please share your memories with the family at www.gaylordfuneralhome.com