Mary Helen Olson died January 15, 2014

"A tree that looks at God all day/And lifts her leafy arms to pray"-- Joyce Kilmer, "Trees"

TRAVERSE CITY. Mary Helen (Eoff) Olson, 95, a woman widely loved for her selfless, ineffable care, and her kindness and encouragement to family, friends, and community, passed away in her sleep early morning, January 15, 2015. Family members surrounded her for several days before she died, and the night before they sang hymns, old love songs, and carols to her.

Mary Helen was born in Toledo, Ohio on March 13, 1919, to Robert J. and Frances (Peters) Eoff, who were descendants of early settlers in Toledo and nearby Petersburg, Michigan. Her family later moved to Detroit and the farmhouse in South Lyons, where she graduated from high school. She met her life-long love Ken Olson who worked one fortuitous summer at her family's resort on nearby Whomper's Lake. They married in 1936 and made a home for their young family in Detroit. In 1946, they moved to Traverse City to start a wholesale merchandise business and raise their five children.

Mary Helen's joy in life was doing and caring for others. She took care to know, earnestly listen to, and support them in all endeavors, in short making everyone feel special. She cherished her husband, family, friends, and helped the less fortunate, sending meals to sick friends, volunteering as a "pink lady" at the hospital and for Hospice, and helping with the annual Munson Hospital bazaar and memorial garden at the church. She loved homemaking, gardening, music, dancing with her husband Ken at the Slab Town Jazz Society, and reading, and she volunteered at PTA, her children's musical events, sports, and scouts. After her children were grown she worked for Wilson's Furniture, helping her customers decorate the interior of their homes. She also worked, as needed, at Bartling's and kept the books for her husband's business, and she enjoyed her women's investment club. As a grandmother and great-grandmother, she was in her glory, making baby blankets, dolls, tutus, costumes, Christmas stockings, and so much more! She was a wonderful cook and loved baking, especially those 100 gingerbread boys and girls she baked every Christmas for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and children in Munson Hospital.

Mary Helen was preceded in death by her husband Ken Olson, her parents, and sisters Nancy (Eoff) White, Patricia (Eoff) Whoeler and brothers Robert J. Eoff, Jr, and Richard Eoff. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Karen (Sam) Mitchell, Ann (Charlie) Littlefield John (Carolyn) Olson, Jim (Judy Bosma) Olson, Eric (Joyce) Olson, fourteen grandchildren, Linda (Larry Sommerville, Sam (Beth) Mitchell, Mike (Karen) Mitchell, Shelly (Dan) Hammer, Kenny Olson, Cal (Marcella) Littlefield, Hallie (Jeff) Wastell, Amy (Thad) Bousamra, Kathryn Olson, Jessica (Eric) Bachmann, Mary (Brian) Macias, Jeffrey Olson, Jim Olson, Jr., Becky Jarratt, step-grandchildren Alison Stow, Lindsey (James) Ross, and Natalie Stow, and twenty great-grandchildren.

She is remembered for her smile, appreciation of stories, humor, notes and cards, and an unstated warmth and reassurance when you were with her. No wonder she wrote in her later years, "[B]e kind with everyone one you meet, in greeting – a 'hello,' a hug, or a pat on the back. Be happy with a friend's success. If someone's sad, give them cheer, pray for what you are able to do to help, and pray and ask God to keep them." Whenever we feel happiness deep in our soul, we can treasure the love that she left behind.

A celebration service will be held at the First Congregational Church, Center Road, Traverse City, on Saturday, January 24, at 3 p.m. Reverend Gary Hogue will be officiating. Visitation with family and friends will take place before the service at 2:00 p.m. and following the service in the Fireside Room.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Child and Family Services, Munson Hospice, or the First Congregational Church. Arrangements are by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. The family wishes to express our gratitude to the staff of Orchard Creek and Hospice for their kind, good care.