Marjory “Marge” Jean Martin DeMaestri
Marjory “Marge” Jean Martin DeMaestri passed away at age 97, October 16, 2025, at Farmington Hills Manor.
Born January 3, 1928, only child of Thomas “Tom” Will Martin and Gladys Ann Nutt Martin in Sanduskey. Tom was chairman of the board commissioners of Cheboygan county; longest anyone ever had held that position. Gladys was the postmaster of Tower for years.
Marge was raised all over Michigan, due to her father’s work. Her favorite area was Grand Marais on beautiful Lake Superior. Marge always enjoyed visiting her grandparents, Lottie and Will Martin near Kleber Pond. Family and cousins loved to pick whatever was in season, but blueberries were the best times.
At age 16 she tied parachutes for the boys in World War II. When they moved back to Tower, Marge graduated in 1945 from Onaway High School. She was blessed with baby girl, Linda Lou Claycomb with high school sweetheart Bob Claycomb, who went into the Navy.
Marge went downstate to work. She worked in a Penobscot Building in an office in Detroit, also as an operator for Michigan Bell.
She married Edward “Ed” Barnhart and was blessed again with a baby girl, Susan “Sue” Rae Barnhart born in Tower at her grandparents home. Ed worked building Kleber Dam. They moved to Bay City and eventually divorced.
She worked at her parents Sunoco gas station in Tower. You would see her big smile as she pumped gas, washing windows and checking the oil and tires.
Daughters Linda and Susan were adopted and raised with unconditional love by their grandparents in Tower.
She dated Raymond “Ray” Frank DeMaestri while he was in the Army during the Korean War. They married and were blessed with six children and lived in Farmington on Orchard Lake Road on several acres.
The kids loved the huge trees, rope swings, and creek, minibikes, bonfires, snowmobiling and ice skating. Ray built them ice rinks and planted a huge garden. Marge would pick the produce and can food. The boys helped by putting cherry tomatoes in the gas tanks!
The kids weeded the garden and extra produce they sold at the end of the driveway. Marge enjoyed cooking delicious Italian meals and homemade ravioli noodles, she baked homemade Italian pizza bread and they loved her torta. Ray bought her a beautiful organ she always wanted. Marge really enjoyed playing it.
She was also a seamstress and did repairs for the local dry cleaners. Marge kept the books for Ray’s business Raymond DeMaestri Grading/Contractor. He also worked for Piedmont Cement. Marge was on a bowling team with her friend Donna. Ray took her to celebrations for Piedmontese Italian Group that was from northern Italy. Her and Ray bought her old grade school by Kleber pond. They remodeled it for vacations, hunting, boating, fishing and swimming. The kids helped plant trees around it.
After Ray passed at age 42, Marge never remarried. Son Jim was a tremendous help and put himself through college.
She went back to college, and received all A’s, and worked at Crown Life Insurance Co. She joined an Audubon bird-watching group and traveled.
After retiring from Crown Life, she moved back north to Cheboygan to be near her parents and most of her children and families. She worked at a Cheboygan clothing store, Citizens Bank and an office at Bay Shores Petoskey, also, for Wildlife in Vanderbilt. Finding her interest in real estate, she became an agent for Fralick’s Real Estate in Cheboygan.
She joined a line dancing group. They danced down main street on the Fourth of July. Marge really enjoyed her ladies group, Alverno Home Extension. She also started quilting through the years, making several beautiful cherished quilts for her large family. Marge volunteered for hospice and visited many patients.
She lived next door to Sue, and they loved to go dancing, playing bingo and go to the casino. Marge could sew almost anything and made several of Sue’s registered nurse (RN) uniforms for Sue’s work at Petoskey hospital.
She went on cruises, loved her flowers and garden, and cared for her son Ray after his terrible motorcycle accident.
She enjoyed winters in Arizona with Vickie and family, making wonderful memories of their Christmas and birthday celebrations. In the summer Vickie rented a cottage on Mullett Lake for family get-togethers for badminton, campfires, swimming, boating, WaveRunners and celebrations. It was always a special time for Marge and the family.
With Linda, she cross-country skied, snowmobiled and walked the Mackinac Bridge several years. She also helped Linda with her garage sales. They went to New York City with Linda’s Avon group.
Marge moved to Lynn Street Manor in Onaway. She had many friends and had her own garden spot! After breaking her arm and later breaking her hip, she went to Tendercare in Rogers City.
Linda then took her to Diane’s in Farmington Hills. She enjoyed four years doing crafts, painting, etc. Diane decorated for holidays to keep her spirits up. When Marge was completely confined to a wheelchair she eventually went to Farmington Hills Manor for two years until her passing. Marge lived a full life filled with love and laughter, hard work and devotion for her family. Her wit, kindness and strength will continue to inspire all who knew her.
Sue flew from Florida every month to see her. Being a retired RN, Sue kept them on their toes. Diane tried to visit daily. Marge made friends and was always well-liked and never had a bad word for anyone. She made quilts with the church quilting group to send overseas. Marge was a member of the Farmington St. Coleman Catholic Church where she brought up her six children. Later she became the oldest member of Onaway Holy Cross Lutheran Church and enjoyed helping making quilts.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; her granddaughter, Kayla Dixon and her son-in-law, Tom Said of Glendale, Arizona; and her parents Tom and Gladys.
She will be lovingly remembered by surviving family, Linda Claycomb of Tower, Sue Perkins (John) of Homosassa, Florida, Vickie Said of Glendale, Ray DeMaestri of Tower, Mike DeMaestri (Rhonda) of Waverly, Diane O’Connell of Farmington Hills, Joe DeMaestri (Sue) of Onaway and James DeMaestri (Sandy) of Shelby Township; 14 grandchildren, Tina Olmst
Funeral service will be Saturday, October 10 at 1 p.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Onaway. A memorial service was also held in Homasassa. Donations to Cheboygan Humane Society in memory of her cat, Felina.
