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Philma Dora (Knoodle) Leazier

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Philma Dora (Knoodle) Leazier, age 96, of St. Ignace, Michigan, died at Evergreen Living Center on December 25, 2022. She was born in St. Ignace on March 29, 1926, to Patrick L. Knoodle and Lucille Moscoe Ance.

Philma was born at the Moses Shedowin Home in St. Ignace, which was her cousin’s (Charley Shedowin and sister’s). She was a Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Tribal Elder. She was born during the March Northwind Storm & was given her Native name, “Kewadin,” meaning Big North Wind as a result. She grew up in a tar paper shack, not far from the courthouse in St. Ignace. The house had no running water, electricity, or plumbing. As a young girl, she hauled pails of water from the neighbor’s hand pump well. They had a wood stove for heat, and she would go out to collect wood as well. Electricity was hooked up with one light bulb over hanging the main room that a family friend of her mother, installed for the family when she was about 12. Indoor plumbing came much later in her life.

Philma attended school in Newberry, Michigan, as well as the Holy Child Childhood School for Native children in Harbor Springs, Michigan. Later, she went to Convent Catholic School in St. Ignace, until the 11th grade and then the NYA School in Ironwood, Michigan, to become a welder. During WWII, Philma worked as a welder on Navy Ships in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and then later worked in a munitions plant in Baraboo, Wisconsin, with nitro Cellulose based propellants that were used in WWII.

She worked in many local restaurants, bars, and manufacturing plants in the St. Ignace area and Green Bay, Wisconsin, over the years. She worked as a ticket seller for Star Line and Arnold Line Ferry Boats. She also sold Avon and was the top seller and President’s Club honoree for sales, she worked for over 40 years with the company. In the 1990’s, she was a Hospice Volunteer Sitter and worked on the election board for years.

She had five children with her first husband, Raymond Woodford; Irene, Bonnie, Patrick, Michael and Dale. She remarried and had three more children with her second husband, Glenn Mattox Sr.; Lindy, Glenn Jr., and Paul. She did not have any more children with her third husband, Clyde Leazier, but he had two sons from his previous marriage, Duane and Eddy.

Philma was a member of the Women of the Moose Lodge since 1982 and was one of the “Church Ladies” as they were known in town who said the rosary before each mass that was scheduled. She was a member of the St. Anne’s Altar Society and was certified for the Children’s Catholicism Ministry Program. She was one of the prayer chain warriors for the Catholic Church.

Philma was a Breast Cancer Survivor from 2004. She always found time and energy for all of her children and grandchildren, especially seeing to it that they were baptized, participated in Sacrament of Penance, first Holy communion, and confirmation. She was a devout Catholic. She always had a smile and laughter to share. She was one of the prayer chain warriors at the Catholic Church. She lived life to the fullest and loved to party, travel, and put puzzles together with her grandchildren and great grandchildren; she’d watch and cheered the Green Bay Packers with a cold beer, and a shot of Brandy. She also made countless, beautiful Afghans that kept everyone in her family warm. Those who knew her well as a resident at Evergreen Living Center, laughed each time and she would sing “Hamtramck Mama” by The York Brothers for everyone. Her go-to phrase to say was, “The first 100 years are the worst, after that it is clear sliding.”

Philma is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Bernard Knoodle, who passed at the age of 9; sons, Paul William Mattox, who passed at 6 months old, and Glenn Louis Mattox Jr., who died at the age 17 due to a hit-and- run accident; and sons-in-law, Allen R. Green, and Gerald N. Horn.

Philma is survived by her six children and their families; Daughters, Irene M. Horn, Bonnie L. Culfa, and Lindy (Kevin) McNamara; sons, Patrick G. (Peggy) Woodford, Michael L. (Rose) Woodford, and Dale R. Woodford; grandchildren, Jerry, Gary (Susan), Archie, Kevin (Stacy), and Tom (Tracy) Horn, Theresa, Michelle, Raymond Woodford, Nicole (Kevin) Turley, Samantha Green, Sara (Ted) Olson, and Glenda (Blake) Loebach, and Allen Green Jr., Joseph J. III (Brandy) Culfa, and David Culfa; and many beloved great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Spring 2023. A time and date will be later announced.

Galer Funeral Homes & Cremation in Pickford, Michigan, is serving the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.galerfuneralhomes.com.