Alumni Spotlight
Evan and Margot (Gilding) Shick
Vicksburg High School Class of 1952
Evan and Margot are icons in the Vicksburg Community. They have lived here their entire lives. Their family heritage in the community goes back many years. You can't say much about anyone in town without Evan and Margot either knowing them or being related to them (the Munn's, Southworth's, Erwin's, just to mention a few).
Margot's father, Joseph Gilding, was a graduate from Vicksburg. He went on to Notre Dame where he received his pre-med degree. He completed his medical education at the University of Michigan, then returned home to Vicksburg and went into practice with his father. Both were well known physicians in town.
After graduation from Vicksburg, Margot attended Parson's Business School (now known as Davenport University). Her first job after Parson's was a secretarial position at Roto Finish. She worked until she became pregnant for her first child. In 1955 she attended Tracy Beauty Academy. After graduation she did her apprenticeship under Maxine Adams in her beauty shop on State Street in Vicksburg, for two years. Margot opened her own business in the basement of her home on Park Street in Vicksburg in 1959. There are many, many ladies in Vicksburg who remember Margot doing her magic with their hair. She has gone to their homes when they were unable to come to her shop and to their hospital rooms. She retired from her business in 1995.
Margot played the organ at St. Edwards (now St. Martin) Church for 52 years. She is very active in the Kalamazoo Council of Catholic Women – Vicksburg where she has been an officer for many years. She is the Sacristan at the church, which she has enjoyed for several years and says she will probably do "forever". She is also an accomplished artist and has participated in craft shows in Richland and Vicksburg. However, these days she just enjoys doing crafts for family and friends. She is a member of the Vicksburg Library Association and works at the Vicksburg Museum when asked.
Evan was drafted into the Army after graduation from Vicksburg and was deployed to Korea where he spent 18 months. Upon his return to Vicksburg he went to work for Consumer Power (now Consumer Energy). He retired from there in 1992 after 34 years of service. After retirement he was asked to return as a Contract Inspector and did this for several years before retiring completely. Margot says Evan is a social butterfly in the community. If he goes out for a loaf of bread, she kisses him and says good-bye, because she doesn't know when she will see him again. He is a member of the "Yogi's Club" at a local restaurant where he and his friends have coffee and visit. He also meets with a group of his "buddies" from Consumers once a month at the Old Country Buffet. Evan enjoys visiting with friends and acquaintances that are shut-ins. He has a great sense of humor and loves to talk and make people laugh; they all look forward to his visits. For fun Evan loves going to the Casino's and often wins. Margot says she goes for the free lunch and to be waited on; because she never wins.
Evan and Margot are doting grandparents to their daughter, Suellen and husband David's four boys: David, Brendan, Christopher and Evan. They also have two great-grandchildren (David's sons) Connor and Caden.
The most devastating part of Evan and Margot's life was when they lost their son, E. J., to cancer in 1985, he was 23 years old.
In the past, Evan and Margot spent several winters traveling to Florida and Arizona. Now they prefer to stay at home or spend time with family at their lake property at Wilkenson Lake near Delton.
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