Marie H. Knox

Knox, Marie H. January 30, 2024 age 94 of Livonia. Beloved wife of the late Jack. Loving mother of the late Marie Ann, Derri (Michael) Thomas, Lauren (Tom) Azoni, Dean (Beverly) Knox, Elise (Gary) Walley, and Thomas Knox. Proud grandma of Ryan (Chris), Eric (Jesse), John, Andrew, Emma (Dave), Adam, Kristen (Domenic), and Rachelle (Nathan). Also survived by 10 great grandchildren and her dear sister Teresa Lucius. Our mom, Marie Knox, was born Marie Ahlers on a small farm in Beal City, Michigan at the onset of the Great Depression (not her fault!) and was the 8th of 12 children her parents raised. Like many of their time and circumstance, they were poor but honest and hard working. She grew up on that farm with her siblings and friends, and all the adventures that kids with relatively little supervision might have. However, having little aptitude for farming, upon high school graduation, she struck out on her own. After a brief stint as a nanny (a very interesting story, if someone would like to expand upon that on the Tribute Wall), she headed for Lansing to join her sister Flo in the workforce. She was an Operator for Michigan Bell. If you are from our generation, perhaps you recall it as “Ma Bell” also. She spent the next few years happily working and hanging out with her friends (yes, people did this in the 40’s and 50’s as well – think “Laverne and Shirley”, but with everything changed). She then met and married our dad, Jack Knox. That courtship is an interesting story that also perhaps could be shared on the Tribute Wall. Together they raised the five of us. We are biased, but we think they did a pretty decent job. Our mother did some very cool things. She was the “Potato Queen” at the local Harvest Festival! She was a winner on “Rita Bell’s Prize Movie”, winning cash and an array of toys. She also did a lot of “regular” stuff, but it doesn’t seem so regular when you consider the quantity. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, an Assistant Softball Coach, volunteer at the Math Lab and Library of our elementary school, and other things. All this while maintaining a household of a husband, five kids, and a dog with all the roles that entailed, including, among others, disciplinarian, tutor, chauffeur and doctor. Or maybe doctorish. She and our dad were avid bridge players, either hosting or visiting their friends for a night of conversation and spirited card play. This sounds funny to us as well, but they liked it, so no judgement. She spent several years creating ceramic items in a craft group. All of us still have at least one item she made for us during this time. After her children reached an age where constant supervision was not required, she returned to the workforce. She became a Sales Associate for Montgomery Ward in the Drapery Department. And she was good at it. After our dad passed in 1988, she spent her time traveling and enjoying time with her siblings and friends, as well as bowling and yoga. She also embraced her role as a grandma to her eight grandchildren. Throughout her life and in everything she did, she did so with grace, gentle kindness, and good humor. Her smile was always genuine and heartwarming. We are heartbroken at our loss, but take comfort in the thought of her reunited with our dad and free of the physical burdens that time and nature had placed on her. She will be missed and forever loved. Visitation Tuesday February 6th 10:30 AM until the 12:30 PM Funeral Service at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, 46401 Ann Arbor Road West(between Sheldon and Beck) Plymouth. Memorial contributions may be made to Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 1820 Mount Elliot St, Detroit, MI 48207 To share a memory, please use the share a memory tab on this webpage.

Marie H. Knox

August 29, 1929 - January 30, 2024