Martha 'Mardy' (Gervais) Autore

Martha (Mardy) Mary Autore, age 90, died Sunday, December 15, 2013 at McKinley Manor in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. She was born March 21, 1923 in Dryburg, Michigan to Raoul and Marieanne (Gadoury) Gervais. Mardy grew up on the family farm in Dryburg and attended school in Dryburg and later, Rudyard. In 1941 she met and married Richard (Richie) DeMerse. They settled in the Soo and started a family. In 1945 Richie was killed while serving in the Air Force . On July 20, 1946 she married Charles (Charlie) Autore . They continued to build a family in their home on Lizzie Street. After their family was raised, the two moved to W 12th Avenue , where Mardy frequently could be seen taking advantage of the bike path for walking. Charlie preceded her in death in December of 2000. Mardy was well known in the Soo as a friendly and outgoing waitress, an avid fan of the I-500 snowmobile race, a supporter of Laker Hockey and many other community based activities. Her favorite thing in life was her family. Her boys meant the world to her and she thrived on her grand and great-grandchildren, with each new birth renewing her spirit and energy. She had a deep faith and was a devoted member of the Catholic Church through-out her life. Mardy is survived by her sons, Richard (Colleen) DeMerse of Warren, MI, Joseph (MaryAnn) DeMerse of McMillan, MI and Arizona, Larry Autore of Sault Ste. Marie, and Donald (Susan) Autore of Sault Ste. Marie; grandchildren Kristin (Jamie) Autore-Corrigan, David (Allison) DeMerse, Brent (Lynn) Autore, Robin (Don) Autore-Blalock, Jim ( Stephanie) DeMerse, Michelle (Jason) Rockwell; Great-grandchildren Jessica Skogman, Jamie Skogman, Robert Autore, Riley Autore, Donald Blalock, Dylan Blalock, Jack DeMerse, Camden DeMerse and Samantha Rockwell. She is also survived by 7 siblings: Patrick (Edythe) Gervais, Lucienne (Bob) Beacom, Marcel (Catherine ) Gervais, Ronald Gervais, Beatrice (Mac) McMahan, Delores James and Frances (Bob) Desrochers. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Richie and Charlie, 1 son, Charles “Mickey” Autore in 1968, an infant daughter, Yvonne Autore and a granddaughter Sheri Autore-Skogman in 1994. Also brothers Donald, Albert, Roger, Roland and Phillip Gervais and sister Marie Bourque. Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 18, from 4:00 to 8:00PM at Clark Bailey-Newhouse Funeral Home, 113 Maple St., Sault Ste. Marie Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00AM on Thursday, December 19 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1101 Minneapolis St., Sault Ste. Marie. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in the spring.

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Martha 'Mardy' (Gervais) Autore

March 21, 1923 - December 15, 2013