Eva Marguerite (McInerney) Markey

Eva Marguerite (Mclnerney) Markey, daughter of John Thomas and Henrietta (LaBerge) Mclnerney died at Cascades Senior Living in Midland on May 29, 2017, just 32 days shy of her 100th birthday. The ninth of eleven children, she was born on July 1, 1917, in National City, Ml (Iosco County) and spent her early years in Alpena where she attended St. Bernard's School. She moved to Saginaw at the age of nine and attended school at St. Mary's, Central Junior High School, and Saginaw High School. She dropped out of high school during the Great Depression and often told others she was a graduate of "the school of hard knocks." She was married to Douglas Johnson and Robert Markey, both of whom are deceased. Her mother died when she was 12 and she became the housekeeper for her younger brothers, and at a very young age, she learned to cook and clean, and scrub and polish. Her brothers and sisters affectionately called her "Bones." She faithfully attended Mass, and on Holy Days, she marched -- often in the dark of night -- her six very unwilling kids to early morning mass at St. Mary's Cathedral. Over the years, she wore out many sets of Rosary beads. She could cook with the best of them and never used a recipe. Thanksgiving dinners were truly a feast! She was a hard worker at whatever she did, and made sure that her kids had whatever they needed. Her living room walls were covered with religious and family pictures, and in the most prominent place, she proudly displayed high school graduation pictures of her six kids and twelve grandchildren. She was generous to a fault and would give her last nickel to someone in need. Her grandkids enjoyed her colorful language and the "tall tales" that she always told. Her animated description of the game of golf was good enough for a late-night comedy show. For family birthdays, she would give the $5 to the person celebrating the birthday and $1 to others in the family so they would not feel left out. In times of need, she welcomed her nieces and nephews and friends of her children into her home and shared what little she had. Likewise, stray animals who wandered into her yard really hit the jackpot and more than one stayed on as part of the family. During World War II, she worked at a bomber plant in Ypsilanti, which earned her distinction as a "Rosie the Riveter." In addition to raising six children, she worked cleaning houses and as a waitress at restaurants and taverns in Saginaw. She also found time to work in the concession stand at Saginaw High School as a band parent volunteer. In later years, she enjoyed bingo and slot machines, and usually bought her clothes at Saginaw thrift shops. She was thrilled if she could get two pairs of shoes for a quarter. She was half Irish and half French, which proved to be a mercurial combination. She was not a politician. She did not mince words. As dementia took its toll, she lived her last three years at Cascades Senior Living in Midland where she scurried around from place to place. On April 17, she fell and broke her hip, and recovery was just not to be. She is survived by her brother, Charles Mclnerney, six children: Joan Gregson (Steve); Jean Twarozynski (Wayne); Robert Markey (Candace); John Markey (Jeanette); Charles Markey (Mary Sue); and Reva Langeneker (Mark); 12 grandchildren: Jason Forster, Jacqueline Markey, Daniel Markey, David Markey, Katie Markey, Kevin Markey, Matthew Markey, Michael Markey, Nathan Markey, Steven Markey, John Twarozynski, and Judi Twarozynski; 16 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; six brothers: James, Aloysius, John, Patrick, Frederick, and Simon; three sisters: Mary, Katherine, and Georgina; a special nephew, Arthur Wright; and many nieces and nephews Among the many friends who were dear to her during her final years were: Saginaw neighbors Lisa, Brent, Haley and Blake Peterson; Staff members at Cascades Senior Living in Midland; A & D Home Health Care; and American Home Health Care; Marian Rodriguez, a parishioner at St. Joseph's, who routinely sent greeting cards over the past three years; Vicky Briggs from Blessed Sacrament Church in Midland who ensured that she received the Holy Eucharist on a weekly basis; Evalina, her friend and roommate at Cascades for the past three years Above all, she was a generous and protective mother and grandmother. A funeral liturgy will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 936 N 6th Ave, Saginaw at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 2, 2017. Rev. Fr. Frank Voris, O.F.M. Cap will officiate with burial at St. Andrew Cemetery. Visitation will be at W.L. Case & Company, Funeral Home 4480 Mackinaw Rd. from 3:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, where a vigil service will take place at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, and then at the church on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church. www.casefuneralhome.com

Funeral Home:
W. L. Case and Company Mackinaw Funeral Chapel
4480 Mackinaw Road
Saginaw, MI
US 48603