Tara Malnor Erickson

Tara was born in Sheboygan, Wis. in 1950 of parents Robert J. Malnor and Constance L. Dementer.

She attended All Saints Elementary School in Gladstone and graduated from Gladstone High School in 1968. She attended Bay de Noc Community College and Soumi College in Hancock, earning a two-year Associate of Business degree.

After college, Tara worked for the Michigan Department of Highways in Escanaba, Mich. until she met the love of her life, Leif Erickson, and they started raising their three sons.

In 1989, she purchased Connie’s Hallmark with her sister and enjoyed traveling to gift shows around the country, purchasing gifts for her customers. She loved her job doing paperwork, working in the business and meeting some wonderful people and friends. It wasn’t a job to her; it was fun.

They sold the store in 1996 for health reasons, and Tara traveled to England, Scotland and Australia, meeting friends, and she entertained friends from those countries also.

Tara loved books, mysteries, and metaphysical books were her favorite. She said she dare not read westerns or she would never have time to do anything else — she would be totally hooked.

She loved to paint, cross-stitch, crochet, look at the stars on a clear night, listen to the “oldie” music, listen to the rain, watch movies and head to concerts with friends. She would sit out in the woods to meditate and watch the deer.

Most importantly, she loved spending time with family and her four grandchildren. They were the light of her life. She taught them, rode four-wheelers with them and introduced them to many card games.

Tara loved angels and was deep into the metaphysics world, giving angel card readings. She became a Reiki Master, learned la-ho-chi energy work and felt the vortexes in Sedona, the energies at Stonehenge and dug crystals in Arkansas.

She made friends everywhere she went, and to know her was to love her. She will be deeply missed.

Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Leif Erickson; her sons, Matthew (Jen) Erickson of Winneconne, Wis., Michael (Barbara Shimeck) Erickson of Portland, Ore. and Nick Erickson (Jessie Griffin)of Escanaba; grandchildren Gaven and Griffin Erickson of Escanaba and Hailey and Kelsey Erickson of Winneconne, Wis.; siblings Bruce (Carol) Malnor of Vanderbilt, Mich., Ron (Kathleen) Malnor of Bellingham, Wash., and Bobbi Jean Silverstone of Gladstone; sisters-in-law Sandra Ida of Holland, Mich. and Karen (Harland) Erickson of Minaqua, Wis.; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Robert and Connie Malnor of Gladstone; and in-laws Everett and Maxine Erickson, John and Sharon Erickson, Ken Ice, and Linda and Ron Brusseau.

Per her wishes, a private memorial service will be held at a later date.