Ellen Mackay

Age 99, of Vassar, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. In accordance with Ellen’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 25, 2020, at Martin Funeral Cremation & Tribute Services in Vassar, with burial to follow in Riverside Cemetery. Ellen’s family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, from 9:30 am until the time of service at 11:00 am. Memorial donations may be directed to the Vassar Area Food Pantry. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Ellen was born in St. Helen, the daughter of Joseph and Irene (Lemish) Romansky. Raised on a dairy farm in St. Helen, Ellen was educated locally and grew up working on the family farm. At the local grocery store, Ellen would meet the love of her life, Robert MacKay. The two dated, fell in love and were united in marriage on June 6, 1939, in Clare. During the early years of their marriage, they would live in Harbor Beach before settling in Vassar, owning and operating MacKay’s Grocery Store for 35 years. Their marriage would be blessed with a daughter and a son, Nancy and David. After retirement, Ellen would go on to work for Molechecks Grocery Store in Reese. In her free time, Ellen enjoyed gardening, knitting, crocheting, sewing and most of all, spending time with her family. Ellen leaves to cherish her memory, daughter, Nancy Colliday; son, David, and wife, Marilyn MacKay; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sister, Ruth, and husband, Jack Meyers; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; six brothers: John, Joe, Pete, Geroge, Albert, and Bob; and four sisters: Mary, Ann, Dorothy, and June. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Ellen’s caretakers, Garath and Chris Harris, for all their love and kindness.