Olivia Marie (McCoy) DeMerse, age 100, of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, died at the Ball Hospice House in Sault Ste. Marie on January 8, 2024. She was born on July 15, 1923, in Payment, on Sugar Island, Michigan, to John and Florance (Rickley) McCoy.
Marie grew up on Sugar Island and attended Sault High School. She enjoyed helping around the house and moved to Cheboygan, Michigan, to help her family raise their children. Marie worked at the Detroit Airplane Factory as a Rosie the Riveter. She met Bernard DeMerse, through mutual friends and they married on March 2, 1943, and started their family in 1946. They moved to Sugar Island in 1957 and resided there until 1971 until they moved back to Sault Ste. Marie.
Marie was a member of the Sacred Heart Church on Sugar Island, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sault Ste. Marie, Rosie the Riveter, and the Detroit Airplane Factory.
Marie enjoyed gardening, knitting, baking, cooking, and traveling to California and in between.
Marie is survived by her son, Daniel (Janet) DeMerse of Marquette, Michigan; daughters, Juanita M. (James) Hill of Sault Ste. Marie, Nancy (Clyde) Ellison of Centennial, Colorado, and Jane Boyer of Sault Ste. Marie; grandchildren, Kimberly (Rex) Nelson, Matthew Hill, Douglas Boyer, Andrew Boyer, and Nathaniel Ellison; great-grandchildren, Sean Hill, Keegan Hill, Kaden Hill, Daniel Boyer, Max Boyer, Troy Boyer, Jax Boyer, Michael Ellison, Vince Ellison, Devon Ellison, and Drew Nelson; great-great-grandchild, Dallas Boyer; and sister, Marjorie Bossineau of Sault Ste. Marie.
Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard; parents, John and Florance; brothers, Earl, Merlin, Hugh, Ernest, and Arthur; sisters, Jennett, June, and Dorothy; son-in-law, Marvin Boyer; daughter-in-law Robin DeMerse.
Memorial contributions can be made out to the Hospice House of the EUP, 308 W. 12th Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783.
Per Marie’s wishes there are no services at this time. A private burial will be held in the spring.
Final Resting Place will be at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Brimley, Michigan.
Family Life Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left to the family at www.galerfuneralhomes.com.
