Obituary: Mary Agnes Quillan, 87, of Scottville

Mary Quillan

Mary Agnes (Green) Quillan, 87, of Scottville, passed away on Friday, May 24, 2024, peacefully at her home surrounded by her family. Mary was born March 25, 1937, in Detroit, to Joseph F Green, Sr. and Florence I. (Lebeck) Green. Her mother, Florence, passed away unexpectedly three months after Mary was born, so she was raised by her aunt and uncle until her father remarried her stepmother Matilda (Tillie) Green when Mary was around the age of 5.

Mary was an excellent student in school and shortly after graduating she married her high school sweetheart James A. Quillan on May 21, 1955. Together they raised five children. Jim and Mary owned and operated Jim’s Shell service station in Detroit until 1969, then made the decision to move away from the city to Scottville where they purchased Burt’s Restaurant changing the name to Jim’s (now the North Country Cafe).

Mary enjoyed living in Mason County and raising their children in the country as she loved being able to have various farm animals and explore her love for gardening even more. All her life she had dreamed of owning a horse, so that was her first big venture on her little farm. She was involved in 4-H with horses, gardening, and crafts with the younger children plus lead Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

In 1980, Jim and Mary sold the restaurant and moved to Bradenton, Florida near her sister Delores and brother-in-law. Mary decided to go back to school to earn her CNA degree. She then worked at the Bradenton Manor assisted living facility working her way up to the activity’s director. She loved her job there working with the residence and bringing them joy with her love and talents for crafts and entertainment for over 10 years. She retired to stay home and take care of Jim full time due to his health condition.

After the passing of Jim in 1998, Mary decided to move back to Mason County in 2000, along with her son Paul to enjoy life there again, living near her daughter Bonnie Barclay. She was actively involved and attended Mason County Reformed Church regularly.  Gardening was her true passion in life. She was an active member of the Mason County Garden Club for many years where she loved to share her gardening knowledge with other enthusiasts. You could always find her out working in her many gardens from sunup to sundown! She loved sharing starts of plants with others along with full descriptions of how to grow them. The worst part of the last few years of her life was not being able to get out in her gardens anymore. It is certain that God has special gardens in Heaven for her to tend to and take care of!

Mary was preceded in death by her father, Joseph F. Green; mother, Florence I. (Lebeck) Green; stepmother, Matilda (Tillie) Green; three siblings, Joseph F. Green Jr., Donald T. Green, Delores F. (Green) Ashcraft; her husband, James A. Quillan; two granddaughters, Mary Beth Barclay and Amanda M. (Barclay) Scott.

She is survived by her five children, James J. Quillan of Bradenton, Fla., Robert A. (Darlene) Quillan  of Palmetto, Fla., Bonnie M. (George) Barclay of Custer, Paul F. Quillan of Scottville and Beth Anne (Patrick) Snyder of Dublin, Va.; five grandchildren, Erica J. Quillan of Bradenton, Fla., Christopher D. (Josie) Barclay of Spokane, Wash., Luke A. (Heather) Snyder of Melbourne, Fla., Jennifer C. (Davie) Hunnings of Dublin, Va., and Tracie M.(Josh) Altman of Palmetto, Fla.; six great-grandchildren, Noah R. Quillan, Vanessa G. Hunnings, Cayden S. Scott, Peter R. Barclay, Eric J. Barclay, Caston R. Aultman, plus two more expected in July; many cousins,  nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held in honor of Mary at Mason County Reformed Church, Friday, May 31, 2024, at 11 a.m. The family will be at the church at 10 a.m. to greet guests ahead of service. A luncheon will be served following the service.  Mary will be laid to rest alongside of her late husband Jim, in the north side of Scottville Brookside Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be designated to the Hand 2 Hand food program for Mason County Central and Mason County Eastern school children through Mason County Reformed Church of Scottville or the Mason County Garden Club.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, www.oakgroveludington.com.