Haleigh Jean Maurice

Lady Haleigh Jean Maurice (nee Holly Schmidt) passed away on 29-Jun-2025 from complications of her lifetime tug-of-war with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Her bubbly smile, impish sense of humor, attentiveness to proper manners, and determination in the face of adversity will be missed by all who knew her.
As a child, Haleigh was a goodwill ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, culminating in her selection as their national poster child in 1969. She traveled extensively on behalf of the MDA, met many celebrities of her day, and rode behind the Budweiser Clydesdales in the Rose Bowl Parade. Her fundraising efforts as co-host to Jerry Lewis on the MDA's national Telethon earned her the sobriquet of the "Million Dollar Baby". During this time she was also twice crowned Little Miss World by host Bob Hope. As an adult Haleigh volunteered at a local teaching hospital to help train future physical therapists through hands-on experience, or as she called it "trying to make the weeble wobble".
A self-taught artist, she had a unique rastering style of drawing that she meticulously created using pencils held in her mouth and, later, software forced to purpose. Haleigh's works continue to hang in galleries, offices, and the homes of friends and family. She was also an avid collector of all things rabbity, with her assemblage of Leporidae tchotchkes growing increasingly expansive (and expensive) in her later years.
Haleigh graduated with a degree in Human Resources Development from Oakland University; thereafter taking a job with the Veteran's Administration. Instantly struck with his handsome good looks, intelligence, and subtle wit, she subsequently left her job to make a life with her husband Mark and they shared a deep love and partnership for the next 47 years until her passing. Haleigh enjoyed exploring and despite the challenges of traveling with a wheelchair she and Mark were able to wander as far afield as Australia and England as well as visiting a good part of the contiguous United States, Hawaii, and Canada.
Born in Saginaw MI, Haleigh moved to the Detroit area following her marriage to Mark in 1982. Haleigh follows her parents Theodore Sr. and Rosemary (nee Stephens) into the afterlife as well as her brothers Patrick and Theodore Jr. She is survived by sisters Ginny Butler (Rhett) and Audrey Girard and by brothers Eric (Jack) and Jason (Sonja) as well as many nieces, nephews, and godchildren, all whom she dearly loved and wished the best for. Haleigh is also survived by her "adopted" daughter Dr. Karen Mestek (Kevin) and their children. Haleigh's recently homed rescue kittens, Posey and Freyja, are already roaming around the house looking for her missing lap to sit in.
Although Haleigh believed in greater powers she was not religious and was disappointed that aliens had not long ago come to Earth with a cure for neuromuscular diseases. Her remains are being lovingly cared for by Lynch & Sons Funeral Home and will be privately cremated from their salon in Clawson MI. Haleigh's wish was for no memorial service but just to be remembered kindly in future years. She also shakes her little fingers at everyone reminding them to be nice to old and infirmed people, the disadvantaged, pets, and at-risk rabbits. For those so inclined, contributions may be made in Haleigh's memory to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Foundation (www.cmtausa.org) and/or the Midwest Rabbit Rescue (www.rabbitrr.org)