Mary Ellen Holiday

Mary Ellen Holiday, 86, of Topeka, Kansas, formerly of Clarkston, Michigan, passed from this life on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 surrounded by her loved ones. She was born in Pontiac, Michigan on July 01, 1926, the daughter of Elizabeth E. and James Bailey. She was preceded in death by her six siblings, her husband Clifford D. Holiday; a son, Michael C. Holiday; and a great-granddaughter, Charlotte Mae Cremer-McTigue.

She married Clifford D. Holiday on December 8, 1944 and they were married for 66 years prior to his passing in March 2011. Survivors include; a daughter, Sandra (Ronald) Miracle of Clarkston, Michigan and their children Anna Scott and Richard Miracle; a daughter, Carol J. Noriega of Centennial, Colorado, and her children Victoria (Luis) Noriega-Reyes, Chad (Rachel) Noriega, Elizabeth (Eli) Espinoza and Carla Espinoza; a son Darryl Holiday of Aurora, Colorado and his son Jeremy (Maria) Holiday; a daughter, Barbara Stockwell of Manhattan, Kansas and her children Jeffrey (Melissa) Stockwell, Shannon Stockwell, Shelly Stockwell, Matthew Stockwell and Roger Stockwell; a daughter, Lori (Bryan) Cremer of Ortonville, Michigan and their children Alyssa (Chris) Johnson, Samantha (David) McTigue and Austin Cremer as well as 25 great-grandchildren, a surrogate grandson Mario Reyes and a great grandcat, Kasha.

Mary Ellen dedicated her life to taking care of her children, family members, friends and most importantly, her beloved husband Clifford. She worked for General Motors, where she retired, and then traveled with Clifford between Florida, Kansas and Michigan until they settled down for good in Topeka, Kansas. Mary Ellen was a member of Abundant Life Pentecostal Church where she was loved by all as Grandma Mary. She enjoyed being called Grandma by all of her grandchildren's friends and meeting new people in church social gatherings. Mary Ellen was known by many of her grandchildren's friends as the only grandma that they knew of who could operate an IPad, a computer and a cell phone. In her day, she was famous for her chocolate mayonnaise cake and for being the undisputed winner of a freckle contest, a fact that she was very proud of. Above anything else, she loved to sing the hymns that her grandmother taught her and she knew every word to her favorite songs.

A Celebration of Life service will be held by her family and friends at Dove Cremation & Funeral Service Chapel, 4020 SW 6th Ave, Topeka, KS 66606 on Friday, September 7, 2012 at 1 p.m. The viewing will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery.