Evelyn Elizabeth Buckingham Alguire

Evelyn Elizabeth Buckingham Alguire, age 95, of West Branch died February 5, 2008 at her granddaughter's home in St. Clair Shores. Evelyn was born to George and Dorothy (Dutko) Engel on December 25, 1912 in West Branch Township. Mrs. Alguire went to school in West Branch finishing high school in Detroit and then returned to West Branch to marry John Buckingham in 1932. He preceded her in death in 1955. She had three sons James Buckingham of Harrison Township, Eugene and Dale have both preceded her in death. Evelyn was a legal secretary to attorneys William Yeo and Edward Bilitzke, taught evening classes in shorthand at the West Branch High School. Evie came in 17th place in a world-wide Gregg Shorthand Contest. She also ran a bookkeeping service for small businesses in West Branch, was a secretary to Jim Dunnigan at the West Branch Refinery, did court reporting in justice hearings and circuit court hearings for five counties in the 32nd Michigan Circuit (including Ogemaw County) for Judge Shaffer. Following a family move to Center Line, Michigan in 1948, she became Office Manager for Keystone Electrical Parts Manufacturing and then Office Manager for Cleary Auto Parts Manufacturing until they failed. In 1958 she married Roy Alguire who also preceded her in death. Following Stenotype training at night in Detroit, Evelyn accepted an appointment in 1965 from Gov. George Romney to Court Reporter in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court under Judge James Breakey. In 1976 she retired from that position and returned to West Branch. Mrs. Alguire was Noble Grand of the Rebecca Lodge in West Branch in 1944 and has remained a member ever since. She is Past Worthy High Priestess of the Houghton Lake White Shrine of Jerusalem and a member of the Eastern Star Rose Chapter, West Branch and First United Methodist Church, West Branch. Beside her son James she leaves three granddaughters: Joelyn Buchingham os St. Clair Shores, Roxanne Filegar of Richmond ,VA. and Kathryn Buckingham of Oxford, England and two Great Grandchildren; Robert and Caroline Filegar of Richmond, VA> The family will be receiving friends at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home, 109 E. Houghton Ave. West Branch,on Thursday, February 7, from 2:00P.M. till 9:00P.M. with an Eastern Star Memorial Service at 7:00P.M. On Friday February 8, the family will be receiving friends at 12:00P.M.to the time of the funeral services which are at 2:30P.M. There will be a Memorial service by the White Shrine of Jerusalem at 1:30P.M. on Friday at the Funeral Home. Burial will take place at Brookside Cemetery in West Branch. Following the burial the funeral lunchon will be held serve by the Eastern Stars at the Masonic Lodge on Houghton Ave. in West Branch.