Mary Martin

Age 78, of Grand Blanc, Michigan, formerly of Metropolis, Illinois, and Martin, Tennessee, passed away on Monday, December 2, 2019, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. A Requiem Mass will take place at 10:00 am, Saturday, December 7, 2019, at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 706 Beach St., Flint, Michigan, with Reverend Canon Louis Madey officiating. The family will be present to receive friends at the church on Saturday morning from 9:00 am until the time of Funeral Mass at 10:00 am. Burial will take place at 2:00 pm, Central Standard Time, Friday, December 13, 2019, at Massac Memorial Gardens in Metropolis, Illinois, with Reverend Msgr. Victor Ciaramitaro officiating. Mary Margaret was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Earl and Margaret (Sutton) Harrison on October 13, 1941. At age 4, the family moved to Metropolis, Illinois. She attended Massac County High School and graduated in 1959, and briefly attended Villa Madonna College in Cincinnati, Ohio. She worked alongside her parents and siblings at Harrison's Family Steakhouse in Metropolis for more than 20 years. On May 22, 1976, she married Frederick Joseph Martin V, and shortly after, moved to Toledo, Ohio, with Fred's family's business. She and Fred were blessed with two children, Frederick Joseph VI, and Anne Marie. In 1988, the family again moved with the business to Martin, Tennessee, where she lived until her husband's passing in 2012. Mary Margaret loved being a housewife and stay at home mom. She loved sewing, quilting, cooking, baking, gardening, playing Scrabble, and cards. Mary Margaret was an active member of many parishes she belonged to and was currently a member of both Holy Family Catholic Church in Grand Blanc and St. Matthew Catholic Church in Flint, serving in many capacities. Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1998, her ability to serve others was restricted as she once had, but her heart was always focused on serving others and trying to help them. She enjoyed attending Mass as frequently as possible and spending time with her family. One of the greatest hardships living with Parkinson's was not being the grandmother she wanted to be, but she treasured all the time she spent with Freddie and Anthony. Mary Margaret is survived by her son, Fred Martin of Martin, Tennessee; daughter, Annie (Joe) DeLisle of Grand Blanc, Michigan; step-daughters, Laura Martin and Rose (Jeff) McConn of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, grandsons, Frederick J. Martin VII of Martin, Tennessee and Anthony G. DeLisle of Grand Blanc, Michigan; granddaughters, Shelby Jones, Whitney (Wadi) Haddad, and Courtney Jones; great-grandson, Wesley Haddad; siblings, Alan Harrison of Metropolis, Illinois, Carole Bohlman of Washington, Illinois, Wayne Hille of Paducah, Kentucky, Joseph (Ruthann) Harrison of Decatur, Texas, Theresa Callihan of Gilbertsville, Kentucky, and James Harrison of Scottsdale, Arizona; sisters-in-law, Cecelia Austin of Farmington Hills, Michigan, Delores Martin of Portland, Oregon, Loretta (Richard) Landry of Arvada, Colorado; cousins, Barbara Piccola and Jeanne Piccola of Cincinnati, Ohio, Barbara (Butch) Berger of Curtice, Ohio, Gary Martin, Laura Martin, Karen (Charlie) Reau of Erie, Michigan, Larry (Michelle) Martin of San Diego, California and Paula (Matt) Cairns of Monroe, Michigan; and numerous neices, nephews and Godchildren. She wished to make a special mention of Rocky and Carol Martin and their sons, Drew, Matt, and Greg of Hendersonville, Tennessee, with whom she and Fred shared many cherished memories. Mary Margaret also had many friends, especially Becky Plajstek of Clarkson, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred; her parents; her sister, Joan Hille; in-laws, Benedict (Kay) Martin, Donald (Mary Ethel) Martin, Catherine (Jack) Clark, Veronica Hackett Hanford, Raymond Martin, Therese (Walter) Schweickert, Walter Austin, James (Karen) Martin, Aura (Ron) Karle, and Clifford Bohlman; cousin, Lee Piccola, and a dear friend, Gertrude Loveall. In lieu of flowers, please contact St. Matthew Catholic Church (810-230-0880) to arrange for Masses to be said. Memorial donations may be made to her nephews, Fr. Nathan Cromly, CSJ, c/o Eagle Eye Ministries, 4775 S. Pearl St, Englewood, Colorado, 80113. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to all those who have assisted in caring for and showing kindness, especially Dr. Aaron Ellenbogen and the staff of Michigan Institute for Neurological Disorders, Dr. Luci Saha, and the aides and Bella Vita Assisting Living/Memorial Care of Grand Blanc (Hailey, Blondie, Mersedes, Derrick, Jordan, Veronica, Terra, Katie, Shannon, Sierra, Heather and many others.