Mary "Jackie" Martin

Age 88, of Chelsea, passed away on Saturday, January 16, 2021. Jackie was born in Dexter, Michigan, the daughter of William and Grace (Duris) Shields. Jackie attended primary school at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School in Ann Abor, Michigan.

After high school, Jackie attended college at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where she received her business degree in 1955. During this time, Jackie was set up on a blind date by her sorority sisters with Jack Martin, a pre-med student from Belding, Michigan. The date was a success as Jack and Jackie were married in 1956. Together, they formed a partnership filled with love, laughter, respect, adventure, and adoration that lasted for 63 years, until Jack’s passing on February 18, 2020.

Jackie began her career as an accountant at General Motors and supported her husband through medical school. Once Jack completed his training, Jackie would become the chief financial officer for his orthopedic practice in Saginaw, Michigan, as well as chief executive officer in the home, raising their two children, Bradley, and Brian Martin.

The Martin’s would go on to become beloved and active members of the Saginaw community and parishioners of St. Stephen Church for more than 30 years. At just 5 feet tall, Jackie was living proof that the best things come in small packages.

Her passion for business and sports were on full display at the Saginaw Country Club, where she was both president of the Ladies Golf Association and a perennial club champion. Fellow members ultimately urged Jackie and her golf partner and lifelong neighbor, Jane Bommarito, to “breakup the band” in order to give someone else a shot at glory. With the kids off to college, Jackie and her friend, Maureen McCabe opened a silk flower plant shop from 1986through 1992. Even if sales of fake plants to corporate offices never sailed through the roof, their shared laughter and joy always did.

Jackie was a diehard alumni fan of the University of Michigan football team, as well as her beloved Detroit Tigers. While her opinions of each team ran as hot and cold as Michigan’s inclement weather, she remained mostly loyal to both to the end. Truth be told, as an Irish Catholic, Jackie (and yes, even Dr. Jack) also had a not-so-secret love affair with the Golden Dome of Notre Dame.

Upon retirement, Jackie and Dr. Jack migrated up north for the next 20+ years, eventually settling down in Bay Harbor, Michigan, where they attended St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in nearby Petoskey. Friends, family, and grandchildren would visit regularly for a round of golf, a trip to the slopes or a saucer down the drive, Christmas morning presents, Fourth of July fireworks, eat out, order in, catch a movie, shop at the local galleries and bookstores, go fora boat ride, or simply sit on the deck and bask in the afterglow dusting the sky over Lake Michigan.

Jackie and Dr. Jack lived their last few years in the Chelsea Retirement Community in Chelsea, Michigan, where their loving bond and endearing devotion to one another was a continual source of inspiration and light to Jackie’s wonderful and dedicated caretakers. Jackie will forever be remembered as a force of goodness and grace in this world; an adoring wife, loving mom, doting grandma and aunt, loyal friend, and powerful woman of character with an enduring faith in God. Jackie’s smile and laugh-filled every room, but despite her diminutive stature, there was never any doubt as to who was in charge. The neighborhood kids called her “The General”, but her late husband called her his wild Irish “Rose”.

Jackie is survived by son Bradley (Kathleen) Martin; and son Brian (Jenny) Martin; grandsons Jackson Pursell Martin and Benjamin Yerrick Martin. Jackie was preceded in death by her husband Jack, her sister Patricia (Shields) DeLoof, and her parents William &Grace (Duris) Shields.

A mass for Jackie will be held Saturday, February 6, 2021, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 530 Elizabeth Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 followed by burial of ashes. Burial will occur Saturday, February 6, 2021, from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at St Thomas Catholic Cemetery, 300 Sunset Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Funeral services will be lived streamed; please see www.muehligannarbor.com for further details.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.muehligannarbor.com for the Martin family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Jackie Martin’s Tribute page at http://act.alz.org/goto/Jackie_Martin with the Alzheimer’s Association.