Mildred O. (Groos) Davis, Gladstone, passed on January 28, 2008, at St Francis Hospital, Escanaba, after a brief illness. Millie was the daughter of Joseph and Ida (Bournonville) Groos, who were long time residents and descendents of the founders of Groos, Michigan. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Ed “Mack” Davis, Gladstone, and their four children, and six grandchildren, as well as her sister Dorothy McMillan of Escanaba. Her brother, Robert Groos, preceded her, passing in 1973. Mack and Millie were long-time residents of Gladstone and were very active in the Gladstone community, the American Legion, and All Saints School and Church. Throughout the years, they shared a close circle of friends in the Delta County community, which they treasured.

Growing up in Groos, Michigan, she was introduced to Mack by her father when they were working in the wood yard at Mead Paper Company, Groos, Michigan and she was working as a secretary at Michigan Potato Growers in Escanaba. They were married in St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Escanaba, Michigan, on April 13, 1950. After living briefly in an apartment on 9th Avenue in Gladstone, they built their house on Montana Avenue, where they have lived since 1953. For many years, Millie was always a friendly face while working as a secretary at All Saints School and later while meeting patients as the secretary in the Dehlin Medical Clinic, Gladstone, retiring in 1984. She was also very active in All Saints Catholic Church, where she was an active volunteer. In recent years, she was a “regular” working elections for the City of Gladstone. Throughout the years, she could be seen walking for exercise throughout Gladstone with Mack, her friends, and their daughter.

For the last several years, with her daughter, Jean, she has been constantly at the side of Mack who, as the result of a stroke, has been a patient at Christian Park Village Nursing Home. Together with the Christian Park Village Nursing staff the two have been inseparable as she has continued to care for Mack. In her final hours, Mack was at her side, holding her hand. Her family was together at her passing.

Millie is survived by: her sons Colonel James Davis, USAF (Retired), and his wife Camella of Las Vegas, Nevada; Thomas Davis and his wife Cindi of Gladstone, including their sons Steve and Chris; Michael Davis and his wife Teri of Denver, Colorado, including their sons Keith, Nathan, and Josh, and their daughter Jamie; and her daughter Jean Davis of Gladstone.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations of any size be made in Millie’s memory to support a scholarship fund in the Careers Program at Bay de Noc Community College that Millie and Mack founded in 1984 in memory of her parents. Donations may be made to the “Joseph and Ida Groos Memorial Scholarship Fund”, c/o Bay de Noc Community College Foundation, Carolyn Bissell, Executive Director, 2001 North Lincoln Road, Escanaba, MI. The phone number for Carolyn Bissell is (906) 786-5802, ext. 1137.

Visitation will be held for Millie Davis on Friday, February 1st, 2008, from 3:00pm – 5:30pm at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Mass of Christian Burial services celebrating the life Mildred O. Davis will follow at 6:00pm at the All Saints Catholic Church in Gladstone with Rev. Fr. Arnold Grambow officiating. Luncheon will follow services in the All Saints Parish Hall. Burial will take place at the Fernwood Cemetery in Gladstone.