"To the family of Ms Holliday, My life has been enriched having known Mum. May your memories help you to celebrate her life! Truly a remarkable lady. Best Wishes, Linda"
In loving memory of
MADELINE G. (MADGE) HOLLIDAY
December 31, 1908 - August 3, 2007
Madeline Grace (Madge) Holliday passed away on Friday, August 3, 2007. We celebrate her life with joy as she joins her beloved husband of 68 years, the late Don Holliday and her son, the late Donald Holliday Jr.; also grandsons, Mark and Curtis Holliday and Jeffrey Tillison, as well as two great grandchildren. This wonderful 98 year old woman left a legacy with her family and friends. Madge leaves behind her two daughters, Judy Sutherland of Ludington, Michigan and Mary Lou Tillison of Marquette, a daughter-in-law Marion Holliday of Vulcan, Michigan and son-in-laws, Clive Sutherland and Don Tillison. She also leaves a large extended family with 15 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren.
Madge was born December 31, 1908 to Mary and Captain John Ten Eyck in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and called the Soo home all of her life. She married Don Holliday in 1929 and began her lifetime of commitment to her husband and their three children. Madge was also committed to the church where they were married, the Central United Methodist in Sault Ste. Marie.
Madge was president and district officer for United Methodist Women, a Sunday school teacher, leader for MYF, and a Camp Michigamme counselor for several years. She was Most Excellent Chief of the Pythian Sisters and a lifetime member of the War Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
Madge and Don were world travelers. In fact they drove all the way to Alaska in a pick up truck before roads in Western Canada were paved. They also visited Hawaii, Peru and parts of Europe. They traveled with their Air Stream group for several years all across the United States, Canada and Mexico. They wintered in Fun and Sun RV Park in San Benito, Texas for 30+ years and remodeled their cabin at the Shallows as their summer home in the Soo.
Madge also enjoyed square dancing and belonged to the Itchy Footers Square Dance Club with her husband Don. Madge was also known for hooking beautiful rugs, being a talented seamstress, frying the best fish ever, and for baking her most popular treat, blueberry pie. Madge also enjoyed playing cards; Pinochle, Bridge, Pounce, Three-Thirteen, Rummy, Uno. Some would say Gram was a card shark (just ask her grandchildren) and singing around the bonfire at the cabin was truly a joy.
With all of this in her life, church, family and friends, Madge will be missed most for her presence. She was filled with a warm spirit through her very last days. She enjoyed life and all it has to offer. Many of her days included the love of people, walking, the sun, a song, sweets, a good book and her cup of tea. We celebrate the life of Madeline (Madge) Holliday with praise and thanksgiving for touching our lives as she did. We love you and we will miss you. With peace.
A memorial service for Madge will be held on Sunday, August 12 at 3:00 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church in Sault Ste. Marie.
Tributes
"judy so sorry to hear of the passing of your mom what a wonderful life she had you and I go way back to soo savings bank you and your family are in my thoughts sally toretta gallimore"
"We offer our condolences to you, MaryLou and Don, and to all of your family on the loss of your wonderful mother. May God give her eternal rest!"
"Mr. & Mrs. Tillison, Steve,Cheryl,Kevin,Judy,Jim and Families- So sorry to read about the passing of your Mom and Gram! I never met her, but all I heard about her was wonderful stories! You all have to be so thankful for all the memories and great times you all had together. She sounded like such a special Mom and grandmother. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this sad time in your lives. May she rest in peace!"
"I can remember sitting on the Holiday dock at the Shallows as a small child, along with my cousin Sheila Peterson Via. It was always magical to me to be able to be at the Shallows and I have many fond memories of that time. The Holidays were always so much fun! Please accept my condolences for your loss."
"In Madge's memory, I am saddened to hear of Madge's passing, as I was one of the Shallows neighborhood kids that enjoyed the Holliday's bonfires, marshmellow roasts and sing-a-longs, my favorite was the Walbash Cannonball/Train song, and can hear us singing it right now, even through the years that have passed. Although I have lived in Florida for the past 26 years, I never forgot my neighbors, and asked my sister's about them often. It was just last week that my sister sent me a photo of her son with his first fish caught on a pole, it was s small perch. We always called the small perch we caught in the Shallow's, a Don Holliday keeper, as Don was know to keep even the small ones for Madge to fry. Madge's family has lost a truely wonderful person, as have I, rest in peace Madge. Bo Aikens"
"We met Madge and Don at their summer home and had many bonfires with them. We were so fortunate to have seen Madge in July when we stopped by with Gunile. It was such a nice visit that we are so thankful for. Our prayers are with your family."
"Sincere sympathy is extended to your family in the loss of your mother. War Memorial Hospital Auxiliary"
"I'm truly sorry about the loss of Madge. I grew up in the Shallows just a couple doors down and was very fortunate to enjoy all the pleasures of the Holliday family. The bonfires, marshallmellow, singalongs, history and stories, the colorful long dock, fishing and the great company they shared with us. I looked forward to the summers when the grandchild would come up and we had such a great, wonderful time and Don and Madge were always keeping us busy, showing or teaching us something. I can remember when my parents made us come home, you could hear the laughter, singing and just the love that they shared with all of us. it gently rocked us to sleep. The Shallows and myself have truly loss a wonderful woman and family. May she rest in peace and you find comfort knowing she has joined her true love and will be guiding over us from above. God bless."
"So sorry to hear of aunt Madge's passing. What a wonderful woman!!! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed listening to stories she and uncle Don would tell of hunting, Airstream trips, square dancing, the winters in Tx, etc. To this day, I think of them each time I use vanilla because we loved the beans and vanilla that they would bring back from Tx. I can honestly say that I never saw aunt Madge angry. She always had a warm smile and a kiss for we boys. I know that she and uncle Don are back together square dancing in heaven (where she won't have to clean another goose again). She lived a wonderful and full life. She will be sadly missed!"
"The few times I able to be with Aunt Madge was most ejoyable. She was a blessing to us all. I pray for the family's sorrow and that you will count her as a blessing in your life and to let God ease your sorrows. Helen"
"Sorry to hear about Madge's death. Jim & I are so glad that we saw & talked with her during our last visit to the Soo in early July. You have lost a great mother & grandmother; I feel I have lost my Soo mother. I enjoyed the friendship Madge and Don extended to me while I lived and worked in the Soo."
"I am a friend of Jim Tillison's and on behalf of our family, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies for your loss. What a wonderful life she has had and how hard it will be for all of you to say goodbye. These times are never easy, but you probably learned some perserverence from Madge and that will bring you strength and comfort as you find a way to move forward. Our prayers are with all of you. Mike, Debbie and family"
"We were so sorry to hear of Madge's passing. I was so happy to have met your Mom, Grandmother. I had the privelege of getting to style her hair a few times while she was visiting Marquette. What a wonderful person to emulate. Your famliy was so fortunate to have her living close and being able to enjoy her company. She always had a smile on her face and a kind word to say. Tony and I want to extend our prayers to you all and Thanks for bringing her to my Shop. Anne and Tony Erspamer"