Mary Elsie McCauley of Muskegon, age 96, passed away peacefully on September 12, 2026 at home surrounded by loved ones. Mary was born on January 16, 1930 in Brown Township, Manistee County, Michigan.
Mary was a tribal member of The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and a member of the Women's Auxiliary Muskegon Heights Eagles.
She was head cook in the cafeteria at Orchard View Schools. She loved to cook and bake for family and friends. This earned her the name "Grandma Cookie" from her great grandchildren. Before her time in the cafeteria, she was a telephone switchboard operator at Michigan Associated Telephone Co. Before the phone company she worked for Hansen's Dairy Bar, where she met her husband Don; They married on February 7th 1948.
Mary enjoyed family, friends, traveling, camping, boating, bowling, fishing, happy hours, and watching the littles.
Mary is survived by: sister, Lillian (Dallas) Varney; daughters-in-law, Cindy McCauley and Michele McCauley; grandchildren, Donald, Robert, Jenny, Jamie, Bobbisue, Bradley, April, Jerry, Matthew, and Joshua; several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and life-long friend, Joyce K. (Walsworth) Ensign.
She was preceded in death by: parents, John and Helen (Sobisek) Pete; husband, Donald A. McCauley; children, Peggy A. Douglas, Robert W. McCauley, Susan K. Dansby, and Thomas A. McCauley; brother, John (Phyllis) Pete; and sister, Elsie Waite.
A Funeral Services, officiated by Carlos Ramos, will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 11:00 am at Ever Rest Funeral Home and Chapel, 1783 E. Keating Ave. Muskegon, MI 49442. The family will welcome guests one hour prior to the start of the service. There will be a luncheon after the funeral, also at the funeral home. Mary will be laid to rest at Egelston Township Cemetery at 2:00 pm following the luncheon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to LifeCircles PACE of Muskegon.
